Foto: Abdullah Khan Mosque (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Kyrgyzstan - We use the afternoon to explore Osh. First, we visit the Lenin Monument. Osh is home to the largest Lenin statue in Kyrgyzstan. Then we drive on to the Suleiman-Too Rocks, also known as the Throne of Solomon. It is said that the Prophet Mohammed once visited these rocks and prayed here. The rocks are a true pilgrimage site for Muslims. The three rocky peaks tower high above the city. We believe the entrance is next to a futuristic silver dome, but it turns out to be the dome of the Rabat Abdullah Khan Mosque. Inside, the mosque is simply decorated. Interestingly, two young boys are eating ice cream inside—eating in a mosque, and during Ramadan no less. A woman points us toward a fence and says the entrance is further along. It turns out to be quite a bit farther. We pass a rooftop restaurant and decide to stop for lunch first. Afterwards, we buy a ticket and climb the Throne of Solomon. From the top, I have a beautiful view over the city of Osh. I can see the bazaar, the Lenin statue, and the district where my hotel is located. Along a narrow path, we walk further along the mountaintops. On the other side, there is a museum. I have no idea what’s exhibited inside. The entrance sign says 50 som, but we are charged 150 som—apparently a special rate for foreigners. We decide to skip it. On the other side, we descend the mountain again. This brings us close to the mosque where our car is parked.
AlaToo in Bishkek
Kyrgyzstan - In the evening, I take a walk through Bishkek. Bishkek is a spacious city with large squares, wide boulevards, and expansive parks. It is often called the greenest capital in the world—and I immediately understand why. I pass by crumbling Soviet apartment ...
Lake IssykKul
Kyrgyzstan - The center of Karakol feels much more like a village. Yet the city has 75,000 inhabitants. The sights are all concentrated around the main road running through the town. I walk to the Chinese mosque. The entirely wooden mosque strongly resembles a Buddhist ...
Overnight stay in a yurt
Kyrgyzstan - On the western side of the lake, the road turns off. In the small village, we are already expected. A car drives ahead of us into the mountains. Just outside the village, I pass a landfill and a cemetery. Then the dirt road leads deeper into the valley. ...