Kyrgyzstan Photos

(Osh)
The scene outside the Russian Consulate in Osh after the end of the Beslan crisis.  The Russian sign in the center says "We Are Against Terrorism!"; to the right of that is one that says "There is No Place for Terrorism on Our Planet!"
Protest on the flight to Osh; the passengers at the front of the plane are using their bodies to prevent the aircraft from being moved so that it can be used for the run to Tashkent.  Sadly, security made me delete the photos that I took closer to the scene of the action.
De-communisation has been a bit slower here than in the rest of the former Soviet Union.  The bust here is of "Iron Feliks" Derzhinskiy, the founder of the first Secret Police under the Communists.
A Kyrgyz traffic jam; although this picture is from just outside of Osh it is not uncommon to get stuck behind a herd of cattle in Bishkek.
Kyrgyzstan's greatest asset may be it's natural beauty, especially in and near the mountains.  From top to bottom:

A stream outside of Osh where we stopped to drink kymyss (fermented mare's milk, the national drink).  Stopping mid-way through the journey to drink kymyss/vodka/wine is a long-standing Kyrgyz tradition, though it does little for drunk driving rates. 



Boys using what I hope are inner tubes but are probably actual tires to float down the river near the Relax Cafe in Osh.  The tables for the cafe are on a small island in the middle of the river.





A typical Kyrgyz jailoo, which is the valley or ravine where yurts are encamped.  Though few people live in yurts during the winter, herders will often live in them during the summer as they graze their livestock.