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Genghis’ Camp.
This entry was posted in Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan and tagged Ala tau, Central Asia, Cholpon Ata, Ethno Park, Felt tent, Food, Gorge, Issyk Kul, Jailoo, Jew's Harp, Kyrchyn, Kyrchyn Jailoo, Kyrgyzstan, Lake, Lenin, Lenin statue, Mountains, Music, Nomad, Throat singing, Tien Shan, WNG, World Nomad Game, Yurt. Bookmark the permalink.
“That reason wasn’t giving spectacle to us, it was having a good time.” This is probably the case in many places across the globe, until some greedy businessmen see this as an opportunity for them to get even richer. You’re so lucky to be able to see this incredible jailoo! Speaking of throat singing, it only caught my attention three years ago when a Mongolian band auditioned for the Asia’s Got Talent. They were so amazing and unique they ended up being the runners up at the end of the season. Here’s a link in case you want to relive your experience in the steppes of Asia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXlExgh-YcU
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Thanks Bama! If you want more throat singing, my best band are, at the moment, Altai’s Huun Huur Tu, or Batzorig Vaanchig from Mongolia. You can find them both on YT.
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They’re both incredibly talented, but if I had to choose only one to listen to it would be Batzorig Vaanchig. There is this ‘aura’ which emanates from him that I can’t quite explain.
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I bet it’s the videos on top of that cliff! Hard to beat.
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What an amazing post. I would so love to go to this. When does it happen? How did you find out about it? I was almost there from you beautiful words and fabulous pictures, but now I want to go for real. Did you find out anything about the amazing headdresses the women are wearing? Why haven’t I been following you for ages???
Alison
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Hi Alison, thanks for following me! This is part of the World Nomad Games (www.worldnomadgames.com). They take place every 2 year, and the next session will be in 2020; normally they take place in Cholpon Ata, Kyrgyzstan, and Kyrchyn Jailoo, north of Semerovka, still Kyrgyzstan, near Lake Issyk Kul. How did I hear about it? Well, I’ve been waiting since 2016! The headgear is sort of typical for Kyrgyz ladies, and used to be worn until the forced collectivisations of the Soviets. Anyhow, welcome, more to come soon!
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Thank you – for the info, and for the welcome. I look forward to more.
A.
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Wow, what an incredible experience!
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Thanks Jolandi, indeed it was.
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This again brings back wonderful Danshig Naadam memories – all the people coming in from afar on their horses, setting up their gers/yurts for the week or so of competition. I’d love to do the Kyrgyzstan version someday, too!
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Well Lexi, I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news but there were rumours, there and online, that the 2020 edition might be ‘hijacked’ by Turkey. Erdogan was in town, the whole country was awash with Turks, and undoubtedly they want to play the ethnic card heavily. It won’t be as fake as the football World Cup in Qatar, which makes me queasy with disgust, but I’m sure that it’ll lose in authenticity. However, they still do festivals aplenty over in the region!
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I can just imagine how surreal it was to wander through that city of yurts. One of those timeless experiences that are so mesmerizing. Always so good to see that such authentic cultural richness still exists. A jailoo sounds like my kinda place.
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Indeed Julie it’d really be, as long as you don’t mind coughing up a lung every now and then. It was *really* dusty. But it was so nice.
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This kind of reminds me of the concept of open-air museums; showing life and living of times past. Except the museum is for real, it’s the tourists that are out of context. Nicely described.
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Thanks Dave! I’ve never been to an open-air museum, but perhaps for one of old houses in Norway (which had goats eating the grass on the roofs), but I see your point.
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Kyrgyzstan is on our list after we saw some incredible landscapes online. Wonderful captures! I hope we make it there someday.
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And I hope you can make it too! The whole region is a treasure trove of beauty, nice people, interesting history and even good food (if you like goat).
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Extraordinary. As if they’d built all this especially for you.
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Yeah, and they didn’t bill me for it too!
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