Some Pictures From Osh

The city sits astride the Ak-Burra River, dominated by Sulayman Rock.  Sulayman Rock is an ancient holy place, and also not a bad spot from which to look for the bad guys.  Regardless, it is seemingly always visible above the city as a reference point.

Down along the river is the Bazaar, and it is a teeming place with all types of goods available, from satellite TV receivers and dishes to hand made sickles for harvesting grains and grasses.  It once was an important trading place along the Silk Road.  There are also other bazaars around town, some of which specialize in certain areas - like electronics.  For instance, I wouldn't walk down the aisles and lanes in the Kelechek Bazaar unless all my credit cards were in RFID proof wallets, I had the bluetooth feature on my electronic devices turned off, and had the electronics in an inside pocket.  Perhaps a Faraday Cage is a little overkill, but not by much.  You can buy anything electronic there, get anything electronic repaired there, and the overall atmosphere in the "repair" area is one of "all your data belongs to us."

So here are some street scenes.

These large block apartment buildings apparently remain from the Soviet Era, and are jammed fairly close together.  Nonetheless, the residents plant gardens with both flowers and vegetables in the little space between the buildings and the alleys.

Even some grape vines . . .

Along the alleys are these little sheds.  Some house chicken coops, some house automobiles, and I don't want to know what is in the rest of them.

Tucked away are many, many little shops, selling all kinds of things, from sundries to vegetables like potatoes and onions, to vodka (cheap!) and beer.  They are usually run by older women, who are hilarious.

This orange and blue building contains some restaurants and bars catering to the "wealthier" citizens, or as one guy described them, "the mafia."  I saw the longest white Hummer Limo I have ever seen outside it one night.

This is the law school.  They have a Lady Justice, too (that is her in white on the blue diamond background).

Just some more street scenes, both from the center of the city, and towards the outer areas of town.

These cows almost got me killed!  A car had to brake and swerve to miss them, and almost hit me.  Livestock on roadways is going to get me if I don't watch out. . .

Electrical substation infrastructure.

Some of the front yard areas are really overgrown.

Sidewalk on M41.  All the trees and posts are painted white for about the lower four feet.

The residents often build little shops on the front of the apartment buildings.

On the way to the Bazaar, with Sulayman Rock in the background

The Ak Burra River flowing through the Bazaar area.

 There are scores upon scores of these little stands with people selling cold drinks from their coolers.  The same glasses are usually used over and over, so I didn't ever try any, but they make 10 -15 cents a glass.

The Bazaar Gate.  You descend down into the Bazaar, covered in awnings, thronged with people, and the heavenly smell of fresh spices occasionally overcoming some of the other less pleasant odors.

Downtown Osh.

 Near the market Bazaar.

Near the market, an upstairs restaurant, not yet open for lunch.