Page 42 - ISIE Project

TRIP TO KYrGYZSTAN

It's Emmanuel with ISIE, and am back
with my second trip outside of Africa. In
my search for a country to visit, I decided
to try something different, not the norm.
After a long search, I came across a
country in central Asia have not heard of
before; Kyrgyzstan. Immediately, I was
intrigued. I spoke to the Directors, and all
they said was; let's see what happens.
Some few weeks later, I was called that I
would be going on the trip to Kyrgyzstan.
And guess what? I won't be going alone.
Mr. Vincent would be accompanying me
on the trip. All thanks to the Directors.

quick facts about kyrGYzstan

Ÿ Kyrgyzstan officially the Kyrgyz Republic is a South-Central Asian Union country of incredible
natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions.

Ÿ Landlocked and mountainous, it borders Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan
to the southwest and China to the southeast. What would become modern Kyrgyzstan was

annexed by Russia in and became an independent country with the collapse of the Soviet
Union in . It has the most liberal tourist visa policy in Central Asia and one of the more
progressive post-Soviet governments in the region.
Ÿ There are just . residents for each square kilometre of land making Kyrgyzstan one of the

world s least crowded countries.
Ÿ There are over major mountain ranges in Kyrgyzstan, making up about more than percent of

the country s territory. Kyrgyzstan is the Switzerland of Central Asia. Its highest point is Jengish
Chokusu, at , m , ft .
Ÿ Kyrgyzstan is one of landlocked countries but does have the consolation of Issyk-Kul, the world s
second largest high-altitude lake behind Titicaca in South America . It is miles long, miles

wide and reaches a depth of metres , feet . The lake was a popular holiday resort during
the Soviet era.

Ÿ Kyrgyzstan has the lengthiest epic in the world. Manas, a Kyrgyz epic poem with , lines.
Ÿ The most famous national drink is horse milk, kumyz.
Ÿ People in Kyrgyzstan love tea. It is like a replacement for water here, and you drink tea with pretty

much every meal.
Ÿ The vast majority of people in Kyrgyzstan are Sunni Muslims. However, you don t see apparent signs

of Islam while walking down the streets of Bishkek, partly due to its Soviet history.

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