Osh, Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyz Man Covered in Snow - Osh, Kyrgyzstan

...just put an additional passenger in the back of the car. Thanks to a blizzard, numerous mutton and tea breaks, and broken headlights, the trip from Bishkek to Osh took 18 hours instead of the normal 8-9 hours. Read more about Kyrgyzstan's sights and cities.

Men in Snow Storm - Bishkek to Osh, Kyrgyzstan

What better time to stop for mountain honey than in a snow storm? The trip from Bishkek to Osh normally takes 8-9 hours in good weather. Add in a Kyrgyz family vacation element, bad weather and broken headlights and the total trip time turns into 18 hours. Read more about Kyrgyzstan's sights and cities.

Soviet Wall Paintings & Murals - Osh, Kyrgyzstan

If you keep your eyes open in Osh, Kyrgyzstan you'll find some interesting Soviet paintings and murals on the sides of some of its buildings. Read more about Kyrgyzstan's sights and cities.

Road Stop, Eating Mutton - Bishkek to Osh, Kyrgyzstan

After getting through the worst of the snowbound mountain passes, we stopped at a makeshift cafe for huge chunks of mutton and tea. Taken on a seemingly endless journey from Bishkek to Osh. Read more about Kyrgyzstan's sights and cities.

Snowy Mountains - Bishkek to Osh, Kyrgyzstan

The Kyrgyz Alatau Range between Bishkek and Osh received its first major snowfall at the same time we decided to travel the route. Beautiful, but it added a few hours to our journey. Read more about Kyrgyzstan's sights and cities.

Penguin Cocktail - Osh, Kyrgyzstan

Clever marketing employed by a soda stand in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Read more about Kyrgyzstan's sights and cities.

Choosing Melons - Osh Market, Kyrgyzstan

How to pick the perfect melon when there are so many to choose from? Taken at the bazaar in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Dig deeper into Central Asian Cuisine and find out the best and worst of food and markets in the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Goat Head at Osh Market, Kyrgyzstan

Selling the tasty bits of the goat head separately...yum! A flashback from the bazaar in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Read more about Kyrgyzstan's sights and cities.

Older Women Pepper Vendor - Osh, Kyrgyzstan

Old pepper vendor at Osh market (Osh bazaar) in Kyrgyzstan. Dig deeper into Central Asian Cuisine and find out the best and worst of food and markets in the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Selling Grapes at Osh Market, Kyrgyzstan

Grape vendors line the streets of Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Read more about Kyrgyzstan's sights and cities.

Somsas (Filled Pastries) - Osh, Kyrgyzstan

Somsas are filled pastries, but beware of the hunks of meat and fat inside. Central Asian somsas (pastries filled with meat) always look and smell so good, but the meat tucked inside can yield an assortment of bits and parts that can be challenging to get through. Imagine a sheep doing a swan dive into a meat grinder. Read more about Kyrgyzstan's sights and cities.

Sweet Treats at Osh Market, Kyrgyzstan

We stocked up on dried fruits and nuts in Osh, Kyrgyzstan to take with us to the Pamir Mountains in Tajikistan. After several days of eating potatoes and bread, these dried apricots became a prized possession. Dig deeper into Central Asian Cuisine and find out the best and worst of food and markets in the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Pomegranate Vendor at Osh Market, Kyrgyzstan

This vendor insisted that we sample all of his pomegranate varieties (sweet and tart). Read more about Kyrgyzstan's sights and cities.

Pomegranates at Osh Market, Kyrgyzstan

Plentiful pomegranates at the bazaar in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Dig deeper into Central Asian Cuisine and find out the best and worst of food and markets in the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Colorful Sweets for Sale at Osh Market, Kyrgyzstan

Tea time at a private home in Kyrgyzstan or Tajikistan can often include a plate of brightly wrapped sweets. We wondered where it all came from. Now we know - the bazaar in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Beware, the colorful wrappers are often more appealing than what's inside. Read more about Kyrgyzstan's sights and cities.

Colorful Balls of Yarn at Market in Osh, Kyrgyzstan

Balls of yarn at the bazaar in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Read more about Kyrgyzstan's sights and cities.

Kurut (Yogurt Balls) - Osh Market, Kyrgyzstan

Women line up to sculpt yogurt into kurut (tart balls of dried yogurt) in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Read more about Kyrgyzstan's sights and cities.

Herbs and Vendor at Osh Market, Kyrgyzstan

A friendly vendor stacks herbs at the bazaar in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Dig deeper into Central Asian Cuisine and find out the best and worst of food and markets in the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Ground Peppers for Lagman - Osh, Kyrgyzstan

Peppers meet their eternal reward at the bazaar in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Peppers are ground in preparation for use in lagman, the ubiquitous Central Asian noodle-based dish. Read more about Kyrgyzstan's sights and cities.

Fruit Vendors at Osh Market, Kyrgyzstan

Taken at the bazaar in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Read more about Kyrgyzstan's sights and cities.

Old Kyrgyz Man - Osh, Kyrgyzstan

A spice tea vendor steals a moment of reflection at the bazaar in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Read more about Kyrgyzstan's sights and cities.

Dried Fruit Vendor at Osh Market, Kyrgyzstan

Even though we had already bought our fill of dried fruits from another vendor, this woman gave us some extra to take with us. Read more about Kyrgyzstan's sights and cities.

Smiling Vendor at Osh Market, Kyrgyzstan

Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Read more about Kyrgyzstan's sights and cities.

Peppers for Lagman - Osh, Kyrgyzstan

This woman grinds a bowl of peppers to spice up Kyrgyz favorites like lagman, ganfan and other soups and stews. Read more about Kyrgyzstan's sights and cities.

Ground Chili Peppers - Osh, Kyrgyzstan

Osh seemed to harbor the largest volume and variety of spice and pepper options in Kyrgyzstan. Dig deeper into Central Asian Cuisine and find out the best and worst of food and markets in the Caucasus and Central Asia.