Pics of Central Asia

[still.southern]

Currently I do not have a bike with me (my '85 VT500c is for sale back in Michigan) but I will hopefully have one again soon...maybe a Transalp 600 which would be the same basic engine as the Shadow 600. Several people have said to keep posting pics of where I'm living now...so I'll put a few teasers up and a link to a photobucket album with a bunch more as I get time. Here's the first installment. Last weekend we went to Lake Issyk Kul (the second largest alpine lake in the world) then camped at the Jailoo (said like the short name for Jennifer Lopez) in a Yurt up in the mountains. The weekend involved near heart attach level hiking along with good food and fresh air. Enjoy the pics!

Link to the album.

Some Sample Pics








Small lake on the roof of the world (3200+ meters):












And a lot more in the album if you are interested. Hopefully there'll be a bike to add to the pics soon.

[Sgoatley]

I think I would like that bike a lot. I have a vlx and love it. The one thing that would make it better is a fifth gear and you would have that so I say go for it! Love the pics!!


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[bluedad]

great pics; reminded me of 'Long Way Round'

[MikeB]

Enjoyed the album greatly. Keep 'em coming. And good luck on finding a bike. From the looks of the roads I would be searching in the 250cc range, but that's just me.

[still.southern]

Eventually did get a bike, as posted elsewhere...1994 Honda Dominator. Here are some pics from a ride at the end of October including some pictures of Ulak Tartysh a game played on horseback in some of the villages where contestants fight of the headless carcass of a goat!

Stopping for some water and a few pics. They guys I was riding with run an orphanage in a nearby village and ride KLR650s.


Fall Color in the valley.


Yurt camp near the "field of battle"


Kids learn to ride young...this guy was already quite proficient...He kept backing up to stay in front of me so I'd take his picture!


The game is underway


Coming in to score a goal...the older guy on foot was crazy fearless, they'd just drop the goat at his feet and ride around him!


Below are a few more of the best pics from the event:










And a goal is scored!

The Goat (or whatever unfortunate creature it used to be!)


From what I've read the game was developed by Genghis Khan or those around him to train their armies to ride through enemy camps and grab whatever they wanted...livestock, women, etc. It's still played today in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Many of the expats here call Ulak Tartysh "Dead Goat Polo" for what are hopefully obvious reasons.

[Amos Iron Wolf]

That's wild. Looks like a good bike for bopping around out there.

[MikeB]

The game is called "buzkashi" in Afghanistan and the Pakistani tribal areas. I wonder if they eat the goat afterwards. Friggin' thing should be pretty well tenderized.

Nice pics.

[still.southern]

Originally Posted by MikeB

The game is called "buzkashi" in Afghanistan and the Pakistani tribal areas. I wonder if they eat the goat afterwards. Friggin' thing should be pretty well tenderized.

Nice pics.

As with lots of things in this part of the world it goes by a variety of names...I think it's also called Kok Boru in Kyrgyz.

I believe the goat/sheep/calf/whatever goes to the victors...definitely well tenderized!

I'd heard about it in the US before I came, some rednecks friends and I back home tried to figure a way to play it with four wheelers, but never ended up doing it

[MikeB]

...some rednecks friends and I back home tried to figure a way to play it with four wheelers, but never ended up doing it

If anyone does I sure hope it gets onto YouTube.

[still.southern]

Originally Posted by MikeB

If anyone does I sure hope it gets onto YouTube.

We'll do!