Otyken is an indigenous Siberian folk pop band that uses traditional instruments and sings in Khakas, Chulym, and Russian. The members of the group are Chulym Khakas, an indigenous population that lives in Eastern Siberia. The name “Otyken” originates from the Chulym language, and is the native name for their land, roughly translated into English […]

Bishkek has seen a wave of investment from many countries – many of them Asian. For this reason, it is not so odd to find international visitors and cuisines in Bishkek. From Indian and Chinese to Japanese and Korean, Asian food is not hard to find in the Kyrgyzstan’s capital. Below are several that students […]

Whether you are a regular at the nail salon or are thinking about getting your first manicure, Bishkek is one of the most affordable cities to treat yourself. Finding a quality manicurist can be difficult, especially when you are in a new city. I, along with a few of my girlfriends have tested out a […]

Central Asian food tends to be heavy in dairy and meat. However, being vegetarian or even vegan in Bishkek is not impossible, but you should be willing to work to both check your foods and explain your needs to locals who may not understand. Below, Sophia Rhem (vegetarian) and Kathryn Watt (vegan) recount their experiences […]

There are many ways to stay fit while in Bishkek! Below are suggestions for gyms and training clubs within the city that students on SRAS programs in Bishkek have found and would like to recomended. This resource is part of the much larger SRAS Guide to Living in Bishkek. On Fitness, Yoga, Jogging, Dance, and […]

One hot Friday night, a group of fellow students and I made our way to a nightclub. Little did I know I would end up spending each of my subsequent free weekends dancing the night away in various Bishkek nightclubs. They are fun and cheap, so if you go with a group of friends, you’re […]

One of the best ways to jump into a new culture is through the local food. The sheer act of sharing food experiences also gives you instant conversation starter material with locals. Central Asian cuisine, having developed largely from nomadic cultures, is often heavy on grains, pasta, dairy, and meat. We are sure that you […]

Feruza Jumaniyozova is an Uzbek singer. She has released songs in Tajik, Uyghur, Farsi, Dari, Turkmen, Azeri, Hindi, Turkish, and Uzbek. Feruza was born on 14 Feebruary, 1984 in Khorezm, in the Uzbek SSR. She started performing music when she was three. Originally wanting to be a doctor, she enrolled in the Institute of Medicine […]