While abroad, it’s natural to get a bit homesick and start craving the comfort foods we are used to. While we recomended that you dive into the local culture as much as possible, sometimes seeing foreign takes on American classics can be interesting and educational… right? Here’s a list of six fast food places that […]

The Rebellion of the Brides (Kelinlar qoʻzgʻoloni/Бунт невесток) is one of the most famous films released in Uzbekistan under the Soviet Union in 1984. The film is available for free on YouTube from the studio. The original was shot with both Uzbek and Russian used in the dialogue. Another version is also available online from […]

The history of soccer in Kyrgyzstan goes back to 1921, with an oft-cited first match taking place in Bishek, Kyrgyzstan’s capital city, against a team from Kazakhstan. The Kazakh team won, but not before the sport of soccer staked a permanent claim on the Kyrgyz national consciousness— the game’s been culturally significant ever since. However, […]

Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Mamer Rayes has been an active musician for more than 30 years. While his style of music has shifted over time, it remains deeply rooted in the language, instruments, and folklore of the Khazak culture in which he was raised. Mamer was born in Xinjiang, an autonomous region of northwestern China. […]

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 […]