About 40 km from Almaty is Huns Ethno Village created to show life in days of old. It can't be ascertained if the Kazakhs are direct descendants of the Huns. 

 

Two Kazakh "warriors" welcomed us.

Introduction to making Bauyrsaks, a traditional fried dough snack. Visitors were also encouraged to try their hands at making it.

A mock wedding was staged where one of the visitors married a local man. It was good fun.

At the end of a demo for how eagles hunt, the trainer got Chong to carry the bird which weighs about 5 kg. But, Chong's gait suggests he was afraid the eagle would peck at his eyes even tho' it was hooded.

Finale of a horsemanship show staged by two male and two female performers.Children were especially thrilled by it.

Visitors were invited to dance with the "villagers" and mingle with horses before lunch.

Fruit vendor at Almaty Green Bazaar which serves as a central market selling all essential food produce needed for daily sustenance.

Meat stall at the bazaar. Shops selling other essentials like medicines ring the bazaar. Unlike markets in S E Asia, such bazaars are clean and dry.

 

Charyn Canyon lies in Charyn Canyon National Park, along the Charyn River, It runs for about 180 km. It ranks No 2 in the World after the Grand Canyon of America, 

Unfortunately. our visit to the canyon was rushed because it not only takes fours to get there. The restaurant there could not serve us lunch as it ran out of water. So, we had to leave to drive back for about two hours to a restaurant before we could have lunch. More time is needed to explore it. Often adventure seekers camp to have a real feel for its beauty and ambience.

Ala-too Square features one of two Manas Monuments in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The building behind is the National History Museum. Manas is a semi-legendary war hero whose name was linked to one of the longest epics in world literature.

 

Burana Tower of the once thriving Balasangun City in the 9th to 13th Centuries. It served as the capital of the Kara-Khanid Khanate as well as the Qara Khitai Empires. It was a very important trading centre in the Silk Road. The most famous survivor from the city is Burana Tower which used to be 40m tall but became only 26m following an earthquake. It is recognized as a World Heritage Site,