The morning events at the main area feature the Final of Kok Baru between Kyrgyzstan A and Kyrgyzstan B. As Kok Baru is the national sport, the Kyrgyz teams swept everyone away in the earlier rounds including either A or B (I forget now) beating Mongolia 19 to 1. Watching the final is a different affair to the third place play off I witnessed the day before. The speed, ferocity and skill of the Kyrgyz riders is amazing. The play off I must admit got a little boring after a while. The final did not! The fans were engrossed in the action, cheering all riders. As most of the fans were Kyrgyz, and both finalists Kyrgyz teams, there seemed to be little support for a particular team, just enjoyment of the event. The A team came out on top. The Kok Baru final was the last sporting event to be held in the arena, and for the afternoon there was no action as the set up for the closing ceremony took precedence. So we decided to hire a minivan and driver and go out to the hills and see the sights.
The valleys are beautiful. Ringed with high peaks. Remote homesteads pot mark the hill sides and yurta camps sit in the valley floors. Goat farming is the mainstay of the local economy and most of the homesteads have enclosures to keep the goats safe when cold and at night. farmers can be seen on horse back rounding up herds and driving them down the valleys. Well trodden paths are easily spotted as they are lined with hoof prints and droppings!
On the way back we stop of at Lake Issyk Kul for a dip. Except only two of us are brave (stupid!) enough to go in, Debora and myself. The water is freeeezing, I do not last long! Debora is braver and stays in for a little longer!
We get back for sun set and return to the arena for the closing ceremony. I am curious and excited about what we will see, and what show will be put on. I am very disappointment. A succession of Central Asia pop acts come out and mime to their hits. Each act is allowed two songs. After a few "hits" it becomes rather boring, until a Turkish singer comes on stage and bravely sings live. But the P.A. or something is terrible, and he sounds bad. A shame as at least he sang. The headliner was one Ray Horton. For those who don't know the name but have long memories you will remember the German pop act of the early 1990's called Milli Vanilli. Well after their miming scandal and they reformed as The Real Milli Vanilli Ray was employed as one of their backing singers. And tonight as headline act he had the privilege to mime to 4 of his hits, one of which was a cover of Hotel California! He certainly entertained however, running up to the fans and hand slapping most of the front 3 rows, and then dashing around in front of the stage much to the annoyance of security!
The valleys are beautiful. Ringed with high peaks. Remote homesteads pot mark the hill sides and yurta camps sit in the valley floors. Goat farming is the mainstay of the local economy and most of the homesteads have enclosures to keep the goats safe when cold and at night. farmers can be seen on horse back rounding up herds and driving them down the valleys. Well trodden paths are easily spotted as they are lined with hoof prints and droppings!
On the way back we stop of at Lake Issyk Kul for a dip. Except only two of us are brave (stupid!) enough to go in, Debora and myself. The water is freeeezing, I do not last long! Debora is braver and stays in for a little longer!
We get back for sun set and return to the arena for the closing ceremony. I am curious and excited about what we will see, and what show will be put on. I am very disappointment. A succession of Central Asia pop acts come out and mime to their hits. Each act is allowed two songs. After a few "hits" it becomes rather boring, until a Turkish singer comes on stage and bravely sings live. But the P.A. or something is terrible, and he sounds bad. A shame as at least he sang. The headliner was one Ray Horton. For those who don't know the name but have long memories you will remember the German pop act of the early 1990's called Milli Vanilli. Well after their miming scandal and they reformed as The Real Milli Vanilli Ray was employed as one of their backing singers. And tonight as headline act he had the privilege to mime to 4 of his hits, one of which was a cover of Hotel California! He certainly entertained however, running up to the fans and hand slapping most of the front 3 rows, and then dashing around in front of the stage much to the annoyance of security!
