August 2018 97 www.bahrainthismonth.com coloured threads. A turban of white material called an elechek is worn over the hat and it used to be unacceptable to venture outside without it. The most popular cap worn by Kyrgyz men everywhere is the kalpak, a traditional white felt hat with an upturned brim. My next destination was Tepke village in the Issyk-Kul Region to visit a musical institute. Kyrgyz music is most famous for how evocative it is of nature and life in the mountains. Many parents encourage their children to learn using their national instrument, the komuz, which is an ancient fretless stringed instrument used in Central Asian music. It is generally made from a single piece of wood and has three strings traditionally made out of gut, but often from fishing line in modern times. In the most common tunings the middle string is the highest in pitch. I headed on to another amazing village, Jyrgalan, which truly has a rustic feel; brick and timber houses are scattered around with wooden barns appearing every now and then. Cows, horses and goats wander from paddock to paddock while young kids play on the dirt roads around the village. While discovering the area, I asked a man if I could take his photo. He invited us into his house. His wife, Sultanat, started preparing the dining table and, in no time, there was a variety of fresh jam, bread and butter, all homemade, laid out, not forgetting a fresh cup of the famous Kyrgyz chai. It was easy to communicate through our guide and I felt so welcomed into their home. The guesthouse I stayed at was in the middle of a farm in a valley surrounded by mountains and run by the hospitable owners Emil and her husband. While I was enjoying the magnificent view from my window, I saw a man milking a horse. Although I had heard of this, I was still shocked to see it. The Kyrgyz food culture relies heavily on meat. Rice with meat was a dish I was offered for breakfast in Jyrgalan but I could not eat it early in the morning though generally I loved Kyrgyz cuisine. The next morning, we visited the coal mine which is still operating in Jyrgalan. The village was established in 1964 to support mining during the Soviet period. roots were evident in her methodical way of taking care of the cattle and her daily schedule. She starts early in the morning and finishes all her work by sunset. Albeit their simple lifestyle sounds idyllic during spring and summer, the people do face harsh winters. While I was taking photos for Boroson, a few little girls approached me timidly but then with youthful exuberance. I assume they had heard from others that a stranger had come to their village and handed out sweets. Staring at me pensively at first, the moment I spoke the language of children and handed them candy, a broad devilish grin played upon their faces and they asked for their photos to be taken. All around me, I couldn’t help but notice the unique headpieces of the men and women. Every stitch was etched with heritage and tradition. The classical garb of the Kyrgyz men and women has remained unchanged for 700 years. Headdresses, sitting tight on the head and completely covering the hair, are an indispensable attribute of married women. They are decorated with various ornaments and
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