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Kyrgyzstan

Today September 26, 2023 we travel  across the border from Kazakhstan to Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, Kyrgyzstan, and begin a city tour on arrival.  The country is one of the smallest of the newly independent Central Asian States. Kyrgyzstan borders on China in the southeast, in north and west on Kazakhstan and south and east on Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Photo is of Ala_Too-Square across the street from the National Museum of Kyrgyzstan.
The national flag of Kyrgyzstan
Building with the national flag and soldiers at the side is the National Museum of Kyrgyzstan.  Inside are  interesting exhibitions, ranging from excavation finds to fascinating collections. But for the few Western visitors that make it to Bishkek, the real draw is the weird Soviet memorabilia. The folk hero of Manas on his horse replaced Lenin. Manas is shown slaying a dragon. The epic of Manus was first found written in a Persian manuscript dated to 1792–93. In one of its dozens of iterations, the epic poem consists of approximately 500,000 lines. He is a folk hero.
The National Guard stands at attention at the National Flagpole on Ala-Too Square in Bishkek, and has been performing the changing of the guard ceremony every hour since 16 August 1998.
The guard of honor is formed from the 701st Military Unit of the National Guard.
The guard is changed every day, on the hour, from 7:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
The city of Bishkek is the capital and largest city of Kyrgyzstan. Bishkek is located at about 2,400 feet above sea level, on the northern slope of the Tien Shan Mountains. The nearby mountains provide a spectacular backdrop to the city. Photo is of Ala_Too-Square across the square from the National Museum of Kyrgyzstan.
A small private museum only a half block from the National Museum displays many antique items from years past.
More of the private museum. If you did not know it was here you would miss the opportunity to see many items from centuries past.
Our local guide in Kyrgyzstan, Artem, demonstrates the art of wearing an antique helmet.
Collection of Greek Orthodox Crosses
New friendships made with three young boys who are studying English as their third language in school. They were anxious to practice speaking English with us.  They were having great fun communicating and asking questions of us..
We were fortunate to be at the Museum and the changing of the guard on the hour.  This is the new guard coming in to replace the soldiers already there.  Notice the high step of the guard.
The exchange of soldiers at the guard house.
The former guard now coming down the steps leaving the new guard in the guard house.
The new guard soldiers now in place for the next one hour. They cannot move and must remain in this position for an hour.
The departing of the existing guard now getting ready to leave the area.
Locals also watching the change of the guard on the hour.  The city of Bishkek is the capital and largest city of Kyrgyzstan.
A local young lady in colorful dress
Fountains at the side of the National  Museum.

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