I grew up in Kyrgyzstan before moving to the U.S. in 99'. My memory of this place will never die. This is a uniquely diverse jewel shaped by Muslim(Kyrgyz), Buddhist(Chinese), Christian(Russian), Mongol and many other groups. The No Reservations episode in Uzbekistan wasn't too bad, but it left me puzzled of how you could possibly overlook a country so incredible just east of the border. When I visited my family in Kyrgyzstan back in 05' I realized just how much I've missed the people, foods, scenery and music. The Lenin statues of my childhood have been torn down from central plazas and replaced by modern art representing the diverse Kyrgyz culture. Outside of the capital city Bishkek, the mountainous regions are like paintings everywhere you go, touched by so few. The primitive cultures living outside of the main cities are incredibly friendly living off the land and leaving you feeling like you're in another time long ago. The capital itself is like a melting pot, it has your typical central Asian bazaars but at the same time there is this diversity of Chinese/Russian/Middle Eastern goods. There are no skyscrapers (due to earthquakes) and the architecture flows from Soviet era buildings to Asian style homes and Mongol style yurts dispersed everywhere. You can find yourself looking at something that looks like a Buddhist temple but is actually a mosque. I am ethnically Russian and I'm still mesmerized by both Russia and the U.S., but I also couldn't be more grateful for spending the first nine years of my life in a country like Kyrgyzstan.

i was in jail in the middle east with a couple of girls from kyrgistan,,nice people i am definalty thinking about a visit myself