I read that people in Kazakhstan eat 17 grams of salt per day. Obviously individual diets vary greatly but do Central Asians really come anywhere close to that? I ask out of curiosity, I don't mean to say anything bad about your delicious food. I enjoy salty food myself. Thanks!

Does bf gf live together like thaf?

As we know, Almaty came within a razor's edge of winning hosting rights in 2022. And while games are awarded out til 2034, there is still quite a dearth of secure options beyond that. The only other real parties of interest seem to be Sapporo and Sweden (the later Im not even sure had real interest). Switzerland currently has "priority", but given their voting history, I see that one getting scuttled in the next year or two. I know a lot can change between now and 2038 obviously, but is this something that you'd want to see?

Especially given the demographic crises in Turkiye the country if not now probably in the near future will be more accepting migrants. As Central Asian/Turkic people will you be interested to migrate to Turkiye?

I'm literally quoting on what he said on Jimmy Fallon's The Tonight Show. He says this to both American Presidential candidates.

“You are a woman, a person of color and married to a Jew. I advise you not to come to Kazakstan. You already have made three of the four crimes punishable by death. Please do tell me you have made sexy time with an underage bear.

Borat also asked: “Mr. Trump. You say in Ohio that people no eat the cats and the dogs. Which restaurant do they serve them at? Can I get a reservation please? In my country we have KFC: Kazakh Fried Cat. It’s p*ssy licking good.”

Aren't there any ethnic Kazakhs that get offended by this? Where is the out roar?

I have not been to Kyrgyzstan for the last 6-7 years and when I came back I noticed that there are a lot of people from South Asia.

I feel that there are tens of thousands of them, because when I traveled even to villages in Chuy oblast where there are a lot of small factories there are South Asians everywhere, I heard a lot of complaints from my friends and relatives that now in many construction jobs, in the garment industry and to work in factories they are taken en masse.

I have not been to other Central Asian countries, so I want to ask you guys, do you have the same situation in other CA countries?

Hi I am looking for some advice from people who have traveled through or live in central Asia.

My husband and I are visiting central Asia in March. Our current itinerary is:

-Kashgar 4 nights

-Sary-Tash or Osh 1 night

-Kochkor and/or Bokonbayevo (Lake Issykul) 2 nights (Including 1 in a yurt)

-Bishkek 2 nights

-Almaty 3 nights

Flight from Almaty to Dushanbe

-Dushanbe 2 nights

-Samarkand 3 nights

-Bukhara 3 nights

-Tashkent 2 nights

Our objectives are to eat good local food, see nature, architecture and culture.

On the objective of nature, we are considering taking a day trip to Karakul Lake in China at a cost of USD225 for two people. From a Chinese perspective it is beautiful, but we are unsure if it would add much given we will be travelling the Irkesham pass, through Kyrgyzstan by road and will travel by road from Dushanbe to Panjakent.

We are from New Zealand, so we have seen plenty of mountains, but going to such a high altitude is new for us.

If we skip Karakul Lake, we can leave China two days earlier (as we understand that busses only go from Kashgar to Kyrgyzstan on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday) to give us more time in Kyrgyzstan or Almaty. We would appreciate any feedback and what we could do with the additional time in other places.

Any advice about travelling from Kashgar to Kyrgyzstan and within Kyrgyzstan is also welcome, thanks!

Edit: referring to the Karakul lake in Xinjiang, China (not the one in Tajikistan or the city in Kyrgyzstan)

There are several different versions of this song, but I’m not sure which is the original, nor who wrote it.

• Xorazm Farzandiman 🇺🇿

• Sar e Pul Farzandiman 🇦🇫

• O’zbekiston Farzandiman 🇺🇿

Every time I visit Bishkek and get that first bite of manty or beshbarmak, I get blown away by how good it is. At this point I miss the food more than my gf when I'm not there, and I think I've started coming back for the flavours rather than her. And apparently Uzbekistan has even better food!? Why aren't my fellow westerners raving about this amazing cuisine rather than the shit French and Italians have!?

Hello!

Is the weather in January still nice? I'm used to the cold, I'm good with 0 -5c. I'll have my puffer jacket, cashmere sweater, and long johns with me (no boots though)!

Is this a Russian word?what's it mean?

I grew up in the West and would like to know more about the horse meat culture in our neighbouring countries. It is nonexistent in the Tajik cuisine. My dad recently went to Shymkent and he said Kazakh food is super meaty, which he found to be quite a contrast to the Tajik cuisine. He also tried horse meat for the first time, so I am curious about your cuisine.

How much of your diet consists of horse meat? And how do you cook it?

Does it have any specific smell, like lamb does?

Is it dry compared to lamb or beef, considering horses are very lean?

Is it heavy/hard to digest?

I am an atheist, but I know that in Hanafi school horses are borderline haram, since they don't have split hoofs or smth. Do Muslims in your countries eat the dishes prepared from horse meat?

Thanks!

Hello, everyone!

(I hope this is the right place for this question! Please let me know if it isn’t, and apologies if I’m posting in the wrong spot.)

I’m working on a project comparing business practices in different regions and was wondering if anyone here might have firsthand insights. I’d love to hear about cultural or practical differences in areas like decision-making, relationships, business etiquette, and any unique customs. Specifically, I’m curious about challenges foreign businesses might face, general attitudes toward entrepreneurship, and the influence of local customs and values on business practices.

Thank you so much for any insights you can share!

Hello,

How common the name Chengiz/Dengiz/Deniz. It is a common name in Turkiye as Deniz probably derived from Chengiz means 'sea'.

Not sure if it is the right place. I would to ask how good are traditional yurts doing under different weather conditions. I know they do well in winters but what about during summer and rain season? Will they be too hot in summer. What about water proof under heavy rain?

I have to admit, I rarely watch Central Asian movies, so my list is a bit short. Still, I feel that the few films I've seen have left a strong impression on me, representing the diverse cultural narratives of the region. Here's my personal take on some Kyrgyz, Uzbek, and Kazakh films that I've enjoyed over the years:

Kyrgyz Movies:

1. Kurmanjan Datka This historical epic tells the story of Kurmanjan Datka, a formidable woman who ruled Southern Kyrgyzstan during the 19th century. It vividly portrays the Russian colonization and Kurmanjan's struggles to protect her people. For those interested in history and strong female characters, this film offers a mix of inspiration and cultural insight, capturing the spirit of resistance in Central Asia.
2. Salam New York Directed by the creator of Paradise Under the Feet of the Mother, this film follows the journey of a young Kyrgyz man who relocates to New York in search of a better life. The narrative of migration and the longing for home really resonates with me. In my 20s, I also relocated for work—to Russia and the UAE—so the protagonist's struggles to adapt to a new culture felt very personal. It’s a heartfelt story of ambition, identity, and the inevitable homesickness that comes with leaving your roots behind.
3. Minister's Daughter Love Trilogy While this film might not win awards for its acting or cinematography, it holds a special place in my heart as a guilty pleasure. It's the first action movie I remember enjoying in Kyrgyz cinema. The story centers around a naive country boy skilled in karate who ends up fighting bandits in the city, all while falling in love with a high-profile minister's daughter. It’s a blend of action, drama, and comedy with a heavy dose of cheesy, amateurish acting that actually adds to its charm.

Uzbek Movies:

1. Fatima and Zukhra This is my all-time favorite Uzbek film, known for its powerful drama and tragic storyline. It beautifully captures the complexity of love, friendship, and societal expectations in Uzbek culture. The soundtrack by Shakhzoda adds an emotional depth that enhances the experience. If you're into intense dramas that tug at your heartstrings, this one is worth watching.
2. Super Kelinchak The plot revolves around an intercultural marriage between an Uzbek man and a Russian woman. It humorously yet realistically depicts the cultural clashes that occur when a traditional Uzbek family tries to accept a “Russian” daughter-in-law. It’s both funny and eye-opening, showing the challenges of balancing tradition with modern relationships.

Kazakh Movies:

1. Kelinka is also a Human This film is a comedic take on the classic Central Asian conflict between a mother-in-law and her daughter-in-law. The title itself captures the core of many Central Asian households, where the struggle for mutual respect and understanding often takes center stage. It’s a lighthearted movie that sheds light on the quirks of Kazakh family life while delivering important social commentary.
2. Zhau Zhurek Myn Bala (Brave Heart: A Thousand Boys) This historical film delves into the Kazakh-Zhungar wars, showcasing the courage and resilience of Kazakh warriors. It’s a gripping tale of bravery, unity, and the fight for survival, drawing inspiration from actual events. If you're interested in epic war dramas that highlight national pride and collective spirit, this film will not disappoint.

What are some of your favorite Central Asian movies? Feel free to add to the list or share your thoughts on these films!

Do you want it?

Do you think your marriage are haram?

Төбе is pronounced төбө

өте is pronounced өтө

көрeм is pronounced көрөм

күнде is pronounced күндү

Why are people violating

As a native Kyrgyz speaker, I find Kazakh very easy to understand. I often watch their political channels, and to me, Kazakh sounds like Kyrgyz but with a different accent. They do have some newly coined words that I might not immediately recognize, like "joba" for "project" (in Kyrgyz, we say "dolboor") or "sukhbat" for "conversation" (we say "maek"), but overall, the lexical differences between the two languages aren't huge.

Uzbek is also quite intelligible, and in some ways, it’s even more understandable than Kazakh. We essentially use the same consonants, although Uzbek has more Persian-influenced vocabulary that I don't always know. But since I'm familiar with the southern Kyrgyz dialect, which is quite similar to Uzbek, I can still understand it well.

Tajik, on the other hand, isn't really intelligible to me since it’s an Indo-Iranian language, but Kyrgyz has borrowed a lot of Persian words through Tajik, along with Arabic loanwords. So, when I hear or read Tajik, I can often pick up on words that exist in Kyrgyz. So I feel like a Japanese reading Chinese texts.

I don’t speak Chinese, but our closest Chinese neighbors are the Uighurs, whose language is very similar to Uzbek. Interestingly, I feel like Kyrgyz shares more common vocabulary with Uighur than with Uzbek, so I can understand Uighur quite well too.

I wonder if there is an obvious disparity in terms of prosperity, poverty and living standards when we compare Tajikistan with Kyrgyzstan. When I was in Tajikistan, I have been told by locals that Dushanbe is a more developed city than Bishkek.

I tried to get answer on this all over the internet but couldn't anything besides some old and totally wrong articles on Wiki.

You might as well not have accurate stats but how you suppose it makes people to be top percentile among central asians.

I'd really like to visit Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan, or maybe teach English there. Apparently those countries are safe for Americans, but I don't know if they'd be mad at me for having served in the US army in Iraq.