We had a real privilage last night .. We went with Vera to visit a special village.. This village only about 40 years ago was one of the jewels of Kyrgyzstan.. it iwas a mountan village of just over 5000 people .. it had three large factories, and was a real cultural centre.. As we drove through the abandoned streats we found the ruins of a grand opera house, schools hospitals librarys and many other one time beautiful luxurious buildingd.. It was starnge to see evedince of a one time healthy infistructure water pipes, sewers... all nestled into a gorgious vally with a huge park running through the centre of town....
Today, there are about 30 families that calll this place home... the all that stands of many of the ornate buildings and hotes are the fancey stair cases and the odd statue of Lennon appearing out of the rubble...
We gathered the village together.. about 100 people in the village now.. We had tea, and a Banana party with them... As many of them experienced this strange friut for what I am sure for many would be the first time, we listened to their stories about life in this remote place...We learned that the bus rout ended a few years back, and now the can not even get a Taxi that whants to make the 15 minute mountain drive from the neighboring village...
We were amazed that 10 of the children make that walk every day to attend school.. As well many come to Vera's out reaqch centre for help from time to time... After we got to the top of the valley and had a chance to talk to Vera... I learned that she comes to this village every week to help them... I asked her how she got there... Happly she repplied... Last fall your team bought me a bike!... OK that explains how she gets home, but there is no way she is able to bike up that hill... If any one needs a Van, this lady does... if it were not for that big pond.. I would give her mine!
1 comment:
John, out of curiousity, what happened to this village?
Post a Comment