l'aviva travels

osh market

to visit bishkek’s osh market is to witness the city’s vitality manifest itself in full force - it’s a true assault to the senses, in the very best of ways. beyond the somewhat mind-boggling array of offerings, it’s the mix of cultures and ethnicities represented that strikes most strongly. it’s a testament to the incredible diversity present in the make-up of the kyrgyz nation. on view, each in a distinct section: spices + vegetables from the dungans and uyrgurs (muslims from western china), dried fruits and nuts from the southern regions of kyrgyzstan, salads and assorted kimchee from the koreans, dairy + flowers from the turks (a catch-all term for the turkish and the armenians), meat + honey from the russians… endlessly fascinating.