Meet My Friends, Valeria
An interview to a friend I met during my trip in Kyrgyzstan.
Welcome to Meet My Friends, a series of interviews with people I met during my trips, special people who became my friends. I enjoy meeting new people while travelling, which is why I often volunteer during my trips. I think it is important to meet local people to know more about the culture of the place you visit, and sometimes you meet people with fascinating stories. In these interviews, I want you to know a bit about my friends and their countries, their stories and why they are special to me.
This interview is with my friend Valeria, I got to know her in Kyrgyzstan. I met her thanks to my volunteering in Bishkek, together we hiked in Belogorka Gorge and visited an abandoned hotel in Bishkek.
Please meet my friend, Valeria. I hope you enjoy this interview.
Please introduce yourself, where you are from, where are you right now, what you do, and how your typical day is.
My name is Valeria. I was born and live in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. I'm a psychologist with private practice and have my centre for additional education in psychology, where I teach. I like to balance work and life more to the relation of life in this period. So every day I have quite a lot of free time and space, doing small things, travel sometimes.
What does travelling mean for you?
Travelling makes me feel stronger inside as I can organise and arrange my life on my own, easier and lighter as the travel gives freedom, inspired by the new views and experience outside of what I've got used to in relation to the landscapes and people. And, of course, a lot of esthetical pleasure from other cities, architecture and human relations.
What is your favourite destination? Why?
I've been few times to Türkiye recently. Discovering this country for me now. I'm amazed, first of all, by the touching warmth and kindness of relation in-between people and, especially, parents to children. I'm like warming up by just watching it. And, also the historical places and architecture. It seems I like, in general, the Mediterranean mindset of warmth, kindness, beautiful nature and abundance in everything. Life feels flourishing there!
What would you say to someone to convince him/her/they to travel to Central Asia?
Central Asia is my motherland. I think it's particularly attractive from the point of wild nature, variety of landscapes and the feeling of freedom of nomadic life (in Kyrgyzstan). Those wide, wide valleys feel like eternity and have been there since the beginning of times. It's an incredible impression. High mountain valleys and peaks (we have 3 peaks of more than 7000 in Kyrgyzstan) are something unforgettable. The simplicity and, at the same time, rich in space and air, nomadic heritage formed a unique mentality of Kyrgyz people as those who are strong, calm, and fundamental in values and hospital.
I know you go frequently to Issyk Kul, tell me why you like it, why someone should visit it and what I missed not going there.
Issyk-Kul is the 2nd largest mountain lake in the world after Titikaka in Peru (1600 m above sea level). It has its unique climate atmosphere and contrast, which creates for me a sauna effect, haha. So, the lake is always quite cool (although it's called "Issyk", which means "hot" because it never freezes) and the sun and the sand on the beach are very hot. Thus it creates a contrast and you experience a nice body relaxation. I sleep, as we say, without legs in Issyk-Kul and feel like having a deep rest. Also, I just love to sit and watch this amazing view of the really big water, and waves or sometimes it's just super smooth, surrounded by huge mountains. And it's very convenient and safe to swim, because there are no dangerous fauna inside. I feel like I'm in a deep relationship with the lake.
One or two dishes you shouldn't miss while visiting Kyrgyzstan
The essential nomadic cuisine is very simple, so in Kyrgyzstan, you can find a nice variety of Central Asian food in general: Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Uygur, Chinese, Slavic, etc.
I love huge Samsa in Osh city (big pieces of meat in the dough, which you can as from the plate, cooked in the tandyr stove. Lagman (pasta with vegetables and meat) and Plov (meat with rice in Kazan). A typical Kyrgyz dish is beshbarmak (5 fingers) - meat with noodles initially eaten by hand.
What you see tourists do that they shouldn't do while visiting Kyrgyzstan
Maybe, it's better not to leave your things without watching
Something common to do somewhere else but weird to do in Kyrgyzstan
Hard to answer. It's weird in Kyrgyzstan not to be married by 30 years old and not to have children. They will always ask your age and your family status 😅.
Your next trip is already paid, where would you like to go?
South America. I speak Spanish and would be great to touch closer the Latin American culture. And, again the mindset of praising this life.
If you could be a character in a movie what would you be?
I would like to be a nature or an animal, like a horse or bird.
Thank you to Valeria for participating in Meet My Friends. If you enjoyed it, please consider subscribing, updating to a paid subscription or buying me a coffee. Also, you can share it with people you think might like this content.
Thank you for the article, Flavio. Kyrgyzstan sounds really interesting.
Thank you. As a photographer it looks and sounds like somewhere I should visit