Life at Lake Sonkol

The center of life by the lake are yurt camps. Poultry moves near the yurt, other animals have a „paddock“ larger. Men play games or cards after work.

Much more often, however, you will meet herdsmen living in isolated yurts just for their own family.

In less accessible mountain areas, yurts are still transported on horseback. At Sonkol, most people already have cars, because a car can handle the journey here with caution.

Sometimes you can meet quite curious vehicles – a military truck converted to a bus for tourists of larger travel agencies. Every traveler's dream through infinite Asia – if only there were no such restrictions everywhere

The yurt itself was, apart from animals, previously mostly the only property of the family, so it was beautifully decorated with colorful fabrics and carpets. Hooks along the edges are used to hang things. The interior is mostly free – she sleeps and eats here.

Kyrgyz cuisine is surprisingly very meaty. However, the locals can taste and spice it well, so most of the dishes prepared, in European conditions in „combat conditions“, are very tasty. A large container is necessary, where the water from the lake is boiled and tea is made.

Normally, in the case of herdsmen, everything takes place in a yurt. In larger camps, where locals regularly take care of tourists, there is always one larger dining tent built for one family + tourists. When eating, they sit on the ground in Turkish sitting or on small puffins. For those who are not used to it, it is slightly uncomfortable. In addition to the main courses, there is always a selection of local delicious jams, cream and fried pieces of dough on the table. Fresh absolutely delicious. Less picky.

The children in the camp have had their tasks since they were little. The most common is the application of the necessary water for cooking and other activities. Furthermore, herding cattle into corrals for the evening and other ancillary work. They like to ride on donkeys and bigger ones on horses. The girls help with cooking and cleaning.

The basis of everything is to have enough drinking water. In most places, the streams dry up in the summer, so quite often drinking water is taken directly from the lake. The most common way is to come there with a donkey, which has a large container on each side, and load it properly.

The animals have a beautiful life here – plenty of pasture, relative freedom and the opportunity to drink from the lake at any time.

Every beautiful day ends here with a nice and often dramatic sunset.