Crystal Roses
Crystal and Roses - traditional gifts to commemorate a Fifteenth anniversary
A couple of weeks ago, I asked my staff a difficult question … “Where can I buy a crystal rose?”
The response was pretty universal … “A what?”
After I repeated it and explained … and we went through a list of the usual sort of shops and outlets where such ornaments or jewelry are sold. Once we had eliminated the ones that I had already tried, I set out to try some of the others. Unfortunately, all to no avail.
I could find lots of crystal – and plenty of roses … flowers are pretty popular here … but there didn’t seem to be any Crystal Roses.
I wasn’t too surprised … after all, it was a pretty specific request. Although it’s possible that if I had continued my search and visited yet more shops, that I might have found one … but in order to get one in time for yesterday, I resorted to ordering one over the internet.
I supposes that raises the question as to exactly why I wanted a Crystal Rose … my staff were certainly intrigued and asked me constantly … I could see from the glint in their eyes that they assumed it was for some romantic gift.
In a sense, they were right … it was for a gift – but a commemorative gift, not a romantic one. Crystal and Roses are both traditional gifts
Traditional, Crystal and Roses are both given as gifts to commemorate a Fifteenth Anniversary.
The next question, of course, was “What anniversary?“.
It was on 1st June 1998, fifteen years ago that the Celestial Mountains Guesthouse in Naryn opened its doors for the first time and accepted its first guests.
The guesthouse was the first of our hotels … we originally planned to open a number of similar guesthouses around the country with the intention of running tours between them. As events turned out, however, after we established the guesthouse and the Silk Road Lodge in Bishkek, several other similar guesthouses were established around Kyrgyzstan and we were able to work with them.
Celestial Mountains |
The Celestial Mountains Guest House. Naryn. Basic Info |
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On your way to China over the TorugartPass …
exploring the Tien Shan mountains … or in Naryn on business … then try the Celestial Mountains Guest House
Our guest house:
Rooms: there are 12 rooms:
In the summer months there are also eight yurts, with three single beds.
Prices : We offer a range of pricing options: Room only, Bed and Breakfast, Half Board (Bed, Breakfast and Evening Meal), Full Board (with three meals) Packed lunches are also available on request. Standard rooms are priced based on occupancy, (single occupancy, two or three people occupying a room). Razzakova 42, Naryn, Kyrgyzstan - Tel./Fax (+ 996 3522) 50412 Or contact the Bishkek office: Kievskaya 131/2, Bishkek 720001 Tel: + 996 312 212562 Fax: +9963- 312 610402 A subject of the Naryn Free Economic Zone
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The English Guesthouse |
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Essential Information:
Services: We offer our clients the following services:
- accommodation – in rooms (or in yurts during the summer)
- rooms cleaned everyday – with clean sheets and towels for each guest (linen changed every 5 days and towels every 3 days for guests staying several days)
- meals (bed and breakfast inclusive in the price – lunch or picnic lunch by order) – special menu upon request
- television
- in the television room with a local and satellite channels and a selection of videos in English and Russian
- in the Executive Rooms showing local channels and with a CD player
- car parking
- wifi internet access
- use of telephone/fax (including international calls)
- sale of drinks
- safe keeping of valuables handed into the staff and put in the safe
- storage of baggage – upon request
- soap is available on request (free of charge)
- use of iron and ironing board upon request
- use of first aid kit upon request
- sale of souvenirs, and literature
- information aboutKyrgyzstan, Naryn and Kyrgyz traditions
Prices:
- We offer a range of pricing options: Room only, Bed and Breakfast, Half Board (Bed, Breakfast and Evening Meal), Full Board (with three meals) Packed lunches are also available on request.
- Room prices are based on Occupancy – 1 person, 2 or 3. Prices in yurts are per person.
- Children under 5 – free. Children aged 5-15 half price.
- Discounts are available to organizations with whom we have a contract – frequent or long term guests
- We do not have separate prices for “foreigners” and “locals” – we believe this to be against the constitution. We can, however, make special arrangements for drivers etc.
Check in time: 12:00 - Check out time 12:00
Please note that the times are the same. So far, our experience is that this has not caused a problem – but it is possible that if you want to check in at 12:00 then the room may not yet have been cleaned.
Meals: The Dining Room is in the Basement – meal times can be varied by arrangement with the staff. There area selection of drinks available – please order from the staff and pay for them separately. If you have your own, you are welcome to drink them – but please explain to the staff beforehand so that they don’t get confused and try to charge you for them (!)
Lunch, or pack lunches, can be provided if you order beforehand.
Television: On the first (ground) floor there is a Television room. There are three local (Russian and Kyrgyz language) channels and a selection of Satellite channels available. We also have a selection of English and Russian language videos, which you are welcome to watch – there is no charge.
Communications: The telephone/fax is located in the Manager’s office on the first (ground) floor. We charge the cost to us according to Kyrgyz Telecom’s tariff – plus a small surcharge. Internet access is also available, e.g. for checking your email.
Utilities: Heating – Water – Electricity – Telephones. The guesthouse is situated on the edge of town and we sometimes have difficulty with some of the utility services. As a result we have installed our own generator, which can operate when there are power failures; a water tank and pump; our own coal burning boiler for heating and we store bottled gas as a reserve for cooking. Problems, however, do still occur and although we hope that your stay will not be affected in any way, we assure you that if any do arise during your stay we will do our utmost to solve them. We ask you to accept our apologies for any inconvenience and your understanding whilst we work on them.
Fire – in each room there is a simplified schematic map of the guesthouse with instructions of what to do in the event of fire. Please make sure you familiarize yourself with it. If you discover a fire please inform the staff and evacuate the building.
Security –Please do not allow strangers into your room. Also, please do not leave money and valuables unattended. If you want to place money or valuables in the safe, please see one of the staff. We cannot be responsible for belongings left in rooms. There are staff in the hotel at all times. The main door is bolted at nights. The property is fenced .
Consideration for other guests – Please remember that some guests may be leaving very early in the morning (for example, to go to Torugart) and so we ask you not to make a lot of noise at night. If you are leaving early in the morning – please remember that other guests will still be asleep.
Payment – You can pay in US Dollars, Euro or Kyrgyz Som – our prices are quoted in US dollars – but by law all invoices and receipts have to be in Som. We use the official exchange rate of the National Bank. This may differ from the rates offered by banks and exchange offices. Please note that we do not have a license to operate as an exchange office and cannot exchange currency.
Special Arrangements: It is possible to make special arrangements for meals, a concert of traditional Kyrgyz music, a demonstration of traditional Kyrgyz crafts or with local organizations for translators, transport and other services.
Staff – The staff are all Kyrgyz (apart from the Director –Ian Claytor). They understand some English but do not speak it very well. If you need to speak to someone in English, they can phone Bishkek for you (free of charge).
Comments – There is a comments book located in the Dining Room
Directions to the Guesthouse:
From Kochkor (Bishkek – Issyk Kul)
As you approach Naryn, about 10km from Naryn you descend a long straight stretch of road … there are some billboards, on both sides of the road) … one is ours with our logo.
There is a fork in the road … both roads lead to Naryn, but to different ends of the town … take the left fork. In the middle of the triangular traffic island created at the fork there is a statue depicting two Snow Leopards facing each other with a small globe between them … on the globe (in Russian) is the name of the city – Naryn.
Follow the road … until you meet the outskirts of the city … you will pass the Customs Depot and a hillside cemetery on the Left. On the right will be a stele with the name (in Russian) Naryn.
You pass through a cutting … a flagpole high on the clifftop to the right … on the left there is a petrol station … a little further on some shops (kiosks)… and behind a low fence a park (an open area with trees). There is a road off to the left … just after that a bus stop with another small shop and immediately afterwards a tuning (driveway) between two blocks of flats.
On a lamppost just after the driveway is a sign bearing our logo.
Take the driveway, driving slowly – it is narrow and bends slightly … there is a children’s playground on the right … the big gates across the end of the driveway are our to guesthouse … there is a bell push on the left hand post.
The above information is available as pdf files:
Bishkek