Suggested Alternatives
The Telegraph article
Under the headline, “Grand Canyon? Try Cheddar Gorge instead”, the Daily Telegraph published an article about a new campaign to persuade Brits to take a “stayvaction”, a holiday at home*. Based on survey results of where in the world tourists would like to visit, they looked for suitable alternatives in the British Isles which might be less spectacular, would certainly be cheaper.
Instead of visiting the Grand Canyon, they suggested a trip to Cheddar Gorge; Brighton Pavilion was championed as an alternative to the Taj Mahal; Whilst Hadrian’s Wall might not be as long as The Great Wall of China, it is about the same age, and was as important for protecting the borders of a great state from unruly neighbours. They also came up with suggestions for alternatives to the Rocky Mountains, Angel Falls, Times Square and Bondi Beach.
It struck me as interesting marketing ploy, but although most of the places chosen are well worth a visit I couldn’t help wondering if they had missed the point. Not only were the originals more dramatic, they also involve the whole experience of travelling and taking in a different culture, (albeit, maybe, one which is familiar and comfortable). Although it is true that for many people, the destination is the main attraction, (typified by the question “Are we there yet?”) there are many others for the journey is as important.
Also, I am not sure that the idea of promoting somewhere as a “cheaper alternative” rather than concentrating on the positive attractions of the suggested destinations is actually a good marketing ploy.
However, I wish them luck.
Thinking about the original list, however, I noticed that there it represented a wide diversity of places around the world: Australia, China, India, The United States and Venezuela. Four of the five continents were included, (only Europe seemed to miss out).
It occurred to me that they did have point – it was possible in a visit to a small country like Britain, or Kyrgyzstan, and to cover both objectives: visit spectacular destinations whilst at the same time gaining new experiences.
Instead of the Grand Canyon, for example, here in Kyrgyzstan there are Konurchak Canyons, just off the main road between Bishkek and Lake Issyk Kul, 125 km from Bishkek and stretching for nearly 200 km. To see Konorchak Canyons completely would take a long time – but it is possible to spend a few days exploring the spectacular scenery. The canyons have romantic names like “Grand Canyon”, “Bobsleigh” and “Skyskraper”. They were formed about one and a half to two million years ago and since that time erosion by wind and water has turned a plain plateau into gigantic stone pillars, some of which are 400-500 meters high. The canyons see almost no precipitation at any season of the year – between 1980 and 1990 the canyons received no snowfall at all, and in the last decade of the twentieth century snow has fallen twice. If the air temperature in Bishkek is 20 degrees below zero, in the Konorchak Canyons it is +5 degrees – however, in recent times the climate in the Canyons is becoming a little colder. One peculiarity of the Konorchak Canyons is that plants growing there tend to be very large – much larger than usual. One of the main attractions at Konorchak is an extinct volcano, Segizkhan Shokhy, dating back to 2.5-3 million years ago with slopes covered with fossilized seashells the size of the child’s fist and the remnants of lava.
If the Rocky Mountains sound interesting, then Kyrgyzstan has Karavshan. The Karavshan Mountains form a narrow east-west spine of granite, about 15 miles long, among the usual shale and limestone peaks of the Pamir Alai, on the border of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Sheer and massive rock formations cut by vertical cracks and to many people they are reminiscent of rocky canyons in America, Patagonia and elsewhere. Rarely visited by locals or visitors alike, wild life reigns supreme in this area. The few human visitors that do descend on the area tend to be either local shepherds and herders bringing their animals to the lush green pastures; the occasional miner working the deposits of mica, tin or other minerals (during the early parts of the twentieth century – the mine works have now been abandoned); and mountaineers intent on exploring virgin territory, (not all of the peaks in the area have been conquered). Climbers “discovered” the area during the Soviet period, in 1947. Foreign climbers didn’t make an appearance until much later – a group of Americans being amongst the first in 1973. In 1986 the Soviet Alpine Championship was held in the Ak Suu valley. Karavshin has now become an attractive destination for climbers from all over the world. Amongst the advantages that Karavshin enjoys over more established climbing venues are the relatively moderate altitude and climate. It is only at altitudes of 4000m that permanent glaciers and snowfields form. – what snow may fall tends to melt away quite quickly and the lower slopes are generally clear of snow.
The Great Wall of China and Hadrian’s Wall were massive defensive ramparts, but Kyrgyzstan has the Tash Rabat Caravanserai. This may not be on such a grand scale as the other two but it probably served as an important fort on the Great Silk Road. To be honest, no-one is really sure what its original purpose was or when it was built, but there is archaeological evidence to suggest that the site was occupied in the 10th century and that it was a place of both rest and worship and that it would have served to protect caravans to and from China from both the ravages of the weather and of bandits. According to one travel writer, this is probably the best-preserved Silk Road site you will find and “no other retains as much of its original atmosphere”. Maybe one of the reasons it has retained its character is that it is set on the main road from Bishkek/Naryn to Torugart, but some 15 km up a side valley – the Kara Kojun Gorge. For many years the turn-off was not sign-posted and so travelers simply passed by unaware of what they were missing.
Kyrgyzstan may not have anything to match Angel Falls in Venezuela, (which are, after, all the tallest waterfall in the world), or Victoria Falls, or Niagara Falls, but then, neither does Britain. Both, however, do have a number of spectacular falls. In Kyrgyzstan, for example, there are the Abishir Falls, about an hour’s drive to the West of Osh, in the Nookat district, is a picturesque canyon – with steep rocky sides, with the river Abishirsai flowing though it. The river emerges gushing from a cave in the rock face and falls through 30 m to the valley floor. The waters of the waterfall are thought to have curative properties and be holy. Pilgrims come from far and wide to bath in the spray and collect the water in bottles. Nearby is a hermit’s cave and there is a legend of the holy man Idris turning the water into milk – then back to water again because it was of more use to the people than milk.
It may not be as romantic as the Taj Mahal, but the redbrick mausoleums in Uzgen are spectacular in their own way. Decorated with figured brickwork with inscriptions and carved ornamentation in alabaster and plaster, and if romantic connotations are the attractions, then Kyrgyzstan has Djety Oguz and Burana, both steeped in legend.
Kyrgyzstan may not be endowed with a world famous beach with surf breaking on the shore line, but the Northern Shore of Lake Issyk Kul does possess a number of beaches with the possibility of swimming and boating, not to mention amusement park and nearby mountains. In fact, although Issyk Kul is reckoned to be the Pearl of the Tien Shan, there are other lakes such as Myortvoye Ozera, Kyrgyzstan’s answer to the Dead Sea, but in fact Western visitors often prefer the stark beauty of Lake Son Kul or the steep wooded slopes of Lake Sary Chelek.
Where we might have difficulty in matching the lights and splendours of Times Square, or Picadilly, but the recently renovated Ala Too Square in the center of Bishkek, with its fountains and Son-et-Lumiѐre show, can be lively and filled with bustling crowds on a summer’s evening. Being a relatively small city compared to New York and London, we may not have the range of nightlife but there is usually plenty going on.
As I’ve said before, and I will say it again, “There’s something for everyone in Kyrgyzstan – unless you are looking for Volcanoes.” The attractions of Kyrgyzstan may not be on the same scale as some of the other tourist attractions around the world but, then again, that’s part of the attraction. It’s not just about seeing the sights but soaking up the atmosphere and experiencing new things.
*There was also a link to a photo gallery with the byline, Britain’s answers to the Wonders of the World, which I felt was worth a visit.
Bishkek