Horseback riding with Olga

On Friday I joined our friend Jana (from Germany working for a German NGO in Bishkek) to watch her taking horseback riding lessons. She has just started doing it. Living in a new city she thought of a new hobby she could start. So she figured, what would be more convenient and fun than horseback riding while living in Kyrgyzstan? Besides all the imported Daimlers, Audis and Mashrutkas, horseback riding is the most traditional way of getting around here. Maybe not in the city, but definitely in the rural areas outside of Bishkek and in the mountain villages. And compared to Germany it's affordable here - both horses ($400-500 from an animal bazaar i.e. in Karakol) and lessons (350 som/hr = approx. 7 Euro/hr). Although it wouldn't be my thing to do, I had fun watching her and Olga, the Russian teacher. Jana also took the chance to get herself a Lada Niva while living in Bishkek - very typical vehicle here! I love it!