Osh Information

Hello to all,

I recently spent a few days in Osh and would like to pass some information:

- Accomodation: not a lot of choices in Osh. I took a look at the famous "Osh Guesthouse" and their dorms were quite ... unglamourous. They're cheap (180 per person) but not very tidy and not a great choice if you want some privacy. The Taj Mahal is not so much better and much more expensive. Finally, a good compromise is the "nameless hotel". It's located on the same street as the Taj Mahal, on the opposite side, about 100m down the road. There is no name on it. Just a sign saying "Hotel" in three different languages. I got a twin room which was very clean, had a toilet inside and hot water available all the time for 350 sums (negotiated down from 400). The woman running the place is not very helpful in terms of information but she makes sure the rooms are spotless. There's also another hotel in the bazaar which might be cheaper but I didn't check it out.

- Internet connection: the best place is just across the street from the mosque, called "Dell Internet". It's fast, clean, quiet and ... has air-con ! 30 sums per hour. Friendly people.

- Lunch: lots of large cafes or restaurants in town but my favourite was the one with big white columns, just 50m up from "Dell Internet". It is like a cafetria where you go to different counters to buy bread, shashliks, samasa, tea, salad, laghman ... Very good food, very friendly people. Tables are shared with other customers so you get to connect with local people. This place doesn't serve any alcohol since it is linked to the mosque.

- Breakfast: the best place for me was in the bazaar. A large tea house with a terrace on the river and a large room inside where sellers from the bazaar as well as gypsy families come to get their breakfast before the stalls open. Very nice atmosphere and friendly people.

- Buying stuff: of course you can find mostly anything in the bazaar but there's also a very modern (and very pricey and very empty) supermarket about 30m from the Bishkek taxi stand.

- Sightseeing: the park was a great place to walk around and watch people play chess, cards... children have fun at the games or couples enjoy a cup of tea at the chaikhanas.

All in all a nice city worth a couple of days.

w.