BISHKEK: Kyrgyzstan is seeking to attract more tourists by promoting its traditional kumis - fermented mare's milk - which locals drink and bathe in and say is good for their health.
The move comes as interest in fermented and probiotic drinks is soaring in many countries.
The importance of kumis to Kyrgyz culture is demonstrated by the fact that the Central Asian former Soviet republic's capital, Bishkek, is named after a paddle used to churn the fermenting milk.
Through promotional films and festivals, Kyrgyzstan is encouraging tourists to experience the traditional nomadic Kyrgyz lifestyle by sleeping in a yurt in a lush mountain pasture close to the herds of horses which provide the milk.
Tourists can also drink fresh local milk, known as saamal, in the yurts.
"We decided to try it after hearing about saamal and kumis from our friends who had visited Kyrgyzstan," says Ibrahim al-Sharif, a tourist from Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
"I cannot even describe its taste. There is nothing in Saudi Arabia that I would compare with it."
Milking a mare is far trickier than milking a cow and requires the person to essentially hug the animal's thigh to reach. The milking is done between mid-May and mid-July, with the appearance of the Pleiades star cluster in the night sky a traditional sign of its end.
Reuters
Wed Jul 20 2022
![Kyrgyzstan promotes its traditional mare's milk to lure tourists Kyrgyzstan promotes its traditional mare's milk to lure tourists](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-07/41658301323_BISHKEK.jpg)
A farmer milks a horse at a high altitude summer pasture called Suusamyr, some 170 km (106 miles) south of the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek. - REUTERS
![Muhammad Adi disangka hilang, menginap di rumah kawan Muhammad Adi disangka hilang, menginap di rumah kawan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721115027_MuhammadAdiLagik.jpg)
Muhammad Adi disangka hilang, menginap di rumah kawan
Seorang remaja lelaki berusia 17 tahun yang dilaporkan hilang sejak tujuh hari lepas telah pulang ke rumahnya di Ampangan Tinggi malam tadi.
60 peratus tenaga buruh di Sabah belum berdaftar dengan KWSP
Sebanyak 60 peratus atau 1.3 juta daripada 2.3 tenaga buruh di Sabah belum berdaftar sebagai ahli Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP) dan berisiko tidak memiliki simpanan untuk persaraan.
RUU ordinan buruh Sabah 2024 dibentang
Pindaan Ordinan Buruh Sabah membabitkan 16 perkara utama meliputi 70 fasal untuk menyelaras undang-undang perburuhan yang merangkumi tiga akta utama yang dikuatkuasakan di Semenanjung Malaysia.
![Wanita racun lima orang sebelum bunuh diri dengan sianida - Polis Bangkok Wanita racun lima orang sebelum bunuh diri dengan sianida - Polis Bangkok](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721208356_Bangkokhotel.jpg)
Wanita racun lima orang sebelum bunuh diri dengan sianida - Polis Bangkok
Polis percaya seorang daripada enam pelancong, dua daripadanya juga memegang pasport Amerika Syarikat, adalah dalang di sebalik tragedi itu.
![Tiada dokumen buktikan Guan Eng batal pengecualian cukai Yayasan Albukhary - Saksi Tiada dokumen buktikan Guan Eng batal pengecualian cukai Yayasan Albukhary - Saksi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-03/51679899391_MASHUP.jpg)
Tiada dokumen buktikan Guan Eng batal pengecualian cukai Yayasan Albukhary - Saksi
Tiada dokumen yang menunjukkan bahawa Lim Guan Eng telah membatalkan pengecualian cukai terhadap Yayasan Albukhary semasa beliau memegang jawatan Menteri Kewangan.
![Kes bunuh Nur Farah Kartini: 26 saksi dirakam keterangan - KP Selangor Kes bunuh Nur Farah Kartini: 26 saksi dirakam keterangan - KP Selangor](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61720605165_tbHusseinOmarKhan.jpg)
Kes bunuh Nur Farah Kartini: 26 saksi dirakam keterangan - KP Selangor
Datuk Hussein Omar Khan berkata antara saksi yang dirakam keterangan mereka termasuklah rakan Allahyarham Nur Farah Kartini, rakan sekerja suspek dan saksi awam.
![27 anjing mati disyaki diracun, JPV kesal tiada aduan awal 27 anjing mati disyaki diracun, JPV kesal tiada aduan awal](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721213446_HngMooiLye.jpg)
27 anjing mati disyaki diracun, JPV kesal tiada aduan awal
Tiada tindakan lanjut dapat diambil termasuk siasatan punca kematian haiwan berkenaan kerana kelewatan melaporkan insiden itu.
![Biden akan tarik diri jika doktor dedahkan ada masalah kesihatan Biden akan tarik diri jika doktor dedahkan ada masalah kesihatan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721019915_JoeBiden.jpg)
Biden akan tarik diri jika doktor dedahkan ada masalah kesihatan
Biden sebelum ini berkata keadaan kesihatannya tidak memerlukan pemeriksaan tambahan, tetapi beliau bersedia jika doktor memintanya.
![Perundangan baharu diperkenal kawal selia Badan Berkanun Persekutuan - Pejabat PM Perundangan baharu diperkenal kawal selia Badan Berkanun Persekutuan - Pejabat PM](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-10/51696910524_PUTRAPERDANA.jpg)
Perundangan baharu diperkenal kawal selia Badan Berkanun Persekutuan - Pejabat PM
Satu perundangan baharu akan diperkenalkan bertujuan mengawal selia Badan Berkanun Persekutuan (BBP) serta syarikat-syarikat di bawahnya.
![MCMC siasat empat lagi individu, didakwa buat komen jelik dan provokatif MCMC siasat empat lagi individu, didakwa buat komen jelik dan provokatif](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721211871_MCMCKomenJelik.jpg)
MCMC siasat empat lagi individu, didakwa buat komen jelik dan provokatif
Secara keseluruhan enam suspek disiasat berhubung komen jelik dan provokatif menerusi siaran ulangan sesi Parlimen di platform media sosial