China reopens its borders with Kyrgyzstan

In 2018, Nomad's Land had the pleasure of supporting a group of young Canadian an extraordinary adventure captured in the film "Towards Nomadic Land." This cinematic journey takes us deep into the heart of Kyrgyzstan, where five young adventurers in their twenties embark on a tumultuous expedition of backcountry skiing and cultural exploration.

Enigmatic and graceful, the snow leopard (or irbis) is a symbol of survival and beauty in the harsh conditions of the mountain peaks. This marvellous predator, with its snow-white fur and awe-inspiring grace, lives in one of the most inaccessible places on earth: the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia.

For the Kyrgyz, the Ak Ilbirs is a national icon and an amulet, even considered a sacred animal. "The snow leopard is the heritage of our fathers," said Atambayev. Its strength has also made it a symbol of heroism. Nearly 1,200 years ago, the leader of the tribal association that became the first Kyrgyz khanate was called Barsbek ("Lord Snow Leopard"). Atambayev urged his people to respect their ancestors: 'The snow leopard', he declared, 'is one of us'.

The first records of this game were found in the Egyptian pyramids, about 7 thousand years old. Ancient Egyptian drawings show that the most avid players were African traders, who spent not a little free time playing the game while waiting for their cargoes or during long journeys. Thousands of years ago this game left the African continent and spread to Asia, the Caribbean, South America and Europe. The most characteristic element of mankala games is the acquisition of stones. In the Kyrgyz version of this game - toguz korgool, the player's goal is also to acquire as many korgools as possible.