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Food & Drink : Turkmen food is
similar to that of the rest of Central Asia. There are a number of
good Western-standard restaurants in Ashgabat, although they rarely
have an extensive menu. Plov - pronounced ‘plof’ - is the staple food
for everyday (but is also served at celebrations) and consists of
chunks of mutton, shredded yellow turnip and rice fried in a large
wok. Shashlyk (skewered chunks of mutton grilled over charcoal -
kebabs - which come with raw sliced onions) and lipioshka (rounds of
unleavened bread) are served in restaurants and are often sold in the
street, but the quality can be variable. Manty are larger noodle
dumplings filled with meat. Shorpa is a meat and vegetable soup. There
are, however, a number of dishes that are particularly characteristic
of Turkmenistan: ka’urma is mutton deep-fried in its own fat and
churban churpa is mutton fat dissolved in green tea. Ishkiykli are
dough balls filled with meat and onion which are traditionally cooked
in sand that has been heated by a fire. On the shores of the Caspian
Sea, seafood is often substituted for mutton in traditional dishes
such as plov. In the west of Turkmenistan, there is a speciality in
which mutton is roasted in a clay oven fired with aromatic woods.
In general, hotel food shows strong Russian influence: borcht is
cabbage soup, entrecôte is a well-done steak, cutlet are grilled meat
balls, and strogan is the local equivalent of beef Stroganoff. Pirmeni,
originating in Ukraine, are small boiled dumplings of meat and
vegetables similar to ravioli, sometimes served in a vegetable soup.
Green tea is very popular and can be obtained almost anywhere. Beer,
wine, vodka, brandy and sparkling wine (shampanski) are all widely
available in restaurants. Kefir, a thick drinking yoghurt, is often
served with breakfast.
Nightlife :
Ashgabat has an opera and ballet theatre, which
shows both Russian and European works and a drama theatre. There are
also a few restaurants offering dancing.
Shopping :
The Sunday market is the best place in the
world to buy the misleadingly named Bukhara rugs, which are actually
made in Turkmenistan. There is a shop in the Art Gallery which sells
traditional Turkmen handicrafts, silver and costumes including the
distinctive Turkmen sheepskin hats. The central bazaar in Ashgabat is
a good place to buy food and curiosities. Shopping hours :
Mon-Fri 0900-1800. Bazaars open at dawn.
Special Events :
A number of festivals in Turkmenistan provide
interesting spectacles for visitors. The following is a selection of
special events occurring in Turkmenistan in 2004 : Apr 27
Akilteken Day, celebration of the Akilteken horse with parades and
races. May 25 Day of the Turkmen Carpet. Nov 30 Harvest
Festival.
Social Conventions :
Lipioshka (bread) should never be laid upside
down, and it is normal to remove shoes, but not socks, when entering
someone’s house. Shorts are rarely seen in Turkmenistan and, worn by
females, are likely to provoke unwelcome attention from the local male
population. |
