Exploring Qyrgy Bazar

Most cities in Central Asia still have giant bazaars, places for food, clothes, dry goods, you name it, you can find it. Malls, supermarkets, what are those pathetic attempts at person-to-person, local commerce?

In Shymkent, the place to go is the mighty Qyrgy Bazar. We went.

Heading in. The entrance gate does a nice job of announcing that you've arrived at a palace of selling, buying, bargaining.

OK, nothing radical. Rows of fruit and veg vendors in the food section, mannequins and snazzy threads in the clothes section.

Slow day. Closing your stall usually means just draping some big cloth over everything.

Into the warren of rows, alleys of stalls. Maybe some sunlight breaks through, maybe it's time to start wrapping up the place.

Still open, still waiting for a sale.