Dispatches from the field: Baylen Forcier in Kyrgyzstan, live from a bazaar

by | Mar 19, 2010 | POLITICS

Baylen Forcier, our foreign correspondent of sorts is currently in Kyrgyzstan doing documentary work. We’re going to be posting images from his travels across Central Asia, all of which are via Sons of Hedin organization. Based out of Bishkek in northern Kyrgyzstan, Sons of Hedin is named after Swedish explorer and committed scholar Sven Hedin, and represents the joint work of Baylen and Dalton Bennett, with the aim of promoting awareness of Greater Central Asia.

This week, SoH visited a typical Kyrgyzstani bazaar and apparently sampled the horse meat. From their most recent post:

Bazaars have long served as an important place for the exchange of goods and information. Nearly all wares ranging from electronics to clothes can be bought for a fraction of the price. The hustle and bustle of Bishkek’s Osh Bazaar offers a fascinating glimpse into this locally preferred method of commerce.

Osh bazaar is the largest of the city’s three markets, and consists of indoor and outdoor sellers. Individuals travel from distant villages selling livestock, local foodstuffs, and fresh vegetables. Fragrant spices and vibrant produce paired with calls of anxious sellers makes Osh Bazaar an unforgettable experience.

As always, there are more pictures below the break.

Baylen Forcier, our foreign correspondent of sorts is currently in Kyrgyzstan doing documentary work. We’re going to be posting images from his travels across Central Asia, all of which are via Sons of Hedin organization. Based out of Bishkek in northern Kyrgyzstan, Sons of Hedin is named after Swedish explorer and committed scholar Sven Hedin, and represents the joint work of Baylen and Dalton Bennett, with the aim of promoting awareness of Greater Central Asia.

This week, SoH visited a typical Kyrgyzstani bazaar and apparently sampled the horse meat. From their most recent post:

Bazaars have long served as an important place for the exchange of goods and information. Nearly all wares ranging from electronics to clothes can be bought for a fraction of the price. The hustle and bustle of Bishkek’s Osh Bazaar offers a fascinating glimpse into this locally preferred method of commerce.

Osh bazaar is the largest of the city’s three markets, and consists of indoor and outdoor sellers. Individuals travel from distant villages selling livestock, local foodstuffs, and fresh vegetables. Fragrant spices and vibrant produce paired with calls of anxious sellers makes Osh Bazaar an unforgettable experience.

As always, there are more pictures below the break.





RVA Staff

RVA Staff

Since 2005, the dedicated team at RVA Magazine, known as RVA Staff, has been delivering the cultural news that matters in Richmond, VA. This talented group of professionals is committed to keeping you informed about the events and happenings in the city.




more in politics

Echoes from the Sea | Part IV: Waves That Don’t Break

Read the first chapters HERE. May 8th, 2025 RHIB crew about to head out. Photo by Kenya-Jade Pinto The call came over the night radio channel to prepare for rescue at 4:40am. A small fiberglass boat with about 50 people on board, according to Alarm Phone. The bridge...

Ghazala Hashmi Wins with Progressive Values

If there was a moment that changed the race for the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor, it would definitely be when Senator Ghazala Hashmi delivered a speech in the bed of a pickup truck outside of a protest against Governor Glenn Youngkin in Church Hill....

Richmond Showed Up. Now the Real Work Begins. Get Involved.

Richmond showed up this weekend. We’ve got to hold our leaders accountable—applaud them when they get it right, and hit the streets when they don’t. But protest is just one part of the work. If you were out there—or even if you wanted to be—don’t let it end with the...

Richmond Joins National No Kings Protest Against Trump and ICE

A wave of protests is set to sweep across Virginia this weekend, with back-to-back demonstrations planned in Richmond as part of a national response to the Trump administration’s escalating use of federal power—from immigration enforcement to military spectacle. Ed....

The Point of No Return

“Violence can destroy power; it is utterly incapable of creating it.” — Hannah Ardent America is in crisis. A crisis of democracy. A crisis of leadership. A crisis of identity. The point of no return is being reached. It's fair to say what's happening in Los Angeles...

Why Norfolk’s NEON District Works—and What Richmond Can Learn

In 2013, a two-day event transformed a neglected stretch of Norfolk, Virginia, into a pop-up arts district. It wasn’t a city plan—it was a vision. Volunteers opened temporary galleries in boarded-up storefronts. Food trucks rolled in. Sidewalks were painted with...

Topics: