The end of Tolkuchka?
The Internet portal Gundogar.org which quotes the Central Asian News website announced on 3 April that Turkmen authorities are planning to build a new huge trade centre near Ashgabat. Construction of the “Altyn Asyr” market (the name of the future centre) is to be finished by 2010. It will cost $152 million and occupy 100 ha square.
Does that mean that the most famous Turkmen open-air market - so-called Tolkuchka (from the Russian word tolkat’ - to push) - is going to be closed? It would be a pity, as Tolkuchka is one of the most interesting places in Ashgabat with its own unique atmosphere. You can buy there everything from a camel to ice cream. Just look at this …
on April 6th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Absolutely amazing photos! The “National Geographic” level. Respect.
on April 7th, 2008 at 3:49 am
its a nice place and certainly a social part of out culture. but i would prefer somewhere less crowded, cleaner and where you dont have to worry about quality of things you buy. i dont know, maybe its just me…
Nice photos, respect
on April 7th, 2008 at 5:06 am
Thanks for the photos. I think the butcher is wearing a do’ppi, but it is not very visible.
on April 7th, 2008 at 5:08 am
Also, a walking woman in the second pic is buying meat in the third picture. There is no comparison to our fresh and halal meat……I miss so much….I am not even talking about melons…..
on April 7th, 2008 at 5:29 am
The idea of constructing a new trade site is quite tempting, yet I am a bit confused as to how the government is going to approach the relocation of all the sellers in the market. Most of them are ancestral traders from remote areas that are not used to the new ways of trading/selling/being.
Plus, that Turkmen market is unique with anchored traditonal cultural significance to it, one of the oldest in the world.
It is with excitement that I go to fight my way through the dust and sand once a year, to finally find that perfect piece of antique turkmen jewelry, or that perfect “basslykly haly”, on a sunny turkmen morning. The essence to it will be gone…you can find modernized supermarkets and trade centers anywhere you go in the world, but you will never find another talkuchka…
sigh* to the government for not being able to preserve the very few cultural significanes we have.
on April 7th, 2008 at 5:32 am
abdulgamid, i wouldnt exaggerate as to label these pictures up to the national geographic level
however, they are nice, and they do bring that sense of home and positivity, so thanks for taking them!