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Transitions Online's photostream |
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Kyrgyzstan lineman
A Kyrgyz Santa climbs a utility pole at the Karakol ski resort, entertaing the public below.
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Uploaded on May 11, 2009
Santas on parade
Led by Kyrgyz winter icon Ayaz Ata (far right), visiting Santas march to the Karakol ski...
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Uploaded on May 11, 2009
Santas at the peak
Bells, cheers and shouts of "Ho-ho-ho" ring through the Kyrgyz mountains as Santas...
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Uploaded on May 11, 2009
Where's Rudolph?
Kyrgyz tour companies recruited yak from a private farm to play the reindeer role at the country's Santa festival.
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Uploaded on May 11, 2009
American Santa and tourist
"Santa Paul" Kudla from Nome, Alaska, poses with a toursit for a photo at the Karakol ski resort during the parade of Santas.
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Uploaded on May 11, 2009
Flag parade
Japanese Santa Paradise Yamamoto and American "Santa Paul" Kudla wave their countries' flags at Karakol ski resort.
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Uploaded on May 11, 2009
Follow the Kyrgyz flag
Kyrgyz Ayaz Ata leads the way at the Santa parade. Each of the Santas carried the flag for their home country.
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Uploaded on May 11, 2009
Swedish Santa
Tall and taciturn Swedish Santa Bengt Lofgren was a striking figure and a crowd favorite as he paraded through Karakol.
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Uploaded on May 11, 2009
Festival culmination in Karakol
The festival culminated at Karakol, where red-suited skiers and Santa Clauses made quite an impression on the public.
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Uploaded on May 11, 2009
Countries of the world flag parade
Several dozen young skiers join in on the Parade of World Flags at Kyrgyzstan's Santa festival.
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Uploaded on May 11, 2009
Greeting people in Karakol
Skiers and tourists in Karakol were greeted by Santa Clauses on the second day of the Festival.
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Uploaded on May 11, 2009
Santa on the dock
An easy-going Kyrgyz Santa impressed the public by showing off his acrobatic skills at Lake Issyk-Kul.
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Uploaded on May 11, 2009
Korean Santa meets Kyrgyz scribe
South Korean guest Khan Shin Gu poses with a statue of Kyrgyzstan's most famous writer, Chyngyz...
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Uploaded on May 11, 2009
Santa times four
A quartet of Santas (clockwise from left: American Paul Kudla, Sweden's Bengt Lofgren,...
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Uploaded on May 11, 2009
Russian Ded Moroz and Kyrgyz Ayaz Ata
Ayaz Ata
Ayaz Ata, the Kyrgyz equivalent to Santa Claus, holds court at the Rukh-Ordo cultural centre in Cholpon-Ata, Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan.
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Uploaded on May 11, 2009
Norwegian Santa couple
Norwegian Santa Bent Lonrusten and his wife a kiss at the Rukh Ordo cultural centre in Cholpon-Ata.
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Uploaded on May 11, 2009
Girl in national Kyrgyz dress
The Santas were warmly welcomed by girls in traditional dress upon their arrival at Lake Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan's biggest tourist attraction.
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Uploaded on May 11, 2009
