Image: Instagram/@erwann, Twitter/@erwanheussaff
There is no doubt that aside from his wife, Anne Curtis, there is nothing Erwan Heussaff loves more than traveling and tasting local delicacies, if his YouTube videos are any indication. Which is why the vlogger embarked on a new adventure in the Kyrgyz Republic where he, unexpectedly, discovered the Philippine representative for the 3rd World Nomad Games held in said country.
“Road tripping and shooting the country of Kyrgyzstan over the next five days,” wrote Heussaff in an Instagram post last Sunday, Sept. 2. He shared with fans a photo of himself sitting on what appears to be a mound of harvested hay, taking in the beauty of the scenery.
Heussaff and his team were lucky enough to be invited for an overnight stay at a local’s yurt, “overlooking the Orto Tor mountain south of the massive Issyk-Kul lake.” He said the local, Kabul Ata, taught them “vital skills that have been passed down for generations.”
Heussaff marveled at the country’s blue skies. He noted that Kyrgyzstan’s climate is related to the taste of the country’s fruits and vegetables.
The foodie in Heussaff had a field day, marveling at the food the country has to offer.
“These freshly made jams with cooked down cream that is almost butter with lipyoshka, a circular traditional Kyrgyz bread, is what dreams are made of,” Heussaff stated.
“Raikan Apa cleaned a whole lamb and worked all day cooking it for us,” Heussaff said, recalling how he had been graciously fed by a local. “Like a doting grandmother she wanted to make sure we were continuously well fed and full meat. We woke up at 5 in the morning and she cleaned up the yurt quickly, to make way for some hot tea and some reheated lamb besh barkmak for breakfast.”
Since Heussaff is in Kyrgyzstan when the Third World Nomad Games began on Sept. 2, he and his team watched the Kyrgyz project. They were surprised when they stumbled upon the lone Filipino representative in the Games. Heussaff then enlisted the help of his Twitter followers to identify the Filipino.
“We were surprised to find out that there is one Filipino competing in the world Nomad games,” wrote Heussaff on Twitter on Sept. 2. “Can anyone help identify him?”
We were surprised to find out that there is one Filipino competing in the world Nomad games. Can anyone help identify him? pic.twitter.com/2zoaSJfwcw
— Erwan Heussaff (@erwanheussaff) September 3, 2018
In a separate tweet, Heussaff later was able to reveal the identity of the previously unnamed representative. “Update: His name is Rhon Palmera and he will be presenting the game of sungka,” Heussaff wrote on a photo he uploaded. “Apart from physical sports the World Nomad Games will be showcasing intellectual games from around the world as well.”
Rhon Palmera is our representative to the #WorldNomadGames2018 pic.twitter.com/Tp2OnScGOT
— Erwan Heussaff (@erwanheussaff) September 3, 2018
The World Nomad Games, under the patronage of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), was established in 2012 by the Kyrgyz government. It aims to revive, preserve and develop the nomadic civilization’s culture. JB
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