Royal Beach Hotel Bishkek

<br> I'm off to the Russian consulate at the crack of dawn and get there at 08.15 for the 09.00 opening. There is already a very large queue waiting. Fortunately a young Russian woman tells me to put my name on the list otherwise I'd be still there wondering why everybody was being admitted before me and ranting about the need for proper queueing! At least there is a list and not chaos. I wait all morning until ...

... of air ventilation. My bike and all the kit fitted into the hold below nicely, but I wondered what state it would be in once I arrived at the end of the bumpy ride back to Bishkek. It appeared that the driver had not wanted the bike to bounce about much, and so had put some sacks of potatoes on top of it. Oh ****, I thought. Getting the bike out of the hold (after the potatoes had been removed) I looked and tested it to see whether it would still work, or end ...

... turned upside down and hefted to a Lada to be driven to their new home or maybe the roasting spit. The end of Ramadan is approaching.<br><br>There's not as much activity at the cattle market. Less feeling of cows and bargaining but never the less single and groups of cows are being driven off.<br><br>A blacksmith is working full pelt shoeing horses. They are held in an ingenious frame while he goes about his work.<br><br>Across the road is the machinery. Some old horsedrawn hayrakes ...

Weather: Yesterday morning, bloody rain. Now, baking heat. I now know how girls must feel, having to change their outfit five times a day. <br>How far? 157.6 miles<br>Passes: 1<br>Punctures: 1 (gaaah annoyance, especially when The Stuff (baggage) multiplies in volume several times once released from the shackles of the bike. <br><br>Although I still do not understand the road signs to any great degree, I gather that I am in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. I arrived sooner than initially ...

... boys then insisted on some other traditional games in a Kyrgyz vs. Tourists tournament. Tug of War was played (and won by the Tourists) and then the boys were challenged to some one-on-one shirtless wrestling (which the Kyrgyz won without exception). That night we watched the goat being skinned and then cooked for supper in our honour. We slept in one of two yurts, while the family slept in a tin caravan behind, and their herd of sheep and goats ...

... de la meme maniere il ya 10 ans.<br><br>Voila pour les premieres niouzes, on fera un peu plus nature et moins ennuyeux les prochaines fois promis. Mais qu'est ce que vous attendiez : une rando suicidaire avec un cheval canonique, un gun des annees 30 et des loups qui m'encerclent, des sources d'eau chaude radio-active ?? Fini ce temps la, je suis pere de famille, bientot quadra et chauve alors on cause serieux maintenant sur ce blog. Non mais !<br><br>Allez, bien des choses a Tous,<br>RV

18th July<br><br>Today was a drive day as we completed the circuit of the lake. We passed "Fish Town" famous in its day but not bereft of the one thing it needs. Fish. Too many fish were extracted in Soviet times and now the town in a large ruin. Circuit completed we drove along the river and through Bishkek (the capital) and up a valley to the Alpine Centre for the country. We pitched camp in a rocky campsite at ...

... and meteorological weather conditions.<br>Day 10. Return to BC with having possibility of making flight from Puteshestvennikov pass or from close placed slopes (environs of BC).<br>Day 11. Ascents and flights in area of BC or flights in Kyzyl-Su river valley.<br>Day 12-16. Ascent to Lenin peak (for planned members) or ascent to camps C 1-2 and making flights from close placed crests and slopes.<br>Day 17-18. Descent to BC. Rest. Flights in environs of BC ...

... the dice is cast you are to meet with the Great Mountain face to face.<br><br>Program of the tour:<br>Day 1 Arrive in Bishkek. You are met at airport, transferred to hotel and accommodated there.<br>Day 2 Drive to Karkara (460km). Accommodation in Base Camp "Karkara".<br>Day 3 Take helicopter hop to Base Camp (BC) &#8220;South Inilchek&#8221; (4,000m above see level).<br>Day 4 Get yourself introduced to the area ...

... based tourism industry. And for a country largely lacking in natural resources, tourism may well be the conduit to an enhanced economic prosperity for this tenacious little nation. For its secret is its natural beauty. With stunning mountains, lush green alpine meadows, magnificent mountain lakes and super hospitable people, Kyrgyzstan makes for another fascinating and highly scenic destination. <br><br>Even though we were very late arriving at Manas ...