Royal Beach Hotel Bishkek

A slight circumnavigation of part of Kyrgyzstan later, and I am back in Bishkek. Again. However, no more pottering about on jaunts, I have to head south. Not just for the winter, but also to get into China before my visa expires and the mountain pass closes due to snow. So no pressure then.

The road out of Bishkek was longer than thought, and I was nowhere near where I wanted to be with a couple of hours of daylight left. I spotted a truck stop ...

... and an apple for lunch.

I get to Balykchy and I'm bowling along merrily but cautiously. I round a bend and am waved to one side by one of Kyrgystan's finest. He beams and points to his speed camera. 76kph. So what's the problem? The problem is, he tells me, that the speed limit in Kyrgystan is 70kph.

"You're joking!"

"I'm not."

I don't know if I'm being conned but I'm not in a position to argue.

"How much?"

"S300 (£4)"

"Ok, what about the ...

... fetched her. Apparently, my English is very clear and easy to understand 'not like those Americans'. Apologies America, her words, not mine.

I was completely stuffed by the end of it, as whenever my plate looked vaguely less than mountainous with food, more would be piled on by them. There was quite an interesting dish that looked like a purple cowpat. It was, in fact, a fish, salad and something else mix, moulded into shape. From the tiny kitchen kept coming forth ...

... pretty much finished packing and present/souvenire buying.

Since my last entry I have been up to all sorts of fun stuff but before I baging I want to announce the amazing success of my Storm Kettle. A Storm Kettle is a wonderful little contraption in which you poor water and then make a small fire inside (anything will do for fuel, twigs leaves etc) and very soon you have boiling water. It heats it vert ...

Arrival in Kyrgyzstan was a bit of a shock to the system after 6 weeks travelling in China. A new language (Russian and/or Kyrgyz), infrastructure (not much), transport mode (deathtrap marshruktas) and pace of life (slow) awaited us. For the first time we also had no itinerary and arrived in the capital, Bishkek, without a plan. Our first stop (after a hairy experience in a windowless Marshrutka minibus where our faux Russian "shtop! shtop!" to get off ...

... Somehow Ben persuaded Fi to take advantage of the local talent and to wander off for a private dance/ show with her own local boy, a chair and a secret room.
She says it was very tame. I am sure she was right.

We said goodbye in the morning to some very good friends. Brian and Hele from Denmark were fabulous to travel with. Ben our party boy and the ever capable Dave from Tasmania were great and ...

... techniques and aerology basics are going to be executed in order to popularization of paragliding for everyone who desire to join this extremely fine and enthralling kind of sports. Very important outcome of the festival is creation of information base according to reports, composed by festival participants after gaining meteorological and aerological information during ascents to close placed summits of Zaalay ridge and identification possibilities ...

... 4185m) and further descent to Kodjo-Kelen village (3400m). 18km, 5h, + 580m, - 800m Transfer to Osh (1262m). Accommodation at hotel. 250km, 7h, -2100m.
Day 07 Transfer Osh (1262m) – Uzgarish village (1300m). Overnight at national Kyrgyz house. 300km, 8h, +50m.
Day 08 Trekking: passage from Uzgarish village (1300m) up along Laily-Mazar river and further up along Ak-Mechet river to the place of confluence of two rivers ...

... free time for shopping souvenirs.
Day 20 Day at leisure.
Day 21 Depart from Bishkek.

The cost of the tour: 1200 EURO / person.

* Note: The flexible system of discounts is specified for the groups!!!

The cost includes:
• Arranging necessary documents: registration in immigration policy and border permit;
• Meeting / transfer from / to airport of Bishkek and Almaty;
• ...

... reasoned that he had a **** of a job.

With a population of nearly one million, Bishkek (formerly known as Frunze) is situated in the north of Kyrgyzstan on the edge of the Kyrgyz Alatau Mountains, an arm of the mighty Tian Shan range. Massive snowy peaks provide a simply stunning setting for this impressive city. Bishkek is essentially green in colour, boasting extensive, lush tree-scaped parks with ancient oaks, birches, elms and elderberry trees ...