The Alton Bishkek

... at the side of the road in the middle of nowhere, and got out my Russian phrasebook. 'Palatka', yes, that's the word for tent. As I was about to cross over to see whether I could pitch behind, out of the long grass came this figure of a shepherd. I asked him whether I could sleep behind the stop, and the answer was no - I could sleep at his place and his wife would cook me supper. Not that he'd checked this with his wife....

Quite a bizarre journey to ...

... br>
I don't really. it would only confuse the issue and we'd have to get all formal with receipts and then the government would get the money.

S300 lighter I begin one of the most frustrating rides so far. I mean, have you ever tried riding 175ks at 70kph or 45mph? That would have been bad enough but immediately I enter this fantastic gorge where the limit is 60kph for 17ks and no overtaking. Well, that's the rule for me. Everybody else is overtaking and bombing along at a ...

... piles of freshly boiled meat/onion/black pepper dumplings - like a Cornish pasty, but boiled with softer pastry. Yum yum.

Overall, I have been amazed by the hospitality of everyone so far. Long may it continue. I have also met my first bunch of western 'tourists' here in Bishkek, but they're not your regular lie-on-a-beach type - all adventurous. I think the majority of tourists in Kyrgyzstan are in the guesthouse I am in (about 15 of us....). Conversation was around ...

... and is very east to keep going. My Grandparents very kindly bought me one to take away with me and I've had it with me my whole trip, but before Kyrgyzstan had not had an oppertunity to use it as I had done not trekking/ outside stuff. But I've been using ti here on variouse treks and it is really cool! You can make tea in minutes, purify water for the next day, cook on it... the guide on my horse trek in ...

... unacknowledged) was the Community Based Tourism (CBT) office. The organisation focuses on putting tourists in touch with a traditional Kyrgyzstan experience, and delivers an important additional income for local families; who offer homestays, horseriding and trekking guide services. It was here we met two enthusiastic American lads, planning their trip to include as many "bad-ass" traditional Kyrgyz events as they could fit into their 5 day holiday ...

... ready to help. Pieter and Heidi from Holland were a lot of fun and up for everything as newlyweds often are. Mia our resident ex hippie Aussie and confirmed “Craftie” was a joy to know and Kathryn (another Craftie) and Dana from the US will be friends for a long time. Thanks for travelling with us. Glenn, Chris, James, Margaret, the elderly Americans and Fiona and I now start the next phase into China.

... paraglider flights, starts and landing spots.

General authorities of festival carring out: General authorities of first international paragliding festival «Pamir sky - 2009» are the Paragliding Association under Extreme tourism Federation of Uzbekistan in cooperation with «Pamir Expedition» company (Kyrgyzstan).

The region for carrying out the festival: As place for carrying out this festival “Pamir Expeditions” Company have ...

... Ak-Suu and Kara-Suu. Camp 3 (2800m). 15km, 5h, +1500m.
Day 09 Radial hike to the foot of Ak-Suu peak (5355m). Lunch (3000m). Rest, walks. Return to Camp 3 (2800m). 5km+5km, 3h, +300m, -300m.
Day 10 Passage across Uriam pass (3760m) to the Uriam river valley. Camp 4 (3000m). 8km, 5h, +960m, -760m.
Day 11 Passage down along Uriam river to the place of confluence with Laily-Mazar river. Camp 5 (2000m). 10km, 4h, -1000m.
Day ...

... All transfers according to the program;
• Helicopter flights Karkara – BC – Karkara with 30kg / person luggage limit (overload payment – 3 EUR / kg);
• Accommodation in Bishkek and Almaty in the hotels 2* with breakfast;
• Accommodation in the Camp «Karkara» and at the Issyk-Kul lake with meals – full board;
• Meals en route;
• Services in Base Camp ...

... the city’s broad streets and the main city square of Ala-Too (formerly Lenin Square). Despite this greenery however, the city centre architecture is truly confronting. Government buildings, universities and concert halls are massive and forbidding, displaying typical brutal Russian architecture. It was more European and even more in your face than the Russian architecture of Tashkent

The city of Bishkek had a somewhat schizophrenic feeling with ...