Sep 2, 2012 - Osh

Sobota, 1 wrzesnia - Osh Od razu rano ide (wraz ze spotkanym turysta z Turcji) na poszukiwanie Osh Gesthouse. Niestety nie maja miejsc ale oferuja pokoj dwuosobowy w pobliskim mieszkaniu w posowieckim bloku za 800 Som (400 Som za osobe). Ale nie jest tak zle przynajmniej w porownaniu z poprzednimi warunkami. Ide na miasto. Osh jest podobno starszy niz Rzym ale z tej dlugiej historii niewiele sie zachowalo poprzez wojny, trzesienia ziemi i najazdow mongolskich. Ze slawnego miasta na Jedwabnym Szlaku zostalo ok 300 tys miescowosc o...

Aug 31, 2012 - Karakol - Bishkek - Osh

Czwartek, 30 sierpnia - Karakol, Bishkek Jednak nie moge sie stad dostac do Osh. Tak mnie zapewnia juz kilka osob. Droga (nie remontowana od czasow sowieckich) jest bardzo malo uczeszczana. Taka podroz moze trwac wiele dni. Decyduje sie wrocic do Bishkek. Briore poranna marszutke (350 Som) i wczesnym popoludniem jestem znow w stolicy. Tym razem ide do polecanego wczesniej Sakura Gesthouse gdzie za 350 Som mam lozko w warunkach przypominajacych bardziej Japonie niz Kirgistan (wlasciciel jest z Japonii). Od razu ide znow na miasto. Obserwuje...

Aug 29, 2012 - Bishkek - Karakol

Wtorek, 28 sierpnia - Bishkek, Karakol Wstaje juz o 6:30 rano i od razu kieruje sie na dworzec. Juz przed 8-ma jade marszutka do Karakol (300 Som). Droga najpierw czteropasmowa zamienia sie wkrotce w niezbyt zla dwopasmowke. Przejezdzamy przez przelecz aby dotrzec do brzegu jeziora Issyk Kol aby prawie objechac to jezioro dookola. Po okolo 7 godzinach wypelniony busik dociera na miejsce. Najpierw ide odnalezdz hostel - Teskey Guesthouse, polecany w przewodniku. Miejsce na uboczu od centrum ale czyste i schludne. Co najwazniejsze tylko 3...

Aug 27, 2012 - Warszawa - Bishkek

Niedziela, 26 sierpnia - Warszawa, Moskwa, Bishkek Wyjazd z Warszawy popoludniowym lotem do Moskwy. Tam prawie 3 godziny czekania i prawie 5 godzinny lot Aeroflot do Bishkek. Pelny samolot. Poniedzialek, 27 sierpnia - Bishkek Przylatuje przed 6 rano. Wlasnie w zeszlym tygodniu Kirgistan zniosl obowiazek wiz wiec nie potrzebuje stac w okienku wizowym i zaoszczedzam okolo $60. Jednakze teraz nie moge wjechac juz do Kazachstanu - okreg Almaty jak wczesniej planowalem. Musialbym miec wize kazachska. Czekam az zrobi sie widno i zaczna jezdzic...

Jul 24, 2012 - Bishkek, not the highlight of Kygyzstan

My last day in Kyrgyzstan, in the capital Bishkek. Other than the comforts of coffee and western food, a few parks and a couple of statues, there really isn't much here for the traveller. I'd have left today or yesterday if I could have, but alas no flights. From the tour I'll be the last to leave, although I did have some company today for coffee. The last four of us leave tomorrow from early in the morning to realistic time in the morning (luckily that's me). You know how people come back from a country and say the people were friendly....

Jul 23, 2012 - ЦУМ

Today I wandered the city of Bishkek. Not a lot to see really, but some nice restaurants and bars are around and plenty of cheap eats as well. It was bloody hot though and we wandered into the Russian department store ЦУМ (pronounced zum). It was 4 or 5 floors of stuff, but unlike our department stores it was kind of like a market with individual sellers, one floor sold electronics, another sold stuff like women's clothing and makeup. The top floor sold souvenirs, which is where we spent most of out time browsing various felt products and...

Jul 22, 2012 - The overland tour ends

Today is a travel day back to Bishkek, effectively the last day many of us will travel together, although I'm sure I'll see a fee tomorrow, which is the real last day of the tour. I just read about the flooding in Beijing, so not sure on the status of my trip to Beijing right now.

Jul 19, 2012 - Eagle and the Rabbit

We drove out of the valley of the unicorns to drive the southern side of Issyk-kul and head to out homestay in the town of Kochkor. Before that we had a fun day of eagles and felt. We stopped on the side of the road to meet up with a guy standing there with a massive friggin eagle on his arm.  We then followed him down some dirt lanes to a secret eagle hunting spot.  To transport ones golden eagle, you need a volkswagon polo or similar and some straps to keep the eagle down in the boot.  I imagine using the front seat of the car would shock...

Jul 18, 2012 - Trekking the valley of the unicorns

With a whole day free in Jeti-oghuz, most decided to go for a hike. The hardcore Trekkers left at 5am to try and reach the glacier, the more sane, left at 8:30am and then those who were enjoying the free day left later or didn't hike.  The trail headed along the valley floor with a nice climb in the middle to test you out, but it was a mostly pleasant undulating walk following the river towards the glacier.   On the way I was offered "kumis".  It's fermented horse milk, which is mildly alcoholic also.  I politely declined, only due to the...

Jul 17, 2012 - Valley to Valley

We drove out of the valley of hot springs down the shocking road where I thought I'd die at least 5 times towards the valley of Jeti-oghuz aka as the valley of the unicorns, because it is so stunning and beautiful, you'd expect unicorns to bound around the valley.    On the way we stopped at a few red rock formations, the 7 bulls and the broken heart.  They stand at the gateway of the valley, which leads towards the higher peaks and a glacier.

Jul 16, 2012 - Russian military vehicles

Today was the tripvehicles so called "tank camp". The vehicle that showed up was a russian truck with the ability to inflate and deflate its tyres but it was far from a tank. The vehicle also seated 2 less than required and assaulted the steep windy, stoney trail in such a way that I was sick, yet again. When we arrived at Altyn arashan it was definately worth the trip. A postcard valley dotted with a few farmhouses, lots of animals and a few hot springs. The hot springs were lovely and hot. Apparently the trick is to jump into the cold...

Jul 15, 2012 - A mazing market

Today we drove to Karakol, firstly to visit the animal market. Without too much imagination, you can picture hoards of cows, sheep, goats, horses, people and other things. Cute baby goats though were the real winner. One of the girls commented that the toilets smelt worse than the hoards of animals, thus the toilet was far from the cleanest in Central Asia. After the animal markets we headed to the main foor and stuff markets. When I entered the markets my first thought was how am I'm going to get out of here. I wandered around keeping...