Weekend trip to the mountains Day 2

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September 2nd 2015

Published: September 2nd 2015

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Dave and kim

Kurmenty, Kazakhstan

We arrived in the town of Kurmenty and unpacked the van and the driver went back to Almaty to get the transmission fixed with something besides bailing wire. We were treated to a traditional Kazakh dinner in the home of one of our guides family members. The meal consisted of Beshbarmak: The national dish of Kazakhstan means ‘five fingers’ referring to the fact that it is eaten by hand. It consists of boiled meat (traditionally horse but nowadays often lamb) and large noodles that look like sheets of lasagna in an onion gravy/broth. Ours was made with fresh killed lamb. Along with our meal we had Buarsak a traditional fried roll. A little Black Currant jelly and you have a doughnut a little gravy from the meat a dinner roll. Delicious meal!! After dinner we were treated to the traditional hot tea. They would continue to fill your cup until you put your hand over the top signaling that you had enough. The hosts were very accommodating to us and to all our questions. They cook on a wood burning oven that is in a kitchen area separate from the main house. The town has about 30 "houses" in it, no

Kurmenty, Kazakhstan

paved streets and cows that walk around loose. They have no inside water it runs down a series of canals along the main road. Only a couple of houses had a car in front of it. The main mode of transportation is the horse which is what they also use to work the fields. After a good night sleep and breakfast the next morning we were off to Kolsai lake. About half of us chose to ride horses while the other half rode on the bus. The horses were the locals work horses that we rented for the ride along with 2 guides to get us through the mountains. My horse didn't like going up the hills with me on his back so after some switching around we made it to the lake. It was about a 2 1/2 hour ride through the mountains. We went from river bed to grassland to alpine forest and back to grasslands. The country side was breathtaking. You look on way and snow capped mountains look the other way and you are looking over the whole valley. If you didn't know any better, one might think they were in the Pacific North-West. Once at

Kurmenty, Kazakhstan

The main street in the town

the lake some spent the day exploring the lake, hiking around and riding paddle boats and row boats while others went on a 9 km hike to the upper lake. The elevation is 2250 meters above sea level. After spending the day there among the fir trees and beautiful mountain lake we were on the bus heading back to Kurmenty for another traditional Kazakh dinner. After breakfast the next morning we packed up the bus and headed to Kaindy lake, often referred to as the petrified tree lake or sunken forest lake. It was a very steep descent to the lake from the parking lot. The lake was formed in 1911 when a earthquake caused a avalanche and flooded the valley. After hiking back up to the top we had lunch and watched a little Kazakh boy on his donkey making trips back and forth to get water for his mom to make tea that they would sell out of their yurt. The scenery here is breathtaking. I can't say enough about the unspoiled and untrampled areas outside of the city. At first I was unimpressed with the lack of roads and improvements to the areas but then realized how

Kurmenty, Kazakhstan

Locals on their way to cut hay

unnecessary they were. We had to do some walking but every step was worth the views. More adventures next week. Thanks for reading and following our adventure. Dave and Kim.............................

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