OSH KOSH MY GOSH

Before the Kyrgyz side we have about 2 hours wait to get out of Uzbekistan because we had a minor problem with the truck, i believe from what i heard, the truck's carnet did not have the stamp from when it re entered Uzbekistan from Tajikistan, so lot of waiting and finally they let us through, all the while we are bundled up in a small cubicle huddled as it was raining and cold, when we got to Kyrgyz border there was no power so we have to wait awhile again to get processed, eventually we made it in and met our Kyrgyz guide Tommie, we drove to Osh where we stayed at a homestay, 2 houses for all of us, there was still no power when we wlaked to get dinner, rainy and cold not the best weather, food was delicious, Angus and I decided to head earlier than the rest of the guys, we got lost really bad as we can't remember the street to turn where our homestays are located, Angus is getting impatient, it got a bit scary at some point when a taxi turned and followed us a bit asking questions as we walk down the main street, i was hoping they would just go away and leave us in peace they eventually did and my footsteps got gaster and faster, we finally found the place after more than half an hour, relieved and exhausted i went to bed. The next morning was a bit cloudy but no rain, went shopping for food, we will camp out the next few days. We stopped for lunch somewhere and while preparing food suddenly a big blue van came up and parked right next to it, being used to locals getting curious at us we paid little attention til they got off the van we realized they were a group of army band, the next day is a holiday in Kyrgyzstan and i think they were out practicing, anyway they are very nice warm people, shook hands with everybody and performed for us which was really unreal! right next to our washing buckets, they played with gusto, then as soon as they came they left with no drama. Then drove a little further to Tash Kumyr, it is an artificial lake the scenery is gorgeous as I expect of Kyrgyzstan, most of us got off and try to take out sharp stones from the dirt road path so as not to damage Gisele's tires as Toni navigates it down towards our chosen camping site. Locals come and go ever so curious of us, it was a cold night as I remember, we camped just at the edge of the shore. We drove towards the Kurp Say reservoir and find a place to set up lunch, the scenery is marvellous, mountains of different hues, never seen such a landscape before. A local fisherman offered us his freshly caught fish but since we already have bought food for dinner that night we politely declined, from there we made our way to our bush camp in Toktogul, we got there early enough that we can have a wander around the valley, the scenery is different from the lunch stop, rolling hills, pasteur land type, local herders with their goats and sheeps and cows, beautiful meadows. I chose to pitch our tent in an area where the ground is uneven, i did not realize it until it was bed time and Geoff taunted me for the rest of the next day, so next time we'll do a dry run make sure it's flat, needless to say i did not sleep well as i keep sliding down and to my left side, have to push myself up to lay flat.

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