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Published: September 12th 2009
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The Cafe Chebek
Outdoor seating at the cafe Day 9, July 3, 2009, Friday, Juma: Yesterday's excursion was less than fully successful. And the problem was the 15 year old being a teenager all morning. First he did not want to go to town, even though I tried to explain that there were things I wanted to do there. I needed to use the internet and I know that after 8 days of not having access that I would have an hour's worth of work on the net, along with some emails that would require a response or at the very least would need to be read. But Timka was no help in finding the internet cafe. He finally got moving around 11 and we flagged down a cab and were overcharged again for the trip of about 2 kilometers into Cholpan-Ata. It should be about 50 Soms and we were charged 100. I don't care about the money, but I don't want people to think that American tourists are patsies.
The taxi takes us way past where I think the internet connection is located. But assures us as we dismount that it is right there. But of course, it isn't there. It is a half mile
The car park
It is possible to park close to the water here back the way we came which we then have to walk. When I ask Timka to seek directions he refuses to ask anyone for help. That is my biggest complaint right now with him as my translator. He sometimes just refuses to be of assistance. I know that having to ask for assistance may cause him some level of embarrassment or discomfort. But the reason you have someone along is to seek the help you need in strange places. So that really frustrated me. At one point yesterday when he refused to sit with me while having a soft drink, I told him to sit or go back to the motel, or even the village, since he did not seem to be helping. The walk back to where the internet cafe was located was a climb, but I made it with only one real stop at the top of the hill. And I did it in my power walk style to show him that I was not dependent on him and had the capacity to find something by myself.
Before going into town, I had studied a map of Cholpan-Ata that is in the pdf file of a Lonely
Looking Across the Lake
The water reflects the sky above Planet Guide to Central Asia and was relatively confident of where it was located. It just burns me that Timurlan would not tell the taxi driver to go where I wanted to go and let the taxi driver inconvenience us. From now on, I will take charge of the situations myself when I know what I want.
We were also greeted last night with news that we would be staying here another two days. I was really prepared to leave today and am disappointed that I was not consulted about the schedule, but rather that it is simply announced to me as a fait d'accompli. I know I should not assign motive to the situation, but it is difficult for me not to see these actions as a lack of respect. And I have realized more and more, that I really resent not being respected, both for my age and for my knowledge. I have now lived 67 years in the world and know a great deal about how to accomplish various tasks. And I think I deserve to be heard in matters that concern my well being or interests. The fact is that while this place we are
Watering the flowers
The pool was empty but the flowers were nice staying in very hospitable, there are some discomforts. We have had no hot water for two days now. I am not a good camper for more than a couple of days. If I wanted to rough it, I would have stayed in Houston for the 104 degree temperatures of this season.
The mountains are beautiful. The water is clear, a deep lapis blue, the shore line is varied, and the lake is a fun place to swim, if a little cold. The sun has been warm except for one day when it rained and we made that a reading and sleeping day. But, frankly, 5 days would have been enough, 7 was stretching it, and 9 is just overkill.
The other issue, of course, is that when I was told I would be going for 4 days, I packed four days of costumes and clothing. I do not do well wearing things for more than a couple of days, and I need a fresh change of underwear everyday. We have gone past my supply. I tried to get some of it washed yesterday, but, once again, getting the youngster to communicate that issue and get the clothes washed was futile. He just would not do it for love or money. That leaves me this morning feeling a bit worn down and feeling a little sad or depressed. I have lived alone a long time now and generally get to have my own way about things, because I don't have to worry or consult others. At the moment I feel like a prisoner on a desert island with very little hope of escape.
Today, weather permitting, we are hoping to go for a cruise around the lake. Again, no one can tell me how much tht is going to cost, and I have been given two different times for the event to occur. Faruh and Sapar said I should go around 11 am, Timka said later that 1 pm would be better. I really don't care. I know that if the sun is shining, I will go and if it is cloudy and wet, I will not. I have been praying for another rainy day, so that I do not have to make any decisions and my imprisonment will end tomorrow, hopefully.
So, here I am again this morning at the Cafe Chebek, there are some cirrus clouds over the sky this morning, it is about 8:15. The clouds have gathered over the mountains to my left and to my back and look a little like they might hang around all day. The breeze is blowing from the West at about 7 to 8 miles an hour and is cool, but not chilling. I am having my coffee and listening to the audio system crank out Russian, Kyrgyz, Uzbek, and Kazahk music as the traffic goes by with people headed to the beach and the marina. I feel lonely this morning. It may just be a hangover from yesterday's events and difficulties, but I seldom feel this way. And I should count my blessing, I know.
Well, off to the reading of the Said Nursi, The Flashes. Routines are said to help alleviate these kind of feelings.
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