Day 4, June 27, 2009, Saturday, Ishembi: Another early morning for me, awaking at a little before 5 am. I forced myself back to sleep and managed to make it to 6 a.m. I am just constitutionally become an old man and waking at the same time each morning. Also, in strange beds, I seem to always wake up and not be able to go back to sleep right away. But, it gives me time to think and read, and usually write some. This morning though, I discovered that Timka had taken the computer to his room upstairs and I did [View Full Entry]

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I have arrived in Bishkek after 23 hours of travel from Houston to Newark, Newark to Frankfurt, Frankfurt to Almaty, Kazakhstan, and a 2 hour car ride from Almaty to Bishkek. I was met at the Almaty airport by my friend's Father and two of his best friends, Sapar and Faruh, who were quite sleepy. The ride from Almaty was beautiful once the sun began to come up. Through the steppes and the foothills toward Bishkek. I am staying with the family of my good friend and spent the entire day after arrival either sleeping or eating. My young friend Timurlan [View Full Entry]

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Off to Bishkek via Newark, NJ, Franfurt, Germany, and Almaty, Kazhakstan I am off on a two month-long adventure today that will take me to Central Asia and to parts of Kyrgyzstan That I did not see on my previous travels to this interesting small alpine nation. The flights take a number of hours. I leave Houston, TX, at 1 pm flying on Continental Airlines to Newark. From there I have about an hour and a half and a change of aircraft to Luthansa for an overnight flight to Frankfurt. Four hours later, I board a final aircraft for Almaty, KZ, [View Full Entry]

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I am visiting Los Angeles for a short visit to participate in the Los Angeles Film Festival taking place from yesterday through June 28, 2009. Arrived after flight from Houston on Continental Airlines. Arrived early at Terminal C, checked in quickly and checked one bag, $15.00 fee, then learned that my aircraft was at gate 3 in Terminal E. This is the new world of IAH, you check in on Continental then find that you are actually flying from E and have to walk 1/2 a mile to get from the security screening, then another hike to your gate. Be sure [View Full Entry]

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Preparing For Kyrgys Republic Trip I am preparing to travel to Bishkek, Kyrgystan, in about two weeks. I have traveled to Kyrgystan last summer and got to see a number of places. This trip will be a longer stay that will allow me to explore other areas and to learn more about this "Switzerland" or "Colorado" of Central Asia. I decided to blog on Travel blog about the trip to this small former Soviet Republic, because there a number of people who have had unpleasant experiences who have reported them here recently. My experiences have been different. My travels have been [View Full Entry]

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