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Published: August 24th 2012
Osh
A view of downtown from Solomon's ThroneHello everyone!! Thank you for all of the comments. I love reading them. I'm glad you are enjoying the blog. I think this should be one of my last entries. I will try to hustle back to Kunming from here on out while making just a few side trips here and there. Multi-day treks are finished as are border crossings. Things should become more and more familiar as I start to move southwest.
So, from where I left off last time I was in Karakol, Kyrgyzstan. I took a bus ride back to Bishkek and slept at my host's house again there (I felt my welcome was nearing an end, but its just one more night!) The following morning I woke up early expecting to purchase a bus ticket bound for Kashgar, China. This would be a 4,200 KGS, 36 hour journey to the far east. Anyway, I went to the ticket office and was informed that the bus from Kashgar had not arrived yet. "Maybe later today, maybe tomorrow ...maybe." That was enough to hear so the next stop was to the travel agency and I bought a plane ticket to Osh for 2,500KGS. A very good deal. This
Heading to Osh
Taking the easy way out :P shaved off 12 of the 36 prospective hours. After that, I packed my bags and was off to the airport!
Arriving in Osh, I found the Central Asian city that I had been looking for all this time. Huge markets that remind one of scenes from Aladdin: crowded, dusty alley ways covered in striped awnings packed with all kinds of goods. They sell everything from carpets to fishing gear, clothing to bicycle parts. I wandered around for the better part of three hours checking out the goods. Highlights included the beautiful hand-woven carpets that reportedly take 10 weavers 20 days to complete one square meter, blacksmiths hammering out horseshoes, and the food! I ate a LOT of food. Grilled meat, onions, potatoes, noodles, all washed down with fragrant teas from hand made copper pots. They use those old Russian, coal-powered samovars here, too.
In Osh, I was able to rent an apartment with 4 people from Czech Republic. They were a good group: 2 guys, 2 girls, and one American: MEEEE! The apartment was giant with a kitchen, living room, two bedrooms, and a dining room. We had a small party after dinner and chatted the evening away.
A Good Deal
My absolutely mouth watering lunch for a dollar Otherwise, evenings are pretty mellow in Osh.
The following day I did some hiking around the city. There is a small mountain in the middle of town called, "Solomon's Throne". A nice spot to take in the view and the heavy breezes that float over the top. After a hike and a visit to the ho-hum museum (and a re-visit to the market) I found a guy that would take me to Sary Tash: my penultimate destination in Kyrgyzstan.
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Fran Solomon
non-member comment
Kyrgyzstan Travels
Hi Michael, What an adventure you have had traveling! I know you will enjoy your memories for the rest of your life.....even the not so good ones will become sort of good. I have never thought of visiting Kyrgyzstan (possibly because it is so hard to spell), but now that I know of the mountain called "Solomon's Throne" in Osh (easy to spell) it will be considered. Considering I am not adventurous anymore, probably not. My spirit of adventure has definitely faded with time. Enjoy your travels and return safely. Love, Fran