Blogs from Kyrgyzstan, Asia - page 30

KYRGYZSTAN - (June / July 2007) - Friday 29th June to Thursday 5th July - - (Kashgar to Osh) - No one seemed to know which days, or how often the bus went from Kashgar to Kyrgyzstan. Everyone was certain that it went on a Monday, which didn't really suit my timetable, but other than Monday everyone had a different opinion, maybe Wednesday, Thursday, or perhaps Monday Wednesday and Friday - who knows!! So it was off to the long distance bus station to try and find out. However, when I got there -‘Foreign Bus counter closed’. A lady at the Chinese long distance bus counter didn't know anything about the bus to Kyrgyzstan but managed to tell me in broken English that the foreign bus counter would open in 20 minutes. After 30 minutes still ... read more

When the Russians had Kyrgyzstan as part of the USSR, they made a lot of use out of this lake called Izzyk Kul. It means 'hot lake,' but it would be more accurate to call it, 'really, really big hot lake.' It is the second largest alpine lake in the world (second to Lake Titikaka). So back in the day, the Soviets vacationed here and tested their submarine missles. Through the kindness of strangers, we found the bus to Karakol and made the trip down in 6 1/2 hours with a Kyrgyz 'truck stop' along the way. We tried a few guest houses in town before we found one that worked... It seems that our lack of Russian makes us less desirable to a few folks. A strange sense of customer service.... we ignore you, and ... read more

Hello everybody at home, Roland und ich sind gut in Bishkek, der Hauptstadt von Kirgisien angekommen und haben uns in dieser kleinen, gemuetlichen, lieblichen Stadt eingewoehnt. Wir haben heute abend unsere Tour fuer China fixiert nach langem hin und her, da diese spontane Organisation nicht ueblich zu sein scheint. Aber wir haben es geschafft (zumindest auf Papier). Morgen vormittag starten wir mit einem Jeep Richtung Torugart Pass, dem einzigen Grenzuebertritt nach China und werden in Naryn uebernachten. In China werden wir einen 12/TAges Trekk beim Mustagh ATar machen inkl. Kashgar und Shiptons Arc Besuch (Tushuk Tash auf chinesisch). Wir hoffen, dass zuhause alles OK ist! Wir werden uns um den 25.8. wieder melden, wenn wir gut zurueck vom Trekk kommen. Bussis und lg an alle Erika & Roland ... read more

Just noticed that they have lost all my previous entries... bit of a pain. And I don't really have the time to redo them, so I hope everyone saw them and has at least an idea of what I'm doing... Ah well, I still have all my pics, so no prob :)... read more

So after a few weeks in Omaha, I've bought all kinds of stuff... I heard from Philippe just before leaving, so I got a list of things to bring/leave behind. Everything seems small, expensive, and somehow it will become invaluable. My super-cute Grandma is watching incredulously as I unpack prescription drugs, camelback mouthpieces, and backpack covers. I enjoy explaining how all of these things will come into play in the coming weeks and months, and Grandma tries her best to act like it all makes sense to her. Flying halfway around the world.... it takes awhile. The actual flying time was about 24 hours, with a day layover in Denver, a couple of hours in London, and a few minutes in Tblisi (Georgia... the country, not the state). The flight pulled up in Bishkek at about ... read more