In Kyrgyzstan fuel costs are approximately 52p/litre for petrol and diesel though there is a variation in different parts of the country due to fuel (diesel and petrol) being imported from Kazakhstan and the closer to the border the cheaper is the fuel. Natural gas is imported from Uzbekistan. Kyrgyzstan is self sufficient in coal and also produces gold, silver and uranium. Driving is still on the right hand side of the road. The exchange rate is government controlled with £1 = 82 som. The clocks went forward one hour when we crossed the border so we are now 5 hours ahead of thee UK.
Our new leaders, Emma and Simon, joined us today and will take over at the border with China when Helen and Rogan will return to the UK. From Bishkek we travelled along the side of Issyk Kul (at an altitude of 800 metres), the second largest lake after Lake Titicaca in South America, to a bush camp chosen at random. Some camped in the forest others on the beach.
The morning of 17th June we headed for the town of Karakolany to do some shopping and leave the truck behind while we went in Russian built 4 x 4 vehicles (Gaz 66 type) up a mountain track to a camping site at Altyn Arashan (or Golden Spa) on the side of the Arashan River.
I was more than interested with the use made of shipping containers as a shopping centre with some just having an open door; some joined together to make a large area; and others fitted with double glazed units. Just about anything could be bought there as if in a normal town, while there were the usual market type stalls. I did notice that a lot of the ladies on the market stalls were knitting.
To Altyn Arasha (at an altitude of 2600 metres)
We did not have to live in a tent this time as we had the opportunity to stay in a multi-roomed, multi-bedded hut, which all but one of us did. At least there were beds not bunks! The toilets were interesting as well!
I made the comment to our guide that the huts here could have been made of logs to fit in with the environment. He said that although the land was leased to the people the trees belonged to the State and could not be cut down. A penalty of 5 years in jail and a fine of US$1000 per tree was applied. The governments of Japan, France and Germany have given grants to the State to preserve parts of the country as it is so beautiful and so about eleven National Parks have been set up. If one has enough patience and a few weeks to spare snow leopards may be seen here of which only 120 remain in the country.
The others (at least some of them) went for a wander up the valley remaining in the Wednesday morning while I stayed at the camping site resting my leg. One of the reasons for coming here apart from walking and hiking is the hot springs from which three huts have been made for people to use the springs, and lying in the hot spring was restful for my leg as well. It started to rain just after the walkers returned and it turned into a cold, wet and miserable day only helped by lying in the hot tub again. The leg of lamb was being prepared for dinner about this time and was enjoyed by all later that evening. The temperature dropped from 25C during the day to 4C at night.
Our new leaders, Emma and Simon, joined us today and will take over at the border with China when Helen and Rogan will return to the UK. From Bishkek we travelled along the side of Issyk Kul (at an altitude of 800 metres), the second largest lake after Lake Titicaca in South America, to a bush camp chosen at random. Some camped in the forest others on the beach.
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| Camping with others on the beach |
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| Camping in the trees |
The morning of 17th June we headed for the town of Karakolany to do some shopping and leave the truck behind while we went in Russian built 4 x 4 vehicles (Gaz 66 type) up a mountain track to a camping site at Altyn Arashan (or Golden Spa) on the side of the Arashan River.
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| A view across the lake |
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| Goat skins |
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| Dried and smoked fish |
I was more than interested with the use made of shipping containers as a shopping centre with some just having an open door; some joined together to make a large area; and others fitted with double glazed units. Just about anything could be bought there as if in a normal town, while there were the usual market type stalls. I did notice that a lot of the ladies on the market stalls were knitting.
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| Container shopping centre |
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| Container with sealed unit entrance |
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| Toy shop |
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| Hardware |
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| The market |
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| Buying chicks |
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| Salt lick lumps for cattle |
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| Junk available everywhere |
To Altyn Arasha (at an altitude of 2600 metres)
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| Gaz 66 Truck |
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| Altyn Arashan Valley |
We did not have to live in a tent this time as we had the opportunity to stay in a multi-roomed, multi-bedded hut, which all but one of us did. At least there were beds not bunks! The toilets were interesting as well!
I made the comment to our guide that the huts here could have been made of logs to fit in with the environment. He said that although the land was leased to the people the trees belonged to the State and could not be cut down. A penalty of 5 years in jail and a fine of US$1000 per tree was applied. The governments of Japan, France and Germany have given grants to the State to preserve parts of the country as it is so beautiful and so about eleven National Parks have been set up. If one has enough patience and a few weeks to spare snow leopards may be seen here of which only 120 remain in the country.
The others (at least some of them) went for a wander up the valley remaining in the Wednesday morning while I stayed at the camping site resting my leg. One of the reasons for coming here apart from walking and hiking is the hot springs from which three huts have been made for people to use the springs, and lying in the hot spring was restful for my leg as well. It started to rain just after the walkers returned and it turned into a cold, wet and miserable day only helped by lying in the hot tub again. The leg of lamb was being prepared for dinner about this time and was enjoyed by all later that evening. The temperature dropped from 25C during the day to 4C at night.
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| The others crossing the river at the start of their walk |
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| Toilets |
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| The accommodation |
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| The only running water except for the river |
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| Cooking facilities |
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| The spa |
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| Gary and Dave preparing dinner |
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| The head of the valley |
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