The beauty of Kyrgyzstan

First of all, to all the STRAVA followers and Blog readers, family, friends and maybe colleagues: Thank you all for your very inspiring Nutella, lots of knuffels and hygienic advices.
It's truly a moral boost and increases my average speed at least with 1km/h!

Extra thanks also to Mr. Everything, also called Laifu: tour operator, weather forecaster, tele-operator, party-organizer for his great support along the way, specially when he sent me until midnight through a sandstorm in no man's land. But don't worry, your delicious German salami makes everything good, yeyeye!


I am now exactly 2 months on the way. A right time to make again a short summery:

• 7200 km
• 52 days
• Average 138km/day
• Still only 1/2 day rain

The beauty of Kyrgyzstan

As you might know, I decided to go southbound into Kyrgyzstan.
It took extra time and distance but it was definitely worth it!

Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, was just a lay-over. The city itself is quite Western and clean. The prices are Western too.....A night in the Hyatt hotel starts from 150 USD...sure too much!

Bishkek center.

 

The single cow farmer

The next day, I continued late and stopped after a short ride in Sosnovka, just before the start of the mountain. I could stay with a single cow farmer who was doing some exercise by plough-ing his land by hand.....

At 7 am the next morning I was on the road again because it was expected to be a though day crossing the Too-Ashuu pass at 3000 meter.
But luck was around the corner. I met 2 horse riders guiding other horses. One of them wanted to try my bicycle so we swapped vehicles. I didn't mind at all, it was anyway uphill!


A horse man on a bike....

....and a biker on a horse

For a while I was riding the horse and it went well, until the horseman on my bike and my horse got a little too enthusiastic.







Time to swap again and to continue.
The ride uphill was, let's say, challenging but with the wonderful scenery, more then worth.

 

The horse riders took short cuts strait through the mountains so I met them several times.
Riding a horse must be a very stressful and tiring job as my friends took every 5km their well deserved Vodka rest! 

1 shot for the road....

I was invited too and obliged to take 3 shots. Half drunk I continued and reached the top. 
Back in the valley I was again a witness of the wonderful scenery and virgin nature of Kyrgyzstan.

Just wonderful.....

I plan to sent the CEO of that famous German tire company with orange logo a request to built here a new headquarter. And for the employers: all get a company horse instead of car.....

Let's guess: what's worth more....his Mercedes S600 V12 or his yurt?

Kalashnikov bread

I arrived late and exhausted in Otmok. On the crossing there was  just what I  needed: a restaurant/hotel owned by Bulack, a Kyrgyz man with Russian roots.
Bulack seemed to be a friendly, serious man who assured me that he does not drink while running his business.
He joined me during dinner and we had a nice talk. In fact it was a very interesting monologue like: "Pang-pang, bandit, Kalashnikov, prison, boksing, vodka".
Bulack admired the Kalashnikov! I learned that during his high-school he got 70 hours military course, learning everything about that Russian gun.
As far as I could understand, even his self made bread had something to do with Kalashnikovs.....

Bulack, the friendly and very serious restaurant owner/Kalashnikov lover

Later that evening the local police officer, also called "General", passed by and suddenly 2 bottles of Vodka appeared...


The next morning it was time to pay may debt.....but that went different then anticipated.
Clearly still under the influence of a great Vodka night with the General, Bulack's brain did not work properly anymore.
He wanted to charged me twice for the overnight. When I explained him 3 times that I paid the day before, Bulack came with a very smart alternative: he wanted to charge me 500 SOM (+/- 7 Euro) because I used a tree outside instead of his toilet....

Also this didn't work and I left quickly before my friend got his Kalashnikov doing pang-pang....

To the Kazakh border

My plan was to go to Taraz, right over the border and back in Kazakhstan.

Cold and snowy.....indeed the Otmok pass

The first 1.5 hours were again though as I had to cross this time the Otmok pass at 3300 meter.

After that it went all downhill, back to 700 meter. The scenery was nice but not as beautiful as the day before.
The day was as usual: seeing a lot of good old Russian Lada's and 5th. hand Audi 100, enthusiastic kids and shepherds everywhere.....

The robust Russian Lada. A full option version: Roof rack, up side down towing hook and clearly life time rust warranty

Supporting kids along the road



Kyrgyz shepherd with a great taste of fashion! Brand name glasses: Dolce&Gabbana

Near the evening, at the Talas lake, the wind became strong.....

A present of Lening (bust in background)  during the Soviet time: Talas  lake used for hydropower.

With already 8pm in the evening, a little delay and darkness coming, I decided not to cross the border but stay 6km. before in a small town with again a very friendly, welcoming family.

Next time I will talk about a very famous TV and movie personality I met along the Kazakh road.....