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Kyrgyzstan

Mar
2004-09-14 15:23:35

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a while with the children and pitch our tent somewhere aside of the yurts, afraid to bather them too much. We know that this moment of sunset will only last for a few minutes and Raymond is ready to capture it on film. What a beauty, we are at 3000 meters above sea level .......

and are witness of a boy on a donkey and four yurts against a red-yellow-blue sky and mountain peaks at the back. The second moment is as we hoped for as well, a sharp and bright view of the stars, the Milky Way and many recognizable groups of stars. Then the moon comes in and the stars make place for a Harry Potter scene that is somewhat spooky. As we are getting the cramps because of looking upward, someone asks us if we want to join the Qumus. At first we think it is time to eat the local butter-like cream but apparently the same word pronounced differently is for a guitar-like instrument with three strings. It is the older man who is playing and the women surrounding are singing, the men making vodka-noises only, and Raymond…?

Lake Yssyk-Kol

Just coming out of the mountainous area, we find this lake very touristy and not so beautiful if the Silk Road and the mountains are the reason for crossing Kyrgyzstan. We cycle past many used-to-be-hotels that look like they were once very luxurious. The fall of the Soviet Union has not done well for everyone I believe and we cycle on the south side......
of the Yssyk-Kol lake, close to mountain ranges going for the 5000 meters. These mountains were on our route but because plans have changed, we can only look at them from a distance. Good thing it is constantly raining up there. The beach makes a nice swim possible and looking from the water to 5000-meter peaks and thunder in the mountains makes a day worth it. A beer helps as well, more beers make it perfect. Three French cyclists we met in Kochkor are accompanying us in the direction of Karakol. Hot springs are ...