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As you may remember, after crossing the Takla Makan Desert I came to Kashgar.
From Russia to India (part V: Karakorum Highway)
Alex Mumzhiu2006-03-22 19:30:10
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Kashgar is an interesting place. Like Ulan Bator in Mongolia it is a major crossing point between East and West. So you can meet here the most hard core travelers. I met 4 groups of remarkable bicyclists:
1. Hollander Winfred, he traveled on bike through the Fergana valley in Uzbekistan, then cross to China and now he reached Kashgar. People in Kyrgyzstan told me that after recent revolt, the police killed people in Andijan and Fergana valley nondiscriminatory. But they probably made an exclusion for crazy Western bicyclist. Winfred does not carry LP books and does not do much research before he goes. It makes his trip much more interesting. We constantly exchanged compliments. I complimented him for his bravery. He complimented me for being alive and still traveling in my advanced age. When he is not traveling, Winfred manages large railroad enterprises.
2. Couple from Switzerland Robert and Monica. They quit their jobs, sold their houses and started to travel on bikes from their homeland through Europe, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India and will continue toward Australia while the money lasts.
3. A man from the highlands of Switzerland, Iso. These highlanders are like Nepalese Sherpas grown up at high altitude and can normally function at such altitude where the rest of people barely can breath. He plans to go to Lhasa through the Tibetan Highlands. I planned to do it too, but chickened out, it is too tough.
4. Young people, Alice from Scotland and Antony from Basque country. This is how they present themselves. They travel from Europe through Turkey, Caucasus, crossed Caspian sea and came to Actay, Kazakhstan. When, they found that they cannot continue down to Uzbekistan, because of visa problems. So they went around North of Aral Sea to Almaty--incredible trip!!!. I did no expect it is possible at all. We had nice time together, see pictures
From Kashgar, the Karakorum Hwy goes through the Kunjerab Pass
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See photographs from:
Pakistan Gallery
