So there I was chatting with Steve when he says, ahh we are on the other side of the truck. It took me a while to realise that he was looking at the country names written on the side of the truck. We are one side down, one to go, we have covered some distance. It becomes a bit surreal sometimes, one forgets the rest of the world...this is not a trip....this is what we do, we are defined by our actions and we are overlanding.
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| The name says it all |
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| Poker faces... |
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| Selecting only the finest vodkas, these girls know how to live! |
So what news. Well last I left you was Tashkent. Since then we have covered two more countries and numerous experiences. We left Tashkent and headed to the border with Kazakhstan. Due to regulations and building works we were forced to go to a border a ways from Tashkent. Nothing to report about the crossing save that it was boring, long and very hot. Most of the day was spent sweating and waiting. Finally we got into Kazakhstan, covered the necessary kms before looking for a camp. Now I will not dwell on this camp but it really was not the best it must be said...actually it would feature at the bottom of the list of places you would want to stay....mainly due to its proximity to the railway line that proved to be very busy with very long and loud trains ALL NIGHT.
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| Our noisiest bushcamp by far - big trains cometh often in Kazakhstan |
Things improved the next day with a reasonable camp and easy crossing into Kyrgyzstan and our arrival at the hotel Asia Mountains, swimming pool, wifi, decent breakfast...a gem of a spot. Mates were met up with and a blinder of a night had. My liver is, however, no longer talking to me! We then cruised via a lovely chai stop to Lake Issy-kul and a marvellous water side bushcamp. A drive to Karakol at the other end of the lake gave us an idea of its size as we stocked up for three great nights bushcamping in the stunning mountains at Diety Orguz...check the photos out...
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| Em chilling by the water |
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| Nice bushcamp by Issy-kul Lake |
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| Top bushcamp |
Horses were ridden, legs stretched and we celebrated truck Christmas...another blinder of a party organised by the girls.....my word the Kazbegi red party seems like a lifetime ago. And there we are, up to date as we wash and shop in Karakol, homestay spot, before heading to the high Song Kul lake and another three nights bushcamping. From there we will head to the Chinese border and the famous Torugart pass. Now this is not the easiest of borders to cross and I for one will be happy when we are all across it. China, my goodness ...bring it on.
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| All the ingredients for a great bushcamp |
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| Burn baby burn |
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| Calypso communing with nature |
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| Enroute to some great walking territory |
Ok I will leave it there but let my last words be for one of our group who has had to nip home for family reasons. May things turn out well, we are thinking of you and we hope to see you back with us again soon. Laters CJ
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