Breathtaking Kyrgyzstan! (page 15 of 16)

I’ve added 5 detailed maps of the route we took in post #1.

You can really see the "detour" to get to Lenin Peak! 😮

Thanks for this travel journal—it’s rare for me to follow one from start to finish. Usually, I just pick and choose, but this time I was waiting for the next update every day.

HELLO

I went there alone in 2017 without booking anything except the first night in Bishkek. I have amazing memories of it—it was when the herds were coming down, and the Nomad Games in Naryn. There were quite a few travelers on bikes. My favorite moment was the small yurt camp near the Lenin Peak base camp starting from Sary Tash, and the raspberries at Bishkek’s market.

What a compliment!

Hi Chrystine,

Yeah, it’s stunning around Lenin Peak! 😛

For the raspberries, it probably wasn’t the season—I don’t remember seeing any.

But apricots, yellow melons, and watermelons, on the other hand...

Definitely a huge detour! 🤪

But honestly, I don’t regret going all the way there at all.

Some people fly to Osh, but recently an airline stranded its passengers. Maybe not the safest move with less than 48 hours before an international flight.

Thanks Agnès! 🙂 The landscapes are truly stunning—a huge breath of nature. And it’s true that during the heatwave, your travel journal was a real comfort. See you soon for more adventures!

My next trip isn’t very adventurous: northern Morocco! 😛

But these non-stop trips have to end soon! Can't you stay home for a bit and take care of this place... Don't you have some flower beds to maintain, lawns to mow, hedges to trim, fruit to harvest... jam to make... and I won't even mention touching up the interior paint and wallpaper...😇

Wallpaper??? You’re stuck in the past, Perju! 😏

Well, no, I adapt to my conversation partner... 😏 That said, I live in a (real) chalet... so I knew wall paints and wallpapers still existed when browsing the aisles of Leroy Merlin...

Hi Agnes,

I knew you’d mentioned fruit wines...

The stuff served isn’t corked or maderized but doesn’t taste like anything familiar.

You can find this stuff in any supermarket east of Vienna. I took a photo this morning to your health.

Michel

If I ever go back to Hungary, I’ll make sure to skip this heresy!

The traditional versions are mainly strawberry and morello cherry.

It's also very common in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia; I'm even convinced it's consumed in Germany. One of the ways to make alcohol from fruit... Also a Soviet tradition. I'm not entirely sure what earns your disdain, but honestly, I no longer try to understand.

Michel

Agnès loves manly drinks. 😏

Hi,

Thanks for this travel journal. I read it all! Phew! What a journey. It’s just incredible! It makes me a bit nervous about driving there—if I go, I’ll hire a driver to be on the safe side. I’m not keen on dealing with tire issues while traveling, plus the worry of damaging the car. That accident was horrifying; it gave me chills. For the rest, it’s all pure joy. I’m hesitating about taking my 8-year-old daughter. I think I’ll wait until she’s older. I’m a bit worried about traveler’s diarrhea and handling that kind of issue with a child. Anyway, thanks for sharing!

Hello,

If you're not used to renting outside Northern Europe, it might be better to consider a rental with a driver, especially if you're anxious.😉

Otherwise, there aren’t really any major difficulties getting around there. The Maps.me and Google Translate apps help a lot!

Perju’s accident happened in Tajikistan, which is a bit more, let’s say, "wild."

As for traveler’s diarrhea, I had no issues even though I’m the type to catch it at the first opportunity. My partner felt a bit queasy once, but it was resolved with a single dose of Tiorfan. Maybe it comes in a child’s dose? This medication (prescription-only) should be in every traveler’s first-aid kit!

I’d still recommend waiting until your daughter is a bit older, though. For the altitude! And if you want to do some horseback riding or a longer hike, it’ll be better in my opinion.

Hi,

In Central Asian countries, you can usually find Loperamide easily in pharmacies, as well as the equivalent of what Agnès mentioned, called Hidrasec. I don’t think you need a prescription.

Michel

Thanks for your reply.

True, I’m looking to do some great hikes. We’ll wait a bit. I’m getting more and more stressed about car rentals, especially on rough tracks. Namibia really cured me when it comes to car troubles (flat tire, hitting a barrier, a rhino charging at us...). I have to say, driving in Northern Europe is so relaxing ;)

So, I’m going to go for a trip to Almaty with daily excursions to keep things easy. It’ll be less adventurous for sure, but it’ll still be great for enjoying myself.

I’ve noted down the rental company’s address. It’s not cheap, though. Overall, Kyrgyzstan seems more expensive than its northern neighbor—am I wrong?