Lake Song Kul (part 3)

Saturday 3rd September

The night was cold – the temperature fell below freezing, but as soon as the sun appeared the temperature began to rise quickly. Marina and Norman and Lyn went horse riding while most of the rest of us walked by the side of the lake finding other yurts and various livestock. Today I had breakfast and lunch provided by the yurt family. Breakfast included bread, butter, jam, semolina, fried bread morsels and tea and lunch included fish a green salad with yogurt and the fried bread morsels. Don’t drink horse milk – it tastes foul!! No body who tasted it liked it. Several of us also used the solar shower today – really good after a number of bush camps and probably the last chance before we cross the border to China.


The lake and the locals really are cut off with at least a 2/3 hr. drive to the local town over the pass in the mountains ands I wonder how long theier way of life can continue to exist. We are all really happy that we have been able to share some of this lost world.

Lake Song Kul (part 2)

Friday 2nd September

Filled up the water tank completely with river water (yesterday it took an hour to fill it a third as there was low pressure in the water pipe). Drove the 100 km to Lake Song Kul over a narrow, steep and very windy mountain pass. At one point we reached 3,400 metres before dropping down to about 3,000 at the Lake. Passed a small number of yurts before we turned off the main road to a track and found the small yurt family where we were to stay for the next 2 nights. This really is in the middle of wilderness and we have no contact with the outside world. Electricity (for a couple of light bulbs) is provided by a small generator. The only facility is a single loo and some fresh water. We spend the rest of the day reading, washing our laundry with a few taking showers using our solar shower. The weather is sunny and hot, but with a cool breeze and I expect the temperature to drop suddenly as soon as the sun goes down.

Lake Song Kul (part 1)

Thursday 1st September

Left the bush camp at 08:00 then stopped for about an hour to fill up with water (yesterdays refill was only sufficient for last night & this morning). We started in the rain, but the weather gradually improved and by lunch time was hot and dry. Drive Day today towards Lake Song Kul via Kochkor where we stopped for a lunch break. We said goodbye to our country guide (Mike) at Kochkor before setting off towards Lake Song Kul.
We set up a bush camp by the side of a small river and then will move to use some yurts tomorrow for a couple of nights. The evening was cold as soon as the sun set and we all had our 3rd early night.

Alpine Lakes & Waterfalls (part 2)

Wednesday 31st Aug

We woke up to rain and the Truck gone. Will and Lu had decided to get fresh supplies of water early and so when most of us were getting up there was no truck. When they returned we quickly put up the tarpaulin cover then had breakfast.
Most of us then set off for walking in the gorge and getting to the waterfall – I left just before 10:00 and got back to the Truck at 16:30 . Mike (our Guide) led 9 or 10 of us to the waterfall up a long and at times very steep and very slippery path. Most of us slipped over either getting up or getting back. However the waterfall was worth it and the views getting to it were spectacular.

Alpine Lakes & Waterfalls (part 1)

Tuesday 30th August

We actually camped last night in sight of Lake Ysyk Kol (which is the second largest Alpine lake in the world), but it was too dark to see. It is mush cooler now and almost everyone has changed to long trousers with socks and trainers. We drove in the rain along the northern edge of the lake to Kavakol for lunch. The rain stopped while we were in town, but it was still much cooler than we have been used to recently.
After a couple of hours we drove to the Jeti Oguz gorge (Seven Bulls) gorge where we set up bush camp mid afternoon. There was time to walk to the village and then up one side of the gorge to view it from there. We plan to walk from the village along the gorge to the waterfalls in the morning.

And on to the Alpine Lakes

Monday 29 Aug

We were supposed to leave Bishkek at 12:00, but were delayed as Tony (the German) needed to extend his Visa and the office did not open until 14:00. We left at approx. 14:30. In the morning I walked to the local market , then back to the homestay for some lunch.

We stopped at the Burana Tower which is minaret from the 11th Century. A wedding party were having pictures taken when we arrived.

Some small statues were also adjacent to the Tower.

The Bush camp was very stony and it was dark and much colder when we had supper, although it was another pretty sunset.

Kyrgyzstan

Sunday 28th August (Weddings & Markets)

After a fried egg breakfast at the homestay (using the Truck facilities) the guide escorted most of us to the City Centre where we were left to explore on our own.
On the way we saw some military rehearsals for the Independence Day celebrations on 31st August.
We then explored the city centre, having lunch and catching up on emails etc. on the Internet or Wi Fi. The streets were fairly busy with shops, markets and street photographers. After lunch the weather became overcast and then light showers started.
Saw 3 wedding parties taking their wedding pictures at various local scenic spots.