A good breakfast is important
After a short night, we have breakfast in our guest house. This time, it seems reasonable: tea, bread, butter and jam. We continue our sandwiches quietly when our host brings us the rest: a huge omelet filled with cheese, pancakes with blueberries and a cake with chocolate and coffee … It is not today that we lose weight ;-). This day of “transfer” between two treks in Kyrgyzstan can begin.
After nature, a little culture
After our three days of trekking, we are happy to find a modern bathroom with a shower … Once cool and ready, we go to visit Karakol. This consists of a visit to an Orthodox church and a mosque. The first is beautiful: all wood, richly worked and all gilding inside. As for the second, it is especially the mixture of cultures that is original. Indeed, it looks like a Buddhist temple reconverted into a mosque and dressed in harlequin …
The seven bulls
We take the car to get around Lake Issyk Kul from the south. On the way, we see a first rock in the shape of a broken heart, then we stop at Jeti Oguz (“the seven bulls” according to the guide). These are large red rocks aligned. We take the time to climb to a promontory on foot to enjoy the view. We take a look at the few stalls and leave again.
People on the road
Then we find ourselves corking behind … a flock of sheep! The shepherd and his son are both perched on a donkey. Obviously, the son is fully learning the life of breeder. After a few honking, which makes the sheep go faster than driving them off the road, we leave the herd …. To screw up again! But behind cows this time!
Words of ancient
We end up having a lunch break in a restaurant. This is an opportunity to talk a little with our driver. He is old enough and can tell us a little about the evolution since the independence of the USSR. Our guide is the interpreter. We learn that the period after independence was worse than before. Indeed, if the disappearances / kidnappings stopped, the food missed. Indeed, Russia has stopped aid without waiting for the implementation of other solutions. But after this period of famine, it gets better every year.
A moment of intimacy
After a while, the need to go to the bathroom is felt. These are located at the back in a nice garden. It is a wooden cabin, as could be found in old time in our countryside. For those who do not imagine: it is a hole in the floor that overlooks a big hole in the ground. So when you see the bottom, the floor is rocky, and the heat stirs the smell … it’s one of those things that make us like confort. 😉
Glimpse of traditions
After this interruption, we resume our discussion. This time, it is a glimpse of the way of life that is put forward. Especially the respect of the elders which is particularly important. The elders are always right in Kyrgyzstan. In addition, the parents designate the child to look after them (usually the youngest son) when they are old. The latter will live with his parents, as well as his wife and children… A nice family solidarity but sometimes hard to live on a daily basis.
Walking in the canyon
After a short drive, we arrive at Skarzka Canyon (Fairy Tale Canyon). A beautiful place of red and yellow folded rocks located halfway between our two treks in Kyrgyzstan. Although it is smaller, it reminds us of Southwest America, especially Zabriskie Point. We walk for two or three hours in this place. As tourism is not yet very developed, nothing is marked. You can go everywhere… so be careful because the paths are sometimes very slippery. We find, a path that allows us to loop and to see what seems to be a stone dragon…
An international evening
We find the car and then go back to our guest house. We meet two nice Belgians with whom we exchange around a beer. This is an opportunity to see the different perceptions of each facing cultural gaps. After a good hot shower and a hearty meal with a group of Portuguese, we join our room.
After this day between two treks in Kyrgyzstan, find the entire stay. And if you want to do the same, you can order it here.
