A different Kyrgyzstan

• The Karkara border crossing - a simple affair The Karkara border crossing - a simple affair
• Meltwater rivers in the Karkara valley Meltwater rivers in the Karkara valley
• Our friendly midnight visitor Our friendly midnight visitor
• Blossom and crops by Issyk Kol Blossom and crops by Issyk Kol
• The central Tien Shan, south of Issyk Kol The central Tien Shan, south of Issyk Kol
• Patiently waiting for the bus, nr Chalpon Ata Patiently waiting for the bus, nr Chalpon Ata
• Grabbing some lunch Grabbing some lunch
• Still running - a beloved Lada Still running - a beloved Lada
• Crop sowing near Issyk Kol Crop sowing near Issyk Kol
• The beach - although no Russian babes at this time of year... The beach - although no Russian babes at this time of year...
• Kyrgyzstan's ever-changing weather Kyrgyzstan's ever-changing weather
• Still, you're never far from a Soviet reminder Still, you're never far from a Soviet reminder
• Tributes and memorials outside the battered presidential palace, Bishkek Tributes and memorials outside the battered presidential palace, Bishkek
• Where the gates were forced Where the gates were forced
• The government snipers and the local mob were both heavily armed The government snipers and the local mob were both heavily armed
• Quietly reading the memorials Quietly reading the memorials
• It's hard to imagine this happened only a month ago It's hard to imagine this happened only a month ago
• The victims - some incredibly young The victims - some incredibly young
• These won't be repaired for a while These won't be repaired for a while
• The destruction wasn't just limited to the palace... The destruction wasn't just limited to the palace...
• ...another nearby government building ...another nearby government building
• But, life is back to normal in Bishkek... But, life is back to normal in Bishkek...
• ...the militzia were back on duty almost immediately ...the militzia were back on duty almost immediately
• Local engineers, fixing the telephone lines (really!) Local engineers, fixing the telephone lines (really!)
• Looking down from the Too-Ashuu pass, Bishkek-Osh highway Looking down from the Too-Ashuu pass, Bishkek-Osh highway
• And driving up the other side And driving up the other side
• Back in the land of bees... Back in the land of bees...
• ...and plentiful fresh honey ...and plentiful fresh honey
• Descending towards Lake Toktogul Descending towards Lake Toktogul
• The villages are a lot greener than last time we passed through The villages are a lot greener than last time we passed through
• One of the first yurts out on the summer pastures One of the first yurts out on the summer pastures
• The salt mountains beyond Lake Toktogul The salt mountains beyond Lake Toktogul
• Another night, another incredibly hospitable Kyrgyz family Another night, another incredibly hospitable Kyrgyz family
• The lake's clay bed: looks dry, it isn't... The lake's clay bed: looks dry, it isn't...
• Sunset over Lake Toktogul Sunset over Lake Toktogul
• Our fishing methods here are vastly inferior to the locals Our fishing methods here are vastly inferior to the locals
• Waiting for breakfast - fresh yoghurt and plov Waiting for breakfast - fresh yoghurt and plov
• Reflections off the Naryn river Reflections off the Naryn river
• A well stocked vegetable bazaar outside Karakul A well stocked vegetable bazaar outside Karakul
• Spring flowers in the Ferghana valley Spring flowers in the Ferghana valley
• Amidst the walnut groves and glacial rivers at Arslanbob... Amidst the walnut groves and glacial rivers at Arslanbob...
• ...home to the world's largest walnut forest ...home to the world's largest walnut forest
• Uzbek children in Arslanbob - such different features... Uzbek children in Arslanbob - such different features...
• ...we're only 40km from the Uzbek border, we might as well be there ...we're only 40km from the Uzbek border, we might as well be there
• Poplar groves outside Arslanbob Poplar groves outside Arslanbob
• Traffic on a village side street Traffic on a village side street
• An indefatigable Lada 4x4 An indefatigable Lada 4x4
• With another impromptu host, this time a kindly Uzbek lady With another impromptu host, this time a kindly Uzbek lady
• I'm sure she looks Russian... I'm sure she looks Russian...
• Charlie's eaten too much recently Charlie's eaten too much recently
• Local in the main square, Arslanbob Local in the main square, Arslanbob
• Party political candidate? Not at the moment Party political candidate? Not at the moment
• Not sure if these are cultivated, but the Fergana Valley is full of them Not sure if these are cultivated, but the Fergana Valley is full of them
• Circling over the mountain wastes, Sary-Tash Circling over the mountain wastes, Sary-Tash
• Ominous weather over the Pamirs, where we're heading tomorrow... Ominous weather over the Pamirs, where we're heading tomorrow...
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