On the drive along the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul we were given a demonstration of traditional hunting with a Golden Eagle. The bird pictured expertly caught and ate a rabbit.
We took a day trip, in two old Russian troop carriers, up a valley described as the worst road in the world. It was tough on vehicles but easy enough for walking. Clare had a bath in a hot springs and after lunch we walked back down the valley following a glacial flow creek for a couple of hours.
We are staying two nights in Karakol, a town of 125 thousand (Kyrgyzstanands fourth largest) at the eastern end of the lake. The photos are of the weekly livestock market which serves two provinces. We saw horse shoeing, horse wrestling and many many animals
We have travelled east across the top of Kyrgyzstan along the border with Kazakhstan to Isykol Lake. This is a freshwater (5%salt) lake about 120k long and up to 60k wide. It has a mountain range on both sides.
On the way we stayed in a gated complex with hotel, villas and private houses, with its own beach. The sand was course and whitish. The other side of the lake (southern) has stoney beaches and is largely undeveloped. We went for a stroll and a swim before breakfast. The water was cool, maybe 17 C. At 8am a group of cleaning ladies arrived with buckets and started combing the beach for rubbish.
Felt is a local craft and we can see two parts of the process here. It is all cottage industry, in extended family groups or small collectives
