Hunting

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.

Hidden Valley

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.

Activities along the way - local livestock market

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

A map so far

This may help

Isykol lake (Issyk-Kul)

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 making

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

Local trout, weddings and statues and schools

Bisckek is well supplied with statues of heroes from the past both historical and more recent soviets. Lenin is still reverred. The military is not obvious and even the police is very low key. Men and women seem to be on the streets in even numbers and all ages are out and about.

School is compulsorary and children do either a morning or an afternoon shift depending on age. Saturday is a school day. The school uniforms are very smart/formal. May primary boys wear three piece suits.