Date: 7th August -9th August
[slideshow id=12]
After a couple of navigation errors, lost in the cotton fields and asking for locals our way out, we finally made it to the border. We join straight away the Pamir Highway across the Kyrgyz Mountains. The Landscape is just stunning, glacier lakes, red rocks under midday sun, snow-capped peaks behind rolling hills, horses in pasture and yurts. Kyrgyzstan is probably the most picturesque country I have ever seen. We stop on our road to Bishkek to try Mare milk and cheese. The cheese is…strong and the mare milk, I somewhat dread to taste.
A short night in Bishkek meeting international and other ralliers and we set off to see the Issyk-Kul Lake. Second biggest Alpine lake in the world, it is considered by the people of this landlocked country as a national treasure.
On the shores we meet Talgar, the eagle hunter (hunting with eagles not hunting eagles). He accepted kindly to put on a demonstration of his eagle Tomura deadly skills.
Talgar let us hold her and explain the very special relationship formed between him and the powerful animal. An eagle such as Tomura leaves up to 40 years. Talgar will keep, feed and train her for the first 10 years of her life and will release her high in the mountains on her 20th birthday.
He told us that being an eagle hunter is an important role as it helps monitor and safeguard those beautiful creatures.
We leave Talgar and Tomura after a quick photo session with Doris. The next day we return to Bishkek to cross the only border open to foreigners. Doris and our gears enjoyed a few days of good road, cool and pure mountain fresh air before heading to our final Stan.
Quote of the day
No quotes today.
What I take away from today
Not much to be honest, I spent most of my days in Kyrgyzstan behind my lenses shooting photos of amazing landscape. Our interaction with locals was very minimal so a little sad we had to drive off so quickly
Tomorrow
Kazakhstan; the last “stan” before the real deal and the one I dread the most for its dodgy police and officials
The post Kyrgyzstan appeared first on The adventourists.