Saturday 20 May 2023 Highlights: Exploring Istaravshan, Hazrati-Shoh Mosque, Mug Teppe, Museum of Sughd
Today we left the remote Gazza Village as we travelled back into more populated areas. This started with a visit to the Hazrati-Shoh Mosque which is located in historic town of Istaravshan. here we learned about the Five Pillars are the core beliefs and practices of Islam:
Profession of Faith (shahada) – reciting the following phase: ‘There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God‘
Prayer (salat) – pray five times a day.
Alms (zakat) – donated a fixed portion of their income to community members in need
Fasting (sawm) – Fast during the daylight hours of Ramadan.
Pilgrimage (hajj) – at least once in their life visit Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
Friday 19 May 2023 Highlights: Hiking Voru River, Visiting the remote Voru Village
Today I woke up in this remote area to birds tapping at the window and the sun rising across the mountain range. Today was to have one included hike and one optional hike.
The morning hike was along the Voru River up to an even more remote village in this area whose history goes back many hundreds of years, the Voru Village. We left our village around 8.30 am for a nice hour plus hike.
Wednesday 17 May 2023 Highlights: The Green Bazaar (Almaty), Flight diversion
Today I say goodbye to Kazakhstan but first I still had a morning in Almaty. The day started with the most comprehensive breakfast buffet so far. After breakfast Anne, Birgitta and myself headed out to find the Green Bazaar.
Additional note: This plane was diverted to Khŭjand Airport due to bad weather in Dushanbe. Diversion was announced 1 hour 20 minutes into flight. We stayed on the ground in Khŭjand for just over 1 hour.
Tuesday 16 May 2023 Highlights: Hiking Charyn Canyon, Zenkov Cathedra, Panfilov’s Park, Independence Square
An early start to the day with breakfast at 6.30 am. This was to allow us to explore one of the major highlights of Kazakhstan in Charyn Canyon and get to Almaty for a city tour.
Kolsay Lakes National Park, Kazakhstan – Soviet era transportation used today
Monday 15 May 2023 Highlights: Border crossing, Exploring Kolsay Lakes National Park
Today we left Kyrgyzstan for the next stop in the tour, a short visit to Kazakhstan. From Karakol it took us a few hours to reach the border with a several stops in between. Border control was very strict, I had my passport checked for powder and with a literal microscope.
Kyrgyzstan – Kazakhstan Border crossing
While I eventually got though one of our drivers was held up for almost an hour but eventually we got into Kazakhstan.
Crossing delays – Kyrgyzstan – Kazakhstan Border (more…)
Sunday 14 May 2023 Highlights: Hiking Jeti-Oguz Gorge, Hiking Karakol National Park
Today we set off to hike Jeti-Oguz Gorge which was about 30 minute drive on semi-rough and bumpy road. We started with a stop at Heartbreak Ridge, the natural landscape of Kyrgyzstan is a treasure of the world.
Karakol, Kyrgyzstan – Russian Holy Trinity Orthodox Church
Saturday 13 May 2023 Highlights: Exploring landscape at Barskoon, Learning how Yurts are constructed, Cultural music, The beautiful Russian Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Prejevalskiy Museum
After a good night’s sleep, an enjoyable breakfast and some time with very young kittens we were off to bring exploring again. First up was a visit to the sanatorium that Yuri Gagarin stayed at to recover after the world’s first manned space flight in 1961. The sanatorium has seen better days and is undergoing repairs, but we still learned about the strong Soviet Space program link in this area.
Nathan's Insights 