Almaty to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

A beautiful church spire.

We're into the mountainous area of the Stans.

Everyone is trying to make a left turn, crazy, slow traffic and a desperate woman.

Into the treeless steppe.

Central Square, Bishkek.

The National History Museum.

The Buddhist influence.

More beautiful weaving.

An elaborate Yurt.

Traditional hats of the region.

The Lenin statue.

And the government building.

 Tuesday, May 6th.

John and I managed to secure the front seats on the top deck of the coach and watched as we weaved our way through the horrendous traffic of Almaty to reach the highway leading through the steppes. That is another word for treeless plains. I enjoyed watching the scenery going by as we saw horses, cows, and sheep. At a WC stop I talked to a group of Vietnamese motorcycle riders who had rented BMWs and were riding through Kazakhstan. After a couple of hours we reached the border and crossed the border into Kyrgyzstan, or the Kyrgyz Republic. We left our coach on the Kazakhstan side and walked through border checkpoints and across no-man’s land before finding our new bus and driver on the other side and drove to the capital Bishkek. Originally known as Pishpek, the city's name has evolved through the years, reflecting the political changes that have shaped its history. In 1926, Pishpek became the capital of the Kyrgyz Autonomous Republic. Later, in 1936, it was renamed Frunze in honour of a prominent political organizer of the Civil War who hailed from the city. Today, Bishkek stands as a modern metropolis, characterized by its vast squares, bustling bazaars, impressive administrative institutions. Our exploration of Bishkek began with a visit to Oak Park, a serene green space that offered a respite from the city's bustling streets. We continue our journey to Central Square, a vibrant hub of activity where locals gather and tourists explore. The iconic Statue of Manas, a legendary Kyrgyz hero, stands proudly in the center of the square. When we got there John and I went for a smoothie in a little coffee shop similar to a Starbucks. We went through the modern National History Museum which used to be called the Lenin Museum. His statue has since been moved outside to a park at the rear of the museum. Our guide thinks it’s the only statue of him left in the Stans. Apparently he did some good things for Kyrgyzstan and they were reluctant to destroy it. The museum proudly illustrates the history of the country from the beginning, its nomadic times, through the Soviet era and into the modern era of independence. Then we had an hour break in our new hotel where John and I went for a swim, before gathering again for a nice dinner in a local restaurant. After dinner John and I met Jordan and Amanda and had a drink in the hotel bar.