The Central Mosque Night Time Adventure

Thursday, May 8th. continued

After the musical performance, I had Sasha arrange a taxi ride for me to the Central Mosque. I was very interested in seeing the interior but since it’s not included in our itinerary and John wasn’t really interested I decided to go on my own. She organized a taxi to take me there, wait for 20 minutes while I went in and then bring me back all for 300 Krygyz som. The cab was a right hand drive, beat up, old wreck and the driver was a young man with almost no English. We set off driving through the dark streets in the crazy traffic. His brakes weren’t the best and he said ‘danger danger’ when we almost backended a car. From that point that became our ‘joke’ every time some obstacle presented itself. I had no idea where we were going and he seemed to be not sure where we were going because he was using his phone’s GPS (I mean as a muslim how could you not know where the largest mosque in your city is?). When we finally arrived 20 minutes later, using the language translator on his phone, we arranged for him to drop me off at an entrance where he’d wait for me. The mosque is enormous and stunningly lit up with white lights. I took a few quick photos before removing my shoes and going in to find the interior as impressive and beautiful as I’d surmised. There were only about ten men inside praying. I watched and walked around quietly taking photos and then retreated to get some better shots outside. Then I retraced my route to the taxi (which I had luckily photographed before leaving him, only to find the car but no driver. I waited about ten minutes before he returned… he’d gone to buy food. Then we took off for the return journey. Again he used the GPS and we seemed to be going around and around. He drove me down a couple of dark back alleys over broken pavement before re-emerging on a main one and finally arriving at the restaurant where he’d picked me up. I told him to take me to the hotel, two blocks away. Then I gave him the 500 som note I had borrowed from Jordan. He didn't have change and wanted to transfer me the change… nope not doing that… he wanted to transfer to Sasha but I didn’t have her contact… so I said I’d go into the hotel to get change… no luck at reception… or the restaurant on the second floor (what hotel can’t give change?)… or any of the patrons there… I didn’t know how to contact either Jordan or Sasha… so… I decided to hell with it… I went back outside and told the driver that he could keep the 500. He was ever so grateful and thanked me repeatedly. When I went back inside I checked and found 500 som was less than $6US… Thus ended my little ‘Adventure’ Abroad…. I went back to the room and found John asleep in bed as he felt like he was getting a cold. Amanda and Jordan invited me to the bar for a nightcap, so I went and had a drink with them. Meeting Amanda again on this trip was a nice bonus and this would be the last chance to see her as her tour ends tomorrow morning and both tours are leaving the country. I went to bed at about 11:30.