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A visual symphony ( with a two part harmony)

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The two part harmony really means the visual symphony was in two harmonious parts ie over two days.  

Let me explain. We take two days to travel from Bishkek to Osh. It was two days of some stunning scenery and vistas. It was the first seriously winding road since we left Japan 

We head out of Biskeek and fairly soon head up a steep valley to a high mountain pass  but not before passing the hay making and carting 



Then into the hills. This route is one of the main silk routes and one could not help but think of the traders winding their way up the steep gorge and high pass loaded with all their wares for the west 



Time to put on extra layers as the temperature drops form about 35 degrees C to about 5 degrees C in an hour 







Then the famous (or infamous ) tunnel 



The tunnel was dimly lit. Some people of course might well say the same about me but that is a different story ! 


Then down the other side and into a valley with lots of nomad Kurts with some looking somewhat permanent. Many horses were being ridden. 



Then the black clouds came to meet us. Then the rain as we went over a another pass.



 Finally it was down to Toktogul where we stay in a delightful guesthouse that was most friendly and welcoming. They were just commissioning  a brand new kurt 


On day 2 a very strange thing happens. As we ride out of Toktogul we are suddenly transported back by time and space machine to our beloved Central Otago in New Zealand. Let me show you the photos to prove it 

Firstly we pass through the Cromwell Gorge 


Then we pass the town of Cromwell itself on the other side of the river 


We then come to Lake Dunstan 



And we see the Clyde dam and power station 



We then jump to the Lindis pass 


And then to finally clinch all we pop into the studio of Grahame Sydney, the well known Central Otago artist and we see two of his latest landscape paintings 



And “ This  Timeless Land “? 




Then suddenly we find ourselves back in Kyrgyzstan  and having a late lunch 


Then we are as close to the Uzbekistan border  as you can possibly get. But we stay in Kyrgyzstan as Osh is still in Kyrgyzstan 


Then finally it is into Osh 


For dinner we meet up with Chris Eden, a kiwi who now lives on the West Coast. He to is an inveterate motorcycle traveller. And our paths crossed in Norway on motorcycles three years ago. We last saw Chris four months ago at the Salmon farm tearooms just north of Haast   We have a delightful evening sharing stories of the road aso ly fellow travellers can do )

Then it is a rest day looking round Osh.

We go to the markets. The bread on the stalls looks magnificent 


Mouthwatering 


And nuts and dried fruits and seeds 


And families having fun 



And you never know who you will meet. Minnie Mouse as well ! 



And the men also have fun as the chess games warm up. I get invited to play chess 


And last but not least you have to see the sacred Muslim mountain called Suleima-Too which dominates the centre of Osh 



Tomorrow we head west again toward Tajikistan but trying to avoid accidently going to Uzbekistan (until later). The borders are all very confusing and hard to fathom out. But we will get there! 












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