The first view of the Pamir Mountains The Pamir Highway is a term now liberally used to describe the Mountain roads between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, but the original Pamir Highway was built by the Soviet around 1935 linking Osh in Kyrgizstan and Mazar e Sharif in Admfghanistan, passing through Tajikistan and Uzbekistan on the way....Read More
The road between Osh and Murghab took us about 16 hours, including the border crossing. The road condition quickly deteriorated when we crossed from Kyrgyzstan to Tajikistan around midnight but the driver didnt seem to mind and was trying to keep his raceing speed throughout the night. When we reached Murghab it was already morning...Read More
Osh is the starting point of the so-called Pamir Highway and has been a central city in Asian history as a trading hub along the Silk Road. Today, 2500 years after the city was founded it is Kyrgyzstans second biggest city, but has still kept its unorganized, ancient architecture, different to the more newly founded...Read More
The entrance to the National Park As part of the Deputy Minister of Culture wanting me to see as much of Kyrgizstan before leaving she said that I would have her driver at my disposal the whole last day. She advised me to go to Ala Archa, a National Park about 50kilometers from Bishkek, which...Read More
Issik Kôl (or Ysyk Kôl) is the second largest alpine lake in the World, after Lake Titicaca in South America. Its thermal activity ensures that it never freezes over in the winter and is also the reason why Cholpon Ata grew as a big beach and spa destination during the time of the USSR. Cholpon...Read More
The Burana Tower is a UNESCO World Heritage Site well worth a visit from Bishkek. It can be done easily independently in half a day and will just set you back 3-5 dollars! Background: The Burana Tower is all that remains from an ancient city called Balasagun. The tower was originally 44meters high, but because...Read More
Lenin standing proud in the city center A week in Bishkek has been a bliss after spending the last months in Africa and in the hospital with malaria and dengue fever. Bishkek is as comfortable as it gets. Walking around the city is like walking through a massive park with greens, statues and monuments everywhere...Read More
The best part about traveling to Kyrgizstan has by far been the people. I have used apps such as couchsurfing, tinder and InMessage to get in touch with locals and every time people have been eager to get in touch and show me their homes, families and culture. Most Kyrgiz people share small apartments where...Read More
The Deputy Minister of Culture with her husband the movie producer The last week has been interesting. It all started when I went on a tinder date where I was invited to a barbeque party of the girls family friends. It was there that I met the Deputy Minister of Culture who after some vodka,...Read More
