Once again with feeling – but without horses

Traffic Issues

What is wrong on this picture?

After I had finally bought a bicycle more than a week ago, Bobby and I decided to use the opportunity to head out to the mountains (more specifically, Ala-Archa) again. Interestingly, this turned out to be very similar to our experience the weekend before: Somebody up there doesn’t seem to like us.

(Given the strange sight we had encountered the day before – see pictures to the right – , riding a bike on a road with heavy traffic might not have seen that advisable – ah well…)

Just in case - here's the close-up...

On the negative side I can say that after seven hours of horse riding, my knees only hurt a bit. After half an hour on the bike that Giulio had lent me – and who in turn has received it from a colleague – my behind was definitely sore. Giulio’s colleague must have been a fakir in his former life.

Weather Issues

On the positive side I can report that we did not get into a hailstorm.  Just another regular thunderstorm. And so we once again turned around quickly and fled from cold wind and rain downwards.

Our next stop was the bike-shop and one of the shopping centres that sell fake North face jackets: A mudguard, a softer saddle and a decent raincoat seem to be cycling essentials here.

Bad weather's a-coming

So this weekend we started “Operation Ala-Archa 2” . I am glad to report that we made it this time – well, at least until the gate of Ala-Archa. For those who would like to do the same, here follows the description:

1. Get to Manas Avenue and follow it down South. Manas is easily recognizable by the fact that it is the best-maintained road in the city. This certainly has nothing to do with the fact that it connects the presidential residency with the “White House”, the seat of the government.

2. After 3/4 of an hour we turned right in front of the presidential residency and followed the road to the end. Turn left and up the (relatively) steep slope where people are selling apples, strawberries and plums next to the road.

Two curious Kyrgyz

3. After another 3/4 of an hour you reach a  road sign saying “Ala-Archa 25 km” – right after a road sign announcing “Ala-Archa 12 km”.  After continuing straight across the crossroad, have a rest at the ostrich farm (behind the brick walls to your right). You can either climb up the mound behind the bus stop and watch the ostriches, or watch the local population watching the ostriches.

Here's looking at you, kid

4. On your way towards the mountains you will encounter the villages of Baytyk and Kashka-Suu, which you should reach after another 30-45 minutes – and from there it is again about 30-45 minutes until the entrance of the park.

As the whole trip is leading steadily upward, the return is a piece of cake: All you have to do is occasionally activate the breaks and avoid the potholes.

Some random news:

It’s raining cats: The landlord’s brother has gone crazy (well, even more crazy than normally) and keeps sending us cats. Now we have another 5 kittens running around in the yard…

Alymkan is learning to ride a bike: Record is 15 meters so far.

We’ve gone bowling.

And some random insights:

Whether you need to drill holes into a plastic mudguard to attach it to the bike luggage rack with a piece of wire, have to fasten a screw or cut a plastic spoon out of your pet bottle because you forgot the spoon for your Birchermüesli – there’s nothing a Swiss Army Knife cannot solve. Hurray for the only useful thing to ever have come from the Swiss Army!