The situation being so unpredictable in and around Osh as well as Jalal-Abad, Kyrgyzstan we decided to explore the option of bypassing southern Kyrgyzstan. Travel through Kazakhstan appeared to be a sensible alternative.
This morning Jim and I got into a taxi which took us to the Kazakhstan embassy. We stood in the long queue of people waiting to get in before a woman informed us that the queue was locals only and that foreigners, such as ourselves, do not have stand in the queue. Bit unfair but we took up the invitation.
The young man in reception was friendly and English speaking. He handed us application forms and indicated desks where we could sit down and fill them in. We asked how long the application process would take and the answer was not what we wanted to hear. It takes a week and no there was no express service.
A week waiting in Tashkent would leave us barely enough time to get to the Chinese border. We took the application forms away with us. We may yet need them.
Jim and I got the maps out again and decided that if the border crossing at Uchkurgan was open we would go for it and cross there. The troubles in Kyrgyzstan have been to the south east of that crossing. The capital of Bishkek is on high alert but no curfews or travel restrictions in place.
Clive Emery arrived in Tashkent this afternoon. We meet for dinner tonight. It will be a good idea if we travel together across the border after which we will meet up with Artur Ferrari who is in Kazakhstan.
Have not heard from Jens Hussmann since he entered Iran. I expected him to be in Kyrgyzstan by now and he is not answering messages or calls.
Vaughan and Kimberley Brown are in Uzbekistan somewhere. No response from them either.
Jon Beardmore is in Afghanistan and intending to cross to Kyrgyzstan in the next few days. I received a message from him this morning.
James Jones is still in Russia riding hard to make the Tourgat Pass by the 20th June.
Looking forward to getting the group together.
This morning Jim and I got into a taxi which took us to the Kazakhstan embassy. We stood in the long queue of people waiting to get in before a woman informed us that the queue was locals only and that foreigners, such as ourselves, do not have stand in the queue. Bit unfair but we took up the invitation.
The young man in reception was friendly and English speaking. He handed us application forms and indicated desks where we could sit down and fill them in. We asked how long the application process would take and the answer was not what we wanted to hear. It takes a week and no there was no express service.
A week waiting in Tashkent would leave us barely enough time to get to the Chinese border. We took the application forms away with us. We may yet need them.
Jim and I got the maps out again and decided that if the border crossing at Uchkurgan was open we would go for it and cross there. The troubles in Kyrgyzstan have been to the south east of that crossing. The capital of Bishkek is on high alert but no curfews or travel restrictions in place.
Clive Emery arrived in Tashkent this afternoon. We meet for dinner tonight. It will be a good idea if we travel together across the border after which we will meet up with Artur Ferrari who is in Kazakhstan.
Have not heard from Jens Hussmann since he entered Iran. I expected him to be in Kyrgyzstan by now and he is not answering messages or calls.
Vaughan and Kimberley Brown are in Uzbekistan somewhere. No response from them either.
Jon Beardmore is in Afghanistan and intending to cross to Kyrgyzstan in the next few days. I received a message from him this morning.
James Jones is still in Russia riding hard to make the Tourgat Pass by the 20th June.
Looking forward to getting the group together.
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