The trip hear sounds hard but in fact it was easy. Go to the bus station and walk around saying "Jalabart" and they point out the mini bus (mushrutka), pay 80som ($2) for the 2hr trip. Arrive at Jalal-abad bus station, walk around saying "Buza Korrrrgon" they point I pay 25som for the 1hr ride. Arrive at Bus station walk around saying "Arslanbub" they point. This time I gotta get a share taxi (machina) at 60som ($1.50) for the 1hr trip. Only problem is I gotta wa...

Osh is the 2nd biggest city in Kyrgystan. It is one of the oldest cities in the world. They celebrated their 3000th birthday in 2000. The bazaar claims to be older than Rome. Depending who you believe it was founded by King Soloman or Alexander the Great or any number of people of that era. WHAT A DISAPOINTMENT. The bazaar is nearly 1/3 of the town but just a collection of tin boxes. Made out of corregated iron about 3mtr square and all selling the usual mass pro...

I wanted to go to Kyrgystan to see the out doors and stay in a yert, and go eagle hunting and drink fermented mares milk but now it looks like that wont happen. The Kyrgystan people are some of the last true nomadic people in the world but even they dont go up to the jailoos in this weather. We are facing a last icey blast of winter and record snow for this time of year. It looks like I might just be bus hopping to Bishkek. I bought the ticket on the morning of d...

China is everything you expect of it and more. The transport system is great. There are heaps of flights and they are realitively cheap. Planes seem to park all over the place and you either walk or, usually, take a bus to the terminal. The anouncements are usually made in chinese and english but the english only resembles english and you cant understand them. I found myself walking around with ticket in hand til someone pointed the way. Trains are slow but cheap...

I arrived at 4pm and went straight to the Qinibagh Hotel. It is in the old British embasy complex. Posh building in the front and backpackers in the back. It is an old 3 star hotel they have let run down a little but it is still OK and it is close to all the sights. It also doubles as a brothel. After checking in I went for a walk to get the lay of the land and check out something for dinner. There are heaps of places around here cooking meat on a stick so I wil...