16.04.2022   Directly behind Karakol, on the side facing away from the lake, the mountains rise. This is a bit different from the foothills of the Alps. It was said, that you should climb 700 metres in altitude and then walk across to Ak-Suu (near the great thermal baths) and from there easily back again … Continue reading Karakol – hinterland, no contacts and no getting through → Read more

April 2022   Quite diverse people live in and near Karakol. One notable community is that of the Dungans. I visited the mosque, museum and a family for dinner.     In the museum, Lucky Lee told their story. He spoke a few words of German, but his stories were translated by Shirin anyway. He … Continue reading The Dungans – history, mosque and dinner → Read more

15.04.2022   When I looked out of the window the next morning, the weather forecast was indeed right and a cloudless blue sky greeted me. I also received a message that I should be in Karakol at a certain time and I had to take the 11:30 bus. But I also had time to walk … Continue reading Jyrgalan – sun, mountains and departure → Read more

14.04.2022   Jyrgalan is a small village 60 km from Karakol in the mountains. There is black coal mining here – but only at a very low level. More and more people have migrated to Karakol in search of jobs. Jyrgalan is situated in a super-pretty landscape. They thought about what they could do for … Continue reading Jyrgalan – journey, rain and snow → Read more

13.04.2022   Issyk Kul is flat and very big. Karakol is also flat and on its edge. The surrounding area is also flat. But then you only have to drive 5-10 km in the direction of the surrounding mountains and suddenly you’re right in the middle of it and the flat seems far away.   … Continue reading Ak Suu – water, botanics and house-specialities → Read more

12.04.2022   Karakol is ideally located for excursions into the surrounding area. It was cloudy and actually not the most favourable day for visiting the red rocks, but I had such a desire to roam around in the landscape that I drove anyway. It was a few km along the south side of the lake. … Continue reading Jeti Ögüz – rocks, waterfall and cattle drive → Read more

10. + 11.04.2022   From Cholpon Ata I took a minibus (Marshrutka) and drove it to Karakol, a town of about 70,000 people 5 km south of the eastern end of Issyk Kul. I was so to and fro about how to arrange my travel rest. My wonderful room in a top accommodation (only the … Continue reading Karakol – observations, streets and houses → Read more

08. + 09.04.2022   Goluboi Sanatorium is located in Cholpon Ata, the largest village on the north side of Issyk Kul. The north side is much more touristy as the sun shines much better there. There are many resorts, holiday accommodation, beaches and amusements. In the summer, it’s probably a hive of activity. Not in … Continue reading Cholpon Ata – Rukh Ordo, Balbal and emptiness → Read more

08. + 09.04.2022   Life in the sanatorium is very regimented. I was given 2 slips of paper at the beginning, one for my room, another for meals. At the end I got them back and had to hand them in again at reception. Who knows what would have happened if they had got lost! … Continue reading Goluboi – diagnosis, treatments and entertainment → Read more

07.04.2022   Who would think of visiting a sanatorium on a trip to Kyrgyzstan? At least Lothar and Bettina did. And now I have too. Both of them had been there on their respective journeys and urged me to include it in my trip as well. It would be an incomparable experience of a special … Continue reading Goluboi – Sanatorium, Indians and Siberian Wellness → Read more