The Sub-Trio Group Joining up in Almaty

Early morning and all packed up, Chye & May plus me checked out of the hotel and made our way to find Bern & Ita at their hotel for breakfast. 

This was the first day of what I call the formation of the Sub-Trio Group. One Toyota Hilux Campervan codename LUCHS (Bern & Ita), One Toyota Hiace Campervan codename Donkey (Chye & May) and One GPX Legend Twin 250 motorcycle codename Bragge (myself).

The Sub-Trio Group in Kazakhstan 
From Left to Right
 (Team Luchs Navigator, Team Donkey Navigator, Team Donkey Driver, Team Luch Driver, Solo Team Bragge Rider)

After forming up the big group to cross China which was random and no one really know anyone else we all had new friends now and after crossing into Kyrgyzstan, almost all of us went our own ways having different purpose in travel and destination. 

Central Asia however was small and most of us kept in touch checking each other out especially when the route would coincide with our own in the future.

So by fate or coincidence, Luchs, Donkey & Bragge were the last one left behind as the rest zoomed off like a rally race to Europe. 

That day was the formation of the Sub-Trio Group although we did not know it yet and we would all travel in a way together yet not together all through Tajikistan and even most parts of Uzbekistan.

We still made our own plans and as independent travelers never really bother to much to stick as a convoy and sometimes never even stick in the same hotel when in the same city. 

Detours were also different with some of us going to more crazy off-roads while other lingered around in workshop repairing vehicles or in my case a hospital.

Still I would say we traveled together keeping check on each other via whatsapp making sure everyone was alright and meeting up at beautiful campsite sharing Vodka snaps and without a doubt overcoming the crazy obstacles together.

That morning nothing was set in stone. I got the wise card and was ready to push on to Bishkek while Donkey got some Van parts and were heading to the workshop in Almaty for an upgrade while Luch was going to cross a different border crossing, aiming for a campsite at Konorcheck Valley.

Back at Korday Border crossing from Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan

I took my time riding to Bishkek and somehow Luch caught up just before Korday town and as I saw the turn off for them to divert to the alternative border, I wave them a goodbye. 

However Luch tailed me and I was confused if they made a mistake but did not think much on it going to a petrol station to fill up. A message came from Luch asking me to turn back to a lunch spot so after filling up the tank I backtracked a bit to find Luch for lunch. 

They had a change in plans apparently after talking to some locals on the alternative border so decided to cross the Korday border together. Halfway through lunch Donkey message came in and the upgrade was a No go and was heading in our direction to join up with me in Bishkek.

I crossed the border fairly easily cutting queue as bike does and made a run for Bishkek checking back into the same cosy hostel. 

Luch got stuck a little late and decided to forgo Konorcheck Valley and stayed somewhere else in Bishkek. Donkey got jammed at the border for hours but finally reached the hostel at 1130pm.

Hence without plans we were all at Bishkek. This was roughly how our travel together without plan went for the next three weeks fate having join us up together. Whenever I think back on all my experience in Central Asia, this sub-trio group travel that happen through fate was the best time I had in the trip. 

Traveled on: June 2024