The other routes were very rough and involved tricky steep curvy mountain pass. My initial plan of camping in Song-Kul for a few days going round the whole lake was quickly put on pause.
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| Road to Song Kul passing by an Ice Glacier at Kalmak-Ashuu Pass 3447m Altitude |
It was really cold in Song-Kul in June and it was such that even during midday on full sun out, I was shivering riding partway around the lake. Beautiful Snow-capped mountain lined the views coupled with bone chilling winds makes the feeling only colder.
I decided to find a Yurt Camp which was scattered all around Song Kul Lake. What I did not expect was the price of the Yurt Camp which was quite expensive these days from all the hyped up Yurt tourism.
I decided to find a Yurt Camp which was scattered all around Song Kul Lake. What I did not expect was the price of the Yurt Camp which was quite expensive these days from all the hyped up Yurt tourism.
I found Atibek Yurtcamp which seam quite nice but there was no one around save a little boy and his sister. There was no phone signal/reception in Song-Kul of any kind but luckily I had the offline translator downloaded for Kyrgyz language.
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| Atibek Yurtcamp - Song Kul Kyrgyzstan |
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| The View of Song Kul Lake |
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| Atibek Yurtcamp - Song Kul Kyrgyzstan |
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| My own Yurt for the night. |
Their grandparents went to buy things in the market was what the boy said and should be back in the evening. Base on my ride in Song-Kul there was nothing within a 50km radius coupled with dirt road so waiting around not knowing when their grandparents would be back may take a while.
I decided to wait instead of riding on to find another Yurt Camp. I had a good feeling and there was no other tourist around when I arrived in the late afternoon of 4pm.
I decided to wait instead of riding on to find another Yurt Camp. I had a good feeling and there was no other tourist around when I arrived in the late afternoon of 4pm.
By 6pm a truck rolled up dropping off their grandparents. I manage to negotiate the price of a bed in the Yurt for 1500 som including breakfast then added another 500 som for dinner totaling 2000 som. About SGD 34.
Dinner was local fishes caught in the river near Song-Kul lake and then it was just lazing around watching the sky, the lake, the grass and wonder if life was worth living.
Dinner was local fishes caught in the river near Song-Kul lake and then it was just lazing around watching the sky, the lake, the grass and wonder if life was worth living.
Evening came and the sun was setting slowly but the chill came in fairly fast. I ended up inside the family main Yurt where there was a wooden oven heater. My yurt had one too but they did not feel the need to light it up since it was summer.
It was so cold that I had to seat next to the oven trying to warm myself up after dinner and just holding out my hands as close as possible to the heated plate.
It was so cold that I had to seat next to the oven trying to warm myself up after dinner and just holding out my hands as close as possible to the heated plate.
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| My Yurt at Atibek Yurtcamp |
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| Pre - Dinner at Atibek Yurtcamp |
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| Song Kul Fish for Dinner |
The grandfather observed me and told me something in Kyrgyz but I could not understand. The last words was … snaps ?? with the hand gesture of downing a shot.
I suspected it was vodka but it might have been something else for all I knew, but the cold took over my brain and I just nod my head in acceptance after a few more prompts from Grandpa.
Opening a cabinet, he took out a lovely bottle of Tash Rabat Vodka. A few Snaps and I was alive again and warm. I need to carry a bottle of Vodka with me I thought.
Opening a cabinet, he took out a lovely bottle of Tash Rabat Vodka. A few Snaps and I was alive again and warm. I need to carry a bottle of Vodka with me I thought.
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| Watching the Sunset at Song Kul |
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| A Local Experience in Song Kul. Tash Rabat Vodka |
Since there was nothing much to do and plenty of time, slow translation using my phone was the past time to have some conversation with the family.
Little boy and his sister was on holiday helping out Grandpa and grandma at the Yurt Camp. Grandpa and Grandma had five kids with 23 grandchildren as well.
After a few shots of Vodka, two Netherlands boys showed up with a 4x4 looking for a place to stay. We all huddled up in the main Yurt where it was warm and I could converse with them easily in English.
After a few shots of Vodka, two Netherlands boys showed up with a 4x4 looking for a place to stay. We all huddled up in the main Yurt where it was warm and I could converse with them easily in English.
One of the asked me if it would be rude to offer the old man some Vodka. Sure I told them. I got offered Snaps just before you guys came and he hid the bottle. Very quickly a new full unopened bottle was brought out and more Snaps was shared around the table.
That night I slept fairly warm till 4am in the morning where I would wake up to see the bright starry sky while taking a piss in the fields.
Traveled on: June 2024
That night I slept fairly warm till 4am in the morning where I would wake up to see the bright starry sky while taking a piss in the fields.
Traveled on: June 2024
