From the village of Arslanbob we took a series of shared taxis to the high altitude lake, Song Kul. The landscape of Kyrgyzstan is striking. Very arid, desert-like, yet with snow covered-peaks in the distance. This would be our chance to get up some of those peaks.
After a few days exploring hot and busy Osh, we caught a local bus heading up into the mountains. We’d picked the village of Arslanbob mostly because it was easy to get to and promised some nice scenery.
After a long day crossing the border from Kashgar China into Kyrgyzstan, we were relieved to arrive in Osh, a sizable city in the fertile lowlands.
We left Kashgar early in the morning. It stays dark here really late into the morning because all of China is in the same time zone.
Before leaving town, our driver had to gas up the car. Gas stations in Western China are heavily secured. No passengers are allowed, so we had to walk around the outside of the the station while our driver showed her ID, let security search the car, then fill up.
Continue reading “Crossing the border from China to Kyrgyzstan”
After a few days in surprisingly pleasant Urumqi, we figured it was time to start heading west. West to the “Stans”.
Distances are big in China. Don’t let the crowded nature of this country fool you, it’s vast. We lucked out and managed to get sleeper seats for the 12-hour ride to Kuche, a town rarely visited by western tourists.
I’ve just arrived in Urumqi, the largest city in Western China and once a major hub on the Silk Road. I didn’t get to my hostel until 4am but there’s no better way to get over jet lag than to get up early and do what everyone else does on a warm Saturday morning – go to the People’s Park.
Part 1: Edziza Spectrum Range Traverse (this post)
Part 2: Crossing the Edziza Plateau
In northern BC there’s a rarely visited park that I hadn’t even heard of until a few months ago. My good friend, Jim, was putting together a trip to visit the asbestos mine (yikes!) where he used to work years ago and Mount Edziza Provincial Park just happens to be a stone’s throw away. To make the trip even more special, Jim invited Calder who also worked in the mine. They hadn’t seen each other since 1971! Continue reading “Edziza Spectrum Range Traverse”
There are many ways to visit a new country but few as rewarding as walking across from coast to coast. Travelling by foot, you notice the little details that give a place its character. You take time to savour the slow changes in landscape and you see places you’d never visit by car or train or even bicycle. Continue reading “Walking Coast to Coast across Sweden”
I’ve just arrived in Malmö, Sweden’s third largest and most multicultural city. It was once controlled by Denmark and is actually a shorter train ride from the Copenhagen airport than is Copenhagen itself. Continue reading “Who says Scandinavian has to be expensive?”
Long walks are good for the soul. After nine days of walking from Glasgow to Fort William, I feel refreshed and relaxed. There’s something especially enjoyable about exploring a country by foot. Along the West Highland Way, one passes through quaint little villages, mysterious inky black lochs, ancient ruins, and some of the best mountain scenery the country has to offer. Continue reading “A Journey Complete”
Eating Snow Around the World 