WorldWideKittyGlassesProject

Friday, June 14, 2019

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

When I crossed the border into Kyrgyzstan, I bought a sim card for my phone. For unlimited data for one week it was just $1.50!!! A friend of mine in Prague put me in contact with one of her friends in Bishkek. On my first full day in Bishkek I had a wonderfully busy day. First I needed to make sure that I bought my ticket to Tashkent because I had seen online that tickets sell out quite quickly. Once I had my ticket I headed to the Osh Bazaar to meet my friend's friend. She showed me all around the bazaar and I got to try all kinds of foods. It was a great way to see the bazaar because if I went by myself I would've gotten lost. It was such a big bazaar! Then we walked all over the city. After the walk, we were lucky enough that a friend of hers drove us to Freedom Square outside of the city. It was nice to get back into nature and enjoy the views. At the end of the day, we went to iftar (breaking the fast during the Ramadan month) at another one of her friend's house. I was lucky enough to try lots of great food and meet such nice people. It was a great day in Bishkek. The next day, I thought I would go into the mountains, but that didn't happen so I walked around the city again. The meal at the end of the day was delicious--lagman(a noodle dish)!! I even tried a small glass of horse milk, I will definitely not have that again!!! But at least I can say I tried it!
I am still waiting on photos from my friend from the day she showed me around. I am hoping she will send them to me soon!!!!!!!

$1.50 for a sim card

Georgian khinkali

got some heels in the city

main square

my guide for the day


Bishkek

the main square


flag of Kyrgyzstan

Ata Beyit Memorial

Kyrgyzstan

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words from a famous writer

nice green fields

the feast

all of us!

Kyrgyzstan

delicious manti

chocolates

the main square

roses

nice roses

roses

lagman noodles

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funny Kyrgyzstan man at the bus station

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Almaty, Kazakhstan

Almaty is a beautiful city. I felt that it was much more pedestrian friendly compared to Astana. There were several parks in the city and it had a more relaxed vibe. There were no crazy futuristic buildings like in Astana. The Green Bazaar was a nice market to check out the local cuisine. I was even able to find churchkela, natural Georgian Snickers. I hadn't had one in a long time, so it was wonderful having it again. While looking for a place to eat in the market I randomly bumped into another couchsurfer so we walked around the city. After we parted ways I went to the highest view point of the city. I took a gondola up to Kok Tobe. It was a great way to see the city. The next day I met with a couchsurfer to go to Big Almaty Lake. The lake was such a nice color. Hiking in the mountains was beautiful. It reminded me of the mountains in Georgia. It was such a nice day being in nature and seeing the beauty of it. For dinner I had Shashlik (bbq). It was delicious!!! After two days in Almaty, I took a marshutka (van) to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan ($5).

nice colors

inside the Green Bazaar

yummyyy!!!

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gondola

random Beatles statue

nice stream

Turkey

interesting shape of flower

Big Almaty Lake behind me

President's Park

shashlik (the duck was the best one!!)

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good-bye Kazakhstan for now

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

Astana, Kazakhstan

I have been wanting to go to Central Asia for a while now, I just didn't want to spend too much on an airline ticket. I did a lot of research and finally found a low cost airline that flew from Budapest, Hungary to Astana, Kazakhstan. My roundtrip ticket without bags (just one small carry on) was just $160. I decided that it was finally time to go. Luckily one of my friends (I met in Japan several years ago) was actually working in Astana. She was kind enough to let me sleep at her place while I was in Astana. She even met me at the airport!! That was really kind of her. Unfortunately, she had to work the days that I was visiting so I met with a couchsurfer and he showed me around the city. We walked a LOT!!! The city had so many modern buildings and it shocked me to see how different it looked to what I imaged it would be. One thing that is noteworthy about the city.......it is the second coldest capital city in the world. It can get down to -50C in winter. No thank you!!! After spending two full days in the city, I took the overnight train from Astana to Almaty ($30). In my carriage was a woman and her 3 children. The train was so much nicer than I expected!! I even got a cup of tea in the train restaurant for less than $1.50.