Out for supper by the riverbank in the friendly town of Turkul with Hamid and Bakhadir. Hamid is an English teacher and relative of Bakhadir. They were both incredibly helpful to me in rounding up a replacement tube for my tire.
Hamid and friend with a going away gift from his photo shop.
Bakhadir is the proud owner of an Internet cafe in Turtkul, and with Hamid and others is trying to open a small library with english books on the upper floor.
While I was in this area, I found out that my bank had cancelled my visa card due to some notion that someone was misusing it. It was quite problematic, for because of the good black market rates, I was travelling on cash in Uzbekistan and was getting down on funds. I had a debit card, but it couldn't always be used. Toll free numbers to my bank were unavailable here and the bank at first was quite anal about the whole thing!
One of Bakhadir's family members who worked at his business.
Hamid, Bakhadir, myself, with staff and family outside the cafe. I can't say enough about the good people of Turtkul. They were gracious, very kind and helpful! I hope some day I can return the favour to one of them!
Hamid, Bakhadir, myself, with staff and family outside the cafe. I can't say enough about the good people of Turtkul. They were gracious, very kind and helpful! I hope some day I can return the favour to one of them!
I backtracked a day and a half to Tashkent the capital of Uzbekistan. Above a photo of a very impressive Korean lady who had covered the thousands of kms. from Vladivostok by moped!! Something for some of the "tough" motorcycle types to think about!
Approaching Tashkent, I was pulled over by the local constabulary for doing 95 in a 80 km. zone. The only sign that I had seen way back on the freeway had said 90 km/hr.. It was something like out of a movie set in the southern USA! Anyway, they said it was a big problem and that the fine was $100, to which I said that that was a big problem indeed, because I had enough money for gasoline to get to Moscow and that if I payed them $100, I would not get to Moscow!! Anyway, long story short, in the end I offered them my coat in lieu of the fine and they took a good long look at me, gave me my license and passport back, and sent me on my way none the poorer. There is a much different policing system in these parts from what we are used to!
Crossed back into Kazakhstan near Tashkent and then proceeded to the city of Shymkent, a days drive. Met up there with Maury, the business partner of our friend Yeldos, the owner of the Eldoro Restaurant in Almaty. Above is a photo of a lovely hotel run by Yeldos and Maury outside of Shymkent where I stayed for a couple of nights.
Dinner is set at the hotel, where we ate in the apple orchard.
Arica, an Israeli businessman and friend of Maury's.
Maury and Anastasia, great people!!
Crossed back into Kazakhstan near Tashkent and then proceeded to the city of Shymkent, a days drive. Met up there with Maury, the business partner of our friend Yeldos, the owner of the Eldoro Restaurant in Almaty. Above is a photo of a lovely hotel run by Yeldos and Maury outside of Shymkent where I stayed for a couple of nights.
Dinner is set at the hotel, where we ate in the apple orchard.
Arica, an Israeli businessman and friend of Maury's.
Maury and Anastasia, great people!!
I was able to resolve my money issues in Shymkent (I discovered Western Union), and had new tubes sent by Yeldos on the overnight train. After 5 days I headed north on a 2.5 day drive to the Russian border.
Central Kazakhstan, south of Astana. Lots of wide open spaces, and the road was fairly good, but it was starting to get cold.
The Hotel Kyzyl Zhar, where I stayed in Petropavlosk, a very Siberian like ethnic Russian city, 60 km. from the Russian border.
Central Kazakhstan, south of Astana. Lots of wide open spaces, and the road was fairly good, but it was starting to get cold.
The Hotel Kyzyl Zhar, where I stayed in Petropavlosk, a very Siberian like ethnic Russian city, 60 km. from the Russian border.
I ran into snow squalls outside of the city on the way up, was not feeling all that great and my "mojo" was low. There was a direct two night train to Moscow from here and after a couple of nights in the hotel I decided it was time to call it quits for the year and go home. After making arrangements for the bike, in mid september 2010 I caught the train to Moscow.
Red Square, St. Basel's Cathedral, the Kremlin, and Lenin's Mausoleum on the right. This is the centre of Russian power. It looked smaller than I had imagined after watching the troops and tanks parade through on Tv every Mayday during communist times.
The domes of St. Basel's, built in the 16th century.
Street scene a short walk from the Kremlin. Lots of great little restaurants and prosperous looking people, very European.
The Napoleon Hostel where I spent my last few days in Moscow before returning to Canada on the 24th of September, 2010. 20,000 km. done so far, back to Kazakhstan in May of 2011 when spring has come to continue the trip.
Red Square, St. Basel's Cathedral, the Kremlin, and Lenin's Mausoleum on the right. This is the centre of Russian power. It looked smaller than I had imagined after watching the troops and tanks parade through on Tv every Mayday during communist times.
The domes of St. Basel's, built in the 16th century.
Street scene a short walk from the Kremlin. Lots of great little restaurants and prosperous looking people, very European.
The Napoleon Hostel where I spent my last few days in Moscow before returning to Canada on the 24th of September, 2010. 20,000 km. done so far, back to Kazakhstan in May of 2011 when spring has come to continue the trip.
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