Kyrgyzstan > Ala-Too Square in Bishkek

I say goodbye to Lammert and Elmira. Today I continue driving toward the border with Kyrgyzstan. The bus driver chooses to cross the border only near Bishkek. This means that I will spend most of the day still in Kazakhstan. I hadn’t really planned for this. I had exchanged only a small amount of local currency, not enough for lunch along the way. Fortunately, I still have enough dollars with me, which I hope I can use to pay.

Kyrgyzstan - The White House in Bishkek houses the government

On the right side lies the mountain range. This range forms the border between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The snow-capped peaks rise high above the landscape. The scenery is very green—much greener than I had expected. I also see the bright yellow gas pipelines again, about two meters above the ground. The pipelines connect all the houses together. I still find them outright ugly. The bus merges onto the highway. This stretch is part of a future major route connecting Moscow and Beijing. Large sections in Kazakhstan are already complete, but we still occasionally pass significant roadworks. When it’s lunchtime, we stop at a roadside restaurant. I go inside, but unfortunately they don’t want to accept my dollars—even if the entire tour group wanted to pay in dollars. I don’t have enough local currency to even buy a cup of soup. Further along, I try again and buy some kind of filled buns. They taste fine and are filling enough. Around 3:30 PM, I see the border post appear. The customs officers are in a good mood. My main luggage doesn’t need to be checked and can stay in the bus. The border is quiet, so I quickly get my exit stamp. I walk a short distance to the Kyrgyz customs. Here too, there is no queue. All in all, a very smooth border crossing. It’s still seventy kilometers to Bishkek. In the evening, I walk through Bishkek. Bishkek is a spaciously planned city. I see large squares, wide boulevards, and extensive parks. Bishkek is sometimes called the greenest capital in the world, and I can see why. At Ala-Too Square, the central square of the city, music by Celine Dion blares from the speakers. The fountain sprays water almost in rhythm with the music. In front of the national museum stands a huge flagpole. At the top, the Kyrgyz flag flutters. Two soldiers stand guard beside the flag. I feel sorry for them in the evening sun. Through the park, I walk toward the White House—a colossal building housing the government. Because of its shape, it may well be the most characteristic building in the city.