Issyk-Kul

Hey, they have internet in Issyk-Kul!

Lake Issyk-Kul is the 2nd largest high altitude lake in the world. It's very beautiful... deep blue color with crystal-clear water, surrounded by high, snow-capped mountains. It's just now starting to attract foreign investment, so it's still pretty dumpy by western standards, but the place we're in is quite nice.

We took a ride up into the mountains today, to a tourist-y national park, but it was beautiful. Classic 3rd world experience when we got there... we were immediately surrounded by 10 or 12 people trying to get us to ride their horses, eat their food, take pictures with their hawks (?!) or whatever... thank god for Lena. She did a great job holding them at bay and negotiating. We ended up taking a 1 hour horseback ride, followed by a very tasty lunch of a salmon-like fish they call "flounder", bread with fresh honey and jam, and the local delicacy: horse milk. Very pungent and strong but I liked it.

Then we stopped at a market in Cholpon-Ata on the way back and did a little bargain hunting. I got a pretty nice pair of leather sandals for 300 som (about $8) and a nice lined windbreaker that I'll need next week for 400 som. (around $10) I let Lena do the bargaining, as the price immediately goes up if they think you're American.

Tomorrow I think we just lie on the beach.