14th of December, 2022.
Hitchhiking in Kyrgyzstan.
I stop at the Central Asia University and ask for some water. The nice men from the control gate give me some.
Chinara and her son, Aidan, drive me for a while. They are lovely people and she gives me some chocolates. But soon enough we have to part.
I start walking to the end of the village. There is snow everywhere around me.
A car passes by but then it stops. Two men have to arrange some plastic pipes they are carrying so I can take a seat. They are not going to Arslanbab either, and unfortunately, they don’t really understand that it would be better for me to stay in the main road. They are going further ahead but not exactly in the main road.
The two men were lovely people though. They insisted on giving me some money but I refused. From the small town they drop me off, I towards its end.
A few cars pass by but nobody stops.
After a while, a man stops and he explains to me that the roads are closed because of the snow. WHAT? Yep! Everybody who I met until now and who knew I was going to Arslanbab via Naryn forgot to tell me that.
The only way to get to Arslanbab now is via Bishkek. WHAT? Exactly! It is a long way back and even longer from there to Arslanbab. If I wasn’t staying in Osh for a few days, with my students from the online classes, I could get to Arslanbab.
On my way back to Naryn, I pass by a Yurt (finally) and take some photos!
A car with some elderly people takes me to the main road.
After walking for a while, a nice man who is going to Naryn picks me up.
When we arrive in Naryn, I still have hope that I can get a car to Bishkek today. But it gets dark so soon, and I figure: what will I do once I arrive in Bishkek at midnight? I decide to stay put in Naryn, AGAIN, for the third night. Where will I sleep?
I ask for some help to find a shelter in a small shop nearby. One lovely young lady from the bakery beside the shop can speak a great English and she try to help me.
Nasira calls her family to check if I can stay with them but her mum doesn’t agree. Which actually surprises me… Also, the other young girl, from the shop, doesn’t suggest I could spend the night with her family. But they keep messaging and calling friends, trying to find a place. After a long time without any positive answers, I finally decide to accept their initial offer, coming also from both their families: they would pay a hostel in town for me. What could I do? I try to go for a way which would cost them nothing, I even refuse to eat or drink anything from the bakery, only asking for some bread and fruits (perishable) from the shop. At least on this way, they all would be happy, feeling safe (how could someone possibly feel threatened by me?), and I would have a place to sleep.
I remember one of my students from Osh saying that, a Hotel in Bishkek was something around 5 Euros per night, so I am guessing that here in Naryn wouldn’t be more than that. True or not, at least that makes me feel a bit better.
A friend of the girl from the shop offers to drive us to the hostel. Lovely Nasira comes along, of course. She is the one who talks with the receptionist and arrange everything. After we see the room and everything is alright, she goes home.
I take a shower and eat my bread with fruits. Next morning I must leave early in order to, not only arrive in Bishkek, but also start my journey towards Osh.
10 Years Around the World 