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Hello everyone. In-between trying to figure out visas for the rest of the Central Asia countries we are attempting to cross, still taking account for what exactly got stolen from us in Almaty and meeting some new friends, I thought I would give everyone a quick update. We are currently in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and we like it here a lot. It is a nice change from Kazakhstan and after some of our experiences there, it was great to get out.

TWBR and Sergi in Karakol, KG

The border crossing into Kyrgyzstan was one of the most uneventful crossings we have had to date, but the fresh foot of snow on the ground made for an action packed couple of hours as we helped to pull cars out of ditches and snow banks upon arrival into Stan number two. We spent a few nights in Karakol, a town on the SE corner of the second largest freshwater lake in the world and enjoyed the company of Sergi and his family at Yak Tours Guesthouse.

After leaving Karokol, we slowly made our way to Bishkek, stopping along the way to help some people in a small village put out a fire that had started in their hay barn. Unfortunately we were unable to prevent the near total loss of their winter stores due to the intensity of the fire and lack of easily accessible water or a fire brigade. It was a humbling experience for everyone involved.

Bouey working hard, but in the end it was too little too late

In Bishkek, we met up with the guys and gal from Trabant Trek. Three Americans, two guys from Spain and the UK and a girl from Hungary are driving three very small, unpredictable Russian cars all the way to Cambodia. We started talking with the guys from Trabant Trek back when we were in Malaysia to exchange ideas about how to get across China, so meeting up in Kyrgyzstan was pretty cool.

Anyway, we are off to get our visas for Uzbekistan right now and then try figure out a way across the Caspian Sea without ending up on a rusting, partially sinking Russian freighter or being held captive by its inebriated crew. Internet is fairly cheap here in the Stans, but the kicker is they charge you by the MB for data transfer… our negotiating skills, as well as our Russian are getting better, so maybe we can avoid the transfer fees and get some more photos and blogs up for everyone out there following us.  Oh yeah, the TWBR crew is now four strong… Steve and myself, our friend Karie from back home in Denver and Tash from the red center of Australia who joined up with us when we said we were fleeing Almaty.

2 Toyotas = 3 Trabants