Postcard from Bishkek

Today happens to be Stay out of the Sun Day – I wish I had remembered that last weekend when we took our regular trip up to Naryn,

This time we made a number of Photo stops so that Maxim could snap away some more of his artistic creations – including one at the Lenin Outdrop 

I don’t know what the real name if – if, indeed, it has one – but that’s what I call it:  the Lenin Outcrop.

The reason is simple … the first time I saw it, it was topped with an image of Lenin, a silhouette cut in metal on the top … and it’s an outcrop of the rocks that form the step sides of the valley leading down from the Dolon Pass to Naryn, causing the Dolon river and the road beside it to swerve slightly.

For the Record: although he can still be seen in many places around the country … here Vladimir Illych has long since gone – he was replaced at one point by Askar Akaev, but when he in turn fell from grace following the 2005 revolution, his image was also removed … and nothing has taken it’s place … so far.

Over the years, I have often thought about stopping and climbing the slope to the top … there are often cattle grazing up there and the slope looks friendly enough … although not an easy climb … but I have never really had the opportunity.

This trip, however, Maxim was with us and hoping to take photographs for his portfolio, not the sort of landscapes that I was hoping for but more “art photos” of him staring into the distance, or jumping into the air.  We had already stopped several time on the way up to Naryn and were running late … and there was plenty of work waiting for me up at the guesthouse, so when he asked if we could once more I said, “Tomorrow, on the way back”.

Sure enough, on the return journey, free of the pressures of time, we pulled into the shade cast by the huge cliff and Maxim and Stas, (his friend and “assistant”), trotted off.

There was a slight problem – the river.  I took one look at it and decided that discretion was the better form of valour and instead of fulfilling my dream of crossing over and climbing to the summit, I left that to them and Salijan, (the driver).  It wasn’t a deep river, but I had visions of losing my footing on the stone bottom and falling over – indeed, both Salijan and Maxim did fall over and got a drenching for their troubles.  At least Stas had the camera at that point so it remained safe and dry.

Instead, I walked up and down the road, snapping views, and then climbed the slopes on our side of the river to get a better view from high above the tarmac.

Just down the road, towards Naryn, there was a wagon which could have housed a beekeeper, of a shepherd whose livestock was grazing on the slopes … we didn’t see any cattle this time, but Maxim did run into some horses high on the slopes.

From the slopes you could see well down the valley and over the crest of the mountains in the immediate foreground to another, snow capped ridge in the far distance.

The weather was warm, but distinctly cooler than in Bishkek, which has been sweltering the high 30′s of late.  There was a slight breeze which was refreshing but also deceptive … I was wearing a hat to protect my head but I had rolled my sleeves up and by the time I got back to the vehicle I realized that my forearms were aching … and a little red.  I had succumbed to sunburn  in a very short space of time.  I really should have known better … especially knowing that today is Stay Out of the Sun Day.

So, I never made it to the top … this time … but I suppose that there’s always another day.

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… and here are some of Maxim;x photographs:

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