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though my dream is comprehensive world tour,but unfortunately i have no companion for that purpose.Anyone who can join me , please contact me.my email address is dr.talatbutt@hotmail.com, my phone no. is 0092-321-9501376: 0092-300-9501376: 0092-51-57934 | Log entries 31 - 40 of 73 | Page:
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Feb 23, 2010 09:00 PM first day on the road to the east-china
my flight of southern china airline started at 11;30 am from islamabad and landed at 2 pm in urumqi airport.urumqi was covered with snow with minus temp.on the airport at a point just prior to immigration there was no que and the immigration official was checking passports at his own choice.there i had to wait for long while i was just in front.then he checked my passports and said , too much travelling. come inside the room for interrogation. it was first time for me. anyhow he checked pictures in my camera , and asked whether i had any connection with any political party? after about 25 min. interrogation immigration staff was satisfied and then i went to immigration desk and ultimately granted entry into china.it was now 4 pm when i came out of the airport.i hired a taxi for forty y and arrived at hungshan square. the hostel was just beside parkson mall plaza.the taxi driver took 50 y instead of promised 40 y.
i checked in hostel by paying 190 yuans(100 deposit) and 30 y per night(total 3 nights)
then i was shocked to listen that there is no internet in whole xinjiang.
i came out of the hostel and met a university student daud and asked about old city of urumqi where huacha hotel is located . he was nice enough and accompanied me on bus 7 , paid 2 y for me and himself and left me at the old city.i insisted him for dinner with me but he was shy and refused politely that his mama was waiting for him.
i walked here and there and returned soon back to the hostel by bus no.7 by paying one yuan.
there is small box at the entry (front )door of the bus where everyone puts one yuan and gets off from the rear door.
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Oct 07, 2009 06:00 PM SIXTH DAY IN KYRGISTAN-OSH
I stayed at flat 17 of gym buildng N0.12 for night.in the morning after breakfast i started walking to jaima bazaar.the weather was v.nice,neither hot nor cold.ealking along the akbura river in jaima bazaar and then after crossing the river i walked through the streets of osh and at a restaurant on enjoyed a lunch for 80 soms ( tea+shawshlik+nan) and then tasting ice cream for 10 soms i walked to takht e sulaiman. at takht e sulaiman i bought entry ticket of 3 soms and started climbing up the stairs. after about 25 min.climbing up i arrived the place where there is a dom over a smalll cave attributed to prophet Sulaiman .in the cave like room a muslim religious man prays and the gets some money from the travelers. there is also a plateform where the whole panorama of the city of osh can be viewd..I bought a pepsi bottle for 25 soms and the started coming down throught other side of the hill.On the way i found some pregnant girls (alongwith other ladies of the family) in small caves burning candles and praying for themselves. this hill called takht e sulaiman looks like a pregant woman from the road.
then i entered a museum in the hill after buying a ticket of 50 soms.there is also fee of 10 soms for taking pictures and 20 soms for making video.it is v.small museum and then i came out of it and visited a toilet. v.v.diry toilet and full of bad smell.actually in osh and jalalabad and surrounding areas like arsalanbob toilet is made up of a big hole below which earth is dug like a big tank. all the wastes are accumulated in the tank and toilet if sull of smell so much so that you can't even stay there for few minutes.
i continued coming down the hill and walking beside the big cemetry and a mosque i walked on the road leading to kuman jan datka road.then i walked through link road from kurman jan datka road to lenin road.there i bought a delicious shawarma by 60 soms. both kurman jan datka road and lenin road are north-south but the traffic is northbound on lenin road while southbound on kurman jan road.on lenin road i walked northwards and on right side i found a beautiful park.there i passed about one hour or so and then again started walking on the lenin street.there i met two young boys of 16 named izzatulla and abdul nasir. they were returning from osh national university where they are learning english language. they walked with me to the osh kiryon . Izzatullah asked me to take him to bishkek and then north of issyk kol lake and he will help me as translator. i told him that he can go uptil bishkek with me. then i returned to the flat 17 of gym building 12.then pakistani medical student Ahtasham called me and insisted for dinner with him on his flat nearby.i agreed and took dinner at his flat. he is living with another friend Asadullah(pakistani) and a russian girl friend .
dinner was prepared by asadullah. it was v.v.delicious. then they insisited me to stay with them . i was not ready for that but they were nice enough and brought my luggage from javed's flat and i slept there for night.
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Oct 06, 2009 06:00 PM fifth day in kyrgistan-from arsalanbob to osh
electricity remained off at night from 12 midnight to 6.30 am as a daily routine...........today almas was my guide.he arrived at 8 am at my homestay.after enjoying complimentary breakfast i started my hiking tour with english speaking guide at 8:25 am towards big waterfall 4.5 km from centre of the town.it took two and half hours to arrive at the destination.it was 80m high water fall.the last portion of the track was v.difficult.there was also another treking tour to the holy lakes of kol kupan ,pino kol,kabyr kol and ainak kol(mirror lake)collectively called kol mazar but it requires 3 or 4 days and i was deficient in time . so i missed this treking.
after 15 min. stay i returned to the town and paid 350 soms to the guide and then hayat of CBT offered me a lunch with him. i accepted the offer. at lunch i also met an australian tourist and shared travel experiences. i also invited him to pakistan for K-2 base camp.lunch included shorpa and nan and tea etc.
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Oct 06, 2009 06:00 PM first day in kyrgistan-bishkek,,,,,,,,
after taking lunch offered by hayat of cbt , i paid 300 soms for homestay and 100 soms for yesterday dinner and 100 soms to the cute child of owner of homestay, after buying a mobile sym i started journey first to bazar korgan (60 soms-approx.40 min),jalalabad(50 soms:approx.30 min.).from jalalabad i started my travel to osh at about 5;10PM by paying 100 soms to a shared taxi. They were demanding 150 soms per person but agreed on 100 soms after some haggling.At about 7 pm i arrived in osh where i called talant of CBT who arrived at the road named alisher navoi.He told me that CBT homestay will cost 700 soms.Talent was v.nice and helpful guyHe also suggested that nearby osh guest house was good option and alam jan of the guest house will take only 220 soms per person per night. so we arrived at the guest house . it was just 7 min walk but talant asked me to go there by taxi . he took 50 soms for taxi and i arrived at osh guest house while talent returned by the same taxi.But i received a call from pakistani friend Javed , a medical student ,who asked me to stay at their flat near osh kyrion.So i walked to osh kyrion guided by another pakistani medical student Ahtasham.
so i stayed at javed's flat.
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Oct 06, 2009 06:00 PM fifth day in kyrgistan...........continued
After paying 400 soms to the homestay(300 house rent and 100 for yesterday lunch..........while BF is complementary),i bought a mobile sim and hired a shared taxi. taxi left at about 2:30 pm and after 40 min i arrived at bazar korgan( 60 soms),there were many shared taxis , each one calling for jalalabad.I paid 50 soms to one of taxis and after further half an hour i arrived at jalalabad.there were again many shared taxis demanding 200 and 150 soms for osh. after some haggling one of them agreed at 100 soms . my journey from jalalabad started at 5:10 pm and at 7:05 pm i was dropped in osh at kyrgistan road. i walked to the north and turned left at a bridge where i met talant of CBT who told me that there are different homestays from 500 to 750 soms per night. i preferred to stay at osh guest house where i was received by Alam jan(owner ) and told me that per night is only 220 soms.just at the same time i received a call from my pakistani friend,javed, who is medical student in osh. he insisted me to stay with him.alam jan was v.nice person . he allowed me to go to my friend happily.osh guest house is on two floors up with small rooms but v.clean.
on the way to javed's flat i met another pakistani friend,Ahtasham, who guided me to the javed's flat.Ahtasham is living in another flat with his russian girl friend.
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Oct 05, 2009 06:00 PM Fourth day in kyrgistan from jalalabad to arsalanbob
i arrived at jalalabd osh crossing at 2 am midnight.the speed of taxi was a bit faster and i was expecting arrival at 5 am.Anyhow , i had tea in a resturant at the crossing point and then slept there on a bench.it was v.cold there.there is a traditon of tea in a chainak(tea pot) . the volume of tea in the pot is about 750ml.costing only 15 soms.
At 6:30 am after dawn i hired a taxi to reach the hotel molmol (paid 50 soms). unfortunately, no room was available in the hotel and therefore , i arrived the thermal springs park by a taxi and then after 45 min. walk in the park i returned by the same taxi to the city of jalalabad (paid 200 soms) and on toktagul street i entered the CBT office.the guy there asked me to wait for a while for the concerned lady.i waited for 45 min. Meantime I visited the toilet and found that everywhere in kyrgistan the toilets have no waterseal comode but only a hole leading to a pool of waste products with v.v.bad smell all around.At last at 9:45 am i met the lady who advised me to go to arsalanbob by shared taxi first to bazar korgon and then to arsalanbob and meet Mr.Hayat of CBT.
i walked in the city of jalalabad and at last i arrived at the avtobiket in the city centre.At around 12 midday i started 45 min.journey to bazar korgan in a shared taxi by paying 50 soms.
from bazar korgan i started 45 min.journey in another shared taxi to arrive in arsalanbob at about 2 pm.I met a guy of CBT in the town centre who took me to the office where he gave me a brief demonstration of the places of interest and the homestays (one star and 2 star types).one star homestay is 300 soms per night including BF while 2 star is 350 soms.According to him only difference in one star and 2 star is slight difference in the quality of toilet .He also told me that there was only one homestay of one star was available.
after placing my luggage in the home and taking shower I was offered tea with delicious potatoes with butter and nan. the host was a muslim uzbek family(the arsalanbob is 99%uzbek).i also ate apples there gifted by the host.
at about 3 pm i started my 4 hour trekking to the short waterfall with a guide at the rate of 100 soms per hour.from short waterfall i went to a panorama spot to take pictures.
at about 7 pm i ended my treking by visiting the shrine of saint arsalan. the man sitting on the shrine started reciting from holy Quran for 5 min. and then he expected 50 soms as charity which was fulfilled.
I enjoyed the dinner prepared by the host family (the cost of meal is 100 soms).
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Oct 04, 2009 06:00 PM third day from bishkek to jalalabad
first i was unaware of compulsory registration of passport in police station.But by lonely planet travel guide i got information that it is compulsory to register at OVIR( office of visa and registration) within three days of arrival.saturday and sunday are closed.therefore on Monday , 5th October , third day in Bishkek I arrived first in community based tourism(CBT) office by walking on soviet road southwards and after passing by vifa centre i turned left on gorky road and by walking for 5 min . i found the office of CBT (building No.58)on right side.English speaking staff helped me in understanding their pattern of working.A lady even planned my 10 day tour from bishkek to northern side of lake Issyk-kol and then to karakol,surrounding mountains and valleys in tian shan and then returning through southern side of lake issyk kol,to naryn,kazarman,osh,jalalabad,arsalanbob and back to bishkek by car with driver provided by CBT. if i am accompanied by three more friends from bishkek to naryn and friends leave for bishkek from naryn by their own transport and from naryn onwards i will be alone ,then total expenditure including all meals and entry tickets for parks and other places of interest , will be US$ 1690 .
after getting this plan I walked back on the soviet road northwards and turned right on the kiev road and found OVIR office after one min.walk on right side as described in lonely planet.I met a lady on duty there.She said that Pakistanis are exempted for registeration of passport. I didn't beleive it and asked the lady whether she could write this exemption on a piece of paper. she started thinking again for few moments and then said," please wait I will confirm it from my senior officer." then she went upstairs and after 5 min. she re-appeared by saying" sorry, i was wrong, you must have to register but not here but on sultan ibrahimov road. i walked for fifteen minutes to the police station on sultan ibraimov road but there a lady told me that that was not the right place(she couldn't speak english but used body language). she also guided me to go on chuy road and then turn right on suyumbaev road to the office of registration of passport.At last after walking further 20 min. i arrived there at 12:40pm but unfortunately the office was closed for one hour from 12:30 to 13:30. So i walked to the moskav road to the mosque and offered my afternoon prayers there and returned back to the office. a smileless lady asked me to bring the photo copies of passport and visa . outside the office i found the photostat shop and at last I succeeded in registeration by paying 200 soms as registeration fee.
then i picked my luggage from the flat of my friend and arrived in the osh bazar by Bus ( ticket per person is 5 soms).shared taxi was about to leave for osh and jalalabad. only one passenger was needed. they asked me 800 soms for jalalabad but after haggling they became ready for 600 soms.the journey started at 5 pm . the journey was comfortable and on the way the drived stopped for muslim prayer at the time of sunset and also stopped for dinner somewhere at about 9 pm. i had dinner of fried eggs with nan and tea for which i paid 60 soms.
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Oct 03, 2009 06:00 PM second day in bishkek-kyrghistan
i hired a taxi to ala-archa (Alplagar point ) for 600 soms including return and 90 min.stay in ala-archa.taxi driver demanded 1000 soms for return visit with 60 min.stay but then after haggling he agreed for 600 soms with 90 min.stay. if stay time exceeds 90 min. he would charge 2 soms per min.it takes about one hour to reach the gate of alplagar park.at the gate 60 soms per person is entry fee and for taxi/car 200 soms per entry.the track is about 10 km from the gate. Ala-archa valley is very beautiful valley.
after walking along the ala archa river and taking pictures, i returned to the taxi after 90 min. just next to ala archa hotel. it was very nice hotel.
by taxi we returned to bishkek , ala madain bazar where i had a lunch of shorpa (soup of mear and potato)with nan( bread) costing about 75 soms.
then i hired a taxi to tyoplye klyuchi(hot springs)for 500 soms including return.as soon as the taxi started this tour , a police man stopped the taxi and tried to fine the driver for not using seat belt but taxi driver gave a bribe of 50 soms to him and happily continued the journey.
it was again 1 hour journey and taxi was parked outside the gate,the scenery is v.beautiful.
another way to reach tyoplye klyuchi is by bus no.145 upto koy-tash village.from this village hitching is requied to the gate.
there is also a rest house.rooms are comfortable and room rent for one night is 1200 soms per person including breakfast.
after one and half hour walk i returned to the taxi and back in ala madin bazar.
i boarded on mashrutka(mini bus) and by paying 8 soms(whatever stop) per person per journey i returned to my flat near victory square .
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Oct 02, 2009 06:00 PM arrival and first day in bishkek
my kirgis air company flight started at 1 am in islamabad,pakistan.just after taking off , there was smoke all over the plane with burning smell like plastic or cloth is burning.everyone was panicky. the crew satisfied the people saying "it is coming from airconditioned system. it will abe alright in few moments." luckily afte few minutes smoke started disappearing .
at 3:15 am plane landed safely in bishkek. after waiting for about 45 min at immigration passport was stamped and then i came out of airport where my friend, shahid, was waiting. by paying 300 soms to the taxi i arrived at victory square to the flat of my friend.slept for six hours and started touring the city.
first i arrived in victory square and then from nearby red centre i bought a sym of O company for 100 soms but after activation its balance was only 60 soms(which works only in bishke).
on the chuay road ,from som centre i tried to change us dollars for soms but my dollars were having small stamps from pakistan, therefore she said the rate will be 43.20 instead of 43.50. i refused and instead i drew soms from atm machine there without charges.
i started walking on the soviet road towards south and arrived at pakistan national bank on turning towards moskva road but it was closed due to sunday , so i continued on soviet road and from vifa centre i changed us dollars by rate of 43.30 In the vifa centre i enjoyed lunch including Lahmadjun (turkish dish of bread with minsed meat-60 soms per piece)and . then by trolley bus I arrived on chuay road again by paying 5 soms per person. here you can board on the bus from rear door and off the bus from the front door and pay at the end of journey.
I arrived at philharmonia and then retuned walking eastward on chuay road to the parliament. simple nice building. then i entered the national history museum by paying 150 soms ( for video it is 100 soms and for students ticket was 50 soms.)
no english was written in the museum and everything in russian.
then i took pictures of beautiful Ala too square.
walking on the chuay road i arrived at the crossing of soviet road where i visited the staute of Martyrs of the Revolution. then I turned left on the soviet road towards north and after two crossings i turned right on fronze road towards east. i passed in front of the circus. there is a hotel ak-say on back of circus single room 250 soms and double 500 soms. i checked the rooms full of mosquitoes and floor and walls and bedding in bad condition.
I started walking on the soviet road again by turning right and after crossing the telecom head office i arrived at mac burger ( pakistanis) and enjoyed delicious shashlik and cappucino with reasonable rates.
too tired , returned home and slept
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Sep 04, 2009 06:00 PM Adam-my best travelmate
my travel log would be incomplete if i don't mention about my best travel mate,Adam,the son of Poland.I discovered him on globosapiens where his id is adamp.
He is v.caring,loving,friendly,law abiding and responsible personality.he is very intelligent and genius.He is well-calculated,well oriented and well planned in actions.He is quick and v.sharp in ideas. the people call him a handsome boy and i know he is handsome by heart.he is not stubborn and takes care of suggestions by his companion.for example when i sugggested him to visit the surroundings of vang vieng in Laos,first he disagreed but later on he himself suggested to stay in vang vieng .I have visited many countries of the world from vancouver,canada to japan, but the trips to the countries like poland,turkey,syria,laos,cambodia and thailand which i visited in his company ,are unforgettable,more knowledgable and golden trips. above all he is great human being.
He is patriot and proud of his great nation and I am proud of my friend,Adam.
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