We're finally near having a good rest at Lake Sary-Chelek. Just a bit of bureaucracy for next steps to tidy up while we have internet.

And to the gps - "but we are on the A361". Don't they ever listen?

We've been on it since the border, we think.

The yellow/pink line should be about 6km to the left. Then its consistent with the Reise Map. The blue line (where we've been) is consistent with googlemaps.

And we joined the pink line it at the south most right angle corner on the blue line.

We remain a bit confused.

Headed upriver.

We'd hoped to have a look at the mountains to the south. But we think the maps have the junctions marked incorrectly.

No internet to check.

A concrete one for a bus stop.

And the statue of (we think) Genchis.

This is a country of about 5 million people with unstable government.

It took a while to find the centre.

We thought we'd become used to butchers' practices.

Just where Laurie said it would be (thanks for the googling).

Easiest mobile phone sim card buying so far.

No id, sim card cost about 20 cents, 2Gb internet for about A$10. Set up for me and working within 5 minutes.

Twice. The locals were paying.

I adpopted a  different but riskier tactic.

First time when asked for money I laughed, said "bye bye" and walked back to the truck.

Second time the guy in the car had more gold braid. A slight variation, they wanted the truck parked where Ali couldn't see. After baing asked for money I asked what the problem was. They suggested speeding. I laughed again, said something like "get off" and walked back to the truck. 

Neither lot were happy but both lots said "bye-bye".

Just something about the Kazakhs and Kyrgyz that suggested it might be worth trying. I doubt it would have worked in Russia.

Or at least somewhere near it.

Like a tumulus with the middle dug out.

We've somehow missed the 14th century mausoleum and museum.

Perhaps across the road.

Sort of terraced tombs, to keep the cost down.

Nearly as high as Mount Cook.

Third gear most of the way up on brilliant smooth road.

A vague hint of the engine getting warm after 20 minutes of climbing so a bit of second gear patience.

Third gear still.

We turn right towards Toktogul.

Surely Genghis yet again.

There's been no loss of water from the radiator for the last couple of weeks so its time to put in some of the anti-freeze I bought in Turkey.

Large herds and the ghers have taken all the good camping spots.

Our attempts to camp are a bit thwarted by the assumption that we need some hospitality.

We found a spot just off the road.

Not quite quick enough with the camera.

Looks like the car coming down the hill left the road to their right, into the dip, then back up the slope to the road.

I've often wondered how cars ended up in those positions.

Within about 15 minutes the car had been pushed back on to the road.

Damage looked superficial. They lost a lot of plastic trim off the front.

They carried on after another 15 minutes.

We watched a movie and went to sleep.