Back to Bishkek
On the final leg of the journey back to Bishkek we passed a very entertaining bus-shelter in the form of a kalpak, the traditional headwear of a Kyrgyz gentleman. Finally we found ourselves on the south bank of the River Chuy, which here forms the northern border of Kyrgyzstan, so we were able to look across to Kazakhstan on the north bank. On the outskirts of Bishkek - still very rural - we made a courtesy call at the house of the dacha's owner; he runs a car repair workshop, and so we had the luxury of inflating the flat tyre without having to use the hand-pump. And then, back home, to a shower and very welcome meal; and I was suffused with a warm glow of satisfaction that my insides had survived the journey and were definitely back to normal!
