Hike: Part 2

This is Josh Gaines. He's pointing to the top of a peak that we have planned to climb. He's from Idaho. His wife, Tara, and a bunch of our friends here are going to climb up to the Everest Base Camp (18,000 feet), during our Christmas holidays. So this should be easy for him.

My new GPS indicates 10, 042 feet. Getting close.

I don't want to use the name of the guy that has been in hiding since that 'incident' in New York eight years ago (the bastards at the CIA are electronically tracking every thing I write), but when you see landscapes like this, you begin to realize how big the world is and how many hidey-holes there really are. We're only two countries away from Afghanistan, but he's probably living in Okeefenokee Swamp, Florida.

This is the very top. 10,682 feet. We were tired and hungry but quite happy to reach the peak. The views were spectacular in every direction except to the north--Almaty was shrouded in smog.

Hiking at Chimbulak

A couple of weeks ago we headed up to the mountains to check out the ski hill--they said the chairlifts were running. It was a beautiful day--we left and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. There were 3 chairlifts to get to the top of the mountain. We took the first one, hiked the second lift and then it started getting pretty cold and the clouds started rolling in. Sometimes, we couldn't see the top of the hill. There was a break in the clouds so we took the last chairlift. It was great up there but very cold and then the clouds moved back in--the ride down was very cold. They were renting coats at the bottom of the hill for 300 tenge--I guess we should of gone for the deal of the day. Once again, I should of listened to the old man that walked up to us and told us in Russian--couldn't quite understand him but I got the point--dress your kids better, they need jackets. I think that is the third time in a year that I have been reprimanded for that. One time a man gave me a little shove and then proceeded to bawl me out that Cody should have his coat on and that it should not be in the grocery cart. I gave him my best "drop dead" look and I think he too got the point.
Dave thought this sign was the best. These people hiked all the ways up--she was wearing flip flops!!! As we hiked down, they waved to us from the chair lift. When we were hiking up, there was a man that yelled at us in English, asking where we were from and we told him--he was from Russia and then laughily added "The Rockies Suck!" What is up with that? He didn't make any new friends that day.

These animals were at the top of the second chairlift--not sure what they are but I wasn't going to get too close--those are long horns. Dave went for the National Geographic photo while we hung back.

Friends In Canada!!!

We had a great visit in Canada this summer. Visiting was a top priority and if you ask Dave, we did plenty of that. Kyla and Cody had a great time getting together with all their buddies!! Thanks again for being such great hosts!!!

London

Buckingham Palace and Trafalger Square. Beautiful places, but packed with tourists like us. London must be the most visited city in the world. There's so much to see and you can walk most of it. Everybody is helpful, unless you need a bathroom. Big Ben can be heard anywhere in the downtown core and you have to be careful crossing the street because of the right-hand drive thing--we habitually look to the left when crossing but the danger is actually on your right-side.

Kyla and Company

This is Kyla's afterschool gang. They play in the school compound together after their last class while they wait for Edna and I to finish for the day.

The girl on the left is Rufina. She was born in Kazakhstan but she is Uiger. The Uiger people don't have a homeland. Most of their ancestors are from a distinct region of northern China, but China won't let them back in the country. They aren't Kazakh until they are 18. Then they can apply for citizenship. So they're actually refugees. Only a few countries will recognize their plight: Canada and, I think, Belgium. They want to establish a homeland called Uigerstan, but I don't think it will ever happen.

The other two girls are Tiba and Nabia. They were born in India. They're moving to Aktau,

Kazakhstan, on the Caspian Sea, next week. Our friends and co-workers move all the time.

Cody's Birthday Party.

Cody turned 6 years old in August. Cakes are beautiful here but not always so tasty and we are never sure of what is under the icing until we cut it open. Before we left for Kazakhstan we had a birthday party in Canada and his Auntie Tina and Uncle George supplied Cody with his dream cake--chocolate both inside and outside. He had another small party with some friends in Kazakhstan. They had a great time being quite silly. Kyla was pretty happy, she got a few gifts 's from her aunts b/c it was her brother's birthday.

Buskers

busk: to entertain in the street or other public place in the hope of receiving money from passers-by. (wikipedia)

What this guy could do with his balls was amazing!