Two Sides to Every Story

Summer is here! I find myself just arriving back to the UK after exploring two of the ‘Stans;’ Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Countries that were formerly part of the Soviet Union, that lie at the heart of the Silk Road with a backdrop of majestic, snow-capped mountains. They also say Kyrgyzstan is the ‘Switzerland of Central Asia’ for the colourful carpets of wildflowers.

I could continue by telling you about the delicious food, the sights of galloping horses and the incredible mountain roads we travelled on, however, there is also another side to travel. Our flights over there were of Ryanair style, which for short haul flying is great, but after twelve hours on the most uncomfortable seats, surrounded by screaming toddlers on hot planes, we learnt not to choose that airline again! Two days into our trip, after a night at a yurt camp on the lake shore of Song Kul we became sick. Really sick. For the following two days we could eat nothing, had raging fevers and literally moved from bed to bed being cared for by the kindest, gentlest people. Two days doesn’t sound very long, but when you’re far from home it can seem like it.

So, yes, I have incredible photos to treasure of the landscape of these two young countries and memories of hiking there but, it will be the kindness of someone bringing me bottled water to drink late at night when I had run out, the feeling of a blanket being laid over me whilst all I could do was sleep and the patience of our bus driver who stopped along the endless gravel roads when my body needed to. 

Will experiences like this prevent me from travelling again? Absolutely not but it definitely reminds me of two things. Firstly that our health is the most precious thing and secondly that wherever you are in the world there will be people to show you love and kindness. With those thoughts, I look at the world map and wonder where my next adventure will be…