Central Asia day #3 Bishkek to Osh

We stayed at the airport, and after 3 hours on the bench, my back was in bad shape. We took the first marshrutka at 6:30 to the city, a 45-minute ride for 30 KGS-0.3 €, crowded, and few stops on our way. At Osh Bazaar we stepped out. The bazaar was closed. We circled around but couldn’t find our next transport to Osh (city), just strawberries We moved in the rain to the West bus station.

We tried a few drivers and finally, we agreed to pay for transport to Osh in a shared taxi 2000 KGS-21 € per person. This meant 11 hours in a van. We found a working ATM (8000 KGS-87.4 €)) and relaxed with tea for 25 KGS-0.25 while waiting for a taxi to fill up. At least I got the front seat, a good option for my back. On our way, we stopped twice for gas, once for lunch at Aksy. I ordered manti dumplings for 350 KGS-3.7 €, and Boštjan got soup with huge bone with lamb meat, and tea.

If we bought tickets a few days earlier we could have taken the flight from Bishkek to Osh. It would be less than an hour and twice the price of road transport. But at least we had an interesting road, some serpentines, mountain pass.

In Osh, we walked to the TES hostel in the rain, 815 KGS-8.8 € for a bunk bed. We got no info about the next-day drive. We went to dinner, beef and rice, 300 KGS-3.1 €. Later we moved to an empty karaoke bar for one beer 150 KGS-1.5 €. Tired and disappointed we went to bed at 23h.