Kyrgyzstan (Bishkek) May 2015

Map of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Total Costs Incurred (3 days): 882 Som + US$20 + 1,300 Tenge = Rm158 (US$44)

Hostel (2 nights) : US$10 x 2 = US$20 (Hostel Inn Chuy142)
Food: 462 Som
Bus: 20 Som
Minivan: 1,300 Tenge (Almaty>Bishkek) + Bishkek>Almaty (400 Som)
Exchange Rate: Euro$1=60 Som; US1=180 Tenge; US$1=Rm3.61 

After a 2 night rest in Almaty, I took a minibus from the Sairan International Bus Station and arrived in Bishkek after a 5 hrs drive.

Crossing the Kazakh/Kyrgyzstan border through the immigration border on both sides was smooth and it took about 10-15 mins for passport stamping on each side. No visa is required for Malaysians travelling to Kyrgyzstan. All foreigner's passports presented at the Kyrgyz immigration check points are separately processed by an Immigration Officer on duty inside a room. As usual, all luggage have to be accompanied by the passengers and screened before leaving the Kyrgyz border post.

Bishkek, the capital city of Kyrgyzstan is not big and you could visit the major touristy places within a day or two. I spent 2 nights in Bishkek and on the 3rd day morning, I took a minibus & headed back to Almaty for my return trip to Urumqi, China.

My mission accomplished after a brief two day visit to Bishkek - one up for me in the world of travelling to Central Asia ! 

1) The White House, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan - closed to the public, just admire from the main gate at the front !

2) Ala-Too Square, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan - well known to locals & tourists 

3) Philarmonia, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan 

4) Beta Stores, Bishkek - 100m to my hostel in Chui Avenue - I bought my groceries & bakeries in this supermarket - very convenient !

5) Walkabout in Bishkek City, Kyrgyzstan

6) Hostel Inn Chuy142, Chui Avenue, Bishkek - 100m walk from Beta Stores

7) Train station, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

8) Victory Square, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

9) Statute of Ivan Panfilov in the park near the White House, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

10) Sport Palace, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Kojomkol Statute

11) Old churches near the Bishkek sport stadium

12) Oshskiy Bazar, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan- lots of food, fresh farm produce & meat stalls catering for the working class & ordinary households

13) Happy hours in Bishkek - how about a can of Red Bull to re-charge your body !

14) Tien Shan Mountain range in the Chui Valley, Almaty - no wonder it was quite cold at night in May (10-12c)

15) Bishkek Western Bus Station - minibuses to Almaty, Kazakhstan.

16) Countryside scenery from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan > Almaty, Kazakhstan  

17) Kyrgyz/Kazakh border crossing