Almaty

Day 26 & 27 – 0 Zero kms but lots on foot!

Our first full day in Almaty was frustrating. Up early to get things done but unable to book a second night in hotel till 08:30 when administrator got in.
Went to get the photos required for Iranian visa but shop did not open until 9am. We found internet café but it was chronically slow and frustrating.
At 9 the photo shop was still shut, so we booked another night in the hotel and wandered the streets. We found another photo shop and whilst they were processing our photo’s, searched the shops for new power supply for the video camera. We found a new battery charger for the video camera and John bought a 7 hour battery for good measure. We were informed that both items came with a 2 week guarantee!! and these were Sony parts, or at least the packaging said so.

Earlier in the morning, we had uploaded some photo’s to the galley. We bought the charger etc. in a basement of the shopping centre that was full of stalls selling mobile phones and a small corner of it was dedicated to camera sales. A guy tapped me on the shoulder and handed me my 2gig SD card that I had left in the PC!! Now, how did he find us? We were quite a way from the internet cafe. Turns out he spotted my hair. Not many that white around these parts.

The town is filled with mobile phone shops and stalls but none were cheaper than UK.

Photo’s in hand, we chose to walk the three kilometers to the Iranian embassy. After a long uphill drag, we reached a small road that seemed to go out of town. Not the sort of area for an embassy, so we headed back to the hotel.
Having sat on the bikes for the past 25 days, the walking was too much and we both had muscle pains and could hardly walk the next morning!
At the hotel we asked the English speaking travel agent where the embassy was. She confirmed we had been in the right place and phoned to check. They said to go the next morning.

We also asked if she knew of cheaper digs.
Astoundingly we were offered a room in the same hotel for 3000t.
They warned us it wasn’t as comfortable though.
We moved our stuff up one floor and were well chuffed. The ‘discomfort’ amounts to having no TV, telephone or fridge! So we save a small fortune and don’t need to roam the streets for a new home. The room had a better view as well!
Mountains

We bumped into an Aussie traveler, Marty, who was trying to buy a bike to ride to Europe, but not having much luck. He had to leave Almaty the next day as his visa was about to expire.

Thursday morning, armed with the correct address, passports, photos we find a taxi with the help of a passing Italian and for 1000 Tenge arrive ten minutes later at the embassy. Its about a km further up the road from where we had walked yesterday.

Our invitations were there, and after a bit of form filling, we were sent a mile up the road to pay our fee into the bank of Pakistan – UN sanctions I guess. Upon our return, we are told that if they issue the visa, it is only valid for one month, not 3 as we had been told. We spent another hour sitting around and then were told to come back between 3 and 4 pm and visas would be ready. The Consul could authorise a 3 month visa.
Incredibly – they were – so we’re all set to move on.

Rimma, the Manager of the Jibek Joly travel agency here has been fantastic. They arrange tours around the Silk road and, for those not so daft as to travel by motorbike, they have a variety of trips around the area. (www.jibekjoly.kz)

The next installment is here

Posted on 14. June 2007 by micki

Commenting is closed for this article.