Kyrgyzstan
Using compass and counting steps to find my hostel
.jpg)
Johan Kruseman
Updated on 18 August 2024
Updated on 18 August 2024
The next day, I arrived in Bishkek, where the second challenge awaited me: “find your hostel!” My biological clock was still in the Netherlands, my iPhone was still on Turkish time, and in Bishkek, everyone thought it was three hours later than it actually was. Soaked in confusion, sleep, and jet lag, I was dropped off by the taxi at the hostel. Well, at least on the road. The hostel itself didn’t have an address, so the description was: “200 meters south from the road, 50 meters to the left, and then the second door and second floor. Welcome!” Armed with a compass, pedometer, and GPS as a backup, but still carrying the jet lag on my shoulder, I managed to get close but ended up using my T-mobile WhatsApp-only bundle to make a call (which cost as much as the ticket for the World Cup qualifying match; more on that later) to the hostel and find the right door.
Share this story
Traveled route: Bishkek, Ala Archa National Park, Kockkor, Song-Kul lake, Beltam Yurt Camp, Fairytale Canyon Skazka, Karakol, Altyn-Arashan, Cholpon-Ata, Jalal-Abad, Kazarman
× Using compass and counting steps to find my hostel
next story
A glacier-cold river blocking my way back home
The next day, I hitchhiked to a national park nearby. After a beautiful hike to the end of the main canyon (in 35-degree heat in the morning and now at the snow line), I returned to find that the river I had crossed on the way had doubled in size due
Kyrgyzstan
Did this story inspire you to go to Kyrgyzstan? Read more on what Kyrgyzstan has to offer, what the best months are for visiting and check the handy links for backpacking there.
