Sunday October 5th


Today we travelled in our mafia like minibus out of Shymkent . The roads were horrendous and the minibus very uncomfortable but nothing stops an Aston tour! Crossing the Russian steppe

 

 

 

we saw cotton,

 

 

camels,

 

and cemeteries

before arriving at the ruins of Otyrar Tobe, a town dating from  the first to the seventh century but completely wrecked by Genghis Khan (as so many of the places we have visited were) Some, but my no means all has been excavated by UNESCO forces and there are some fascinating remains to be seen.

We picked up some small bits of pottery, all the while wondering why there was no activity at this amazing site.

 

The next stop was at the mausoleum of Ariston Bap,

 

 

 

a place of pilgrimage on the way to Turkistan, then, after lunch, we continued on to the mausoleum of Khodja Ahmet Hawaii , Kazakhstan greatest monument and a place of pilgrimage.

 

 

 

It is on a massive scale and was built by Amir Timor who died in this are on his way to battle. To visit this site three times is accepted as the same as going to the Haj in Mecca.

 

In the underground mosque nearby a pilgrim lived out the last days of his life as he had reached the same age as Mohammed and did not wish to see the sun and sky any longer than the prophet had. His friends brought him food and drink and it is thought that he lived there for 12- 15 years.

 

We had enough energy for a sing song on the way back (taught the guide On Ilkey Moor baht at!)

and just about enough to last through dinner before bed.