Kolsai and Kaindi Lakes

Kazakhstan has some of the most beautiful countryside that I've ever seen.  A group of 14 of us took a trip to Kolsai Lakes in Eastern Kazakhstan, close to the Chinese border, in May.  We took turns cooking at our guesthouse, and had a great time playing games, enjoying the scenery, hiking, and chatting.  The lakes are pristine!  There are no motors allowed on them.  We stayed by the first lake and the only way to get to the second and third lake is to hike.  Of course, we didn't realize that in Kazakhstan hiking trails are not what you would expect in the USA.  Switchbacks?  What's that?  All trails went STRAIGHT UP and were really meant for horses.  It was a killer hike, but we did it and it was worth it!

The drive to Kolsai Lakes was 6-7 hours.  We stopped for lunch in the village of Baiceet.  We've been in this town before - a vibrant place full of life and people walking through the market on the main street.  

Something I've learned about living overseas, is that nothing goes as you think it will, or were told that it would.  We got to the lake and were told that no cars go to the guesthouse, so we had to carry all of our luggage uphill!  WHAT?!  That is NOT what our tour company told us!  So after some bartering, we were able to secure ONE car to haul most of our stuff up to the guest house, while the rest of us began the hike uphill.

We all began going down to the lake, and then hiking back up the hill to our guest house.

 The first lake where we stayed at a small guesthouse.  You can see the guesthouse at the top of the hill.

On the dock just below our guesthouse.

Josh Smalley played a game of frisbee with Lora and Henry.

This is the second lake, after our long hike UP.  We ran out of water, so Lora and Brandon Pleasants (Henry's second grade teacher) are the brave ones who stood in the freezing lake to filter water for us.  Way to take one for the team!

 Picnic at lake two!

 On the way back DOWN from lake two.  We had a beautiful stream with us most of the way.

 We were invited to a home stay dinner at a local Kazakh home.  Look at that spread!

 Henry and our driver.  We were eating at his brother's house.  Henry is eating lagman - a traditional noodle, meat and veggie dish.

 From the house, we looked out the window to see a man riding a horse with a plow.  Talk about going back in time!

 Keith poses by the entrance to the house, and Nina photo bombs.  :)

Next stop - Kaindi Lake.  The next few pictures are absolutely unbelievable.  This lake was formed when a earthquake split a canyon.  The canyon then filled with water, leaving the trees that were once on the canyon floor to be perfectly preserved underwater.  This place is amazing.

Lora and Henry play in the soft clay soil that is just like quicksand. 

 On a boat to get unclose and personal with the trees!  You can see them sticking out of the water in the background.

Best seat on the boat! 

Some of our friends taking their turn on the boat.   

 Look at the color of that water.  See how the trees are preserved under the water!  It's so cool!

 Kaindi Lake trees under the water.

 Henry skips rocks into the lake.

 There were some rangers at the top of Kaindi Lake who let us ride their horses (for a small and ever-changing fee).  :)  Thank goodness for translators.  

 Lora and Henry rode together because Henry was nervous to ride by himself.

We had a wonderful time in the mountains of Kazakhstan.  We learned a lot about traveling in countries where you don't speak the language, and were reminded how invaluable translators are.  Thanks, Aizhan!  You were the best!  The trip was amazing because of you!