Kyzyl Oi (Кызыл-Ой) is Kyrgyz and means Red Valley. If you look around you understand where the name comes from. The clay hills around show this typical reddish color.
Kyzyl Oi means "Red Valley"
Colored from the omnipresent red clay this place got it's name.
Kyzyl Oi is the name of a small village in the valley of the Kokomeren river on the connection road from Suusamyr to Kochkor. It is a very remote place. A mobile phone is silent here (at least as of 2005). Here, in this small village a host family belonging to the CBT organization provides our night's lodging. The next morning we plan to have a ride to the mountains.
My horse and me
Looks like that that horse had bad luck that day. Believe, Kyrgyz horses are strong.
We started our small excursion which should led us to discover a waterfall up in the hills on the other side of the Kokomeren river.
The horses were already waiting for us when we finished the breakfast offered by our hosts. Here in Kyrgyzstan, horses are small but strong. Seeing me sitting on a horse you may think that they cannot bear my weight. Believe me; they can.
Bridge across Kokomeren River
Our horse ride went across the Kokomeren River. On a narrow and shaky bridge we had to cross over the waters, guiding our horses.
After we had left the village behind we crossed the Kokomeren river on a small bridge. The bridge was shakily and narrow. We couldn't get across on horse back. Instead, we had to guide our horses walking by foot. Then, on the banks of the river, we followed the sheperd's pathes for one kilometer. Where a creek came down the hills we turned right and followed its streambed which guided us up to the mountains.
Mule path to waterfall
Sometimes I was very happy that my horse knew very well how to move in the mountains and where we need to go...
The pathes led us through a barren landscape at about 2000 m. Here, on the mountains in this area weren't many trees; just grass and stones. I was very happy that my horse knew how to move here on these narrow mule tracks. Even it was already end of November we had luck regarding the snow. Around us a fascinating landscape with wonderfuls views.
Meal at resting place
At the resting place we ate our provisions and enjoyed the view after the ride.
Finally, we arrived at the falls. The pathes became small and steep; so we left the horses behind, took a break enjoying the wonderful views over the valley and the mountains and our lunch packages. We had bread, sausages, cheese and juice (No, we hadn't any vodka).
Ice at the Waterfall
It was November when we came to the waterfall. Ice already started to build fancy shapes.
I walked down to the landing of the waterfall, however, the icy water already started to freeze. It built fanciful sculptures and shapes. You can see the beard of a mountain troll?
Way home from waterfall
Returning home, we rode downhill with this great panorama.
By the end of the day we returned back home, riding downhill with a great panorama and the pictures of these mountains deeply engraved into my memories. This was my first trip to the Kyrgyz mountains; many more should follow...
Supper in Kyzyl Oi
Supper was already prepared when we came back from our ride. Sitting the whole day makes one hungry, really. And - yes - we had vodka!
As we arrived at the village, the day began to cease; back home in the house of our hosts our dinner was already waiting (Yes, we had vodka).
See some more photographs...