Tamchy has a really nice, relaxing feel to it and the fact that I could wake up and take breakfast on the terrace overlooking the shore and Tien Shan mountains was particularly special. The family I am staying with are also incredibly friendly and helpful, which always make it far more pleasant and comfortable.

So as one might expect, it was another lazy morning spent enjoying the atmosphere. When I finally decided to move, I hitched a lift from the top of the road to the nearby town of Cholpon Ata. This is quite a lot larger than Tamchy and has several of the modern conveniences that are lacking in Tamchy. It also has some interesting petroglyphs drawn onto glacial boulders dating back over 1000 years which were mildly interesting to explore.

I returned to Tamchy for supper with the family in the evening. Sadly the weather had become stormy and so I couldn’t squeez in another swim in the lake. But it was amusing to think that I had been swimming in a large body of water possibly about as far away from the sea as you can possibly get!