One...final...long day in Kaz
Taldykorgan to Semey, Kazakhstan - 14 hours, 550 miles.
Just a long, brutal day in Kaz. Hot, dry, remote. The only consistent thing about Kaz is that this country inherently makes the journey more difficult and memorable. Taldykorgan to Semey was nearly 14 hours on Google maps and 550 miles.
During the night at Hotel Sultanan (I gave it a 2.0/10.0 on Hotels.com), an insect bit me just above the navel. Within hours it swelled to a blister the size of a grape. At first, I thought my tactical web belt had somehow been rubbing my belly…but for the first time in five months? Nope. Lovely.
As mentioned before, on long hauls, water is the crucial. Miles of unkept roads had claimed countless liters of water from Kaz to Morocco. I’d packed so much this day that I threw one extra 1.5-liter bottle in the top box in case all the others were consumed or wiggled free. Incredibly poor decision on my part. Around 2pm, I stopped for fuel and opened the trunk to grab some snacks. An empty water bottle took the wind out of me, as I found all my electronics submerged. Mavic drone, external hard drive with all files, and laptop computer…all…done.
A gas station attendant started chatting me up as I took inventory of the damage. Though he couldn’t understand my terse responses and curse words aimed at no one, the look on my face and the water dripping from my computer showed the obvious problem. But, this didn’t stop him from picking up my iPad and snapping candid photos of me. After repacking hastily, I raced to a nearby grocery store, bought 3 kilos of white rice, and bagged up the casualties. Less than 24 hours after getting my phone replaced due to water damage, this was the instinctive reaction.
After six more hours of riding, I arrived in Semey. My new comrades in Almaty had set me up with a dinner at a local Japanese restaurant. Ten lovely new acquaintances welcomed me with smiles, fantastic food, and lots of questions. They were almost all language instructors and one owned the restaurant. Though I was not in the mood, I couldn’t help but enjoy their company for a bit.
Retiring to a nearby hotel, I lanced my spider bite blister and soaked it with antiseptic from my first aid kid. I unbagged my electronics and found that the rice hadn’t just pulled out moisture, but it had worked its way into the insides of the computer and drone. All was lost. Angry at myself for such stupid mistakes, I suffered into sleep. Tomorrow had to be better.
