Border crossing Part Six

From yesterday.

We've crossed the border into what is no longer China, exactly. It is green and the river spreads its sparkling fingers across the gravel valley plain between the craggy mountains.

After immigration it is a two hour drive and three check points before we reach the 3752 metre Torugart Pass and the start of the 40km wide demilitarised zone between China and Kyrgyzstan. The stuffing around and four hour lunch break mean that we will arrive at the Kyrgyz border after they have shut for the night.