Osh-Kyrgyzstan

Asia-Kyrgyzstan-Osh This city is the gateway to the border with Tajikistan and the Pamir highway. It is the second largest city and the oldest in the country. 

As many of you know I usually do not put up cards that are not postmarked. However since this is from a hard to get to place I have listed it. I did give it to the post office itself in Osh. I suspect it might be to do with the stamps. I used ones I had purchased from the philatelic counter in Bishkek. 

Bishkek Kyrgyzstan . Official Government Post Office.

Asia-Kyrgyzstan-Bishkek Here you can see some of the highlights of Bishkek capital of Kyrgyzstan. I enjoyed the couple of days there. Possibly the most progressive of the "Stans" and easiest to visit. 

This card and stamps are from the official Government Post Office in Bishkek. As you will note in a previous posting here that there are two Postal organisations in Kyrgyzstan. Interesting that the other mail took 2 weeks to Ireland This one took 2 months. Well at least it got here !! The stamps I purchased at the Philatelic Counter and there was an addition of vat tax . The view was that these were for collectors and not for postage. You could buy stamps without vat tax but only at the stamp counter. !! Sounds mad but regular readers of this blog will know that this is not the first time this has arisen. The same is the case in Kenya. Still lovely stamps and I love the unusual shape of the Bus stamp on the left. 

Kyrgyz Express - Kyrgyzstan

Asia-Kyrgyzstan-Bishkek This card shows Ala-Too square in Bishkek the capital of Kyrgyzstan. A very orderly city . The city and surrounding mountains were enjoyable. 

This Postcard is a little unusual . Reason is that Kyrgyzstan has two official Postal services ! The Government one and this one the private Kyrgyz Express. I have to say the name matches the service. It was my first postcard to arrive from my trip. They were super friendly in the Kyrgyz Express Post office and were very helpful . They had a book with new issues and first day covers and this postcard is from the office. It is in face prepaid if you see to the right of the stamp but I wanted to use Postage stamps. A great service and best of luck to them. 

Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is in Central Asia. Has some wonderful views especially near the border with Tajikistan. The country also has two Postal administrations, the government one and Kyrgyz express. 

The border area with Tajikistan. 

Presidential building Bishkek 

Parliament building Bishkek. 

Walking in the mountains. Flag of Kyrgyzstan. 

Private Kyrgyz Express. Very friendly and a great range of stamps. 

Post Office Bishkek 

Outside Post Office Bishkek. Below Post Office Osh.