Departure: 08:15 AM Almaty time
Routing: Westward!
Aircraft: Widereo Dash-8
Altitude: 9,000 to 13,000 feet
Miles: 738
Arrival Stats: Arrived at 10:40 AM, with time change that is 3.45 hours or 214 mph
Notes: I departed Almaty under clear skies,
climbed to 9,000 feet and skirted along the mountains which mark the boarder between Kazakhstan and Kyrgystan. Just 115 miles to Manas near Bishkek. 
Then I had to climb up to 13,000 feet to clear more mountains before crossing back into Kazakhstan and over Shymkent. 
Finally over some plains I was able to drop to 8,000 feet
for the last hour before coming into Urgench, Uzbekistan.
climbed to 9,000 feet and skirted along the mountains which mark the boarder between Kazakhstan and Kyrgystan. Just 115 miles to Manas near Bishkek. Then I had to climb up to 13,000 feet to clear more mountains before crossing back into Kazakhstan and over Shymkent. Finally over some plains I was able to drop to 8,000 feet for the last hour before coming into Urgench, Uzbekistan.There really isn't a whole lot here but certainly some fastinating culture ... 
and flew up the middle of Pakistan 
into Islamabad, straight-in approach to runway 33. A bit breezy but hardly noticed it ...
Just over an hour into the flight I happened to be looking down a great valley and I spotted an airport, Chilas. 
"I have to check that out!"
So down I went for a quick touch-and-go. 
After climbing back up to 15,000 feet however I learned that I'd need to be higher to get back onto my route so I went on up to 19,000 feet. 
Still not enough I ended up zig-zaging between hills all the way to 22,000 feet and even then there were some peaks higher than my plane .... 
Once clear of the huge mountains my next waypoint was Kashi in western China, but by then it was getting dark. 
With clouds and valley fog, I had NOTHING outside until I finally saw the runway lights on short finals into Almaty. Total IFR the last hour of flying - fun actually.
