There are really interesting things on the way to Kolsai lakes. Like uyghur village Baiseit. According to old legend, village people asked god to present them happiness. God gifted them happiness as was requested. After a while it left the village, but told people, that it will return back shortly.
Since then people (whenever they're at home) keep doors open. So if happiness is back, it won't find the closed door. By the way, if a stranger will ask for water and bread, he will always receive it.

European tourists really enjoy bike tours. Though height difference is pretty big and you have to be in good physical condition and need a lot of time. Our 4-day car itinerary can be made in 15-18 days by bicyclist. If he's lucky with weather.

There is extremely strong wind in some places on the way. It's better to keep going and be seated in the car. Especially in winter. Fortunately there is no such problem in the most beautiful stops. So it's safe to walk around and take some pictures.

In the middle of the way to lakes it was crystal clear, that there is something wrong with the weather. Even though I really hoped it's still better on the route end.

Unfortunately I wasn't lucky. It was a annoying drizzle on the lake.

Even with such a weather the view is astonishing.

By the way, local area is a lovely place for ticks. Those which transfer tick-borne encephalitis. Thus you have to be extra careful, follow safety rules. Ideally put some anti-tick spray and always double check that you didn't catch one. With these circumstances rain is even a good thing: ticks prefer sunny weather (especially right after the rain (: ).

This is how trails around the lake look like. I bet it'd be much easier to walk there in sunny dry weather.

That's just first lake. There are two more higher in the mountains, but due to weather conditions we stopped at a first one.

Even though it's hard to get to the third lake even in a good weather. The lake is right on the board with Kyrgyzstan and border control simply doesn't allow you to pass most of times.

Horses. On the photo you might mention yurt. It's not used as a living by locals anymore. They're are no longer nomads. It's just a guest house for tourists (:

It's spacious inside. And warm. Especially if you put a heater there.

I love road signs in steppe. They put it on earth-road you're not sure you will pass at all. Still they warn you to not pass another car and don't go faster than 40 km/h (25 mi/h) (:

It's a seismic active area. Lakes appeared mostly cause of earthquakes. Following photos demonstrate landslide from last year (2018). The slide destroyed the road to lakes. Fortunately they built a new one.

Mosque in the village Saty is very beautiful.

Cemeteries are very unusual. They use a kind of tombs instead of simple graves. It looks a bit simpler in cities, but doesn't really differ. Recent graves are also a bit more plain.

Let me finish on a positive tune. Sheep and a horse. I even didn't eat one of those that day (: