Wake up, dress warmly, get into a taxi to go to the Khazak embassy. There is many a long queue, but my Australian passport privilages see me being sent to the front of the queue to await a barrage of questions by the intimidating consul. after stumbling on a few questions, especially the one about how i'd be getting to the border, i'm allowed to leave to return the following week to pick up the visa.

I venture a bit around the city, take in a few sights before returning to the hotel to rest.

The next 2 days included more of the same resting and eating, with little excursions around the neighbourhood for good measure.

On Day 46 take a bus back to where i left my bike to continue my journey. Unfortunately the flu is still there and has turned into a bit of sinusitis and bronchitis. I'm forced to start a course of antibiotics and wait 5 days before i can start cycling again. Matty is set to arrive in Urumqi in 5 days and as such i resign myself to the fact that i won't be doing the 500km to Urumqi and will bus it there to meet up with Matt fully recharged and rearing to go to the Khazak border.