Hi everyone.

I'm currently on a 5 month motorcycle trip from England to Japan. We arrived in Kyrgyztan a few days ago and am amazed by the stunning landscapes in this country. It has the best roads I have ever ridden. We've ridden from Otmok down to Jalal Abad, then across to Kazarman, to Song Kol and are currently heading to Ysyk Kol Nature Reserve. However, I would like to share a bad experience I had on the first night in Otmok.

We ended up staying in a Yurt at the side of the road near the river. We had dinner with an amazing family there. I decided to write in my diary next to the river when some lads called me over saying I could have a cup of tea with them. I walked across the bridge, and I could see my partner John following about 50m behind me. As I got there the lads asked if I wanted to sit on the horse and of course I did so they helped me up. Next thing I knew a man had jumped on the same horse behind me and was leading the horse up a mountain pass. I didn't think anything of it at first. I was really excited to be seeing the beautiful mountains ahead of me on horseback and assumed one of the other lads would take John on the same route. After about 10 minutes I became aware that no one else was around us. I was getting further away from John and our friend Max and I had no idea where we were going.

Then the mans breathing got heavier and I started to feel uneasy. I asked when we were going to turn back but he kept leading the horse further away, sometimes galloping. Then his hands began to brush over mine, and he began to touch my waist. He started kissing my shoulders. I felt scared, isolated, and I started trying to think of ways to get out of this situation. I kept saying "no", "net" and shouting. He would hold his heart and apologise then it would start up again. Still getting further away. I didn't know where I would be in the next hour. I started to think the worst. Then he began trying to put his hands down my trousers. I can't explain the amount of fear that came over me. I shouted again, and this time attempted to lift my leg over the horse. He did stop. And I shouted and shouted, telling him to turn back. This time he did. He turned the horse around. I was still confused as to where I was. Only mountains in site. After being out with him for an hour and a half I finally recognised a hut in the distance where I knew John and Max were.

The whole way back he constantly kept trying to touch me. He kissed me over and over. His hands kept wandering but every step back I felt a little more safer. When we got to the bottom I pointed out John. I had told him I was married and was wearing a ring on my wedding finger. It hadn't stopped him. When we stopped he got off the horse and went straight in to his hut, maybe to hide? I don't know. But when I finally walked back across the river I realised just how much my heart was beating. I was in shock. John and Max thought I'd been having a great time and as soon as they saw me they realised that couldn't be further from the truth.

I am lucky he didn't go further. And I am lucky I was wearing a long sleeve thermal top with my motorcycle trousers and boots. It would have made it a lot easier for him if I wasn't. Sometimes I try to be too independent. And too trusting. I was very stupid in this instance. We had heard Kyrgyzstan is a very friendly place. Maybe I just got that one bad experience. Although do be careful of kids throwing stones at you on the road too. I don't want this to put people off seeing this fabulous country. I just want to tell ladies to be on their guard. I don't want the same thing happening to anyone else. Safe travels people.

Katy X