I’m Elena from Spain, and before visiting Kyrgyzstan, I imagined endless green valleys and snowy mountains. I certainly didn’t expect to find a place that looked like a scene from another planet.
When we arrived at Skazka Canyon, I immediately noticed the colors. The rocks were red, orange and golden, with unusual shapes that reminded me of castles and towers. Our guide pointed out a trail, but I kept stopping to take photographs.
At one point, I walked around a rock formation and suddenly couldn’t see the rest of our group. I wasn’t far away, but for a moment I stood completely alone in the canyon. The wind was blowing gently, and the only sound was the crunch of small stones beneath my shoes.
I followed the trail back and found everyone waiting near a viewpoint. We laughed about my little detour and continued climbing. From the top, I could see the blue waters of Issyk-Kul in the distance. The contrast between the lake and the red canyon was incredible.
I took dozens of photographs that afternoon. But when I returned home and looked through them, I realized my favorite memory was the moment I had put my camera down and simply looked around.