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Trekking Jyrgalan: Boz Uchuk Lakes
Jyrgalan is a town most people traveling to Kyrgyzstan have never heard of, even the locals in Kyrgyzstan! Jyrgalan was once a prosperous mining town during the Soviet era, but suffered financially in the 90s and 2000s. Years ago, Jyrgalan had absolutely 0 tourism, but in 2016, six families came together to form the Jyrgalan Destination Management Organization (DMO). Their mission, according to Jyrgalan.com is to: Build a tourism industry that would bring economic opportunities to the local community, create jobs, and increase the quality of life for local residents. Together, with the assistance of USAID (United States Agency for International Development), Jyrgalan has turned into an off the beaten track…
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A Day Trip to Burana Tower
Burana Tower is a large minaret in the Chuy Valley, which lies very close to the city of Tokmok. Built in the 11th century, Burana is one of the last remaining pieces of the ancient city of Balasagun, which was established at the end of the 9th century. Legend says Burana was constructed to protect the local king who was told his newly-born daughter would die once she reached the age of eighteen. To protect her, he had a tower built where his daughter could live alone, only allowing a servant to bring her food. The daughter grew up and became a beautiful young lady. At the age of eighteen, a poisonous spider…
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A Backpacker’s Guide to Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan is a rugged country in Central Asia along the ancient Silk Road. Dubbed the “Switzerland of Central Asia”, Kyrgyzstan is a backpacker’s heaven and the MOST naturally scenic country I have been to so far. Kyrgyzstan is jam-packed with adventure and you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone that says otherwise. This is one of my favorite countries and one you must visit. Here’s a backpacker’s guide to Kyrgyzstan. Map created with Wanderlog, a road trip planner app on iOS and Android Visa Process: Kyrgyzstan has the most liberal visa policy in Central Asia. In 2012, Kyrgyzstan introduced a visa-free regime for citizens of 44 countries up to 60 days. These countries…
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Trekking Ala-Kul in One Day
Coming to Kyrgyzstan, trekking Ala-Kul was one of my main goals. Although it was the beginning of June and the lake was still frozen, I wanted to trek Ala-Kul to prepare my body for the 3 day trek that would lie ahead in the upcoming days. Getting to Ala-Kul was fairly simple, I organized a tour with Visit Karakol for the 1 day trek, which cost $160. Getting there…. The next morning, two men picked me up from my hotel and we made our way to the base camp. The route was so scenic, hands down the most beautiful route I have ever seen in my life! I knew Kyrgyzstan…
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Backpacking Through Old Dhaka
Dhaka is Bangladesh’s capital and one of the most densely populated cities in the world. From the moment I left Shahjalal International Airport, I was in shock by the sheer amount of people in the streets. Being in Dhaka felt like being in a city filled with the entire world population, I mean you could barely stretch your arms out without touching someone. In spite of that, the city had its own charm. I asked many locals their recommendation for a tourist and it was unanimous: Visit Old Dhaka. The next day, I woke up early and hopped into a rickshaw and told the driver to take me to Old Dhaka, Buriganga…
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Visiting the Rohingya Refugee Camp
Coming to Bangladesh, I had no intention of visiting the Rohingya Refugee Camp. I was in Cox Bazar, a beach town in the south, when a man asked me my purpose of visiting. He asked, “You come to see the Rohingya”? I knew of the refugee crisis going on, but I didn’t think much of it being in Cox Bazar. The man told me we were about an hour and a half away from the camp, and I didn’t have any plans for the following day, so I figured I would visit to document their stories. Quick History on the Rohingya The Rohingya are a majority Muslim ethnic group who…
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Backpacking Bangladesh: 6 Things to do
Bangladesh isn’t a country most people would associate with tourism. India, its neighbor, overshadows Bangladesh as the number 1 South Asian tourist destination. As a result, many overlook Bangladesh as a place to visit on holiday. Tourism in Bangladesh ranks towards the bottom of most nations; however, I believe it’s a hidden gem waiting to be discovered by backpackers. Not only are locals some of the friendliest people you’ll ever come across, but there are aspects of Bangladesh that make it unique in its own way. Here are 6 things to do if you find yourself backpacking Bangladesh. Note* I excluded the Sundarbans as it is probably one of the…
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A Guide to Climbing Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji is one of the world’s most famous mountains and one deeply important to Japanese people as it is one of their 3 holy mountains. Each year, thousands flock to Japan hoping to catch a glimpse of Fuji on the train passing by, while the brave ones attempt to climb it. At 12,389 feet (3,776.24 meters), Mount Fuji ranks as the largest in Japan, and 7th largest peak on an island in the world. Fuji is iconic and has served as the inspiration for many artists and poets worldwide and after climbing Mt. Fuji and seeing the views for myself, I can see why. Here is a guide to…
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Backpacking Through Bukhara and Samarkand
No trip to Uzbekistan is complete without a visit to the ancient Silk Road cities of Bukhara and Samarkand. Compared to the rest of Central Asia, which is rich in backpacking trails and rugged mountains, Uzbekistan has an abundance of architecture and Bukhara and Samarkand are arguably the best two cities to witness this. Although Bukhara and Samarkand are located just two and a half hours away from one another by the high-speed Sharq train, they are completely different and unique in their own way. Bukhara Recommended Time: 2 days minimum Bukhara is smaller than Samarkand, but is a city you should dedicate more days to. Unlike Samarkand, it feels like…
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A Backpacker’s Guide to Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is a fantastic country to travel to and getting around is easier than you think. Despite many people’s fear of countries ending in “Stan”, Uzbekistan is far from a dangerous place and you’ll quickly realize that upon arrival. This historically rich nation, which sits along the ancient Silk Road, is a hidden gem and one country that deserves a lot more tourism that it receives. Here is backpacker’s guide to Uzbekistan. Visa Process: As of 2018, citizens of Israel, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey and Japan can visit Uzbekistan without visas for the period of 30 days. Everyone else will need to apply for a visa. A…
