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Another place I'd like to go is Kyrgyzstan. And Turkmenistan. Why? Because no one goes there. What other reason do you need?

pydry 2y ago
Kyrgyzstan is a good place to take in a game of kok buru, which I found endlessly entertaining - much more fun than football.
- AlbertCory 2y ago
  > Six hours later, the minibus rolled into Barskoon shut up and take my money
- albroland 2y ago
  It's also the most scenic 'stan imo, by a wide margin. Was definitely my favorite of them all and is the only one I'd actually recommend people visit.
geoka9 2y ago
> And Turkmenistan. Almost impossible to get a visa; probably easier to get a tour in North Korea.
- xenospn 2y ago
  I’ve been to both and the Turkmenistan visa took me a week. North Korea required 2.5 years.
  - albroland 2y ago
    Same, but my Turkmenistan LoI took over 4 years and several attempts to get (us passport holder). It has been by far the most problematic and difficult country for me to gain entry to. DPRK, Iran, etc all were substantially easier. My DPRK one was not an issue in the slightest, maybe 1-2 month turnaround from the tour company applying. YMMV.
    - xenospn 2y ago
      I physically walked into the Turkmen embassy in Tashkent, handed them my passport with the filled form, and came back a week later. I was surprised, but it was probably the easiest central Asian visa to get.
pram 2y ago
I’ve been to Bishkek, it’s a really interesting place. At the time everything was still straight out of the Soviet Union (maybe still is) and the people were all friendly. The mountains are immense and beautiful. The tourist experience wasn’t sugarcoated at all though. It’s a genuine poor country with not a whole lot happening. Id say go for it, it’s a place that I find myself thinking of often.
- AlbertCory 2y ago
  I'd thought of going to Greenland when I was in Iceland, but finally the 3-hour flights and lack of much tourist infrastructure finally dissuaded me. At least in Bishkek you can go to other places, like Samarkand (only a 12-hour drive /s )

pydry 2y ago

Kyrgyzstan is a good place to take in a game of kok buru, which I found endlessly entertaining - much more fun than football.

AlbertCory 2y ago
> Six hours later, the minibus rolled into Barskoon shut up and take my money
albroland 2y ago
It's also the most scenic 'stan imo, by a wide margin. Was definitely my favorite of them all and is the only one I'd actually recommend people visit.

geoka9 2y ago

> And Turkmenistan. Almost impossible to get a visa; probably easier to get a tour in North Korea.

xenospn 2y ago
I’ve been to both and the Turkmenistan visa took me a week. North Korea required 2.5 years.
- albroland 2y ago
  Same, but my Turkmenistan LoI took over 4 years and several attempts to get (us passport holder). It has been by far the most problematic and difficult country for me to gain entry to. DPRK, Iran, etc all were substantially easier. My DPRK one was not an issue in the slightest, maybe 1-2 month turnaround from the tour company applying. YMMV.
  - xenospn 2y ago
    I physically walked into the Turkmen embassy in Tashkent, handed them my passport with the filled form, and came back a week later. I was surprised, but it was probably the easiest central Asian visa to get.

pram 2y ago

I’ve been to Bishkek, it’s a really interesting place. At the time everything was still straight out of the Soviet Union (maybe still is) and the people were all friendly. The mountains are immense and beautiful. The tourist experience wasn’t sugarcoated at all though. It’s a genuine poor country with not a whole lot happening. Id say go for it, it’s a place that I find myself thinking of often.

AlbertCory 2y ago
I'd thought of going to Greenland when I was in Iceland, but finally the 3-hour flights and lack of much tourist infrastructure finally dissuaded me. At least in Bishkek you can go to other places, like Samarkand (only a 12-hour drive /s )