Tag Archives | top topics

Kyrgyz village after Chinese border

Through the Mountains of the Torugart Pass: From Kyrgyzstan to China

By on June 27, 2012 in Asia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Soviet Travel

Instead of flying from Kyrgyzstan to China towards the end of May, Pat and I thought we’d try a more adventurous path of crossing borders: the Torugart Pass. We could have saved about 8 hours by flying, but this was just more exciting.

June 27, 2012 · Continue Reading · Comments { 12 }
rodem house work station

Hostelworld Match-up: Speak Russian in Bishkek, Stay at Rodem House

By on June 21, 2012 in Asia, Hostels & Hotels, Kyrgyzstan, Soviet Travel

If you’re a lucky traveler heading over to Central Asia — Kyrgyzstan in particular — you might want to read this review of a hostel in Bishkek. Rodem House has several options for travelers in a clean environment and good location.

June 21, 2012 · Continue Reading · Comments { 1 }
naryn monument

What’s there in Kyrgyzstan?

By on June 11, 2012 in Asia, Europe, Kyrgyzstan, Soviet Travel, Turkey

I get this question a lot, and it is not the easiest to answer… because Kyrgyzstan is a different place. You don’t really go there to see a huge, popular monument, and you don’t go to walk around all day in a famous museum.

June 11, 2012 · Continue Reading · Comments { 5 }
taxis in urumqi

Funny Things Happen When You Can’t Speak the Language, Western China Edition

By on May 31, 2012 in Asia, China, Language Learning

Western China is a difficult place to travel if you don’t know Chinese… or Uyghur. Either way, it’s all super foreign and we have some hilarious adventures because of it. Read on to discover a few of our most recent!

May 31, 2012 · Continue Reading · Comments { 5 }
manas

I’m Chasing the Magic… What Keeps You Traveling?

By on May 15, 2012 in Asia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Soviet Travel

Central Asia, the lands of the ancient Silk Road, and the route of much trade, war, and magic, has been my obsession for a long time — only I haven’t explored that much of it beyond my beloved Kyrgyzstan… until now.

May 15, 2012 · Continue Reading · Comments { 16 }
pat bazaar skyscanner bag

The Time I Sent Pat to Get a Loaf of Bread in Bishkek

By on May 7, 2012 in Asia, Kyrgyzstan, Soviet Travel

So, I sent Pat to get a loaf of bread for breakfast — only I didn’t send him to the big grocery store down the street where everything is easy to grab. I sent him to the little convenience stand in our complex where you basically have to talk to the worker, or point as I expected would be the case.

May 7, 2012 · Continue Reading · Comments { 13 }
gold coast boat ride

I Want to Travel But Can’t Find a Travel Partner (aka Solo Travel Anxiety)

By on February 20, 2012 in Female Travel, Health & Safety

Not everyone has the same travel dreams that I do, so finding a friend that wants to do the exact thing is just not a possibility. Instead of sitting at home and thinking that I’ll never be able to travel because I can’t get so-and-so to do it, too, I simply decided to fulfill my dreams and set off on the solo road.

February 20, 2012 · Continue Reading · Comments { 24 }
mbk shopping Bangkok

The “Oh-My-God-I’m-Excited” Trip of 2012

By on January 25, 2012 in Asia, Europe, Kyrgyzstan, Pre-Travel, Russia, Soviet Travel, Thailand, Turkey

Now that it’s the end of January (pretty much), I guess it’s time to start talking about my future travels that are actually coming up quite quickly! This trip includes Turkey, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, China, Russia, Mongolia and a tiny bit of Thailand.

January 25, 2012 · Continue Reading · Comments { 29 }
dorm room

Thrifty Thursday: One Month of Intensive Russian for Less Than $850

By on January 20, 2012 in Asia, Kyrgyzstan, Language Learning, Soviet Travel, Thrifty Travel

In this post, I break down the numbers involved in taking intensive Russian language lessons in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Even with food, travel and accommodation, the price is no contest. Seriously, have a read and be inspired!

January 20, 2012 · Continue Reading · Comments { 9 }
russian sign

Language is Music; Your Body the Instrument

By on January 16, 2012 in Asia, Kyrgyzstan, Language Learning, Soviet Travel

The joy of traveling is meeting interesting people. I met Susanna Zaraysky, a self-made language learning expert, on a bus in Kyrgyzstan. Here I talk about her book and message from Language is Music.

January 16, 2012 · Continue Reading · Comments { 6 }