Destination: Kazakhstan

Posted on March 28, 2023 by Nathan

Official Name: Republic of Kazakhstan
Established: 1465 (Kazakh Khanate) / 16 December 1991 (Independence USSR)
Population: 19.3 million (2022 estimate)
Religion: Muslim (69%), Christian (17%), Unknown (11%)
Official Languages: Kazakh & Russian
Capital: Astana
Order of Visit: 74
Planned First Visit: 15 May 2023
Planned Last Visit: 17 May 2023
Duration: 3 Days
Must Do: To be discovered!
Cities to be visited: Saty Village, Almaty

Kazakhstan is a transcontinental landlocked country located mainly in Central Asia and partly in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the north and west, China to the east, Kyrgyzstan to the southeast, Uzbekistan to the south, and Turkmenistan to the southwest, with a coastline along the Caspian Sea. Kazakhstan is the world’s ninth-largest country by land area and the world’s largest landlocked country.

With a population of 19 million people and an area of 2,724,900 square kilometres, Kazakhstan has one of the lowest population densities in the world, at fewer than 6 people per square kilometre.

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Destination: Kyrgyzstan

Posted on March 21, 2023 by Nathan

Official Name: Kyrgyz Republic
Established: 1470 (Kyrgyz Khanate) / 31 August 1991 (Independence USSR)
Population: 7 million (2022 estimate)
Religion: Muslim (90%), Christain (7%)
Offical Languages: Kyrgyz & Russian
Capital: Bishkek
Order of Visit: 73
Planned First Visit: 09 May 2023
Planned Last Visit: 14 May 2023
Duration: 5 Days
Must Do: To be discovered!
Cities to be visited: Bishkek, Chong-Kemin, Song Kul, Tamga, Jety-Oguz

Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked country in Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the south, and China to the east.

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Destination: Türkiye

Posted on March 6, 2023 by Nathan

Official Name: Republic of Türkiye
Established: 29 October 1923 (Ottoman Empire 1299)
Population: 85 million (2023 estimate)
Religion: Muslim (99.8%)
Language: Turkish
Capital: Ankara
Order of Visit: 72
Planned First Visit: 30 April 2023
Planned Last Visit: 07 June 2023
Duration: 14 Days
Must Do: To be discovered from 30 April 2023!
Cities to be visited: Istanbul, Gallipoli, Canakkale, Ayvalik, Selcuk, Pamukkale

Türkiye is a transcontinental country located between Europe and Asia. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia to the northeast; Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Iran to the east; Iraq to the southeast; Syria and the Mediterranean Sea to the south; the Aegean Sea to the west; and Greece and Bulgaria to the northwest.

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World Trip 2023 – Flights Booked and Confirmed

Posted on February 26, 2023 by Nathan
Flight map – Melbourne to Singapore to Istanbul to Bishkek, then Ashgabat to Istanbul to Singapore to Kuala Lumpur to Melbourne

I now have all flights booked and confirmed for my upcoming 2023 Central Asia and Türkiye World Trip.

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World Trip 2023 – Central Asia and Türkiye Update

Posted on February 13, 2023 by Nathan
2,500 years old Ancient City – Khiva, Uzbekistan

It’s now less than 75 days to my first international since I was in Colombia in August and September 2019 and I’m getting excited.

This trip will see me visit seven countries, six of them for the first time; Türkiye, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and short stopover in Singapore.

This will be a bit more off the beaten track especially the five ‘Stan countries of Central Asia which will provide some insights (hopefully) into the old soviet era when the USSR dominated the area and the even more histroic Silk Road path.

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Outback Australia 2022: Trip Review

Posted on September 11, 2022 by Nathan
Geikie Gorge cruise

Tour Title: Wonders of Kimberly
Tour Company: AAT Kings (Tour 1) and Journey Beyond Rail (Tour 2)
Places Visited: Broome, Fitzroy Crossing, Halls Creek, El Questro Wilderness Park, Kununurra, Katherine, Darwin, Alice Springs, Manguri / Coober Pedy
Dates: 16 August 2022 to 03 September 2022 (16 days)

Tour Itinerary (PDF)Download

It has always been a desire of mine to do a long distance train journey and when I was in primary school I was enthralled by outback Australia and in particular west coast. This trip allowed me to do both at the same time and enjoy it with my sister Kara as a bonus.

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