Category: World Trip 2023
A 42-day trip visiting seven countries; Türkiye, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Singapore, between 29 April 2023 and 9 June 2023
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Friday 02 June 2023Highlights: Monument of Neutrality, Indoor Ferris wheel, Old Nisa, Gurbansoltan Eje Memorial and Turkmenbashi Mosque, Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex, National Museum of Turkmenistan, Independence Monument, Food poisoning The last full day of the Five Stans tour before my flight back to Türkiye at 3.30 am tomorrow. Today we our small group would…
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Turkish AirlinesDate: 03 June 2023Gate: 102Seat: 6B (Economy Class Seat)Plane: Airbus A321neoBoarded: 02:45 (early)Pushback: 03:21 (Scheduled 03:30)Arrived: 05:10 (Scheduled 05:20)Duration: 3 hour 49 minutesDistance: 2,555 kms This flight was from Ashgabat International Airport to Istanbul International Airport. Note: I was very unwell before this flight, vomiting from food poisoning but was better by the time…
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Thursday 01 June 2023Highlights: The amazing Darvaza Gas Crater (Gates of Hell) at Dawn, Hiking in the Karakum Desert, Exploring Ashgabat at night Waking up at 5 am I did a short walk from my yurt to the Darvaza Gas Crater for another look at the unique phenomenon.
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Wednesday 31 May 2023Highlights: Exploring Kunya-Urgench, the amazing Darvaza Gas Crater (Gates of Hell) After a surprise hotel accidental wake call for everyone via an intercom announcement and an underwhelming breakfast, we were off on a 2 hour drive to UNCESO protected ancient abandoned city of Kunya-Urgench. This was the first chance to really see…
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Tuesday 30 May 2023Highlights: Border crossing to Turkmenistan, Card game Today I said goodbye to 10 members of the tour group and our CEO Rustam while 6 of us (Kyle, Ingrid, Amy, Mike, Nancy and me), plus our new CEO Eziz, travelled to Turkmenistan for the fifth and last ‘Stan of the Five Stans. Khiva…
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Monday 29 May 2023Highlights: Kalta Minor Minaret, Tash-Khovli Palace, Madrasah Qutlug Murad, Tash-Khauli Palace, Juma Mosque, Islom-Hoja Minaret (tallest in Uzbekistan), and Pahlavon Mahmud Mausoleum Today was a chance to explore this unique city-museum of Khiva in more detail. The city was established around 1500 years ago but there were inhabitants even earlier. In 1991…
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Sunday 28 May 2023Highlights: Khoja Tabband Mosque, Exploring Khiva, Khiva at Night A long drive ahead of us meant we wanted to be on the road by 8 am. I woke up slightly unwell but hopefully nothing too serious for today’s 8 hour plus of driving. Before leaving Bukhara we had one final stop point…
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Saturday 27 May 2023Highlights: The Samanid Mausoleum, visiting the Boloi Havz Mosque, exploring the Ark of Bukhara (Fortress), learning the history of Kalyan Minaret, exploring the Kalyan Mosque. Today was day 2 of exploring Bukhara in depth. After breakfast at our hotel, we left at 8.30 am to try to beat the coming heat. Our…
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Friday 27 May 2023Highlights: Sunrise over the Kyzylkum Desert, Exploring the Caravanserai Rabat-I-Malik, Exploring historic old sector of Bukhara I woke up around 5 am in our Yurt after a mostly peaceful night sharing accommodation with 4 other tour members. The early morning meant I have time to get up and see the sunrise over…
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Thursday 25 May 2023Highlights: Nurata Holy Springs, Nurata Fortress Ruins of Alexander the Great, Aydar Lake, Kyzylkum Desert experience, dancing under the stars Today we set off out of the historic city of Samarkand and into semi desert and full deserts of Uzbekistan. Leaving at 8.30 am we said one last goodbye to Registan Square…
Nathan's Insights 