Nathan's Insights

World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas

World Trip 2023: Day 22 – Gazza Village to Khŭjand, Tajikistan

May 20, 2023
Istaravshan, Tajikistan – The Mug Teppe Fortress

Saturday 20 May 2023
Highlights: Exploring Istaravshan, Hazrati-Shoh Mosque, Mug Teppe, Museum of Sughd

Today we left the remote Gazza Village as we travelled back into more populated areas. This started with a visit to the Hazrati-Shoh Mosque which is located in historic town of Istaravshan. here we learned about the Five Pillars are the core beliefs and practices of Islam:
- Profession of Faith (shahada) – reciting the following phase: ‘There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God‘
- Prayer (salat) – pray five times a day.
- Alms (zakat) – donated a fixed portion of their income to community members in need
- Fasting (sawm) – Fast during the daylight hours of Ramadan.
- Pilgrimage (hajj) – at least once in their life visit Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
(more…)
Five Stans, Gazza Village, Istaravshan, Khŭjand, Tajikistan
World Trip 2023: Day 21 – Gazza Village and Voru Village, Tajikistan

May 19, 2023

Voru Village, Tajikistan – The hike begins

Friday 19 May 2023
Highlights: Hiking Voru River, Visiting the remote Voru Village

Today I woke up in this remote area to birds tapping at the window and the sun rising across the mountain range. Today was to have one included hike and one optional hike.

The morning hike was along the Voru River up to an even more remote village in this area whose history goes back many hundreds of years, the Voru Village. We left our village around 8.30 am for a nice hour plus hike.
(more…)

Five Stans, Gazza Village, Tajikistan, Voru Village
World Trip 2023: Day 20 – Dushanbe to Gazza Village, Tajikistan

May 18, 2023

Sughd Province, Tajikistan

Thursday 18 May 2023
Highlights: National Museum of Antiquities, Rudaki Park, Iskander Darya waterfall, Gazza Village area
(more…)

Dushanbe, Gazza Village, Kuli Iskandarkul, Tajikistan
World Trip 2023: Day 19 – Almaty to Dushanbe, Tajikistan

May 18, 2023

Almaty, Kazakhstan – The Green Bazaar

Wednesday 17 May 2023
Highlights: The Green Bazaar (Almaty), Flight diversion

Today I say goodbye to Kazakhstan but first I still had a morning in Almaty. The day started with the most comprehensive breakfast buffet so far. After breakfast Anne, Birgitta and myself headed out to find the Green Bazaar.
(more…)

Almaty, Dushanbe, Five Stans, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan
Flight Review – SZ216 Almaty to Dushanbe

May 17, 2023

Somon Air
Date 17 May 2023
Gate: 4
Seat: 20D (Economy Class Seat)
Plane: Boeing 737-800
Boarded: 15:22
Pushback: 16:10 (Scheduled 16:00)
Arrived: 19:05 (3 hours 5 minutes late)
Duration: 3 hour 35 minutes
Distance: 874 kms

This flight was from Almaty International Airport (code ALA) to Dushanbe International Airport (code DYU).

Note: This flight was part of the G Adventures Five Stans Tour and was booked by tour company.

Additional note: This plane was diverted to Khŭjand Airport due to bad weather in Dushanbe. Diversion was announced 1 hour 20 minutes into flight. We stayed on the ground in Khŭjand for just over 1 hour.
(more…)

Somon Air
World Trip 2023: Day 18 – Saty Village to Almaty, Kazakhstan

May 17, 2023

Charyn Canyon, Kazakhstan

Tuesday 16 May 2023
Highlights: Hiking Charyn Canyon, Zenkov Cathedra, Panfilov’s Park, Independence Square

An early start to the day with breakfast at 6.30 am. This was to allow us to explore one of the major highlights of Kazakhstan in Charyn Canyon and get to Almaty for a city tour.
(more…)

Almaty, Five Stans, Highlights Kyrgyzstan – Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan, Saty Village
World Trip 2023: Day 17 – Karakol to Saty Village, Kazakhstan

May 16, 2023

Kolsay Lakes National Park, Kazakhstan – Soviet era transportation used today

Monday 15 May 2023
Highlights: Border crossing, Exploring Kolsay Lakes National Park

Today we left Kyrgyzstan for the next stop in the tour, a short visit to Kazakhstan. From Karakol it took us a few hours to reach the border with a several stops in between. Border control was very strict, I had my passport checked for powder and with a literal microscope.

Kyrgyzstan – Kazakhstan Border crossing

While I eventually got though one of our drivers was held up for almost an hour but eventually we got into Kazakhstan.

Crossing delays – Kyrgyzstan – Kazakhstan Border
(more…)

Five Stans, Highlights Kyrgyzstan – Kazakhstan, Karakol, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Saty Village
World Trip 2023: Day 16 – Karakol, Kyrgyzstan

May 15, 2023

Jeti-Oguz Gorge, Kyrgyzstan – Heartbreak Ridge

Sunday 14 May 2023
Highlights: Hiking Jeti-Oguz Gorge, Hiking Karakol National Park

Today we set off to hike Jeti-Oguz Gorge which was about 30 minute drive on semi-rough and bumpy road. We started with a stop at Heartbreak Ridge, the natural landscape of Kyrgyzstan is a treasure of the world.
(more…)

Five Stans, Highlights Kyrgyzstan – Kazakhstan, Karakol, Kyrgyzstan
World Trip 2023: Day 15 – Tamga to Karakol, Kyrgyzstan

May 14, 2023

Karakol, Kyrgyzstan – Russian Holy Trinity Orthodox Church

Saturday 13 May 2023
Highlights: Exploring landscape at Barskoon, Learning how Yurts are constructed, Cultural music, The beautiful Russian Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Prejevalskiy Museum

After a good night’s sleep, an enjoyable breakfast and some time with very young kittens we were off to bring exploring again. First up was a visit to the sanatorium that Yuri Gagarin stayed at to recover after the world’s first manned space flight in 1961. The sanatorium has seen better days and is undergoing repairs, but we still learned about the strong Soviet Space program link in this area.
(more…)

Five Stans, Highlights Kyrgyzstan – Kazakhstan, Karakol, Kyrgyzstan, Tamga
World Trip 2023: Day 14 – Song Kul to Tamga, Kyrgyzstan

May 13, 2023

Song Kul, Kyrgyzstan – Todays hiking group enjoying a rest

Friday 12 May 2023
Highlights: Holding an Eagle, Hiking in Song Kul, Exploring Fairy Tale Valley

After a nice and comfortable sleep in a Yurt it was time to start with a nice breakfast in the main Yurt, sitting was again on the floor which is a good way to test your legs. No showers before our exploring today.

A local guide joined us to lead us on another mountain hike this time to get panoramic views of the massive Issyk-Kul Lake. After a 40 minute ride on rough roads we arrived at our starting point and were met by locals training eagles for hunting.

Song Kul, Kyrgyzstan – Before the hike
(more…)

Five Stans, Highlights Kyrgyzstan – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Song Kul, Tamga