If there is only one trek you can do in Kyrgyzstan, it has to be the trek to Alakul lake. Although this is also the most popular trek in the country, the views along the way are simply too amazing to skip. Alakul lake is an alpine lake 3,650m above sea level and the round-trip […]
Charyn Canyon and Kolsai Lakes: Nature that wows
The first impression people have of Kazakhstan is usually of endless steppe and deserts. While not totally false, Kazakhstan also has its share of stunning landscapes. The southeast region of Kazakhstan is full of natural formations, with mountains, lakes and rivers waiting to be discovered. In this article, I will be introducing Charyn Canyon and […]
9 things to do in Almaty, Kazakhstan
Honestly, I am not a big fan of cities. Traffic jams, packed subways and ugly apartment blocks are just not to my liking. However, I have to admit: cities are convenient. You can easily fly into or out of them, find whatever you need from the supermarket just down the road and eat something fancy. […]
The 9 personalities you will find while hitchhiking
One amazing thing about hitchhiking is that you get to meet many different people along the way. You could be with someone who is struggling to make ends meet in one ride and a rich man with a sports car in another. Everyone has his own story, which you would slowly discover throughout the ride. […]
From China to Spain: One crazy guy’s 30,000km hitchhiking journey
You heard right, no bus, no train and no plane. Through hitchhiking alone, I travelled from Kunming, a city in south-western China, to Barcelona in Spain. In six and a half months, I hitchhiked more than 30,000km and walked thousands more. Have you sometimes seen people stick out their thumbs by the side of the […]
6 places to visit in Northern Xinjiang
Northern Xinjiang is a nature-lover’s paradise. The magnificent Tien Shan Mountains down south and the gorgeous Altai Mountains up north surround the entire region. Even the flatter areas are not spared from the gifts of nature – beautiful grasslands, pristine lakes and meandering rivers fill whatever that is left. Opportunities for hiking are aplenty, but […]
Here are the top 10 Uyghur food that you must try!
For many of us, trying out new food is part of the travel experience. Whenever I visit a new place, I always try to head to the bazaar to see what food the locals usually eat. In addition, I would walk up to random restaurants and cafes just to stalk what the locals are eating. […]
9 things to do in the cultural capital of Kashgar
Kashgar is a city full of charms and like no other. Despite being in China, Kashgar does not feel like a typical Chinese city. Yet its Uyghur identity and culture does not quite make it Middle Eastern or Central Asian either. I would say that Kashgar, home of the Uyghurs, is a unique blend of […]
Why Southern Xinjiang needs to be on your bucket list
Looking for a place in China that does not have too many tourists, yet still has enough activities to wow you over? Look no further because such places hardly exist anymore. Thankfully, southern Xinjiang is still out of the Chinese tourist’s radar due to its tense security situation. Nevertheless, southern Xinjiang is an extremely safe […]
Is Xinjiang dangerous?
The media is a scary concept; you hardly find positive news on the newspapers these days. When people think of Xinjiang, they only remember the terrorists, knifing incidents and the general instability that the media portrays. However, is it true that Xinjiang is dangerous, rife with terrorists and religious extremists? Here is a reality check: […]
