Articles from this Category
22 July 2024
Bibi Khanym The Jahogir put on an amazing breakfast this morning of hot items, lots of fruit and cakes/sweets. I don’t understand how the fruit here tastes so good compared to New Zealand. The nectarines and cantaloupe were dripping and super sweet. I walked to the Bibi Khanym mosque taking shade whenever it was possible […]
21 July 2024
Flying to Samarkand I was seated immediately after the exit rows on the A321 (version with only two window exits and four doors, no extra doors). I had received an email notifying that my original assigned seat was no longer available due to operational reasons (perhaps an aircraft configuration change). It turned out to be […]
30 June 2024
Going to the airport I was happy to take public transport (NZD11 or EUR6 per person) to the airport for our midday flight but Kim was keen on an easier option. Last year, the hotel offered us a ride for EUR20 (per car) but this year it was going to be EUR40. So, we decided […]
29 June 2024
Revisiting sights Kim arrives in Istanbul today, coming from Taipei via Hanoi. His flight was scheduled to arrive at 0520 but had landed at 0445. I had set the alarm for 0610 and hit the tram at 0630 for Aksaray Metro. He had already been waiting 10 mins when I got there at 0640. The […]
28 June 2024
Flying to Istanbul I woke to an email from Turkish Airlines advising of a 50 min delay to my 0725 service to Istanbul. From the airport hotel, I walked over to the terminal about 1h25 prior to the new departure time. At the check-in desk, I asked if they would accept a mobile boarding pass […]
26 June 2024
I spent the morning indoors reinstating the bookings I had cancelled two days ago for my alternate scenario in case I cannot be hosted in Normandy later in the trip. I had been expecting to pay megabucks for (re)-booking so late but surprisingly, I saved EUR8 in total across 7 nights in three cities. Not […]
24 June 2024
Today I fly from Shymkent to Astana at a very pleasant time of 1130, meaning that could have a leisurely breakfast before ordering a car. I got to the airport at 1000 to find the counters already free of queues. The staff asked me to get a paper boarding pass even though I noticed people […]
23 June 2024
I woke after 0500 with the early sunrise, despite having drawn the curtains. I hadn’t been given a time for the pick-up for today’s hike. After breakfast, I waited and waited. Finally, after 0900, I messaged the driver Katya who told me it would around 0930. It was a 45 min drive to the Sayram […]
22 June 2024
Horse trek Today I start a two-day excursion to the foothills of mountains about 90 mins out of Shymkent. They day’s program is a horse trek along the Aksu Canyon in the Aksu Zhagbaly National Park. I was picked by Katya for the drive at 0815, a little later than planned. Surprisingly, she’s Muslim despite […]
21 June 2024
Getting to Turkistan I woke at 0515 having retired early and also due to the early sunrise. The hotel breakfast at 0700 was surprisingly good! They served a mix of Russian and Central Asian fare including blinis (pancakes), tomato, cucumber and cakes. Not so appealing were the cold chicken pieces and cold cuts. Today, my […]