Gettin’ It On Like Genghis Khan: World Nomad Games 2016 What do Steven Seagal, Genghis Khan, and a bunch of kok boru goats have in common? They all seem to shine with the waxy sheen of death, and they were all focal points of the World Nomad Games 2016 in Kyrgyzstan. Successor to the first-ever …
Introducing: Ashlan-Fuu We’ve told you before about 8 Reasons to Visit Kyrgyzstan and 11 Things to Do in Bishkek but in all honesty most travelers don’t list ‘amazing food’ as one of their highlights from a trip through the ‘Stans. Drinking alcoholic horse milk and eating sheeps’ brain are good fun (and great stories!), to be sure, but …
Like all good Central Asia stories, it both starts and ends with a cold beer and a couple sticks of sheep shashlyk. One moment a late night chat over ways to make inroads in Kyrgyzstan, and seemingly the next talking my way past security and picking up a Press Pass for the World Nomad Games. Which, really, is what …
On Press Passes and Sheep Asses: The World Nomad Games Read More »
Photo of the Week: Kyrgyzstan’s Independence Day Oh, the holidays. When you’re at home they mean family time and lots of preparation and perhaps more than a fair share of stress. Hit a holiday or two on the road, though, and its all photogenic backdrops and friendly folks happy to share in the celebratory spirit. In …
Photo of the Week: Kyrgyzstan's Independence Day Read More »
Dear GoMad Nomad, I love horses and would like try to incorporate some horseback riding on a trip I’m planning to Asia next summer. Are there any countries where this is a common activity? How accessible is it for tourists that will only stay a short time? What kind of gear do I need to …
Ask GomadNomad: Best Places for Riding Horses in Asia? Read More »
Central Asia Visas: A Beginner’s Guide Your bags are packed, your flights are booked, and you’ve been chugging vodka and horse milk for weeks to prepare. (Though, please, not both at the same time.) You’re all set for Central Asia! But, are you sure? Rules are much more complicated in this region than the visas for …
Defender of the Fatherland Day in Kyrgyzstan Throughout the post-Soviet world, some of the most interesting days of the year are the holidays that see their origins from the Soviet era. ‘Defender of the Fatherland Day’, still celebrated in a number of former Soviet Republics on the 23 of February in relation to the founding …
Photo of the Week: 'Defender of the Fatherland Day' in Kyrgyzstan Read More »
11 Things to do in Bishkek Kyrgyzstan Catch Cultural Performances on the Cheap Whether looking for tickets to the Bishkek Philharmonic, State Puppet Theater, Russian Drama Theater, Opera and Ballet, or any of the other numerous theaters in town; tickets range from free to just a couple of dollars. Schedules can be a bit hard …
Stay Local – Tajikistan Hospitality Central Asia is well-known for its tradition of open hospitality, and the Tajiks often seem like the best of the lot as far as willingness to open arms and homes to travelers. You could spend days on end wandering through mountain villages in Tajikistan, confident that there will always be …
Alcoholic Horse Milk Perhaps a remnant of Soviet culture, drinking culture is big in Kyrgyzstan. While vodka is usually the preferred imbibition, another option does exist. Kumis, a slightly alcoholic horse milk popular in a number of Turkic cultures, is particularly prevalent in Kyrgyzstan. Stalls on the country’s mountainous roadways or yurt tents at many of …
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