Hello and welcome to the overview page of Kyrgyzstan. If you scroll further down, you will find posts about this country.
So far, I’ve been to Kyrgyzstan once in April/May/June of 2021. Because this was during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, I didn’t hitchhike a lot. I really enjoyed Bishkek and I stayed there for quite a while with Jonas working on some projects. We also traveled to Cholpon-Ata at Issyk-Kul Lake, which was a marvelous place to be. I really hope to return to Kyrgyzstan at a time when I’m not so busy to go hiking. We only received 60 days for a visa and the country is quite a challenge to get from A to B because of the mountains. Here are some highlights from my first visit:
- Admiring the beautiful Soviet-era mosaics in Bishkek
- Issyk-Kul Lake and the abandoned airport in Cholpon-Ata
- Getting my first vaccinations against COVID-19 (Sinopharm: dose 1 and dose 2 in Bishkek)
Things I’d Like to Do on a Second Visit to Kyrgyzstan
Though I have a private list of the things I want to see and do on my next visit, here are some highlights from that list:
- Travel to Osh
- Go really remote, like the Engilchek area towards the border with China
- Visit the walnut forest in Arslanbob and chomp on some walnuts
If you know even more cool places and things to do in Kyrgyzstan, comment at the bottom of this page so I can always find your suggestions again! This will also help other travelers to Kyrgyzstan who stumble upon your underrated place/activity
Are you a travel blogger and do you have good posts about Kyrgyzstan? Drop them in a comment below and I’ll read them!
Hey There, Tashkent?! Kyrgyzstan to Uzbekistan (Semi-Live Blog)
These events happened on Saturday, the 26th of June, 2021. We hoped to fly from Manas International Airport (FRU) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport (TAS), Uzbekistan. I’m trying to update this blog as a sort of semi-live blog while on the move. Contents1 Saturday, 26th of June: 60 Days Up, Go to Tashkent, Uzbekistan?!1.1 Goodbye, Bishkek1.2 Taxi ride to Manas International Airport1.3 At the airport1.4 Passport control + security1.5 The flight to Tashkent1.6 PCR test check + immigration + customs1.7 The taxi from Tashkent airport to Tashkent city1.8 Our Tashkent Airbnb2 Friday, 25th of June:Continue reading
My First Car Crash in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
This car crash happened on Wednesday the 9th of July, 2021. There will be some gross generalizations about driving in Bishkek and Kyrgyzstan, but these have been my experiences so far. Some things in Kyrgyzstan are fantastic, while others are crap. Today was crap. And writing is how I process shit. Getting a Yandex Taxi After getting our Sinopharm vaccines translated and notarized at Big Ben Translation, we wanted to go celebrate this. We wanted to go to Craft Bar nearby the Ala-Too square. But first, we made a little detour into the Vefa Center shopping mall. I really wantedContinue reading
Urban Exploring at the Abandoned Airport of Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan
We stayed in Cholpon-Ata in late May, 2021. Watch the vlog to see me do some urban exploring at the abandoned airport of this town with fantastic vistas of Issyk-Kul Lake. This post contains additional information regarding the questions I had while walking around the abandoned terminal. Cholpon-Ata Airport’s History (Post-)Soviet Airport: Glory Times, Abandonment, Replacement (As any good article starts:) According to Wikipedia, Cholpon-Ata Airport was built somewhere in the 1930s. But it was even less glamorous then than how it was during my visit because it was merely a landing strip. The terminal building and other auxiliary buildingsContinue reading
How to Get a SIM Card in Bishkek, or Anywhere in Kyrgyzstan
When traveling to Kyrgyzstan, it’s a great idea to not save on the wrong end and pick up a SIM card. We did that at the Manas International Airport in Bishkek on arrival. Mobile data is very cheap in Kyrgyzstan. Here’s how to get a SIM card in Bishkek without making the mistakes we made. FYI, the country code for Kyrgyzstan is +996 Contents1 Which Kyrgyz Telecom Company Should I Choose?2 Buying a SIM Card in Bishkek: Manas International Airport3 We Bought the Wrong Package4 Topping Up the Balance at a Machine5 Kyrgyzstan SIM Card FAQ5.1 Is buying a SIMContinue reading
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan?! Traveling from DXB to FRU (Semi-Live Blog)
After 88 days of 90 allowed days in the UAE, it’s time to leave. Jonas and I chose Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan as the next place to go during this pandemic with limited choices. Follow this post for the coming days to see how things are going. Also, the latest date is always on top. Use the table of contents to skip to the date you want to read about. This is a semi-live blog that I’ll update throughout the journey. I’ll add photos once I’m back on my laptop. Contents1 Wednesday, 28th of April: Arrived in Bishkek1.1 At the AirportContinue reading
How to Get an Ethiopian SIM Card
We arrived in Ethiopia on the 26th of January, 2023 and immediately bought an Ethiopian SIM card at the airport. Here’s our experience and how you can get mobile data in Addis Ababa and beyond. Contents1 Ethio Telecom Monopoly2 Buying the Ethiopian SIM Card at Addis Ababa Airport (ADD)3 Where to buy a SIM card in Ethiopia?4 How to top-up your Ethiopian SIM card?5 How to buy a data package?6 FAQ6.1 I’m entering Ethiopia via a land border, where can I buy a SIM card?6.2 Where can I find my own number?6.3 How to check my balance?6.4 Should I downloadContinue reading
SIM Card in Qazaqstan: Which is Best?
Qazaqstan or Kazakhstan is a huge country in Central Asia that might pique the curiosity of digital nomads and adventurous travelers. Here’s how to get a SIM card in Qazaqstan and what to expect from the internet situation. Contents1 Intro to Qazaqstan2 Getting a SIM Card in Qazaqstan2.1 TL;DR, which Qazaq SIM card + plan should I choose?2.2 Where to Get a SIM card in Qazaqstan2.3 IMEI Registration2.4 International SIM and eSIM Cards3 Providers in Qazaqstan3.1 Topping up3.2 Activ (basically, same as KCell)3.3 Beeline Qazaqstan3.4 Tele24 My Experience: Purchase + Activation5 Apps6 Qazaq SIM Card Validity7 Tethering8 Internet Freedom inContinue reading
Getting the J&J Booster Vaccine in Mauritius as a Non-Citizen
This happened on Tuesday the 15th of February, 2022. Jonas and I had an appointment at the Wellkin Hospital in Moka for a booster vaccine. The only vaccine available to us as people under 40 years of age was Johnson & Johnson. This is a European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved vaccine, so this will help us travel in Europe too. Before this, we only had two doses of Sinopharm thanks to Kyrgyzstan. First of, Fuck the European Medicines Agency Secondly, I Was Not Excited about the Booster But it had to be done. Predicting shit during this pandemic is extremelyContinue reading
Bonzur, Mahébourg?! Traveling from Istanbul to Mauritius (Semi-Live Blog)
On the 3rd of December 2021, we’re hopefully flying from Istanbul Airport (IST) in Turkey to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU aka Port Louis Airport) in Mauritius. I’m updating this post as we go. If you’re here for the documents checklist to enter Mauritius, click here. Contents1 Booking Mauritius2 Omicron Variant Enters the Stage3 PCR Test in Edirne + Onward Ticket4 Day of Departure to Mauritius4.1 Packing + Edirne bus station + ride to Istanbul Airport4.2 Can we have boarding tickets, please?4.3 Immigration and security4.4 Mandatory time-wasting before the Mauritius flight4.5 Gate reveal and boarding5 Flying toContinue reading
How to Get a Turkish SIM Card (In the Small and Non-Touristic Towns of Turkey)
We bought our Turkish SIM cards on Monday the 25th of October, one day after arriving in Karasu. Karasu is a port town on the Black Sea coast and we’d arrived by ferry. It’s relatively small and getting a Turkish SIM card wasn’t straightforward. This post is supposed to help people who are also arriving in Turkey by land or sea and in a smaller town away from places geared toward foreigners. Contents1 Our Experience Buying a Turkish SIM Card in Karasu2 FAQ Turkish SIM Card + Internet Freedom in Turkey2.1 Which provider should I choose?2.2 Should I buy theContinue reading