Travel tales - Page 2 of 2 - NicoLyn Around the World

Travel tales: Samarkand

Asia Uzbekistan January 4th, 2019February 7th, 2019 by Nicolas

Warning: Undefined variable $custom_content in /home/httpd/vhosts/nicolasdousse.ch/nicolynaroundtheworld.com/wp-content/plugins/mywebsite_plugin/mywebsite_plugin.php on line 39

The visit of Samarkand will not leave you indifferent. Its place on the Silk Road allowed this city to build magnificent and gigantic monuments to the glory of Islam or the tombs of the rich rulers of those time. Getting to Samarkand from Dushanbe After our journey in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, we traveled to Uzbekistan. If the first two countries are to visit rather for their nature, Uzbekistan is distinguished by its architecture resulting from the wealth obtained during centuries by its place on the Silk Road. Journey to the Uzbek border In order to get to Samarkand, we first …

Backpacking in Dushanbe, capital and showcase of dictatorial Tajikistan

Warning: Undefined variable $custom_content in /home/httpd/vhosts/nicolasdousse.ch/nicolynaroundtheworld.com/wp-content/plugins/mywebsite_plugin/mywebsite_plugin.php on line 39

Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, is the showcase of the country for the rest of the world and is most likely the main source of investment by the dictatorial government. The contrast with the countryside – at least its eastern part (we can not speak for the western part as we didn’t visit it) – is striking. The earthy and uneven tracks gave way to large paved avenues. The monuments and flags to the glory of the country stand proudly in several squares of the city. We arrived in Dushanbe at the end of our trip on the Pamir Highway. …

Road trip on the Pamir Highway

Asia Tajikistan September 17th, 2018January 4th, 2019 by Nicolas

Warning: Undefined variable $custom_content in /home/httpd/vhosts/nicolasdousse.ch/nicolynaroundtheworld.com/wp-content/plugins/mywebsite_plugin/mywebsite_plugin.php on line 39

1’500 km of rugged and dirty trails with breathtaking scenery – welcome to the Pamir Highway, one of the world’s highest highway! You will cross vast plains at more than 4,000 m high surrounded by higher mountains that look down on you, narrow canyons overhanging with threatening rocks and a river turning into a torrent and forming the border with Afghanistan. Linking Osh (Kyrgyzstan) to Dushanbe (Tajikistan), this road is one of the must-sees of the region. Warning: Pamir Highway is an adventure that will put you out of your comfort zone. When reading the text below, you may feel that …

Horse trek around Son-Kul lake, Kyrgyzstan

Asia Kyrgyzstan September 14th, 2018January 4th, 2019 by Nicolas

Warning: Undefined variable $custom_content in /home/httpd/vhosts/nicolasdousse.ch/nicolynaroundtheworld.com/wp-content/plugins/mywebsite_plugin/mywebsite_plugin.php on line 39

Imagine. Surrounding you, long and arid steppes of Central Asia extend as far as your eye can see. Mountains go to above 4’000m. Your faithful steed gallops at full speed. Okay, galloping was not on the first day, nor for the climb … But you get the scene. The horse is king in the Kyrgyz countryside. Every child rides almost as soon as he knows how to stand up and as soon as he is 8 years old puts you to shame immediately. A horseback ride was a must-do activity in this country – especially as Céline was riding when …

Backpacking in Bishkek

Asia Kyrgyzstan September 7th, 2018January 3rd, 2019 by Nicolas

Warning: Undefined variable $custom_content in /home/httpd/vhosts/nicolasdousse.ch/nicolynaroundtheworld.com/wp-content/plugins/mywebsite_plugin/mywebsite_plugin.php on line 39

To start a journey around the world in the easiest possible way, the best is to choose a country where you understand a bit the language, where people speak English easily, where the alphabet is the same as yours and where the quality of infrastructures is close to the one you are used to. In other words, the logical choice would not necessarily be on a Central Asian country, also often called the ‘Stan. That being said, it is in Kyrgyzstan, more precisely in Bishkek, that our journey began. The choice was motivated by the climate in this part of …