2019年2月21日木曜日

Couchsurfing

Rakhat (Byshkek, Kyrgyztan)

This 21 years old guy was like an angel in my trip. I started my trip in Byshkek, and he picked me up in the airport to my hostel. Later on he took me around Issyk Kul in 3 days trip with his car, while I paid for the petrol, food and accommodation. He showed me beautiful natural places around Issyk Kul. With his girl friend, we had fun driving, hiking, meeting the eagle hunter, staying in a family house in the middle of nowhere, eating local food, dipping in the lake, soaking in the hot spring. I know he was tired driving hundred kilometers but he never complained.

Rakhat, though very young, is a matured and kind-hearted boy. I am sure he will succeed doing his own travel agency (https://www.nomads-travel.com/).

Hope to see again in the future brother!
(I really think we look like brothers face basis :))


Uza (Almaty, Kazakhstan)

Uza was a funny and energetic 21 years old boy.
He kindly picked me up to the airport, took me to his apartment. After dinner, he took me to the coolest club in town. I loved the club with the good live band and good drink and good crowd.


Dinara (Almaty, Kazakhstan)

We went together to Kok Tobe with cable car and stroll around the mountain.
We enjoyed the live singer, the dancing,  the view, the zoo and the sunset. We had a nice chat and dinner. Dinara was a nice, friendly and highly educated matured girl.
Would like to meet her again in the future for hiking and traveling together.

Thanks again for your time Dinara, I had a good moment in Almaty with you.


Amonbek (Dushanbe, Tajikistan)

Amonbek, with his younger brother, Farmonbek, and their cousins, Temur and Bazur treated me like their brother. We walked around the city while joking, played ping pong, going to the zoo, the parks and the monuments. We drove around the city, had a nice dinner in a traditional restaurant, then we danced in the club in the highest tower in the city.

Farmonbek picked me up in the airport, their mother prepared lunch and breakfast, even gave me necklace to my mother and snack to bring home.
They picked up and negotiated the shared taxi to my next city. Taking the English course with them was a funny experience.

It is my dream to come back to see these boys again and visit their hometown in Pamir.

Omadbek (Khujand, Tajikistan)

Omadbek is a very nice boy.
He let me stay in his place he shared with his friends.
His friend cooked a dinner of plov for me.
Omadbek showed me around the city of Khujand, also to his school.
Khujand was beautiful at dawn after the rain.

Rahima (Bukhara, Uzbekistan)

It was a privilege to have a pro guide to show me the city.
About 4 hours, we walked around the city, and Rahima explained the stories and insights of the places we visited.
We met in Lyabi-hauz then walked visiting some medressa, covered bazaars, Kalon minaret, the Ark Castle, Bolo-Hauz Mosque, Samani Mausoleum and park and the final stop in Furushon Bazaar where we had a simple lunch.

Thanks again for your hospitality, Rahima.

2018年5月16日水曜日

Review: Accommodation

Kyrgyztan

Byskek

Capsule Hotel

Like:
- Bed in closed capsule style, very comfortable. There is even TV inside the capsule.
- Location, just in front of the train station, and 20 minutes walk from the main square. There was supermarket next door.
- Hot water for drink was available. Drinkable water was available too.
- Friendly staff.
- Two shower rooms and two toilets, separately.

Dislike:
- They were drying the towels inside the room, I don't know whether it was because of the rain outside.
- Washing machine fee was not cheap, also coffee fee was about USD 0.5, not free.


Bishkek Homestel

Like:
- Probably the cheapest option in the city.
- Location was not bad, around 30 minutes walk to Chor Bazaar.

Dislike:
- They said they didn't know that the person who occupied the bed for me had been left that they didn't prepare the bed for me, instead they added an extra bed for me in the room which was less comfortable.
- Only 2 bathrooms/toilets for the whole hostel, many occasion we had to wait.


Kazakhstan

Almaty

Like:
- Location, less than 10 minutes walk from metro station.
- Many places to eat around.
- Quiet location.
- Comfortable bed with curtain, power plug and storage area.
- The receptionist was friendly and helpful, though couldn't speak English. She called a taxi for me.

Dislike:
- More local people stayed, didn't see international traveler stayed.
- The whole place was a bit dark, not lively, was the only international traveler stayed.
- Nobody spoke English.


Tajikistan

Panjakent

Sogdiana

Introduced by Mr. Nematov Niyozkul, who I requested to arrange my trip to Haft Kul. The only hotel I didn't use Booking.com to book.
USD 8 for private room with shared bathroom.
USD 10 for private room with private bathroom.
I booked the USD 8 room, the breakfast was not included as the lady said, but she provided anyway.
Previous name was Elina which was still displayed on the main gate.
Good value for a private room.
Mr. Nematov Niyozkul stayed in front of the hotel in a separate house.


Uzbekistan

Samarkand

Hostel and Guest House Sim Sim

Like:
- Bed and blanket was comfortable.
- The breakfast was served per person and good.

Dislike:
- The location was far away from the Registan Square, about 30-40 minutes walking. Taxi ride (3000 som per person) or bus (1200 som) is recommended.
- The staffs were smileless (all the older man, the young guy and the young lady) and not friendly to help.
- The toilet/shower was only one in the hotel, and the toilet was not seating type. All the waste water from shower, wash basin were flown into the toilet sink.
- I booked a bed in Male Dormitory (4 beds in the room), but was placed in Mixed Dormitory with more people (12 beds in the room), informed that the bed I booked was full/occupied (double booking) without any apology.
- The other guests were drinking and chatting till 4AM in the lounge at the back of the thin  wall of the mixed dormitory room, that the noise could be heard clearly from the room.

Bukhara

Bukhara House

Like:
- Location, not far from Lyabi-hauz.
- Staff, friendly and helpful, though they were not fluent in English.
- The breakfast was served individually.
- Not bunk bed.

Dislike:
- The facilities in the room, less power plug, etc.
- The ventilation was not good that the smell from the kitchen came into bedroom.
- It looked like the room was still under refurbishment, not fully completed for guests to stay.
- To go to my room, I had to pass the dining room, then pass other room.

Tashkent

Amir Khan Hostel

Like:
- Location, about 30 minutes walk from the International Airport, and nearby bus station.
- The room was huge and the bunk bed was comfortable.
- There were one bathroom/toilet and one toilet inside the room.
- The breakfast was provided.
- The staff was helpful though not smiley.
- They gave printout on information around the hostel.

Dislike:
- Location, far from metro station and city center.
Hostel & Guest House Sim-Sim

Couchsurfing

Rakhat (Byshkek, Kyrgyztan) This 21 years old guy was like an angel in my trip. I started my trip in Byshkek, and he picked me up in the ...