Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Tiger Beer]

I've never been to 'the Stans', but if I went, Uzbekistan seems like it would be the most interesting of the area.

Tashkent and Samarkland make sense.

Anyways, is there enough things to keep a person busy just in the one country? Ideally, it would be interesting to see other nearby countries, but it sounds like visa hassles and letters of invites and everything else, might make it more problematic and more of a headache than anything.

But if someone were to suggest a nearby country that sounds easy enough to get into, and get around as well, which would you suggest? Or would Uzbekistan have more than enough to keep one busy?

Also, things change so much. In the past, it has been said that local police will fleece you out of spare change, if they see the foreigner. Papers are often asked from you. You should keep a low-profile, etc. Do many of these things still remain true today? Are things loosening up a bit?

Anyone been to Tashkent/Uzbekistan recently or following somewhat recent travel info on the area?

[soviet_man]

The easiest and simplest of the 'stans, would by Krygyzstan IMHO.

Kyrgyzstan is the only one where you can get visa on arrival at the airport for a fee, with no other paperwork.

Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan definitely need visa and invitation from an embassy in advance.

Ditto Azerbaijan, who recently withdrew visa on arrival.

Tajikistan you need a visa, but not always an invitation.

And generally need both a visa and invite for Uzbekistan, unless you are UK citizen.

[jdsolo]

You should come here to Afghanistan. It's awesome

[pinishee]

Man, I'd love to go to Uzbekistan. I used to know an Uzbeki girl back in the states who was really pretty.

[cheolsu]

I've only ever been to Kyrgyzstan. Without doing my research on Wikitravel and going by other travelers I met, Uzbekistan seemed to have more to do though Kyrgyzstan was more beautiful.

People who went to Tajikistan absolutely loved it, more than anyone loved Uzbekistan or Kyrgyzstan. That would where I'd go if I go back.

Also consider Kashgar in western China. That's one of the most interesting places I've ever been to.

[samd]

Loving these threads on the stans!

I wanted to do a trip through them all at once but it just looks too hard, with Visas and closed borders, unreliable forms of transport etc. That's what it looks like from the Stan Tours wensite anyway.

Cheolsu, that was Kyrgyzstan like?

[Tiger Beer]

[hogwonguy1979]

check out this blog about the stans, it's written by one of the "prisoners of wonderland" shes been back to korea a few times and is now here:

http://janesdailyblah.blogspot.com/

[asamouse]

Oh, Korea... I just can't stay away

Here's a better blog-link for Kyrgyzstan: http://janesdailyblah.blogspot.com/search/label/Kyrgyzstan%202008, but if you're interested in 'stans in general, you should check out http://desolationtravel.blogspot.com and http://desolationtravel.com. Enjoy!

[eat_yeot]

PM me.

[samd]