Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Historical Museum of Sughd Region, Khujand, Tajikistan


The Historical Museum of Sughd Region is located within the reconstructed Khujand Fortress in Khujand, Tajikistan. Established in 1986, the museum houses an extensive collection of more than 15,000 artifacts, with some sources noting collections of up to 30,000 items, showcasing the rich history and cultural heritage of the Sughd region.

The museum’s exhibitions offer a fascinating journey through the region’s ancient past, including dioramas depicting prehistoric life and archaeological artifacts from different historical periods. Among its notable displays are original mosaic panels made of colored marble, depicting scenes associated with Alexander the Great and Alexandria Eschate (Alexandria the Farthest), the ancient city he founded in the region. The museum also pays tribute to Temurmalik, the celebrated Tajik folk hero who is remembered for his courageous resistance against the Mongol invasion in the 13th century.

Beyond its historical collections, the museum provides a glimpse into the rich cultural traditions of the Sughd people through displays of traditional national costumes, intricate embroidery, and beautifully hand-woven Tajik carpets. Visiting the museum offers a deeper appreciation of Khujand’s long history and its importance as one of Central Asia’s ancient cultural centers.

We got here on a day tour booked through GetYourGuide, with hotel pick-up in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Since this is a day trip, you will need to cross the Uzbekistan–Tajikistan border twice—once when entering Tajikistan and again when returning to Uzbekistan. It is therefore very important to note that you must obtain a double-entry visa for Uzbekistan if this is your planned route. Khujand can also be reached from Tajikistan’s capital, Dushanbe. Alternatively, there is a rail connection from Samarkand, Uzbekistan, making it another possible route to consider.

A big thank you to the best guide ever, Shahrom Makhsumov, who took us around Khujand, showed us the very best of the city, and assisted us in every way possible. Your kindness, hospitality, and effort made our experience truly unforgettable. We’re so grateful for everything!

 

Monday, August 17, 2026

Medeu in Almaty, Kazakhstan

 

Medeu is the highest-altitude large outdoor ice-skating and bandy rink in the world.  It sits 1,691 MASL, located about 14to 15 kilometers away from downtown Almaty, Kazakhstan.  But the iconic Medeu Skating Rink is closed today for two to three-year modernization to meet international standards.

Because the touristy skating rink is closed, we climbed the 842 stairs for a magnificent view offering panoramic vantage.  The view is surrounded by snow-dusted ridges, alpine trees and winding mountain roads.  From here, you can see the cable car lines going to Shymbulak Mountain Resort.



If you want to experience snow in Almaty, the ideal month to visit are in mid-December to February.  If you visit outside these months, you can still find snow year-round by heading up to the nearby mountains like in Shymbulak Mountain Resort.

To get to Medeu Sports Complex from Almaty, take Bus No. 12 and the ride takes 30 to 40 minutes and will only costs you 150 Kazakhstan Tenge.  

To get to Medeu Sports Complex from Almaty by taxi, use the Yandex Go App to book a ride.  The ride takes also around 30 to 40 minutes and will costs you 2500 to 4500 Kazakhstan Tenge depending on your starting point in Almaty.

We booked our whole 3 Days and 2 Nights Kazakhstan tour via Primo PH Travel and Tours but you can do the Medeu, Shymbulak, Kok Tobe tour by DIY and it will costs you must cheaper and enjoy your self-paced or untimed tour lets you explore at your own speed without a strict schedule. 

Saturday, August 8, 2026

Chimgan Mountains, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

 

Chimgan Mountains is home to popular ski areas like the traditional Chimgan ski slopes, Beldersay and the popular Amirsoy Mountain Resort.  It also offers scenic open air chair-lifts and modern gondolas that carry visitors up the slopes for panoramic views.


What we did in Chimgan is horse backriding that costs us 200,000 Uzbek Soms per pax.  The mountain offers scenic alpine valley trails.  It is located around 80 kilometers from Tashkent and are available at all skill levels.  The trip was part of our Get Your Guide tour to Amirsoy, Chimgan and Charvak Lake at Php7,491 or 1.5 million Soms for 3 pax.

If you will not get the tour via GetYour Guide app, book a direct ride using a ride-hailing app "Yandex Go" for a fixed price.  The 80-85 kilometer ride takes about 1.5 to 2 hours north into the mountains and it will costs you around US$ 9-15.  By comparing hailing a taxi and booking at GetYourGuide, it is much cheaper to DIY.

We went on a tour that started in Tashkent, included a day trip to Khujand in Tajikistan and another to Chim gan, and spent the remaining days in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Friday, July 10, 2026

Panjshanbe Market in Khujand, Tajikistan

 

Panjshanbe Market is located in the heart of Khujand.  It also rhymes with the country's capital, the Dunshanbe that means Monday, and Panjshanbe means Thursday.  They used to have trading days during Mondays and Thursdays in both cities.

The construction of the pavilion tooks place in the middle of the 20th century and finished in 1964.  It is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in Central Asia.  It is a vibrant hub featuring fresh produce like pomegranates, melons, persimmons, traditional spices, dired fruits, traditional Tajik bread, colored textiles, street food like plov, skewered meats, meat-stuffed dumplings, and dried yogurt cheese balls.  You can also buy here crafts and souvenirs.
The recommended time to visit the market is from 6am to 7pm.  It is located at the Southern end of town off Ismoili Somoni Avenue in Khujand.

The Panjshanbe Market or Bazaar is opposite the Sheikh Muslihiddin Mausoleum.  The Mausoleum is built as a resting place for Sheikh Muslihiddin Khujandi, a prominent 12th century ruler of the city, who is also a poet, a philosopher, teacher, and a respected Islamic theologian.

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Amirsoy Mountain Resort, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Amirsoy Mountain Resort is the largest ski resort in Uzbekistan and the most modern in Central Asia. There are eleven ski slopes for skiers and snowboarders for all levels and a gondola ski lift with a lift height of 2290 meters.
The roundtrip cable ride costs 225,000 uzbek soms for adults and 112,500 uzbek soms for kids. 

The non-ski activities in Amirsoy includes scenic cable car rides, snow-tubing, quad biking and of course dining at the resorts modern restaurants.

Discover the region’s natural beauty with excursions to Chimgan Mountain, where you can experience chairlift rides and horseback riding, and to the breathtaking Charvak Water Reservoir, a perfect destination for relaxation and sightseeing.



The resort is roughly 80 kilometers from Tashkent City Center.  You can take a taxi using the Yandex Go app and the cost is usually US$12 to US$25 or 150,000 to 300,000 uzbek soms.  But in our case, we got our tour from GetyourGuide and the tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off,  Amirsoy Mountain Resort, Chimgan Mountains and Charvak Lake for Php7500 or US$120 for the three of us.  

Friday, June 12, 2026

Kok Tobe in Almaty, Kazakhstan


Kok Tobe is Almaty's highest point at 1,100 meters and is famous for its iconic 372 meters Almaty TV Tower and a great panoramic view of the city.  The best way to get here is via cable car located near Republic Palace and Abay Metro Station.  The one way cable ride ticket costs 3500 tenge and 6000 tenge for roundtrip.

The key atttractions here are the cable car, the observation deck with view of Almaty's skyline and the Trans-lii Alatau mountains, the amusement park with ferris wheel and the alpine coaster, a Beatle's statue plus several restaurants and cafes. 
How to get here:
The most popular way to get here is via cable car from Abay Station, then walk 700 meters to the city terminal.  You can also get through here through metro buses or taxis.

Our trip to Kok Tobe is part of a 3D/2N tour with Primo PH Travel and Tours that includes 2 nights accommodation in Saty Village, tours for 3 days, 2 breakfast, 1 lunch and 1 dinner at Saty and entrances to all parks and tourist spots.

Sunday, May 31, 2026

Beijing Ski Resort

 

We were on a group tour package from Manila and part of the 6D/5N tour is a visit at a ski resort near the city center.  Reignwood Mammoth Ski Resort is only 40 kilometers from the city center and is located at Changping District.  It spans a 120,000 square meter ski site perfect for families, also has beginners and intermediate slopes, youth snow parks and a children snowboard training area.
Entrance/ski pass is only CNY20 per person.  We were given 7 ski pass and we lost one of it.  We just paid another CNY20 for the lost card.  Ski/equipment rental is usually included in your entrance/ski pass.
A deposit of CNY300 is required for equipment of any additional on-site purchases which is fully refundable after its return.

Thank You Metro Wanderer for our 6D/5N arranged tour in Beijing.  It was truly amazing and the kids really enjoyed our trip.  It was truly amazing and entirely stress-free.

Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Universal Studios Beijing

 

Universal Studios in Beijing is the largest Universal theme park globally.  The park covers about 54 hectares, five times larger then Universal Studios Singapore.
The purchase of tickets requires registration with the real name of the document.  You have to scan your passport upon entry and not a QR code, and then everything in the park is through photo recognition.  For convenience you have to download the Universal Studios Beijing app to be aware on the waiting times at each ride.  There are also a lot of water refilling stations and toilet.
The ticket prices vary from US$60 to US$67 or CNY430 to CNY480 depending on the season and if its weekdays or weekends visit.


The Universal Parade usually starts at 5pm or 6pm and is subject to change depending on the season and weather condition.   The parade lasts from 40 to 50 minutes and it starts at the Hollywood Boulevard and winds its way through areas of Minion Land and Jurassic World.
The seven (7) themed lands are:
1. Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness is an indoor-focused, lantern-lit zone but only exclusive to Beijing
2. Waterworld is an adrenaline-pumping, high action stunt show
3. Jurassic World Isla Nublar features animatronics and the Jurassic World adventure ride
4. Transformers Metrobase is a high-tech decepticon themed area featuring the nausea inviting ride of Decepticoaster - this is where my kids went from energetic to sluggish
5. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter features the classic Hogsmeade layout, Harry Potter and the forbidden journey, and the jaw-dropping Hogwarts castle and of course, the butter beer
6. Minion Land is a colorful, highly immersive zone for families featuring the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride and where to buy the minions ice cream
7. Hollywood Boulevard features classic movie aesthetics, classic California architecture, and the dining area 



The best way to get to Universal Studios is via the Beijing Subway to Universal Studios Station via Line 7 or the Batong Line.  From the station, use the Exit B, C or D and walk through the security checkpoint.
Universal Studios Beijing features a vibrant Pop Mart retail store located right at the Universal City Walk.  It can be accessed without the Universal Studios ticket, right in the dining and entertainment district.

Thursday, May 21, 2026

Wangfujing Street Beijing

Wangfujing Street is Beijing's most famous shopping and pedestrian street - with malls, historic buildings, tourist attractions, and is near the Forbidden City.

Wangfujing is known as Beijing's premier commercial boulevard and in here you'll find souvenir stores, luxury shops, apple store, department stores, Oriental Plaza, Beijing APM.


Very near the area is Saint Joseph's Catholic Church with European style architecture, old Beijing specialty stores, Wangfujing Xinhua Bookstore and traditional tea shops.



You can combine visit at Wangfujing with The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Beijing Hutong neighborhoods, Dong'an Market

798 Art Street Beijing

 

798 Art Street can be found in the heart of Beijing.  It is also called 798 Art Zone or Dashanzi Art District.  It is one of the Beijing's best known contemporary art and creative neighborhood.  It was built inside a former 1950's military-electronics factory complex with distinctive Bauhaus-style industrial architecture.

The district is packed with galleries ranging from major international institutions to small experimental studios, and it includes:

  1. UCCA Center of Contemporary Art
  2. M Woods Museum
  3. Tang Contemporary Art
  4. Hive Center for Contemporary Art
  5. Galleria Continua

Just walking around and you'll find giant murls and grafiti arts, Bauhaus factory buildings, old smokestacks, railway tracks, and pipes, outer installations, steel sculptures.
798 Art Street also has cafes, restaurants, bookstores and design shops.

Depending on the season, you may also find live music, art fairs, fashion events and photography exhibitions.
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