10 yuan for a buffet lunch box? Stalls like these don’t appear very often in tourist areas, but it’s absolutely possible to find them if you look around. The price is unbelievable but frankly, it’s all a matter of taste. Low income workers have few options and they just want to fill their stomachs as […]

It may sound unbelievable, but many Singaporeans I know have serious misconceptions about youth hostels. In the past, there were only 宾馆/招待所 in China. Western style youth hostels quickly caught on in Dali. Apart from being good value for money, the advantage of staying here is that there is a homely feel and you get […]

I went on two treks on this trip to Kyrgyzstan. The first was a 5-day trek (on foot) from Karakol to Ala Kul Lake starting from the Jeti Oguz Valley. Don’t let the modest altitudes mislead you. While AMS may not be an issue here, the distances are great and we averaged 9-10 hours of […]

When first discovered by the Dutch in 1623, the 4884m peak was named Carstensz Pyramid after Dutch explorer Jan Carstenszoon. It was renamed Puncak Soekarno after Indonesia’s first president in 1963. After Sukarno was ousted, the peak was renamed Puncak Jaya. Situated in Indonesia’s West Papua province, it is the second highest mountain in Southeast […]

Wow! I may change my mind and do Manaslu this November instead. This video is more “artistic” than documentary. Not a lot of commentary but still a pleasure to watch. Check Out Knapsack Books by Chan Joon Yee

The changing fashions and outlook of women in Kyrgyzstan over 100 years. She’s a fantastic model. Look at all the different moods and facial expressions she’s able to portray. Check Out Knapsack Books by Chan Joon Yee

Kyrgyzstan horsemeat noodles. Taste it then try to make it. But from what I know, you don’t always have to use horsemeat for beshbarmark. You can also use beef or even yak meat in the highlands. Check Out Knapsack Books by Chan Joon Yee

It’s usually spelled “borsok”, but I’m following the Russian spelling here. It’s like a cream puff without the cream inside. In Kyrgyzstan, it’s often eaten with sweet dips like jam or honey. I wouldn’t mind dipping in a savoury sauce like chilli crab sauce. The first video is in Russian and the second is in […]

Ashlanfu – a bit like Chinese 凉皮. I remember having horrible diarrhoea after that. It doesn’t taste too bad, but food hygiene is everything. Boorsok is like our cream puff without the cream. In Kyrgyzstan, it is usually eaten with jam. Samsa – Kyrgyz curry puff. Fried Lagman – Kyrgyz mee goreng. I’ve tried the […]