Maybe too obscure a question, but has anyone had success posting a package to Russia from the UK? For years, Royal Mail don't officially offer the service, but Parcel Force don't seem to have any blocks in place. Should I try to send something?

are we cooked chat :sob:?

[Travel Buddies] Central Asia on a shoestring (Oct–Nov, ~5 weeks) — from Brum (UK)

Me: 18, from Birmingham (Brum). Nature + village vibes > museums. Easy pace, tea strolls in the evening.

Dates/length: Late Sep / early Oct → early Nov (~36 days, flexible by a couple).

Route (west→east):

UK → Azerbaijan (Baku, Sheki) → Kyrgyzstan (Bishkek, Karakol trek, Arslanbob, Sary-Chelek) → Kazakhstan (Almaty, Charyn Canyon, Saty & Kolsai) → Uzbekistan (Samarkand, Nuratau villages, Bukhara, Khiva) → UK.

Leaving from: Birmingham (BHX) or London if fares are better.

Budget target (hand baggage only): £1,260–£1,430 pp solo. Sharing the odd taxi may shave a bit.

Why it’s this cheap (but still comfy):

• Trains/shared taxis, not flights, between countries.
• Homestays/hostels (~£8–15pp; meals included in some villages).
• “Bonus-only” rule for pricey add-ons (e.g., Kaindy 4×4 only if ≤ £15pp).
• Built-in buffer days so we’re not rushing.

How I built it: A detailed “MP” (master plan) using Caravanistan guidance + recent Reddit trip reports (prices/closures/what’s worth it). Happy to share the doc, map pins, and cost caps.

Devil’s-advocate FAQ (real talk):

• Visas/safety? UK passport: AZ e-visa; KG/KZ/UZ visa-free. Cities are fine; traffic is the main risk.
• No Russian? Same here—offline Translate, Maps.me/2GIS, and price caps. Hosts help line up rides.
• Fitness? Day hikes + one 2.5–3-day trek with easy day-hike fallback if weather/legs say no.
• Prayers (Jumuah)? Mosques pinned (Bishkek/Almaty/Tashkent/Bukhara/Khiva). We won’t re-route, but if we’re nearby we’ll attend.
• SIMs? Local SIM each country (cheap, better rural signal) + small regional eSIM as backup.

Saw this on TikTok so not sure if it’s the most valid but idk

Hello,

Is anyone here aware of any volunteer opportunities for foreign professional archaeologists to volunteer to work on archaeological investigations in Central Asia? I currently work in private archaeology within the US, but travel to work on academic archaeological research projects in Eastern Europe, where my graduate research was done. Are there many opportunities for foreign professionals to participate in Central Asian academic/museum archaeology projects. I am traveling to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in a few days and wanted to get an idea of what the archaeology industry is like within the region. Any information would be greatly appreciated!

Hello everyone! 🌍

I’m currently conducting research on Central Asia, and I would be very grateful for your help. So far, I’ve collected 23 anonymous survey responses, but I need at least 20 more to strengthen the research.

If you live or have lived in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, or Uzbekistan, I’d love to hear your perspective. Academic studies greatly lack citizen-level knowledge, this survey is designed to help fill that scientific gap.

✨ The survey is anonymous, available in English and Russian, and takes about 12 minutes to complete.

I have 1 response from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan so far, please share with friends and family,

Thank you very much for supporting this research! 🙏

📌 English version: https://forms.gle/F6srmDBTE9tpzRqY9

русский язык - https://forms.gle/9ZkiMF5cK37eUMTeA

Здравствуйте! 🌍

Сейчас я провожу исследование по Центральной Азии и буду очень благодарен за вашу помощь. На данный момент я собрал 23 ответов на опрос, но мне нужно ещё как минимум 20 для более глубокого исследования.

Если вы живёте или жили в Казахстане, Кыргызстане, Таджикистане, Туркменистане или Узбекистане, я буду рад услышать ваше мнение. В академических исследованиях не хватает информации на уровне граждан, и этот опрос призван помочь восполнить этот пробел.

✨ Опрос анонимный, доступен на английском и русском языках и займёт около 12 минут.

Большое спасибо за поддержку этого исследования! 

When you really look at Afghan history, the reason Pashtuns always came out on top wasn’t because they’re unbeatable, it’s because everyone else was structurally disadvantaged.

The non-Pashtun groups — Tajiks, Uzbeks, Hazaras, Turkmen — were always fragmented and had no strong outside sponsor. Meanwhile, Pashtuns always had Pakistan as a permanent external backer. Pakistan gave them weapons, money, ideology, safe havens. That’s a structural advantage no other Afghan group had.

Now look at the neighbors. Afghanistan’s north is full of Tajiks, Uzbeks, and Turkmen. You’d think Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan would help them. But nope. For decades, those states were tied to Moscow, and Russia’s whole strategy was to keep Central Asia weak, divided, and dependent. They didn’t want any “Greater Tajikistan” or “Greater Uzbekistan” spilling over the border. So they never backed Afghan kin seriously.

Even Iran, who you’d expect to support Hazaras or Tajiks, often cut deals with Pashtuns (even the Taliban at times) just to keep the U.S. and the Northern Alliance from consolidating too much. And both the U.S. and Russia basically used the Northern Alliance as a pawn, then undercut it when it looked too strong.

So the Pashtuns had Pakistan. The northerners had nothing. That’s why the balance never changed.

But here’s the bigger picture: if Russia is eventually weakened or destroyed, the game flips. Because then Central Asian states might finally wake up and realize that unless they build real strength, they’re next on the menu. Russia will gobble them if it wins in Ukraine and Eastern Europe. China would even quietly support that, because Beijing would rather deal with a Russia-dominated Central Asia than a strong, independent Central Asia tied to the West.

So if Russia falls, and the Central Asians actually decide to project power, suddenly Afghan Tajiks could get backing from Tajikistan, Uzbeks from Uzbekistan, Turkmen from Turkmenistan. For the first time ever, there could be a real northern confederation inside Afghanistan. That would finally break the framework that has kept Pashtuns dominant for centuries.

Hello everyone!) My name is Nursultan, I am from Kazakhstan, Almaty! I am a fan of metal music, the vocalist of a local melodic death metal band! Since childhood, I have been diagnosed with Marfan syndrome, which has affected the deterioration of my vision! I have undergone 10 surgeries and 4 laser eye surgeries. My diagnosis: retinal detachment, secondary cataract, corneal opacity in the left eye (but I wear a cosmetic lens). I understand that there are people with a much worse situation than me, there are completely blind people, and I do not complain about my fate, but enjoy my whole life! I also understand that no one should or is obliged to anyone in this world. Therefore, I do not force anyone, and only ask, if desired and possible, to donate any amount of money to me for treatment! Also, I work, but the salary is barely enough to pay the rent, since I don’t have my own, I’m an orphan and I’m standing in line to get an apartment! And there’s little left for essential food! 4400430256254522 NURSULTAN MOLDYBEKOV My card number visa kaspi bank I'm realy man My instagramm nursike_myrza

Thiis link on Spotify our track https://open.spotify.com/artist/4g8QXOhlrt0EvBe03BePiw?si=LfngjnOGS-eW1y7DeXUw_w&fbclid=PAQ0xDSwMc_cVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp-7fHm_dxzAc5aEeUjAUqaPIBC7vM8NeapHMbHQPYVMxrT05n8P8TPu2s4hF_aem_TiVe83Hb21S2X2qHk7yPBw&nd=1&utm_medium=organic&product=open&%24full_url=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.spotify.com%2Fartist%2F4g8QXOhlrt0EvBe03BePiw%3Fsi%3DLfngjnOGS-eW1y7DeXUw_w%26fbclid%3DPAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAafu3x5v3ccwHOWhHlIwFKmjyAQu7zPDXmqRzGx0D2FTMa09OZ_D_Ez7trOIRQ_aem_TiVe83Hb21S2X2qHk7yPBw&%24android_redirect_timeout=3000&feature=organic&_branch_match_id=1489521503347448883&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA92P3W6CQBSEnwbvqitri21CGiwipj%2FgTyvxZrPAAqvLLh4WUS%2F67IUmfYkm52JyZiaTr9C6qp9Go7pSmmfXIa2qoeDyOHquQKVNom1VMTkwzEnWCEEaEHbRVwzsGKbXXW8P%2F9qJKrsXBc1r3YlJPl1FQSFAo%2Fl5xhCesZC3BvZqbmD3LZP5QQaLzR3bja%2BWy6LPlrSG%2BZDFieBplwidfVSgOP8o9jv08r6dOw7NGny5P%2BMkaf1gV%2Fhi2Xqv5eHqrBrrFrpReVrfFhfkmt72naLHYE9cMr9ZGoLlekUoK8mWf7Ep9mNzvDEj8%2BQfrWs4a38JqRAxTY7%2Fl7Kblf3kuMelMgXFUwIs5cASTTQvmWq0jRFCg4xR3QCzFeRU8mTwDSxjAFzmJAbV1gzspaw1zYGWP6fJJ2tFAgAA

Hello!

For a long time I have been wanting to visit Central Asia (Kyrygyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan) and I have the opportunity and time to in February 2026 once my internship in SEA ends in January and I make my way back to Europe.

Everything I have seen online is that in February it is very cold, covered in snow, generally difficult and therefore unrecommended to come at that time. I don't mind braving the cold but I worry about missing out on a lot of activities and landscapes and that overall it will not be a worthwhile experience in comparison to going in another time period.

What do you think? And if it is do able, where do you particularly recommend going in February?

Hi, this is my first time traveling alone for over a month to countries I’ve never been to.
I’ll spend mid-September in Uzbekistan (all the main cities) and early October in the Kyrgyz mountains + Mangystau desert in Kazakhstan, finally 3 days in India New Delhi.

Average Ret-& dream. PS : I'm Indian and completely sick of it.

Hello everyone!) My name is Nursultan, I am from Kazakhstan, Almaty! I am a fan of metal music, the vocalist of a local melodic death metal band! Since childhood, I have been diagnosed with Marfan syndrome, which has affected the deterioration of my vision! I have undergone 10 surgeries and 4 laser eye surgeries. My diagnosis: retinal detachment, secondary cataract, corneal opacity in the left eye (but I wear a cosmetic lens). I understand that there are people with a much worse situation than me, there are completely blind people, and I do not complain about my fate, but enjoy my whole life! I also understand that no one should or is obliged to anyone in this world. Therefore, I do not force anyone, and only ask, if desired and possible, to donate any amount of money to me for treatment! Also, I work, but the salary is barely enough to pay the rent, since I don’t have my own, I’m an orphan and I’m standing in line to get an apartment! And there’s little left for essential food! 4400430256254522 NURSULTAN MOLDYBEKOV My card number visa kaspi bank I'm realy man My instagramm nursike_myrza This link on Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4g8QXOhlrt0EvBe03BePiw?si=LfngjnOGS-eW1y7DeXUw_w&fbclid=PAQ0xDSwMc6zNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABpzLcwDrgQV0KBftNxty2MbzQR5F02R8Z9B3Sx1q2qDcDqQI0naLprZKmp2W7_aem_uuxgBvbB1tOozdEKwi6haQ&nd=1&utm_medium=organic&product=open&%24full_url=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.spotify.com%2Fartist%2F4g8QXOhlrt0EvBe03BePiw%3Fsi%3DLfngjnOGS-eW1y7DeXUw_w%26fbclid%3DPAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAacy3MA64EFdCgX7TcbctjG80EeRdNkfGfQd0sdatqg3A6kCNJ2i6a2Spqdluw_aem_uuxgBvbB1tOozdEKwi6haQ&%24android_redirect_timeout=3000&feature=organic&_branch_match_id=1489521503347448883&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA92P226CQBiEnwbvqisYNE1IA4qmB0%2FVRuINWfbEyrKLe5Daiz57oUlfosl%2FMflnJpOvtLYxj6ORaZTl9D6ETTMUXFajp0Yr7JCNVEPkwPMn1AmROy2isq94Qez5y%2B56e%2FjXRqruXlBbbmwnJmy2z7al0Bakt4SAICE73nrB0nAvWLxRyS5yuzo8kNP4Pl2Q7KPNW88PaYEEx11iF5%2BzEhRsU55PYL4%2BpnEM0T1Yx%2BEkXeI5y6ZHVCB7Wc1ASt7xpqIrusfAYGivLIjDar558XkI%2FUNzxcK1OSR17twnS25FMrZb9YXT15aHJdz%2FEkIhCoiq%2F0vZzcp%2BctzjQom14jjXBHNNkM0tr4lyNgoAAANKoHWaREozKDkafGtCidZcsrzQqjVER8%2FSWMg0rH8AK6awcEUCAAA%3D

I'm confused in what they trying to say. I get they say that Huns were from Central Asia.

With the Avars I get them saying they were East Asian Rouran people who ruled Central Europe from 6th to 9th century (their genetics still mostly East Asian in 8th century)

Now with Huns. Only 6%(26 individuals) out of 371 individuals were mostly East Asian especially the ruling class but also claim most Huns have varrying degrees of East Asian admixture but are closer to Central Europeans but than historians would claims; Huns intermixed with Central Europeans, the Alans, Scythians, Europeans were subjugated with the Huns and incorporated as part of the Hunnic army but than they claim it was all part of the Hunnic alliance with other ethnicities. So did the Huns started out as East Asian(Central Asian) invaders who got genetically diluted or were they always been a alliance of multiple origins?

https://www.pnas.org/cms/10.1073/pnas.2418485122/asset/8eaf9e99-b1b2-4957-96d8-89191263acbf/assets/images/large/pnas.2418485122fig02.jpg

Basically the ruling class is like the late Xiongnu and Xianbei.

From this 2025 genetic study

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2418485122#:~:text=CE)%2C%203)%20Gepidic%2D,a%20prehistoric%20kurgan%20(28

"Furthermore, by surveying data for a total of 371 individuals from other 5th to 6th century contexts from the Carpathian Basin (143 included here) we find only 26 individuals (6%) with signatures of North East Asian or Steppe admixture. This includes 8 out of 10 individuals from Hun period eastern-type-burials. Therefore, apart from these direct descent lines linking these individuals with eastern ancestry, both archaeologically and genetically we do not find evidence for the presence of larger eastern/steppe descent communities in this time period."

And from these articles

https://greekreporter.com/2025/02/26/origins-huns/

Ancient DNA reveals mysterious origins of the Huns

"The origin of the Huns in fourth-century Europe has long been debated, but centuries-old DNA has revealed their diverse backgrounds."

"A total of 97 individuals were connected through IBD across the Central Asian steppe and into the Carpathian Basin over four centuries — a finding that suggests people in these nomadic groups maintained trans-Eurasian genetic relationships."

"However, most of the Huns the researchers studied carried varying amounts of northeast Asian ancestry"

https://archaeologymag.com/2025/02/the-origin-and-diversity-of-the-huns/

Mystery of the Origins of Huns Finally Solved

Genetic Diversity and Social Structure

Among the most striking discoveries was the presence of two high-status Xiongnu individuals who were direct ancestors of some people buried in Hun-period graves.

While this confirms a genetic link between the two groups, most Huns carried varying degrees of northeast Asian ancestry, reinforcing the idea that they were a mixed population rather than a direct continuation of the Xiongnu.

https://www.mpg.de/24237990/0221-evan-origin-and-diversity-of-hun-empire-populations-150495-x

the study also shows that the population of the Hun empire in Europe was genetically highly heterogeneous. Another key conclusion of the study is that the 5th century “eastern-type” burials from Central Europe are highly diverse in both their cultural and genetic heritage.

The findings also underscore that the Huns’ arrival in Europe contrasts with that of the Avars two centuries later. Co-corresponding author Walter Pohl of the Austrian Academy of Sciences adds: “The Avars came directly to Europe after their East-Asian empire had been destroyed by the Turks, and many of their descendants still carried considerable East Asian ancestry until the end of their rule in c. 800. The ancestors of Attila’s Huns took many generations on their way westward and mixed with populations across Eurasia”.

“Although the Huns dramatically reshaped the political landscape, their actual genetic footprint - outside of certain elite burials - remains limited”. Instead, the population as a whole appears to be predominantly of European origin and have continued local traditions, with some newly arrived steppe influences woven in."

When some Central Asian men greet each other, they shake hands (or “dap”) and tap their heads together - pressing one person’s temple to the other person’s temple.

Where did this come from? Is it a Soviet Russian street/prison thing, or is it a traditional Central Asian thing?

Do you do it with your friends? If not, who do you associate this with?

Is it appropriate to wear shorts as a female tourist in 🇰🇿 and 🇰🇬? I was always unsure when I was there. For example in Almaty I feel like its no problem, but in more remote places is it considered disrespectful? What‘s yout take on it?

I notice how these shirts are common in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Why are these shirts so common? Why BMW and not Mercedes AMG or Audi S-line?

I came across this picture in a scanned book about Central Asia and tried to identify the figures mentioned in the poster. However, outside of a few obvious ones I have been unable to identify them. If anyone could help, I would really appreciate it.

Hi! We are the Eurasia Youth Academy Team and South Korean university students. We are planning to do some business in Middle Asia. So please join the survey and show your interest in Korean hair products!!!!!! And please share this survey with your friends and families :)

THANK YOU GUYS!!!!!!

https://forms.gle/jEbLTWEt5ATwvSTv6

Қазақ тілі

https://forms.gle/s5sh7ao2qfRrjsTt7

Русский язык

https://forms.gle/n9iCVyTMohMBpPSR6
English

Hey folks,

I am from Nepal and I’m planning a motorcycle road trip across Central Asia and was thinking if you can you actually buy a motorcycle on just a tourist visa in places like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, or Uzbekistan? Or is renting the only realistic option?

Also what months are the best to visit irrespective of the modes of transportation.

Hi my sister and I and traveling to Central Asia from the beginning of October until mid November our route is planned to begin in Almaty Kazakhstan for roughly 2 weeks then move on to Bishkek Kyrgyzstan then finally Tashkent and Uzbekistan we are very unaware of places to visit and modes of transportation and help would be great appreciated thank you very much 😁