Mongolia is a fascinating country for its culture, history, traditions and variety of landscapes. It is a country still unknown and little visited by travelers.
Visitors should not leave without having seen or tasted certain things that only exist in Mongolia: fermented mare's milk; a hike in the Gobi desert, on horseback or on camel back; see an eagle hunting training or a nomadic festival; sleep in a yurt; listen to a throat singing; discover Buddhist sites; and more.
Before leaving, soak up the history of Gengiz Khan or the journeys of Marco Polo.
Nomadic life is tough outside the capital Ulan Baator, so don't expect to ride on good roads, or a lot of comfort in yurts.
It's hot in summer, mosquitoes are waiting for you, and you have to protect yourself from the sun and drink enough not to get dehydrated.

Laws and customs
You must comply with local laws.

Identity checks
Identity checks are common, and police arrest visitors who do not have identification documents on them. Always carry a photo ID with you as well as a certified copy of your visa and registration.

Store your passport and visa in a safe place.
Leave a photocopy of your travel documents with a loved one.
Keep a digital copy of your ID and travel documents.

Car driving
You must have an international driving license.

Illegal and regulated activities
A zero tolerance policy applies to drinking and driving.
Possession, use and trafficking of narcotic drugs are punishable by prison terms and heavy fines.
The importation of prescription drugs is restricted.

Visitors who photograph military installations and government buildings face penalties. Before taking pictures, get permission from local authorities.

Religion
Kazakhstan is a secular state, but the practices and beliefs of Islam are widespread there. It is in the rural areas that they are most faithfully respected. Dress and behave with common sense and discretion, and respect religious and social traditions so as not to offend the locals.

LGBTQ2 travelers
Although Kazakhstan's laws do not prohibit same-sex sexual acts, homosexuality is not socially accepted.

LGBTQ2 travelers should carefully consider the risks of traveling to Kazakhstan.

Cash
The currency is the tenge (KZT).

Generally, you have to pay in cash. It is illegal to use a foreign currency for financial transactions.

Travelers' checks are rarely accepted outside of large hotels with international clients. Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere in urban areas. Euros and US dollars can be changed at approved exchange offices. All US banknotes must have been issued after 1995 and be in good condition. When you cross the border, you must declare any cash over US $ 3,000.

There are many ATMs in Almaty and Nur-Sultan, and there are more and more of them in urban centers across the country. Only certain ATMs accept debit cards that use the Plus system.

Identity checks
The police carry out random identity checks. If you are unable to provide proper identification, you risk a fine or detention.

Always carry adequate identification documents, such as your passport and visa or valid residence permit; Keep a photocopy of your passport in a safe place in case you lose it or have it confiscated. If your passport is lost or stolen, go to the nearest police station or Public Security Bureau to report the incident and get information on the visa replacement procedure.

If you renew your passport while in China, you must promptly register your new passport with the authorities. If you don't, you risk a fine.

Alcohol
In mainland China and Macau, there are no restrictions on the consumption of alcohol that is over the counter. However, the state of intoxication is punished in the event of disturbing public order and indecent or unethical acts (several cases of foreigners imprisoned for one to three days have been reported). In Hong Kong, the sale of alcohol is prohibited to those under the age of 18.

Photography
Local regulations must be observed under penalty of prosecution. Taking photographs is prohibited in the vicinity of official enclosures, in particular military sites, as well as on certain sites (which may not be marked). It is also limited in places of worship.

Drone
Importing drones requires a prior customs declaration. Drones must be registered with the Chinese Civil Aviation Administration. It is important to inquire about the regulations regarding their use as there are many local restrictions.

GPS
The use of GPS has become widespread in China, where many cars are equipped with it. The recording of geographic coordinates in sensitive or restricted areas is, however, prohibited and liable to fines or even arrest.

Political / activist activities
Any political / militant activity should be abstained at the risk of exposing oneself to heavy sanctions (imprisonment, deportation, ban on returning to China).

antiquity
The removal of any antiquity from the territory is prohibited.

Uses and customs
It is recommended to adopt an attitude and dress respectful of local customs. Covering outfits are preferred.

Means of payment
The means of payment must be kept in a safe place. It is also strongly recommended that you have sufficient cash on your person and separately to deal with loss or theft of means of payment. The provision of cash (Western Union, money order for example) is only possible on a bank account opened in China (personal account or account of a third party).

Laws and customs
You must comply with local laws.

Narcotics
The penalties for possession, use or trafficking of narcotics are severe. Those found guilty of these offenses face terms of imprisonment, including life imprisonment, and heavy fines.

Photography
Photographing military personnel or installations is prohibited.

Car driving
Vehicles drive on the left.

Driving while intoxicated is zero tolerance.

Wearing a helmet is compulsory for motorcyclists.

You must have an international driving license.

Culture
Women are advised to dress in a way that does not attract attention in public.

In many religious sites in Nepal, public displays of affection are considered inappropriate.

Cash
The currency is the Nepalese Rupee (NPR).

Generally speaking, you have to pay in cash. However, you can pay by credit card in major stores, hotels and restaurants. ATMs can be found in major cities like Kathmandu and Pokhara.

It is illegal to take Nepalese rupees out of the country.

Travelers carrying more than US $ 5,000 in cash (or the equivalent in another currency) must declare it to customs upon arrival.

Here is some useful information before traveling to Turkmenistan.

Pictures :
It is strictly forbidden to photograph buildings considered to be strategic, as well as the guards assigned to their protection (eg: presidential palace, ministries, airports, military or police installations, etc.).

Before taking any pictures, it is best, as a courtesy, to make sure that there are no particular restrictions by talking to the police and guards on the streets and near official buildings.

Uses and customs:
Turkmenistan is a secular state where Sunni Islam, the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church are legally registered.

It is recommended to adopt an attitude respectful of local customs and to keep in mind that cultural differences can lead to an erroneous interpretation of certain behaviors.

Currency:
The USD / Turkmen manat exchange rate is fixed: 1 USD = 3.50 new manats.

It is advisable, before entering Turkmenistan, to bring dollars in cash, preferring recent banknotes in good condition. It is possible to change money at official exchange points, hotels, banks, as well as some stores. However, it is very difficult to change euros.

International vending machines are rare in Turkmenistan. It is only possible to withdraw money with an international card at the following locations (with a commission).

The use of bank cards as a means of payment is very limited (outside of hotels). Payments are usually made in manat, with the exception of hotel rooms and airline tickets (USD). Entrances to museums and historic sites are to be paid in dollars for non-residents.

Money transfers are possible via Western Union.

Tourism development in Turkmenistan is still limited and infrastructure is still scarce.

Uzbekistan is the most touristic country in Central Asia and you will feel very safe. They speak Uzbek Russian, and few people speak English.

The majority are Muslim, but you will not have to have a particular dress code. In Tashkent, it feels like Europe, but in the countryside religious traditions are better respected.

It can be very cold in winter and very hot in summer. Spring and fall are the best seasons to explore this immense country.

In the hosts you will receive a "registration card". This is a receipt that shows the number of nights you spent at this hotel. When leaving the country, you will need to show them to immigration officials.

Uzbekistan is an easy country and you will love it!

Pakistan's rich history encompasses the Indus Valley region. The region served both as fertile ground for a great civilization and as a gateway from South Asia to Central Asia and the Near East.

Located on the first coastal migratory route of Homo sapiens outside Africa, the region was inhabited early on by modern humans. The 9,000-year history of village life in South Asia dates back to the Neolithic site (7000-4300 BCE) of Mehrgarh in Pakistan, and the 5,000-year history of urban life in South Asia to the various sites of Indus Valley civilization, including Mohenjo Daro and Harappa.

The millennia that followed saw the region of present-day Pakistan absorb many influences, Buddhists represented among others in the ancient Buddhist sites of Taxila and Takht-i-Bahi, the 14th century Islamic-Sindhi monuments of Thatta and by the Mughals of Seventeenth century. In the first half of the 19th century, the region was appropriated by the East India Company, followed, after 1857, by 90 years of direct British rule, and ended with the creation of Pakistan in 1947, thanks to efforts, among others, of its future national poet Allama Iqbal and its founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Since then, the country has experienced both civil-democratic and military rule, which has resulted in periods of significant economic and military growth as well as periods of instability; An important event during the latter was the secession of East Pakistan as a new nation from Bangladesh when it lost the war against India in 1971.

The history of Afghanistan, which dates back to prehistoric times when the Aryans arrived, has been influenced, to a great extent, by its geographic location. Located in southern Central Asia and west of the imposing Hindu-Kush barrier, it has controlled since prehistoric times the passageways to the Indian subcontinent and to China. It was invaded, devastated and crossed, in turn, by Persian, Greek, Kushan and Arab armies, but more frequently by nomadic hordes inhabiting the steppes and forests of the North, such as the Aryans, the Scythians, the Parthians. , the Huns and other Turco-Mongolian tribes led by well-known conquerors like Genghis khan and Tamerlan. Afghanistan as a nation only appeared in the 18th century with the weakening of the Turco-Mongolian and Safavid tribes.

Afghanistan is a mountainous country with a complex and diverse geographic and climatic structure. Most of the regions, valleys, deserts and plains of Afghanistan have different climates. The existence of such conditions has led to the development of different types of wild animals. There are about 3000 plant species in Afghanistan, and about 128 species of carnivorous and non-carnivorous mammals, 500 species of birds, and several species of reptiles, amphibians, and fish.

There are 7 species of shaggy animals, 28 types of carnivores, 37 types of bats, 2 types of rabbits, and 34 types of rodents, including snake-eating goats and snow leopards, which are endangered. Wild animals such as tigers, lions, cheetahs and deer have almost disappeared in the country. Two rare bird species, the nightingale and the golden sparrow, are rarely seen. Afghanistan's water resources are rich in species of fish, such as milkweed, flower fish (trout). Most of the aquatic fauna of Afghanistan lives in the Pamirs, central Hindu Kush, southern Hindu Kush and the Helmand and Kokcha basins. The Amu Darya has large thornless fish which are of economic importance.

The flora and fauna in Pakistan are as diverse as the types of habitats. They also reflect the diversity of climatic zones, from arid to tropical. There are more than 177 mammals and 660 species of birds. We differentiate between the 4 regions: the mountainous north, the desert plains of Sindh and the Indus valley, the western mountains with its plains and deserts and the southern coastal region.

Pakistani cuisine can be characterized by a blend of various regional culinary traditions from South Asia and West Asia, as well as elements of its Mughal heritage. The country's different cuisines are derived from its ethnic and cultural diversity.

Biryani, Palau and Nihari are very popular. Pakistani cuisine is a collection of rich and exotic dishes From the spiciness of the Qurma to the sweetness of the Kheer, every meal in Pakistan is an integral part of the journey. However, Pakistani cuisine still hides full of taste surprises

The majority of Pakistani cuisine, with roots in the eastern provinces of Punjab and Sindh, is generally characterized as “highly seasoned” and “spicy,” overlapping that of neighboring India. Conversely, the cuisine of the western and northern provinces of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan is described as "sweet", largely sharing its elements with India. , Bangladesh and neighboring regions of the Indian subcontinent and South Asia.

Afghan cuisine is as diverse as its peoples. But it remains very common in other Central Asian countries. We will find pilaf rice, as a holiday dish, but also large steamed ravioli, beef, lamb or chicken skewers. But we also find a lot of vegetables such as poichiches, red beans, lentils. The dishes are often accompanied by rice, but wheat, barley and corn are also part of Afghan cuisine. We also find cheese cured on bread with onion and mint: the "qrouti" which looks like the pamiri "kurtob" dish.

The Pakistani rupee (abbreviated as PKR) has been the official currency of Pakistan since 1948. 

There are 5 coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 50 rupees. And 8 banknotes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000, 5000

Bringing in of foreign currencies is permitted without any limit. A passenger can bring any amount of any foreign currency to Pakistan. Taking out foreign currencies is permitted up to US $ 10,000 un-conditionally.

Taking out Pakistan currency exceeding Rs. 3,000 is not permitted and in case of departing for India a maximum of Rs. 500 is permitted.

Exchange rate on 12/07/2021 was 1US$ = 159 PKR

The Tajik bus company Asian Express has severely limited the number of bus trips from Dushanbe to the cities and regions of Tajikistan. Since the buses are not filled with passengers, they essentially make 1 or 2 trips per day to Bokhtar, Kulyab, Shakhritus, Tursunzade, etc. The system put in place in the Soviet era collapsed. Ticket prices are too advantageous, and the company is no longer profitable. Passengers prefer taxi minibuses because bus schedules are disorganized and do not match demand.
In Tajikistan, most of the transport run by collective minibus or jeep-taxi. In general, you will find them near bazaars. In Dushanbe, the taxi drivers will take you to the right station.