The rupee is the official currency of Nepal. It is subdivided into 100 paisa. There are banknotes in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500 and 1000 rupees, coins of 1, 2 and 5 rupees, as well as 5, 10, 25 and 50 paise. Coins are not frequently used.

Banks are open from Monday to Thursday from 09.00-10.00 to 14.00-14.30, Friday - from 10.00 to 12.00. Day off - Saturday. Official exchange offices usually work from 9.00 am to 19.00, during the week.The issuance of the currency is controlled by the Nepal Rastra Bank. The Nepalese rupee is pegged to the Indian rupee.

On 6.05.2016, the rate was 1 USD = 106 nepalese roupies

National currency of Uzbekistan is sum. This currency has been put into circulation in Uzbekistan since 1994 and today is the only means of payment. In circulation there are banknotes of the following value: 100,200,500, 1000 and 5000 sum.  All the banknotes differ in color. It is mainly cultural and historic monuments of Uzbekistan are depicted on the notes. Currently, the entire banknotes circle, but the bills up to 100 sum and the coins are not used.

Since 2004 Uzbek sum (UZS) is a convertible currency. Currency exchange offices are located in the airport, hotels, in the markets and banks, as well as in district visa and registration offices (at passport departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs). Majority of currency exchange offices in the city accept euros and US dollars. Other currencies can be exchanged only in those exchange offices, which are located in banks. In hotels currency exchange offices are opened 24 hours 7 days a week. Others usually open at 9 a.m., but their working day is already over at 3.30 or 4 p.m. Not all of them work on weekends and not all the time. 

National currency of Kyrgyz Republic - som, consist of 100 tyiin.

Banknotes som are: 1 som, 5 som, 10 som, 20 som, 50 som, 100 som, 200 som, 500 som and 1000 som.

Banknotes of tyiin are: 1 tyiin, 10 tyiin, 50 tyiin.

Nowadays tyiins usually are not used.

It is not a problem to exchange currency in Bishkek now. There are a lot of commercial banks in Kyrgyzstan and exchange offices. Most of them are situated in Bishkek, but you can find it in other cities of Kyrgyzstan. But sometimes it is almost impossible to exchange your currency in villages and little towns. So, exchange your currency beforehand in large cities. It would be better to exchange currency only in banks or in large exchange offices.

Dollar USD and Euro  - the most popular currency in Kyrgyzstan. But it is not a problem to exchange Russian Ruble and Kazakh Tenge.

You can pay in dollar or Euro in some tourist shops and restaurant in Bishkek city. 

You should draw attention to the condition of your currency. Most of exchange offices and some banks will not exchange shabby, crushed and old notes.

Chinese cuisine includes styles originating from the diverse regions of China, as well as from Chinese people in other parts of the world including most Asia nations. The history of Chinese cuisine in China stretches back for thousands of years and has changed from period to period and in each region according to climate, imperial fashions, and local preferences. Over time, techniques and ingredients from the cuisines of other cultures were integrated into the cuisine of the Chinese people due both to imperial expansion and from the trade with nearby regions in pre-modern times, and from Europe and the New World in the modern period. In addition, dairy is rarely—if ever—used in any recipes in the style.

The "Eight Culinary Cuisines" of China are Anhui, Cantonese, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangsu, Shandong, Sichuan, and Zhejiang cuisines.

The staple foods of Chinese cooking include rice, noodles, vegetables, and sauces and seasonings.

The cuisine of Turkmenistan, is similar to that of the rest of Central Asia.  Plov, shorba and manty are the staple, everyday food, which is also served at celebrations. 

A wide variety of filled pies and fried dumplings are available in restaurants and bazaars, including somsa, gutap (often filled with spinach), and ishlykly. These are popular with travelers and taxi drivers, as they can be eaten quickly on the run, and are often sold at roadside stands.

Turkmen cuisine does not generally use spices or seasonings, and is cooked with large amounts of cottonseed oil for flavor.

Kazakh cuisine is the cuisine of Kazakhstan, and traditionally is focused on mutton and horse meat, as well as various milk products. 

The Kuurdak or kurdak is often called the national dish of Kazakhstan. It is a roasted horse offal dish, sheep, cow, including the heart, liver, kidneys and other organs and cut and served with onions and peppers)

Beshbarmak, is the national dish among nomadic Turkic peoples in Central Asia.

The term Beshbarmak means "five fingers", because the dish is eaten with one's hands. The boiled meat is finely chopped with knives, mixed with boiled noodles, and spiced with onion sauce. It is usually served in a big round dish. Beshbarmak is usually served withshorpo – mutton broth in bowls called kese.

The tandyr nan is a baked traditional bread in a tandoor oven. It is popular in the cities of the Silk Road.

Plov (pilaf) is at the center of the restaurant menus and Uzbek culture. There are no parties without plov. May be accompanied by shashlyk (meat skewer) and each southern city has its own recipe.

Uzbek cuisine has been also heavily influenced by neighboring countries.

Kyrgyzstan stood on the crossroads of the Silk Road, and the caravan routes which crossed the territory carried not only goods for trade, but also brought examples of various cultures: Turkish, Persian, Arabian, Indian, Chinese, Russian and European and these mingled with the culture and traditions of Central Asia. As a result Kyrgyz cuisine has absorbed elements from all of the cultures with which it came into contact, and although many dishes that you will find are common throughout Central Asia, it is sill possible to find examples that have preserved their original, national identity.

Meat is central to Kyrgyz cooking - the nomadic way of life did no allow for the growing of fruit and vegetables - although these can be found in abundance in modern Kyrgyzstan. One of the most essential features of Kyrgyz cuisine is that dishes should preserve their taste and appearance. Sauces are intended only to bring out the taste of the dish - not to change it.

Boorsok - pieces of dough, deep fried in boiling oil - is a traditional table "decoration". They are produced in large quantities and spread over the derstokan or table at every major celebration.

Beshbarmak - perhaps the most typical Kyrgyz dish. The dish is meant to be eaten with the hands, not with a knife and fork! "Besh" means five and "Barmak"  - finger. Beshbarmak is served when guests arrive and at almost any festive gathering. This meal consists of noodles, which are mixed with boiled meat but into tiny pieces and served with a medium spicy sauce. Bullion is then poured over the mixture.

Shashlyk and Kebabs - meat cubes on skewers cooked over the embers of burning twigs. Mutton is the meat usually used, but it is possible to find beef, chicken, liver and even pork shashlyk. The meat may simply be freshly sliced or may gave been marinated overnight. Be warned, if the meat is mutton, then almost certainly one of the pieces on the skewer will be pure fat...the dripping fat onto the burning embers is thought to enhance the taste. Shashlyk is usually served with a sprinkling of raw onion, vinegar and lepyoshki.

Plov - rice mixed with boiled, or fried meat, onions and carrots (and sometimes other ingredients such as raisins), all cooked in a semi-hemispherical metal bowl called a kazan over a fire. Plov is a favorite dish in the South and is served to honored guests - the meal is not considered over until it has been served.

Lagman - flat noodles cooked in a stew of tiny pieces of mutton, potatoes, carrots, onions and white radishes. A Russian version, minus the noodles called Shorpo, can often be found.

There are two main bus stations in Bishkek. At these bus stations you can take a minibus and get to any part of the country such as to the towns of the Chui Region as well as to Cholpon-Ata, Karakol, Naryn, Talas, Djalal-Abad, Osh etc. There is no well-defined bus schedule, so minibuses depart as soon ass they get full.

Located in the heart of Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan is a great mountain barrier between an environment of huge desert and steppes. The landscapes are so diverse, that this small country offers a multitude of reasons to go there. Semi-desert wedged between lakes and alpine forests, unexplored mountains, fertile plains and nomadic traditions have created the peculiarities of Kyrgyzstan.

During the 20th century, Kyrgyzstan was incorporated into the USSR. Nowadays, as an independent republic, Kyrgyzstan is struggling to successfully implement free-market reforms and maintain political and ethnic stability. The Kyrgyz government has been actively pursuing ethnic tolerance and democratization polices. Kyrgyzstan has the most liberal media in the former Soviet Union, while both the Russian and Kyrgyz languages are official in this country of well-educated population and a sizable Russian minority.

Kyrgyzstan has a self-sufficient agricultural sector, rich in mineral resources and with high potential in hydroelectric power generation, while economic ties remain strong with Russia and the other members of the Commonwealth Independent States (CIS).

Area:
total: 198,500 sq km 
land: 191,300 sq km 
water: 7,200 sq km

Climate:
dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone

Geography - note:
landlocked; entirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien Shan range; many tall peaks, glaciers, and high-altitude lakes

Ethnic groups:
Kyrgyz 72.1%, Uzbek 14.3%, Russian 6.8%, Dungan 1.1%, Ukrainian 0.3%, Uygur 1%, other 5.7% (2012 census)

Languages:
Kyrgyz (official), Russian (official)

Mongolia is a landlocked country in Northern Asia, strategically located between China and Russia.

The geography of Mongolia is varied with the Gobi Desert to the south and with cold and mountainous regions to the north and west. Much of Mongolia consists of steppes and much of the Gobi Desert. The terrain is one of mountains and rolling plateaus, with a high degree of relief. Overall, the land slopes from the high Altai Mountains of the west and the north to plains and depressions in the east and the south. The Khüiten Peak in extreme western Mongolia on the Chinese border is the highest point (4,374 meters).

Its area is 1,564,116 sq km (ranked 19th in the world) and the average attitude is 1580m. The highest point is Mount of Khuiten culminating at 4374 m altitude in the northwest. 

It has the lowest density in the world is 1,6hab / km ². 

Landscape: Mountains dominate two thirds of the country, nearly 8% of the territory is covered by forest and most landscapes are wide open prairies, plains and desert. Taiga and forest steppe also cover much of the country. 

Climate: The country has a continental climate that is changing very quickly. There are four clear-cut seasons! The temperature range is about 70 ° C between summer and winter. Mongolia is a remarkably sunny country (with relative sunshine 270 days / year). At night you can see an amazing display of stars. Winter is very long (November-April) and it is very cold in winter due to the high altitude of the country. In summer it is warmer in the Gobi in the south and in winter it is north of the country the lowest temperatures found. 

Population: Mongolia is home to a wide variety of ethnic groups and 2.7 million inhabitants according to the census of 2010, 60% of the population is under 35 years of which 60% are under 18! The number of newborns is growing very rapidly (Baby Boom). The government is pro-natalist policy to increase the population. 

Government: Mongolia has a parliamentary government with a president. The president is elected in general elections. Parliamentary and presidential elections are held every four years. The president can not make more than two terms. 

Administrative subdivisions: Mongolia is divided into 21 aimags (provinces), which are composed of 315 sums (small villages). There are two other major cities after the capital Ulaanbaatar, Darkhan and Erdenet. Each aimag has a capital where infrastructure is more developed. 

Telecommunications: Mongolia, most hotels and business centers offer direct international line, as well as telex, fax and internet connection. The most popular companies in Mongolia communication: Mobicom and Unitel-GSM, Skytel, Gmobile-CDMA. 

Currency: Tugrog (MNT). Currently (01/2012), 1 euro = 1800 MNT 

All times are UTC / GMT +8 hours 

Energy: There are a lot of coal for electricity generation. Part of the electricity is imported from Russia. Wind and solar energy are used locally on a small scale in Mongolia, but the potential for expansion in this area is considerable. 

Capital: The largest city in the country is Ulaanbaatar ("Red Hero"). Over 40% of the total population lives there. It became a city in 2006 with one million inhabitants. It is the economic, political, educational and cultural center of Mongolia. 

Mongolian language: the Mongols speak their own language, Mongolian. It is a language of Altaic origin as Turkish, Japanese and Korean. Mongolian has some regional differences in pronunciation, causing several local dialects. Although the Mongols of Inner Mongolia (China) speak Mongolian, they have a different accent. Kazakhs, the minority group in the country, speak Kazakh. The Cyrillic alphabet has been used since 1940 The youth of today are relearning the traditional Mongolian script Uigurjin which had not been used since 1940 in school. There are some newspapers and magazines that are published in traditional Mongolian script.

Official Name: Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal

Area: 147,181 sq k

Geography: Nepal is a landlocked country located between China, in the North, and India in East, West and South. Highest point Mt. Everest (8,848m) and lowest Kechana (60m above sea level

Capital: Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal. Kathmandu is a valley surrounded by four hills – Fulchowki, Chandragiri, Shivapuri and Nagarjun. Kathmandu valley has three major cities Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Patan. Situated at the altitude of 4,500 feet above sea level, Kathmandu is home to seven UNESCO World Heritage sites. Before the unification of Nepal in the 18th Century, the three cities were independent states ruled by the Malla kings.

Population: 29.3 million (according to the census of 2010

Language: Nepali is the national language. However, people speak Newari, Bhiojpuri, and Maithali among others as their mother tongue. People in the urban areas understand English quite well

Climate: Nepal has four seasons, namely, 1. winter (Dec-Feb), 2. Spring (June-Aug), 4.Autumn (Sep-Nov). Nepal can be visited round the year.

Political system: Multi-party system of Democracy

People\religion: Nepal had more than 105 ethnic groups with diverse culture, traditions and lifestyle. Nepali people can be divided into two distinct groups:Indo-Burman and Mongoloid. Nepal is a secular state with majority of people following Hinduism. However, people practicing Buddhism, Christianity and Islam among others live in a good harmony

Administrative Division: Though Nepal is a federal republic, federal states are yet to be carved. Nepal is divided into five development regions, 14 Zones and 75 Districts

Geographical Division: Geographically, Nepal is divided into Hills, Mountain and Tarai regions.

Entry Procedures:
All foreigners, except the Indians, need to have a valid passport and a visa to enter Nepal. Visas can be availed from Nepali diplomatic missions and consular offices station abroad or upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport and other entry points.

The territory that now constitutes Tajikistan was previously home to several ancient cultures, including the city of Sarazm of the Neolithic and the Bronze Age, and was later home to kingdoms ruled by people of different faiths and cultures, including the Oxus civilization, Andronovo culture, Buddhism, Nestorian Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and Manichaeism. The area has been ruled by numerous empires and dynasties, including the Achaemenid Empire, Hephthalite Empire, Samanid Empire, Mongol Empire, Timurid dynasty, and the Russian Empire. As a result of the break up of the Soviet Union Tajikistan became an independent nation in 1991. A civil war was fought almost immediately after independence that lasted from 1992 to 1997 however since the end of the war, newly established political stability and foreign aid have allowed the country's economy to grow. (Wikipedia)
 

Capital and largest city: Dushanbe (38°33′N 68°48′E)

Official languages: Tajik
Recognised regional languages: Russian

Ethnic groups:
79.9% Tajik
15.3% Uzbek
1.1% Russian
2.6% others

Religion: Islam

Independence from the Soviet Union: 1991

Area: 143,100 km2

Population: 8,208,000

Density: 48.6/km2

This country still unknown still hides many secrets . Many archaeological sites show a very rich history. While the capital Ashgabat seems out of the unreal. Very modern gilded buildings recall the madness of the last Turkmenbashi ( Turkmen Emperor ) .

The territory is almost completely covered with deserts and contains many minerals . It is confined between Uzbekistan , Iran and Afghanistan.

It is now possible to visit the Turkmen historical wonders dating back over 5000 years. Merv is probably the most important site during the Silk Road , but you can also visit the Great Mosque of Anau . It also hides the natural wonders such as hot Bakharden lake and cave Kou -Ata , canyons Yangikal , Gozli -Ata or the beaches of the Caspian Sea.

Area:

Total : 488,100 km2

Climate:
Turkmenistan has an arid desert climate with extreme summer heat and sub-freezing winter temperatures. Turkmenistan enjoys a dry, continental climate, with very hot summers (rarely below 35°C and occasionally up to 50°C in the southeastern regions of the Karakum Desert). Turkmenistan enjoys an average of 250 sunny days annually. In the south of Turkmenistan the climate is also slightly more continental than in the north and temperatures seldom drop below 5°C. Northern areas, near the Uzbek border and Khorezm (Dashoguz), can become very cold in winter with temperatures dropping below -20°C.

The best months for moderate temperatures are April and May for the beautiful blossoming deserts and mountains. September and October are great for an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables, in the autumn harvest season. There is snow in the north, as well as above 1,000m in the mountains in January and February.

Geography :
Turkmenistan is located in the southwest part of Central Asia. In the north and the east it borders on Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, in the south -on Afghanistan and Iran. In the west it is washed by the waters of the Caspian Sea. There are only three types of landscapes there: desert plains, oases and mountains. The most part of the country's territory (about 80 %) is the plain occupied the Kara Kum Desert stretching from west to east for 880 km. (375,000 square kilometers). In the northwest, by the coast of the Caspian Sea there is the Kara Bogaz Gol Gulf located 35 m below the sea level. In the south and southwest are the Kopet Dagh and Paropamisus Mountains. The largest lake is Lake Sarykamysh (saline). The main rivers are the Amu Darya, the Murghab and the Tedzhen.

Natural resources: oil, gas, potash and rock salts, nonferrous and rare earth metals. Climate - sharp continental, very dry. Winters are warm, summers - hot.

Time: UTC + 5 hours (UTC stands for Universal Time Coordinated).

Customs:
Permission from the Ministry of Culture is required to export carpets or other objects of art. Carpets produced before 1975 may not be exported. Export certificates for carpets are issued by the Museum of Carpets, which seals the carpets and issues export certificates, after the appropriate fee has been paid in manat currency (amount depends on the size of carpet).The best place to buy carpets is Tolkuchka Bazaar.

Communication:
Turkmen language belongs to the Turkic group of languages (closely related to Turkish) and has been the official language since 1990. It is therefore now used in all official state and literary matters. The Cyrillic script used during Soviet times has gradually been discontinued, in favor of the Latin alphabet. Turkmen, Russian and English are the most widely known languages.

Official Name: Turkmenistan
Capital: Ashgabat
Population: 5,043,618
Total area: 488,1OO sq. km
Density: 8 people per sq. km
Languages: Turkmen, Russian, English
Government: Single party republic
National currency: Manat
Population: Turkmen 91 %, Ukrainian 3 %, 2% Russians

Kazakhstan is by far the largest of the Central Asian states of the former Soviet Union. It has borders with Russia, China, and the Central Asian countries of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.
Kazakhstan is the world's ninth biggest country by size, and it is more than twice the size of the other Central Asian states combined. Its lack of significant historical sites and endless featureless steppe have put many off Kazakhstan, while many still are captivated by the emptiness and mystery of this Goliath state. It will be many travelers’ first port of call on their Central Asian adventure, and there is much for the intrepid traveler to enjoy. Kazakhstan is the richest country in Central Asia, due to its large oil and natural gas reserves. The country is also the largest landlocked country. (Wikitravel)

Capital: Nur-Sultan (former Astana) (51°10′N 71°25′E) 
The largest city with a population of more than 1.8 million people is Almaty.
Largest city: The largest in terms of population is the city of Almaty. 
And the largest in territory - the city of Shymkent
Official languages: 
Kazakh (national) 
Russian
Ethnic groups:
67,98 % Kazakh
19,32 % Russian
3,21 % Uzbek
1,47 % Ukrainian
1,47 % Uyghur
1,1 % Tatar
1.1% German
4.35% others
Independence from the USSR: 1991
Area: 2 724 902 км²
Population: 18,671,893 
Density: 5.94/km2
Currency: Tenge (₸) (KZT)
Time: zone West / East (UTC+5 / +6)
 

There are about 35 international and regional airports in Kazakhstan. The largest of them: in Nur-Sultan (formerly Astana), in Almaty, in Aktau, in Shymkent, in Karaganda, in Atyrau, in Ust-Kamenogorsk and in Aktyubinsk.
The airports of Nursultan (formerly Astana) and Almaty were one of the first to operate, which, in addition to domestic flights, operates international flights on a regular basis and cooperates with such companies as Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Etihad, Aeroflot, Uzbekistan Airways, Air China, China Southern , WIZZ AIR, BELAVIA, LOT, AtlasGlobal, FlyDubai, S7 Airlines, FinnAir.

In addition to domestic flights, Aktau Airport also operates flights to Moscow - Vnukovo, Baku, Krasnodar, Makhachkala, Istanbul, Tbilisi
Shymkent Airport - to Novosibirsk, Moscow - Vnukovo, Istanbul
Karaganda Airport - to Novosibirsk
Atyrau Airport - to Amsterdam, Istanbul, Frankfurt, Moscow-Sheremetyevo
Karaganda Airport - to Moscow-Zhukovsky, Moscow-Sheremetyevo, Novosibirsk
Ust-Kamenogorsk Airport - to Moscow, Novosibirsk
Aktyubinsk Airport - to Moscow-Sheremetyevo, Antalya, Xinzheng, Baku

Customs controls

Import regulations:
Free import by persons of 18 years and older of:

- 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 200 grams of tobacco products;
- 3 liters of alcoholic beverages or wine;
- a reasonable quantity of perfume for personal use;
- goods up to an amount of EUR 1,500.- for personal use only and weighing less than 50 kilograms.
Should the value or weight allowances be exceeded by residents or foreign nationals, this should be reported to customs and the appropriate forms should be completed. Goods declared on this form must be taken back out of the country on departure by all visitors;
- goods for personal use: clothing, toilet articles, personal jewellery, cameras, portable projection devices, video cameras, limited amount of films and accessories, portable music instruments, portable record players, portable recording and replaying equipment, portable radios, portable TV sets, portable typewriters, portable calculators, portable personal computers, binoculars, perambulators, wheelchairs, sports equipment, portable medical equipment and other goods obviously intended for personal use.

Additional Information on regulations:
Import is permitted if goods are intended for personal use and the use of the goods is not connected with making profit in any form.

A customs declaration, which will be filled out on entry of Kazakhstan, or any other C.I.S. country must be kept carefully. When leaving Kazakhstan or any other C.I.S. country on an international flight, this declaration has to be handed over. When traveling to other C.I.S. countries (except Turkmenistan) there will be no customs control. This will take place when leaving the other C.I.S. country on an international flight.

Food products are allowed to be imported if veterinary and phytosanitary regulations are complied with. Prohibited: Photographs and printed matter directed against Kazakhstan, live animals (subject to special permit), military arms and ammunition, narcotics (opium, hashish, etc.).

Export is permitted if goods are intended for personal use and the use of the goods is not connected with making profit in any form.

Export regulations:
Free export of clothing, toilet articles, personal jewellery, cameras, portable projection devices, video cameras, limited amount of films and accessories, portable music instruments, portable record-players, portable recording and replaying equipment, portable radios, portable TV sets, portable typewriters, portable calculators, portable personal computers, binoculars, perambulators, wheelchairs, sports equipment, portable medical equipment and other goods obviously intended for personal use. PROHIBITED: Arms, ammunition, precious metals, (gold, silver, etc.) and articles made thereof (also if containing precious stones and/or real pearls), antiquities and art objects (subject to duty and special permit from the Ministry of Culture), furs. Carpets and jewellery items are prohibited unless accompanied by a document from the National Museum confirming that the articles are not antique.

Except if such articles belong to the imported personal effects of the passenger (e.g. personal jewellery) and have been declared upon arrival.

Pets:
Cats, dogs and birds (except pigeons) must be accompanied by a veterinarian health certificate with the seal of the local Board of Health and not be issued over ten days prior to arrival. Pets must have been vaccinated against rabies within 12 months and 30 days prior to entry. Pigeons are prohibited from entry. Pets may enter as passenger's checked baggage, in the cabin or as cargo. Generally pets are not permitted in hotels.

Baggage Clearance regulations:
Baggage is cleared at the first airport of entry in Kazakhstan.

Currency
Currency Import regulations:
Local currency (Kazakh Tenge-KZT) and foreign currencies: no restrictions. Amounts exceeding USD 10,000.- or equivalent must be declared.

Currency Export regulations:
Local currency (Kazakh Tenge-KZT) and foreign currencies: no restrictions. Amounts exceeding USD 10,000.- must be declared.

Airport Tax
No airport tax is levied on passengers upon embarkation at the airport.

Consular Services at international airports of Kazakhstan: 

Foreigners can enter/exit the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan using valid electronic visas only through the checkpoints of international airports of Nur-Sultan (former Astana) and Almaty. The electronic visa is issued through the Visa and Migration Portal (