Hey!
Thanks for coming back to The Blog. For this week’s post, I’ll be showcasing another way in which I conduct research before travelling to a new place.
Aside from watching videos, I like to read blogs about the country to get even more detail and insider perspectives on new places. I find that within blogs, I can get a comprehensive list of attractions, do’s and don’ts, and a glimpse at individual perspectives on the country. It is within blog posts that I find the most hidden or niche information, such as specific restaurants to try, or what to pack for certain activities, or the logistic of travel within the country (ie. checkpoints, potential bribes and boarder crossings, etc). Alternatively, blogs are great for simply providing practical information and laying them out in a written format that is easy to understand. For example, they often contain information about the cost of travel within the country, or they discuss the language and cultural differences to be aware of prior to travel. This blog is about Uzbekistan is an excellent example of this kind of resource where this information is listed clearly and concisely, making the task of researching a lighter load!
Other than blogs, I really enjoy using Lonely Planet as a researching resource. I use both the online version or, if I’m feeling nostalgic and want some eye-candy for the coffee table, I splurge and buy the book. This, however, I only do for big big trips where there’s TONS of research to be done. In my head, this makes the cost of a tangible book worth it (haha). For example, a three month trip across Central Africa might warrant this purchase, and possibly an extended trip to Uzbekistan, too! I really like to check out the local Indigo store for these books. Lonely Planet makes them on all sorts of destinations and my store has quite an extensive collection to choose from.
The last form of general research I recommend when planning travel is to talk to someone who has actually been there! While this won’t be possible for all destinations, this truly is the best way to get first-hand knowledge of what the country is like. If you know the person well, then you might value their input more as they know you and your interests and vice versa. You can also ask around to people in Facebook groups to gain deeper insight and recommendations, if you don’t know anyone personally who has been to where you’re headed. There is likely a Facebook group for Uzbekistan travel, but if there wasn’t, you could also search for information on the greater region, such as Central Asia. This could give you a general idea of what it’s like in that part of the world regarding cultural norms, cost of travel, weather, government stability, etc.
Stay tuned next week for more content on the incredible Uzbekistan!
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