Quick trivia: there are only two countries on Earth you have to cross at least two borders to reach an ocean from. Uzbekistan is one of them. (Comment your guess for the other — no cheating — I'll drop the answer at the end.)Part two of my Central Asia trip: three cities, one solo leg, and history that Western education just doesn't bother teaching. Samarkand, built to impress. Bukhara, built to be holy. Khiva, a walled old town that feels frozen in time.Also in this one:

• The empire of Timur, who conquered more territory than Napoleon and is barely known in the West
• How Uzbek bread is made in a clay tandoor oven
• Reflections on language, guilt, and letting go of how I thought this chapter of my life was supposed to go

If you haven't watched part one, Kyrgyzstan and the World Nomad Games are here: • I Went Back to Central Asia for the World ... —#Uzbekistan #Samarkand #Bukhara #Khiva #SilkRoad #CentralAsia #TravelVlog #Timur #UzbekBreadHang out with me: Food: @tastytrailstravelpod / tastytrailstravelpod Life in Korea: @wherewefindhome / wherewefindhome Identity & Belonging: https://substack.com/@wherewefindhome✨ Coming up next:More food & culture stories from around the worldIf you enjoy travel that’s centered around food, culture, and real experiences, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you don’t miss what’s next

There's an Olympics you've probably never heard of — held every two years, made up entirely of centuries-old nomadic sports, and closed out by a goat carcass sport played on horseback. I went, and it was an EXPERIENCE! This is Kyrgyzstan — 90% mountains, home to the World Nomad Games, and the first stop of a longer Central Asia trip. I used to live next door in Kazakhstan so it was a lot of feels too! Inside this video: a chaotic 12-hour opening ceremony, a 3-day horse trek up to 3,200m at Song Kul Lake, and kokpar — the sport where two teams on horseback fight over a headless goat carcass to score. If you've ever wondered what a country where the nomadic rhythm still shapes daily life more than borders do — this one's for you.Hang out with me: Food: @tastytrailstravelpod / tastytrailstravelpod Life in Korea: @wherewefindhome / wherewefindhome Identity & Belonging: https://substack.com/@wherewefindhomeVideos mentioned:

• My first month Living in Kazakhstan: • My First Month Living in Kazakhstan 🇰🇿 | L...
• Leaving Kazakhstan: • #2 I'm Going to Korea. Here's What Finally...

✨ Coming up next:Uzbekistan and more Korea!

Part two of this Tasty Trails Travel Pod x Finding Korea crossover with Irene Yoo — chef, author, and Orion Bar co-owner — picks up where the drink itself left off and gets into everything that happens around it.We talk pouring order and who's allowed to pour for who, why saying no to a drink isn't really an option in most settings, and the corporate drinking culture that runs underneath a lot of it — including one story about a company that used to calculate Christmas bonuses by how many bottles of soju you could drink. We also get into gender and soju marketing, and a few myths Irene wants to put to rest for good.Missed part 1? Go back for the flavor and history side of soju first — this one hits different with the context.Part 1: https://youtu.be/6HMVnoxcs08🍶 Irene Yoo is the author of *Soju Party: How to Drink (and Eat) Like a Korean* 📍 Find her at Orion Bar in Brooklyn 📷 @yooeating Hang out with me: Food: @tastytrailstravelpod Life in Korea: @wherewefindhome Identity & Belonging: https://substack.com/@wherewefindhome✨ Coming up next:More food & culture stories from around the worldIf you enjoy travel that’s centered around food, culture, and real experiences, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you don’t miss what’s next.✨ If you know an adoptee who might resonate with this, pass it along! We want to make sure nobody feels alone