Capital: Bishkek | Language: Kyrgyz, Russian | Currency: Som | Religion: Islam, Russian Orthodox | Population: 6 million

What can I say about traveling in Kyrgyzstan? …Riding in alpine meadows to a yurt camp on the shores of an icy mountain lake. Selfies with a Lenin statue. Wandering in crowded bazaars. Sharing a ride in a battered old car with a majestic eagle. Finding a comfortable bed at a homestay after a long day’s travel, and hiking in peaceful forests.