2026 Central Asia (Silk Road II)

2026 Central Asia (Silk Road II)
Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan from 18 May to 5 June

Map of Day 1 to 8.  

I will be updating as I walk through the places ya....

D01 (18 May) KLIA.T2 @13:50 > Tashkent airport @18:15 (7h:40m)
1st night at Tashkent Ravel hotel

D02 (19 May) Tashkent Islam Karimov @10:50 > Bishkek Manas @13:10 (1h:20m)
2nd night at Bishkek

D03 (20 May) Bishkek > Issyk Ata waterfall > Chon Kemin
https://central-asia.guide/kyrgyzstan/destinations-kg/bishkek/issyk-ata/
https://central-asia.guide/kyrgyzstan/destinations-kg/bishkek/chon-kemin/
3rd night at Chon Kemin

D04 (21 May) Chon Kemin > Cholpon Ata
https://central-asia.guide/kyrgyzstan/destinations-kg/issyk-kul/cholpon-ata/
4th night at Cholpon Ata

D05 (22 May) Cholpon Ata > Karakol
https://central-asia.guide/kyrgyzstan/destinations-kg/issyk-kul/karakol/
5th night at Karakol

D06 (23 May) Karakol > Jeti Oguz > Karakol
https://central-asia.guide/kyrgyzstan/destinations-kg/issyk-kul/jeti-oguz/
6th night at Karakol

D07 (24 May) Karakol > Altyn Arashan
https://central-asia.guide/kyrgyzstan/destinations-kg/issyk-kul/altyn-arashan/
7th night at Altyn Arashan

D08 (25 May) Altyn Arashan 4x4 > Jyrgalan Village
https://central-asia.guide/kyrgyzstan/destinations-kg/issyk-kul/jyrgalan-valley/ 8th night at Jyragalan guesthouse 

Map of  Day 9 to 20

D09 (26 May) Jyrgalan > Barskoon waterfall (overnight at Nomadix Yu
https://central-asia.guide/kyrgyzstan/destinations-kg/issyk-kul/barskoon-valley/
9th night at Barskoon waterfall

D10 (27 May) Barskoon waterfall > Tosor > Tong
https://www.backpackadventures.org/tosor-kyrgyzstan/
https://mindtrip.ai/location/tong-kyrgyzstan/tong/lo-7ZucijOS
10th night at Tong

D11 (28 May) Tong > Bishkek
https://central-asia.guide/kyrgyzstan/destinations-kg/bishkek/
11th night at Bishkek

D12 (29 May) Bishkek Manas @14:15 > Tashkent Islam Karimov @14:35 (1h:20m)
12th night take Tashkent night train to Bukhara

D13 (30 May) Bukhara
https://tourcentralasia.com/uzbekistan/bukhara/bukhara-travel-guide/
13th night at Bukhara

D14 (31 May) Bukhara
https://central-asia.guide/uzbekistan/destinations-uz/bukhara/
14th night at Bukhara

D15 (01 Jun) Bukhara > Samarkand
https://central-asia.guide/uzbekistan/destinations-uz/bukhara/
15th night at Samarkand

D16 (02 Jun) Samarkand
https://tourcentralasia.com/uzbekistan/samarkand-travel-guide/
16th night at Samarkand

D17 (03 Jun) Samarkand > Tashkent
https://tourcentralasia.com/uzbekistan/samarkand-travel-guide/
17th night at Tashkent

D18 (04 Jun) Tashkent
https://central-asia.guide/uzbekistan/destinations-uz/tashkent/
18th night at Tashkent

D19 (05 Jun) Tashkent @23.50 > KLIA.T2 @ 

D20 (06 Jun) @ KLIA.T2 @  

///

1989 > My Durian Orchard in Maxwell Hill, Taiping🌳🌳

In 1989, Ching NB and his friend, Yew TL, bought a 16-acre durian orchard on Maxwell Hill, Taiping — not for business, but so they would never run out of durians to eat! 😄 It was also a weekend adventure, indulging their interest in farming.

The orchard offered a breathtaking scenic view over Taiping, as it is situated halfway up Maxwell Hill. To reach it, we would ride our scrambler bikes along the 3 km dirt track from the tar road near the Cantonese cemetery on Jalan Tupai — a journey as exciting as the orchard itself! 


An old hut standing guard over the durian orchard, a timeless view.

An old hut standing guard over the durian orchard, a timeless view.

Durian orchard view 🌳🌳

 

Durian orchard view 🌳🌳

Durian orchard view + Nutmeg trees🌳🌳


Durian orchard view + Nutmeg trees with fruits🌳🌳


A crystal-clear mountain stream meandering through the durian orchard.


Rows and rows of durian trees 🌳🌳 — paradise for durian lovers! 😄


Rows and rows of durian trees 🌳🌳 — paradise for durian lovers! 😄

Rows and rows of durian trees 🌳🌳 — paradise for durian lovers! 😄

The new hut in the orchard, we call it the chalet.

The new hut living area in the orchard. 


The new hut toilet area in the orchard.


The new hut 24 hours running water in the orchard.


The chalet in the durian orchard.

A sea of durian trees 🌳🌳in the orchard.

A sea of durian trees 🌳🌳in the orchard.


A sea of durian trees 🌳🌳in the orchard.

A sea of durian trees 🌳🌳in the orchard.

A sea of durian trees 🌳🌳in the orchard.

A sea of durian trees 🌳🌳

Behind the durian orchard lies the reserved forest.


The road that cuts through the durian orchard.


The road that cuts through the durian orchard.

A sea of D24 durian trees 🌳🌳

Yew Thean Lye at the middle hut.

Ching Neng Bin at the middle hut.

Ching Neng Bin at the middle hut.


Scenic view of the neighbouring hill with Taiping town visible in the distance.


Scenic view of the Taiping town below.


Scenic view of the Taiping town below.

Another view of the old hut below.

The caretaker has just arrived at the orchard on his bike.


The new hut is home to some adorable puppies, all under the caretaker’s watchful eye! 😄🐾

Puppies at the orchard hut 🐶 cared for by our caretaker 🌳

Puppies at the orchard hut 🐶 cared for by our caretaker 🌳

Puppies at the orchard hut 🐶 cared for by our caretaker 🌳

Ching Neng Bin holding on to one of the puppies.

Our dedicated husband-and-wife team taking care of the durian orchard. 🌳❤️

Our dedicated husband-and-wife team taking care of the durian orchard. 🌳❤️

 

There’s even a small fish pond beside the new hut, or chalet.

 

Fish pond beside the orchard chalet 🐟🏡

 

Fish pond beside the orchard chalet 🐟🏡

 

A charming little fish pond sits beside the new hut, our orchard chalet.

There’s even a small fish pond beside the new hut, or chalet.

Fish pond beside the orchard chalet 🐟🏡

A 16-acre freehold durian orchard in Maxwell Hill, Taiping is actually a very valuable and rare asset.


A big Jambu Air tree, full of fruits.


Some wild orchids in the durian orchard.

Some wild orchids in the durian orchard.

A king in the making — a big durian waiting for its grand fall! 👑


The two large durians Ching brought back to Sitiawan for his parents to enjoy.


My son Jin Wei happily posing with the prized durian from Taiping.


Ching’s mother is so happy to taste this durian from Taiping.

Taiping durians — simply the best! 😋

 

 

The 16-acre durian orchard is covered by 3 freehold titles.

 

 

Lot No.157 

 

 

Lot No.158  

 

 

Lot No.1508

In conclusion, the 16-acre durian orchard on Maxwell Hill was never just land or trees. It was youth, friendship, adventure, and the simple happiness of sharing durians with the people we love. It was the roar of scrambler bikes on dirt roads, the quiet flow of the mountain stream, the laughter at the chalet, and the pride of bringing the best fruits home to our parents. Time may pass, but those memories remain deeply rooted — just like the durian trees we planted. 🌳

/// ///