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Central Asia Tours tours
Our Central Asia tours are run in accordance with YPT’s branding and ethos: a competitive price, expert guides, and most importantly an adventure that will stick with you for life. Every tour is accompanied by an experienced western YPT guide and to encourage friendships and good times we cap our tour groups at a maximum of 24 people.
Once our Central Asia Group Tours hit 25, we divide our tours into 2 different groups with their own vehicle, local guides and western YPT guides. Group sizes are usually around 10 - 12 people. As we like to say, “we do group tours for people who hate group tours”.
Young Pioneer Tours have been running group tours to Central Asia for over 10 years now and consider ourselves experts in the field. Don't take a risk with your Central Asia Tour, book with the experts.
Independent Tours
If our scheduled Central Asian group tours don’t match your travel dates or interests, we can create your very own private tour. Our independent tours are suitable for all solo travelers, couples, friends, families and travel groups. During your private tour you will be accompanied by local guides (several languages are available), and you will have your own driver and air conditioned vehicle. YPT provides full visa support.
related blogs
7 Unusual Yet Beautiful Things to Observe in Ukraine...
01 June 2018
Gareth Johnson
Despite all the recent disputes between Ukraine and Russia along with other political issues Ukraine has been able to overcome all of it Ukraine recently has been able to attract a lot of tourists from all over the worldAccording to the report there were over 14 million tourists visiting Ukraine in 2018 and the tourism industry is getting better every yearImage Source WikipediaThere are plenty of things that you can do in Ukraine which are quite common and filled with fun You can easily book American airlines tickets and fly to Ukraine without any issues Many guides can help you explore Ukraine but they may miss out on unusual things that you need to see in Ukraine7 Odd Things in Ukraine that You Must ObserveAfter landing on Ukraine airport you might want to rest in a hotel and do all common and usual things when you visit a new place like roaming around the city area trying local foods and so on Once you finish walking around the city you should make some time out of the schedule to observe things that Im about to list here1nbspnbsp Do not miss out ChernobylThe first unusual area that you must visit is Chernobyl It takes around 2 hours of ride from Ukraine capital to reach Chernobyl area However one cannot access this area freely because of the nuclear power accident in this placeWith that said the organized visit to this place is still possible The guides will offer all the safety precautions that you need to take to observe the contaminated areas of this place At very first look you might be scared of the scenario as it is horrific The damage scale is massive and it is quite horrifying to see the enormous damage that a human blunder can cause in this EarthThis incident has inspired great virtual reality episodes computer games along with Transformers Dark of the moon It is not going to be a pleasant experience for those who do not want to observe mass destruction so keep this in your mind before visiting this placeImage Source ABC News2 Be amazed by the view of degustation of holodetsYou will be surprised and some of you might even feel unpleasant to observe holodets which is a unique Ukranian aspics This thing includes a frozen broth in combination with pieces of meat inside of itThe cooking style of the dish not only feel bad to watch but also to read At first you need to boil pork legs and then add more chopped meats in it After that there is a waiting phase of around 67 hours before it is ready to consumeRight after you observe Ukrainian people consuming it with delight and the kind of festivals Ukrainians observe you will be amazed right at the moment The food habits of Ukranian with every festival is like out of the world as this one But there is a good chance that you might find this food tasty despite feeling unpleasant to look at this dishImage Source YouTube3 Explore abandoned observatoryBialy Slon is an abandoned observatory that you need to visit and it is also Ukraines highest mountain construction In the winter season you cannot see any of it and for that reason we also call it white elephant The only thing we can see in the winter season is snow and it looks exactly like an animationThis observatory is not in operation and it has already been over 70 years since its closure However we can see old pieces of furniture and pieces of equipment inside of it With that said it is quite a challenge to reach it as it lies in Pip Ivan Mountain and is in the height of 2028 meters and ie 6653 ftImage Source Wikidata4 Roam around Lviv a historical cityLviv is a historic city that is fun to explore UNESCO has listed Lviv one of the seven World Heritage Sites Here is an image of this cityImage Source leo expressYou can observe the stunning museum and magnificent Cathedrals in this city You will be traveling through narrow cobblestone streets and there are also plenty of small and cozy restaurants in this area where you can relax and enjoy a variety of delicious mealsThere are shops in this area where you can find lovely souvenirs that you can take with you to your friends and family The charming atmosphere unique city structure and friendly residents will make you fall in love with this cityRelax enjoy delicious meals take a walk and observe historical sites in Lviv city5 Chernivtsi for observing Hogwarts in realityDo you want to see a palace that is very similar to Hogwarts If yes Chernivtsi is the right place for you to step in It is like a dream come true for Harry Potter fans once they visit this place and observe the palaceDalmatian and Bukovinian metropolitans used to live in this castle but now people have transformed it into the University of Chernivtsi It is the top university of Ukraine at the momentIt is also the UNESCO World Heritage Objects So imagine how it would feel like to research and study in this universityThere is a sizeable calm park around it where you can walk around and enjoy the sound of the birdsImage Source Wikipedia6 Kherson Oblast for checking out oldest European nature reserves and exotic speciesAskaniaNova is another historical site in Ukraine that makes it to the UNESCO listing It is also among the largest and the oldest European natural reserves This natural reserve is perfect for nature lovers to explore and the one who established it was also a lover of nature and his name is Friedrich FalzFeinFriedrich gave up even his belongings to create this reserve He traveled different parts of the world and bought many exotic plant and animal species in this area and made the environment favorable for those plants and animalsThere are over 430 species of plants and animals in this site Some of the species that you can find here are not even found in their native placeImage Source Wikimedia Commons7 Rivine RegionRivine Region also known a the Tunnel of Love is one of the most attractive destinations of Ukraine It is only around 2 miles away from a railway stretch and we can see trees surrounding this placeIt is an excellent destination for couples as the name sounds The time when you may want to visit depend entirely on your interests For instance there is a season for green trees whitesnow covered branches bright and colorful foliage in this placeImage Source Kyiv PostOver to YouYou will maximize your memory and fun in travel if you do not miss out on significant activities that you must do in a new city Often it can be stressful to plan everything on your own that is why it is better to get a travel guide with youWith that said reading articles like this and getting information on what to do will certainly help you get the most out of your travel plansBy visiting the places that Ive mentioned in this article you will add seven exciting and unusual things from Ukraine not only in your photo album or Instagram albums but also in your mind Moreover you have plenty of things to share from your memoryWould you want to add more unusual places to this list Feel free to share your ideas and experiences with our readers by commenting below
1940 Summer Olympics The Games That Never Happened...
22 July 2021
Dominic Perry
So its that time of year Again Should have happened last year but with a certain disease going around royally screwing up everyones travel plans things got delayed And hell theyre saying the Olympics could be delayed again Nightmare But anyway I think theres a peculiar omen to this since there was another cancelled Olympics It was even to be held in Japan It too was delayed due to some truly unfortunate global events and if you know your basic history I think you might guess what delayed the 1940 Summer Olympics1936 Berlin Olympics1936 Olympics relayBefore we get into the 1940 Summer Olympics lets address what came before It was after all another Olympic games held in a fascist country though this was before that pesky world war went and made friendly international sporting events difficult What probably didnt help is that the vote was made in advance in 1931 as a matter of fact The runnerup was Spain which had declared the victory of its fascist forces not long before the vote was held So Really voting to hold it in Germany was the antifascist option How ironic Even funnier this too was a delayed Olympics The German Empire had been selected to host the 1916 Summer Olympics and a completely different world war ruled that outFor all the skincrawling evil of the Nazis they had emerged on the cusp of new technological progress that allowed them to revolutionise aspects of the games For one TV was becoming increasingly available in Germany and as such the 1936 Olympics was the first to be broadcast live Only in Germany though international broadcasts were still quite a way off The Nazis also pushed their grandiose propaganda and began the first torch relay a tradition that continues today and would have been attempted at the 1940 Summer Olympics With a massive feature film made of the event as well it proved to be a startlingly effective piece of propagandaHosting the Olympics was a sign of legitimacy While the Nazi regime was under major international pressure for its insatiable landgrabs ripping up of agreements and torture of its own citizens being able to show off its might and showmanship for a major international event was a way to boost their esteem and gain legitimacy The USSR traditionally didnt attend the games anyway and most western countries elected not to boycott giving tacit approval and recognition in the process On the whole it was a propaganda win so naturally you can see why a country suffering image problems would want to host the 1940 Summer Olympics1940 Summer OlympicsPoster for the 1940 Summer OlympicsWith the Nazis image problem in mind we should consider that during the 1930s Japan began to establish itself as an imperialist power most notably through its invasion and occupation of Manchuria It began to face international isolation and heavy protest something it wasnt quite equipped to handle alone For these reasons Japan launched a campaign to have the games held in Tokyo Miraculously they actually won this bid becoming the first nonwestern country planned to host the Olympics Very quickly though things were cast into serious doubt for the 1940 Summer OlympicsThe Japanese military was a pretty autonomous force in a lot of ways and they could not care less about international diplomacy In 1937 the second Sino Japanese war broke out causing enormous carnage and death While many western countries were willing to overlook the Nazis brutalising their own people an active imperialist power was a bit harder to swallow at a time when gaining new colonies was frowned upon but sitting on the ones you already had was fine Japans Olympic organisers scrambled to save the 1940 Summer Olympics but in 1938 it became clear that neither the international community nor the Japanese military really wanted it so it was reluctantly conceded to a different countryThat country was Finland And ah shit Finland got invaded by the Soviet Union in November 1939 Plus war had broken out in the rest of Europe just a few months prior So yeah that plan got cancelled too at which point Olympic organisers probably decided the year was haunted and just cancelled the 1940 Summer Olympics to wait until 1944 Well With one possible exception You see travelling between different countries at this time was pretty difficult But there was one big way to get physically fit men from many nations to gather in one place In POW campsThe POW OlympicsLiberation of Stalag XIIIAIt should be noted that a POW camp is often a very different thing to a concentration camp At least for some Those from the east colonies and of course those of Jewish descent would be treated much more harshly or simply deported to concentration camps instead This camp was rough but it was at least possible to survive and have a teeny bit of fun in Stalag XIIIA the particular camp this games occurred in Reportedly the prisoners included men from Belgium France the UK Norway Poland Russia and Yugoslavia The games were reportedly held in absolute secrecy for fears of reprisal and only a few artefacts survived to be moved to museums many years laterThe event became pretty well known in Poland and even spawned a 1980 drama film depiction which was submitted for the Academy Awards It wasnt accepted but hey who gives a damn what the Oscars think Its a neat historical artifact and surely represents the spirit of the Olympics quite nicely Even if the Germans were being such arseholes they couldnt be involved in the 1940 Summer Olympics So not quite as good as the WW1 Christmas truce kickabout but still pretty good This however would not prove to be the only incident of Olympics in the midst of war but well get to that soon1944 Summer OlympicsThe flag from the 1944 POW OlympicsWith the story of the 1940 Summer Olympics covered lets consider a concerning question What about the next Olympics It was after all also in some of the darkest days of WW2 Japan sure as hell wasnt getting another shot and most of Europe was a vicious battleground between the Soviets Nazis and a few assorted allies and resistance groups Despite that there had been plans to arrange something finally opting for a location a bit less fascist Well unless you were Indian I supposeThats right the 1944 Summer Olympics was to be held in the UK The bid had been won in June of 1939 so to be fair there was no cataclysmic European war yet to throw things into uncertainty That was just three months away As Britain entered the war and most European countries fell to occupation it became almost immediately obvious that this would be no different to the 1940 Summer Olympics Reluctantly it was cancelled and the only official acknowledgement was a small ceremony in the Olympics headquarters in neutral Switzerland Quite a lucky place to host your headquarters at that time it has to be saidLondon would get its time in the spotlight ahead of Japan and Finland in 1948 but there was at least one sporting event in 1944 to keep the tradition going When the Nazis occupied Poland some higher ranking officers were treated with more dignity in POW camps 500 officers were forced to build their own prison camp from 1939 to 1942 which ended up being a small town of 7000 people with some fairly decent facilities In this unique situation the Nazis were a little less Nazilike and when it was suggested in 1944 that a camp Olympics be played to pay tribute to the sport the fascists surprisingly agreedOr perhaps not so surprisingly By the summer of 1944 the war was becoming pretty obviously hopeless Many not engaged in hopeless struggle on the front were keen to set themselves up nicely for a postwar scenario and many suggest that the Nazis allowed the POW Olympics to go ahead so that itd look good if they ever went to trial The same cynical reasons for the 1940 Summer Olympics and the 1936 Olympics before that Its all about optics But anyway the camp really went all out even printing posters and commemorative stamps for the eventOn the 23rd of July the POW Olympics was held With only Polish POWs it wasnt exactly the grand expression of international sporting some may expect from the Olympics but it was still a grand effort 369 prisoners participated in 464 competitions with a few dangerous sports like archery fencing and pole vault not approved by the guards The winners got some medals made of Paper I guess the war effort demanded bronze silver and gold Despite all this seemingly lovely solidarity the oncoming Red Army saw the Nazis transform into their usual selves sending the POWs on a death march that left only an estimated 300 prisoners aliveConclusionThe 1940 Summer Olympics maybe puts things in perspective somewhat Japan seriously cant catch a break on its Olympic dreams and with the upcoming Olympics mired in controversy and set amidst a backdrop of global pandemic with many cases its entirely possible itll be cancelled again Though at least this time theyll probably not just give up and hand it over to Finland instead You may also wonder understandably what any of this has to do with YPT Well its certainly not the first time weve discussed the OlympicsNot to mention were a travel company Our whole shtick is organising unique events that gather people around the world to exotic interesting destinations Weve certainly had our share of sportrelated tours and well so Im feeling a certain sympathy for their plight Lets hope for safety Hopefully this wont turn out like the 1940 Olympics And maybe we can take it as a good omen for travel and tourism as a whole going forward Might as well right
5 Monuments around the world that were built by Nort...
13 February 2020
Troy Collings
North Korea is not a country with a considerable variety of exports nor does it lead the world in ma...
7 Unusual Yet Beautiful T...
01 June 2018
Gareth Johnson
Despite all the recent disputes between Ukraine and Russia along with other political issues Ukraine has been able to overcome all of it Ukraine recently has been able to attract a lot of tourists from all over the worldAccording to the report there were over 14 million tourists visiting Ukraine in 2018 and the tourism industry is getting better every yearImage Source WikipediaThere are plenty of things that you can do in Ukraine which are quite common and filled with fun You can easily book American airlines tickets and fly to Ukraine without any issues Many guides can help you explore Ukraine but they may miss out on unusual things that you need to see in Ukraine7 Odd Things in Ukraine that You Must ObserveAfter landing on Ukraine airport you might want to rest in a hotel and do all common and usual things when you visit a new place like roaming around the city area trying local foods and so on Once you finish walking around the city you should make some time out of the schedule to observe things that Im about to list here1nbspnbsp Do not miss out ChernobylThe first unusual area that you must visit is Chernobyl It takes around 2 hours of ride from Ukraine capital to reach Chernobyl area However one cannot access this area freely because of the nuclear power accident in this placeWith that said the organized visit to this place is still possible The guides will offer all the safety precautions that you need to take to observe the contaminated areas of this place At very first look you might be scared of the scenario as it is horrific The damage scale is massive and it is quite horrifying to see the enormous damage that a human blunder can cause in this EarthThis incident has inspired great virtual reality episodes computer games along with Transformers Dark of the moon It is not going to be a pleasant experience for those who do not want to observe mass destruction so keep this in your mind before visiting this placeImage Source ABC News2 Be amazed by the view of degustation of holodetsYou will be surprised and some of you might even feel unpleasant to observe holodets which is a unique Ukranian aspics This thing includes a frozen broth in combination with pieces of meat inside of itThe cooking style of the dish not only feel bad to watch but also to read At first you need to boil pork legs and then add more chopped meats in it After that there is a waiting phase of around 67 hours before it is ready to consumeRight after you observe Ukrainian people consuming it with delight and the kind of festivals Ukrainians observe you will be amazed right at the moment The food habits of Ukranian with every festival is like out of the world as this one But there is a good chance that you might find this food tasty despite feeling unpleasant to look at this dishImage Source YouTube3 Explore abandoned observatoryBialy Slon is an abandoned observatory that you need to visit and it is also Ukraines highest mountain construction In the winter season you cannot see any of it and for that reason we also call it white elephant The only thing we can see in the winter season is snow and it looks exactly like an animationThis observatory is not in operation and it has already been over 70 years since its closure However we can see old pieces of furniture and pieces of equipment inside of it With that said it is quite a challenge to reach it as it lies in Pip Ivan Mountain and is in the height of 2028 meters and ie 6653 ftImage Source Wikidata4 Roam around Lviv a historical cityLviv is a historic city that is fun to explore UNESCO has listed Lviv one of the seven World Heritage Sites Here is an image of this cityImage Source leo expressYou can observe the stunning museum and magnificent Cathedrals in this city You will be traveling through narrow cobblestone streets and there are also plenty of small and cozy restaurants in this area where you can relax and enjoy a variety of delicious mealsThere are shops in this area where you can find lovely souvenirs that you can take with you to your friends and family The charming atmosphere unique city structure and friendly residents will make you fall in love with this cityRelax enjoy delicious meals take a walk and observe historical sites in Lviv city5 Chernivtsi for observing Hogwarts in realityDo you want to see a palace that is very similar to Hogwarts If yes Chernivtsi is the right place for you to step in It is like a dream come true for Harry Potter fans once they visit this place and observe the palaceDalmatian and Bukovinian metropolitans used to live in this castle but now people have transformed it into the University of Chernivtsi It is the top university of Ukraine at the momentIt is also the UNESCO World Heritage Objects So imagine how it would feel like to research and study in this universityThere is a sizeable calm park around it where you can walk around and enjoy the sound of the birdsImage Source Wikipedia6 Kherson Oblast for checking out oldest European nature reserves and exotic speciesAskaniaNova is another historical site in Ukraine that makes it to the UNESCO listing It is also among the largest and the oldest European natural reserves This natural reserve is perfect for nature lovers to explore and the one who established it was also a lover of nature and his name is Friedrich FalzFeinFriedrich gave up even his belongings to create this reserve He traveled different parts of the world and bought many exotic plant and animal species in this area and made the environment favorable for those plants and animalsThere are over 430 species of plants and animals in this site Some of the species that you can find here are not even found in their native placeImage Source Wikimedia Commons7 Rivine RegionRivine Region also known a the Tunnel of Love is one of the most attractive destinations of Ukraine It is only around 2 miles away from a railway stretch and we can see trees surrounding this placeIt is an excellent destination for couples as the name sounds The time when you may want to visit depend entirely on your interests For instance there is a season for green trees whitesnow covered branches bright and colorful foliage in this placeImage Source Kyiv PostOver to YouYou will maximize your memory and fun in travel if you do not miss out on significant activities that you must do in a new city Often it can be stressful to plan everything on your own that is why it is better to get a travel guide with youWith that said reading articles like this and getting information on what to do will certainly help you get the most out of your travel plansBy visiting the places that Ive mentioned in this article you will add seven exciting and unusual things from Ukraine not only in your photo album or Instagram albums but also in your mind Moreover you have plenty of things to share from your memoryWould you want to add more unusual places to this list Feel free to share your ideas and experiences with our readers by commenting below
Read More
1940 Summer Olympics The ...
22 July 2021
Dominic Perry
So its that time of year Again Should have happened last year but with a certain disease going around royally screwing up everyones travel plans things got delayed And hell theyre saying the Olympics could be delayed again Nightmare But anyway I think theres a peculiar omen to this since there was another cancelled Olympics It was even to be held in Japan It too was delayed due to some truly unfortunate global events and if you know your basic history I think you might guess what delayed the 1940 Summer Olympics1936 Berlin Olympics1936 Olympics relayBefore we get into the 1940 Summer Olympics lets address what came before It was after all another Olympic games held in a fascist country though this was before that pesky world war went and made friendly international sporting events difficult What probably didnt help is that the vote was made in advance in 1931 as a matter of fact The runnerup was Spain which had declared the victory of its fascist forces not long before the vote was held So Really voting to hold it in Germany was the antifascist option How ironic Even funnier this too was a delayed Olympics The German Empire had been selected to host the 1916 Summer Olympics and a completely different world war ruled that outFor all the skincrawling evil of the Nazis they had emerged on the cusp of new technological progress that allowed them to revolutionise aspects of the games For one TV was becoming increasingly available in Germany and as such the 1936 Olympics was the first to be broadcast live Only in Germany though international broadcasts were still quite a way off The Nazis also pushed their grandiose propaganda and began the first torch relay a tradition that continues today and would have been attempted at the 1940 Summer Olympics With a massive feature film made of the event as well it proved to be a startlingly effective piece of propagandaHosting the Olympics was a sign of legitimacy While the Nazi regime was under major international pressure for its insatiable landgrabs ripping up of agreements and torture of its own citizens being able to show off its might and showmanship for a major international event was a way to boost their esteem and gain legitimacy The USSR traditionally didnt attend the games anyway and most western countries elected not to boycott giving tacit approval and recognition in the process On the whole it was a propaganda win so naturally you can see why a country suffering image problems would want to host the 1940 Summer Olympics1940 Summer OlympicsPoster for the 1940 Summer OlympicsWith the Nazis image problem in mind we should consider that during the 1930s Japan began to establish itself as an imperialist power most notably through its invasion and occupation of Manchuria It began to face international isolation and heavy protest something it wasnt quite equipped to handle alone For these reasons Japan launched a campaign to have the games held in Tokyo Miraculously they actually won this bid becoming the first nonwestern country planned to host the Olympics Very quickly though things were cast into serious doubt for the 1940 Summer OlympicsThe Japanese military was a pretty autonomous force in a lot of ways and they could not care less about international diplomacy In 1937 the second Sino Japanese war broke out causing enormous carnage and death While many western countries were willing to overlook the Nazis brutalising their own people an active imperialist power was a bit harder to swallow at a time when gaining new colonies was frowned upon but sitting on the ones you already had was fine Japans Olympic organisers scrambled to save the 1940 Summer Olympics but in 1938 it became clear that neither the international community nor the Japanese military really wanted it so it was reluctantly conceded to a different countryThat country was Finland And ah shit Finland got invaded by the Soviet Union in November 1939 Plus war had broken out in the rest of Europe just a few months prior So yeah that plan got cancelled too at which point Olympic organisers probably decided the year was haunted and just cancelled the 1940 Summer Olympics to wait until 1944 Well With one possible exception You see travelling between different countries at this time was pretty difficult But there was one big way to get physically fit men from many nations to gather in one place In POW campsThe POW OlympicsLiberation of Stalag XIIIAIt should be noted that a POW camp is often a very different thing to a concentration camp At least for some Those from the east colonies and of course those of Jewish descent would be treated much more harshly or simply deported to concentration camps instead This camp was rough but it was at least possible to survive and have a teeny bit of fun in Stalag XIIIA the particular camp this games occurred in Reportedly the prisoners included men from Belgium France the UK Norway Poland Russia and Yugoslavia The games were reportedly held in absolute secrecy for fears of reprisal and only a few artefacts survived to be moved to museums many years laterThe event became pretty well known in Poland and even spawned a 1980 drama film depiction which was submitted for the Academy Awards It wasnt accepted but hey who gives a damn what the Oscars think Its a neat historical artifact and surely represents the spirit of the Olympics quite nicely Even if the Germans were being such arseholes they couldnt be involved in the 1940 Summer Olympics So not quite as good as the WW1 Christmas truce kickabout but still pretty good This however would not prove to be the only incident of Olympics in the midst of war but well get to that soon1944 Summer OlympicsThe flag from the 1944 POW OlympicsWith the story of the 1940 Summer Olympics covered lets consider a concerning question What about the next Olympics It was after all also in some of the darkest days of WW2 Japan sure as hell wasnt getting another shot and most of Europe was a vicious battleground between the Soviets Nazis and a few assorted allies and resistance groups Despite that there had been plans to arrange something finally opting for a location a bit less fascist Well unless you were Indian I supposeThats right the 1944 Summer Olympics was to be held in the UK The bid had been won in June of 1939 so to be fair there was no cataclysmic European war yet to throw things into uncertainty That was just three months away As Britain entered the war and most European countries fell to occupation it became almost immediately obvious that this would be no different to the 1940 Summer Olympics Reluctantly it was cancelled and the only official acknowledgement was a small ceremony in the Olympics headquarters in neutral Switzerland Quite a lucky place to host your headquarters at that time it has to be saidLondon would get its time in the spotlight ahead of Japan and Finland in 1948 but there was at least one sporting event in 1944 to keep the tradition going When the Nazis occupied Poland some higher ranking officers were treated with more dignity in POW camps 500 officers were forced to build their own prison camp from 1939 to 1942 which ended up being a small town of 7000 people with some fairly decent facilities In this unique situation the Nazis were a little less Nazilike and when it was suggested in 1944 that a camp Olympics be played to pay tribute to the sport the fascists surprisingly agreedOr perhaps not so surprisingly By the summer of 1944 the war was becoming pretty obviously hopeless Many not engaged in hopeless struggle on the front were keen to set themselves up nicely for a postwar scenario and many suggest that the Nazis allowed the POW Olympics to go ahead so that itd look good if they ever went to trial The same cynical reasons for the 1940 Summer Olympics and the 1936 Olympics before that Its all about optics But anyway the camp really went all out even printing posters and commemorative stamps for the eventOn the 23rd of July the POW Olympics was held With only Polish POWs it wasnt exactly the grand expression of international sporting some may expect from the Olympics but it was still a grand effort 369 prisoners participated in 464 competitions with a few dangerous sports like archery fencing and pole vault not approved by the guards The winners got some medals made of Paper I guess the war effort demanded bronze silver and gold Despite all this seemingly lovely solidarity the oncoming Red Army saw the Nazis transform into their usual selves sending the POWs on a death march that left only an estimated 300 prisoners aliveConclusionThe 1940 Summer Olympics maybe puts things in perspective somewhat Japan seriously cant catch a break on its Olympic dreams and with the upcoming Olympics mired in controversy and set amidst a backdrop of global pandemic with many cases its entirely possible itll be cancelled again Though at least this time theyll probably not just give up and hand it over to Finland instead You may also wonder understandably what any of this has to do with YPT Well its certainly not the first time weve discussed the OlympicsNot to mention were a travel company Our whole shtick is organising unique events that gather people around the world to exotic interesting destinations Weve certainly had our share of sportrelated tours and well so Im feeling a certain sympathy for their plight Lets hope for safety Hopefully this wont turn out like the 1940 Olympics And maybe we can take it as a good omen for travel and tourism as a whole going forward Might as well right
Read More
5 Monuments around the wo...
13 February 2020
Troy Collings
North Korea is not a country with a considerable variety of exports nor does it lead the world in many fields There is however one area where it is considered perhaps unassailable the production of grand monuments There is no doubt that they have exceptional artists particularly at the Mansudae Art Studio which has its own international wing known as MOP Mansudae Overseas Project Group This wing has been commissioned to create some pretty spectacular works of art around the world although the vast majority of the Monuments built by North Korea are in Africa present the 5 best North Korean made statues from around the world 5 Fairy Tale Fountain Frankfurt GermanyAlso known in German as Mrchenbrunnen This one may come as a surprise to many readers being that its based in Germany Its not one of the most impressive pieces here but the fact its in Europe and many people pass by it on their way to and from work without knowing about Mansudae Art Studios involvement in its reconstruction gives it a great story This as we know from Season 8 of Game of Thrones is the most important thing Initially unveiled in 1913 the fountain didnt survive World War 2 intact with some of it allegedly being melted down for its metal other parts being stolen or damaged Restoration attempts with rough copies were attempted over the intervening years but in the end with no surviving plan for the original work Frankfurt asked Mansudae Art Studio to rebuild the fountain Using photographs as their only source they rebuilt the fountain as it stands today So if youve ever been to Frankfurt you may have passed by one of the most wellknown artworks built by North Korea in Europe without even realising it 4 The Unknown Soldier Windhoek NamibiaLooking suspiciously like Sam Nujoma the founding President of Nambia and the man who commissioned it in the first place this statue has faced a fair degree of controversy Awarded the task of building the statue obelisk and surrounding memorial with no competition there have been complaints of corruption in the tendering process and claims that the final cost doubled The entire monument is known as Heroes acre and sits on a hill south of Windhoek and seems to pull some inspiration from the Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery in Pyongyang with a dash of typical North Korean style big bronze statue and an Obelisk for good measure It also features an eternal flame Much like the Martyrs cemetery on Mt Daesong in Pyongyang there are many graves for national heroes many of which will be filled in the future as heroes who struggled for Namibias Independence pass on 3 The Angkor Panorama Museum Siam Reap CambodiaThe most recent work on this list the Angkor Panorama Museum was officially opened on the 4th of December in 2015 Dedicated to Cambodian history as opposed to Korean history the museum apparently cost more than 30 million dollars For the moment it is run by North Koreans and will be until late 2025 So for now all the guides showing you around will be North Koreans so if youve ever wanted to talk to one without taking a trip to the DPRK heres your chance Overseen by a Merited Artist from Mansudae Art Studio who specializes in Panoramas Dioramas and Cycloramas Try saying that fast ten times the museum took 63 artists two years to completeNorth Korea and Cambodia have had a special relationship going back to President Kim Il Sung and Samdech Euv Norodom Sihanouks personal friendship forged in the 1940s but this project was the first recent reminder of that for some time due to Cambodias pivot towards South Korea 2 The Agostinho Neto Mausoleum Luanda AngolaSpectacularly Brutalist in design this 120m monumental structure resembles some kind of scifi reinterpretation of the tower of Sauron if you ask me but most people dont Instead it was known as sputnik by locals due to its resemblance to a rocket ship Taller than the Statue of Liberty it may have cost 40 million USD but maybe it didnt with talk of barter with aviation fuel and military exchanges proving irrepressibleOriginally awarded to a Brazilian construction company it was finished by the MOP once again bolstering their claim to be the best in the business of monuments Builtin 2012 it was to be the last big project for Mansudae Art Studio as Angola cancelled all existing contracts with the studio by 2018 1The African Renaissance Monument Dakar SenegalIn our mind the best of the North Korean made statues Regardless of your taste in art the monument itself is impressive Standing on a 100meter high hill this 49meter tall bronze statue absolutely refuses to be ignored To the chagrin of its various critics Officially dedicated on the 4th of April 2010 the 50th anniversary of Senegals independence from France and nearly eight years after they tried their hardest to teach France how to score goals in football the monument leapt to the top of the charts as Africas tallest statueCriticism for the statue has been considerable and has united all kinds Christians complained after the then president compared the statue to Jesus Islamic Imams found it immodest and an example of idolatry Art critics consider it meh and its also been accused of being Misogynistic and the exact opposite of what it claims to be considering it was designed by a Romanian and built by North Korea However if youre in Dakar you truly cant miss it even if you try
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5 Reasons Why You Should ...
16 February 2024
Webmaster YPT
While journeying with friends or family packs its bundle of joy and shared memories solo traveling offers a different kind of adventure Its an experience everyone should embrace at least once opening doors to new insights and personal milestonesLets dive into the transformative experience of traveling alone and discover how one solo journey can redefine your sense of adventureExploring the Benefits of Solo TravelnbspHere are five reasons why taking the leap into solo traveling could be one of the best decisions youll ever make1 Enjoy Unparalleled Freedom to Explore Your InterestsTraveling alone allows you to tailor your itinerary just how you like it Want to spend hours in a museum take a spontaneous cooking class or just wander around a city You can pursue your passions and interests freely when youre on your ownnbspTheres no need to worry if your travel companions are tired or want to do something different You get to chase what excites you most making every decision stressfree and every experience truly yours2 Boosts Your SelfConfidence and IndependencenbspWhen you travel alone you make all the decisions from figuring out how to get around in a new city to deciding where to grab your next meal This kind of autonomy doesnt just give you a sense of freedom it builds a rocksolid sense of independence You learn pretty quickly that youre more than capable of tackling challenges and making decisions solonbspEach day you navigate successfully on your own is a day that boosts your confidence and reinforces your ability to rely on yourself These arent just skills for the road theyre invaluable life skills that will strengthen every part of your personal and professional life3 Forge New Friendships and ConnectionsWhen youre on a trip with family or friends youre usually immersed in the joy of those shared moments Its all laughs inside jokes and making memories together which is great but it leaves little room for meeting new people However when traveling alone everything shiftsWhether its bonding with strangers over a shared table in a busy night market joining a group tour or simply asking for directions suddenly every interaction has the potential to turn into a meaningful connectionnbspSolo traveling strips away the familiar social circle making you more open and approachable to locals and fellow travelers This openness can lead to unexpected friendships enriching your journey with stories and experiences shared with people from all walks of life Its not just the places you see that define your journey these spontaneous connections also become the highlight of your travels4 Learn to Enjoy Your Own CompanyOne of the most underrated benefits of solo travel is learning to enjoy your own company In todays world where were constantly surrounded by people either physically or digitally spending time alone can be a rare luxury Solo travel teaches you to be comfortable and content with being by yourself a valuable skill that enhances your overall wellbeingMoreover traveling alone offers moments of solitude that allow for selfreflection and personal growth Embracing your own company enables you to reconnect with your thoughts recharge your energy and develop a deeper understanding of yourself and your needs5 Discover a New Version of YourselfLastly among the many benefits of solo travel seeing yourself in a new light is perhaps the most rewarding Suddenly youre not the person who waits for things to happen youre the one making them happennbspSolo travel pushes you to count on yourself Whether finding your way back to your hostel in a foreign city with just a map your intuition and a few phrases youve picked up or deciding to join a group of strangers in a pottery class for a spontaneous activity Its these moments when youre all alone making decisions facing challenges and stepping out of your comfort zone that you truly discover what youre capable ofnbspUpon returning home youre filled with a newfound sense of confidence resilience and a broader perspective This leaves you better prepared to take on whatever challenges lie ahead inspired by the realization of your capabilities beyond what you had imaginedSet Off on a Solo Travel Adventure of a LifetimeEmbracing solo traveling unlocks personal growth freedom and adventure Its an experience that reshapes your perspective pushing you beyond your limits So why not give it a shot The benefits are too good to pass upIf the idea excites you but youre unsure where to start you can check out various essential solo travel tips to help you prepare for the adventure of a lifetime Take that first step dive into your solo journey with confidence and discover the joy of traveling alone
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The ‘Stans are surprisingly safe. A common misconception is that Central Asia is somehow interlocked with the problems in the middle east or those nearby in Pakistan and Afghanistan. No doubt it is...
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