Four countries belong to the Turkik culture and speak Turkik languages which relatively resemble the Turkish language. The fifth Republic, Tajikistan, speaks Tajik which is similar to Persian, and, is therefore, a bit different in its cultural appearance and tradition.

While visiting the so-called Stan countries, it is appropriate to make an attempt to see several countries in one tour, instead of just one. Travelers arriving from USA, Japan or Western Europe can save significant money on international air fare, by arriving to a capital, for example, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and then making short flights or drive to the neighbouring countries.

A classic recommended tour would include, of course, Uzbekistan with its magnificent ancient cities Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva. Then, you are invited go to see the alpine Republic of Kyrgyzstan, with unique nature, gorgeous mountains, fresh air and original culture of nomadic tribes who have lived centuries on the Great Silk Road. The third destination you could fit in one tour is Turkmenistan, the country of deserts and a very peculiar political system, with splendid cities of marble and gold right amidst the dunes.

The three countries feature rich cultural background, with immense Islamic heritage and monuments, as well as remnants of Buddhism, Zoroastrinism, Judaism and Christianity. This area was a key part of the famous Silk Road, through which camel caravans were carrying merchandise from China and India to Europe.

In order to make your tour a smooth and pleasurable one, you will probably need to contact one of local travel agenies in the region. Because of pretty rigid political system and visa requirements, especially for Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, you may need assistance in order to get visa support or LOI, the letter of invitation. The local specialists are best suited to tell you all you need to know about local procedures, customs, police registration.

Also, you will learn about the preferred dress code, local traditions and habits, what you should see and where you should go to get best experiences and memories. They will warn you against possible risks and dangers. With the right choice of a tour operator, you can save up to 50% on your travel.

You may also be interested in related topics, such as for example, how to purchase airline tickets to Uzbekistan and Central Asia, or how to choose hotels in Uzbekistan.

Trains arrive in Uzbekistan, though their quality remains quite low. The busiest rail routes run through Kazakhstan to Russia and mainly serve local people who are not too demanding for the quality of service as they prefer cheaper options. Also, it takes about three days to ride from Moscow, so using trains in the warm season can be quite an ordeal as the trains have no air conditioners.

The only feasible option, therefore, is to come to Uzbekistan by plane. There are now many international airlines who operate flights to the country, such as Turkish Airlines, AirBaltic, Russian Aeroflot, Czech Airlines, Koreana, Asiana Airlines etc. The national air carrier, Uzbekistan Airways or ‘Uzbek Khavo Yullari’ is the sole national air company in the country.

Uzbekistan Airways was founded after independence in 1991 and gained a reputation of a reliable and quality carrier with a good safety record. The airways operate a fleet of Russian-made and modern western aircraft. The western planes are mainly used for international routes. The company operate flights to major world destinations including Europe, Northern America, and Asia.

You can purchase a ticket to Uzbekistan from a variety of air companies, but inside the country for domestic routes there is only one: the Uzbekistan Airways. Because of that, they offer significant discounts when you purchase an international flight plus a local flight. For example, many travel itineraries are designed based on a circular route: Tashkent-Samarkand-Bukhara-Khiva and then back to Tashkent. The ending part of such a tour would usually include a flight from Tashkent to Urgench (Khiva), which you can purchase along with the international tickets.

This obstacle often makes people unhappy as they fail to book Uzbek Airways through their travel agent. Fortunately, there is a solution to this problem: you need to find a local agent in Uzbekistan who would purchase tickets for you locally and then send it to you by regular mail if you prefer hard copy tickets, or just by email. Luckily, the Airways have recently introduced e-tickets and now the ticket can be sent to you by email as a scan.

The lake’s southern shore is dominated by the ruggedly beautiful Teskey Ala-Too Range of the Tian Shan mountains. The Kyungey Ala-Too Range of the Tian Shan runs parallel to the north shore. A number of small towns surround the lake. These fell on hard times after the break-up of the USSR, but now hotel complexes are being refurbished and simple private bed-and-breakfast pensions (guest houses) are being established for a new generation of health and leisure visitors. For those who like a beach holiday, Lake Issyk Kul offers beaches surrounded with beautiful mountains.

Lake Issyk Kul is 182 kilometers long, and up to 60 kilometers, and covers an area of 6,236 square kilometers. Located at an altitude of 1,607 meters, it reaches 668 meters in depth. It is also the site of an ancient city from 2500 years ago, and archaeological excavations are still going on. Over 100 rivers and streams flow into the lake; the largest are the Djyrgalan and Tyup. It is fed by springs, including many hot springs, and snow melt-off. The lake has no current outlet, but some scientists reckon that, deep underground, lake water filters into the Chu River. Kyrgyzstan can offer adventure travel at its best. This is an unspoilt country where you can still enjoy simple pleasures in relative solitude. Make the most of it now. In the next few years, the tourism industry will develop, and there will be many more visitors to this beautiful country.

Most banks serve their clients by working in Sector Teams, which span across Industries. The more common Sector Teams are Healthcare, Media and Telecommunications, Industrial, Commodities, Real Estate and Financial Institutions. In Asia, teams are not so clearly defined and are often segregated into country teams. For example South East Asia Teams, Japan Teams or North Asia Teams. Depending on client needs, the banks offer advisory services, which range from Mergers & Acquisitions to Equity or Debt Financing to share sales. Very often, Bankers get referred to clients through their Wealth Management Division, which handles assets of high net worth individuals, who are also often CEOs and business owners. In countries like India and China, locals take pride in their ancestry and family trees, therefore creating a barrier to entry for less connected banks.

Bankers raising capital belong to the sell side because they sell securities to raise capital for companies. On the other side of the table we see the buy-side, made up of Private Equity Funds, Hedge Funds, Funds of Funds, Other Institutional Buyers and in the case of the public share offering/ Initial public offering, the buyers can be members of the public as well. In between these two sides we may have brokers who underwrite the public shares to mitigate some risk. Playing an important but secondary role are also the rating agencies such as Moody’s and Standard and Poor, whose ratings affect the pricing of the securities sold. In Asia, the definition of funds is less clearly defined and we often see hedge funds taking up private equity products as well.

Asia jobs very rarely pay higher than that of Corporate Finance Bankers. Needless to say, graduates in Asia strive for such a position, especially at international banks. Many pursue their MBA or Chartered Financial Analyst certificates for a chance at an Interview. The typical hierarchy at a Bank is Analyst- Associate – Associate Director – Director – Managing Director. Unlike the US or UK, you do not need an MBA to rise up the ranks, although it is preferred. Many analysts join the bank upon graduation and get promoted without going to business school for an MBA.

Despite the negative sentiment on Wall Street, Investment Banking is still an extremely lucrative industry with huge potential, considering the size of untapped markets and high growth projections in Asia and Asia Pacific.

There are several socio-economic reasons that lead many people to discontinue their studies when they are young. Most of them may have had burning desires to continue their education further, but their commitments to their families or their economic status may have been a hindrance to their continuing their studies.

Many of these adults who were dropouts from the schools in their childhood yearn to continue their education at a later and more convenient time. This has lead to the development of several adult education programs worldwide. These adult education programs come as a boon to those adults looking to complete what education they’ve left incomplete.

When the government started these adult education programs, initially there was not a lot of response to such programs from most people. They were very reluctant to join such programs.

Though many of them wanted to make an attempt, they were not sure whether they could pick up their educational threads at that age. The governments had to take a lot of steps to encourage people to join.

There is a saying that is very popular, and can apply to many different situations: “better late than never.” Many adults have realized the importance and necessity of education and have come forward to enroll themselves in the many adult education programs available. They consider it a privilege to be able to educate themselves, even at an advanced stage of their lives.

These educational programs are organized by both government as well as voluntary institutions. Adult education programs not only provide basic education, they also guide their students towards higher education. These programs arrange financial aid and scholarships for students.

Adults can pursue their careers and enroll themselves in these programs simultaneously. This is made possible with the availability of online programs.

The people are provided with coursework that deals with politics, spirituality, self development, and other things. Adults usually tend to find these programs useful and interesting. They normally end up urging their relatives and friends to join these programs.

Besides resources, there would appear to be significant tourism potential in Kazakhstan as a travel destination. Currently tourism accounts for 5% of the country’s GDP and is continuing to grow mainly driven by the strong growth in international business travellers working on the significant oil and gas projects. Positioned on the historical Silk Trade route between Europe and Asia, it offers historical monuments as well as diverse landscapes, mountains, rivers and lakes. Bird watching, fishing, hunting and trekking and beach holidays on the Caspian Sea are on offer. Opportunities for tourism remain positive and Kazakstan’s enterprising entrepreneurs should be quick to showcase development opportunities for the global tourism market.

One of the interesting facts about Kazakhstan is that it is where apples originate. In fact, the commercial centre of Kazakhstan, Almaty, means “Rich with Apples” in the local language. Agriculture is a significant contributor to the economy and it accounts for more than 20% of GDP. Agribusiness featuring grain and livestock production in the north and fruit and vegatable production in the south is another promising sector. Privatization and productivity improvements provide opportunities for astute investors to develop profitable operations. The one thing clear about Kazakhstan is that it is rich in resources and tourism potential. The next few years will present many business opportunities in this dynamic market especially for those willing to go beyond the traditional investment destinations.

The precipitation in Mongolia is very scanty. Most part of the country getting less than 15 inches (381 mm) of precipitation. Most precipitation falls in July and August. The precipitation is more in the North and less in the south. So much so that the great Gobi desert to the south gets less than 10 inches ( 250 mm) of precipitation and is one of the driest regions of the world. Only Bactrian camels survive in this type of climate and it is the principal beast of burden in this area. In short Mongolia has a very harsh climate with great variations between summer and winter climate. The best months to visit Mongolia are July and August when temperature are not so hot and the air is less dry.

Since 1937, all professional surveyors within the state of Georgia have been governed by the Georgia State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. This agency has the power to adopt standards for licensure and practice. Surveyors who do not follow the accepted land surveying standards are subject to investigation and discipline by the Board. Many land surveyors in Georgia also join the Surveying and Mapping Society of Georgia, a voluntary professional organization founded to support the interests of professional mappers and surveyors within the state. Known as SAMSOG, this organization was founded in 1947 and is affiliated with the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ACSM), a national society for surveyors. There are currently over five hundred professional members of SAMSOG.

The role of the Surveying and Mapping Society includes scholarships and information for aspiring surveyors, as well as continuing education opportunities for current surveyors, who are required to obtain fifteen hours of continuing education study over each two-year period to renew their land surveying license. Other resources for current or aspiring surveyors include conferences, discussion forums, and publications such as “Georgia Land Surveyor,” released six times per year with articles pertaining to surveying in the state of Georgia. The Annual Plat Contest rewards land surveyors who create exemplary plat maps of Georgia lands.

SAMSOG also works to strengthen and refine the land surveyor profession through work with the Georgia State Legislature, the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, and national surveying groups such as ACSM and the American Land Title Association (ALTA). Bills passed at the urging of SAMSOG include recording plats in superior courts, monument protection, and improvement in the county surveyor’s laws. The Surveyors Reference Manual for Georgia Land Surveyors, originally made available over 20 years ago, is currently being updated as a professional manual for modern surveyors in Georgia, outlining regulations and practices for surveys within the state. SAMSOG was also instrumental in the drafting of a professional code of conduct for surveyors.

Paul Johnson has been the head football coach at Georgia Tech since 2008. He previously served as the head coach at Georgia Southern University from 1997-2001 and the US Naval Academy from 2002-07. Johnson amassed a 20-7 record in his first two years at Tech, and led the team to the ACC Championship in 2009. The Yellow Jackets also went on to play in the Chick fil-A Bowl in 2008 and the Orange Bowl in 2009.

The Yellow Jackets play their home games in Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field, in the heart of the Tech campus. Built in 1913, the stadium is the oldest on campus stadium in Division I football. The stadium is named for Georgia Tech coaching legend Bobby Dodd, the head coach for 22 years, from 1945-66. Bobby Dodd stadium provides fans with a magnificent view of downtown Atlanta’s skyline. A major expansion of the stadium was completed in 2003, adding additional seating at both end zones, new locker rooms, a player’s lounge, a media room, and coach’s offices. The current seating capacity is 55,000 seats.

Georgia Institute of Technology was founded in 1885. It is considered one of the leading research universities in the country. Located on 400 acres in the heart of Atlanta, Tech has an enrollment of over 20,000 students. US News & World Reports has consistently ranked Georgia Tech among the top ten public universities in the nation. The university offers degree programs in 36 undergraduate majors, 47 master’s programs, and 30 doctoral programs.