The remote little village on the Silk Road in Kazakhstan didn’t look like much – but how wrong we were. Ramshackle fruit and veg stalls and basic kebab diners seemed about all Bayseyit had to offer until we jumped out of our 4x4 to stretch our legs.
Within seconds our unplanned stop had led to a dizzying discovery. Locals in this vast Central Asia state – the world’s ninth-largest country – are so friendly and trusting their front doors are left wide open to strangers for a nose inside. They’ll even let you use their loo... for 10p!
The Uyghur custom is meant to encourage “good spirits” and it certainly did with us as we bought their gigantic apples and grilled meats as a thank you.
