Applying for a WISE Credit Card while traveling abroad.

These days travel, a Fintech Credit Card seams to be a mandatory thing. The amount of savings and safety control just makes it impossible to not get one. I had one Fintech card when I started the journey, and it was under YOUTRIP Singapore. Unfortunately due to me leaving work for travel and no longer having a residency status in Singapore, the YOUTRIP decided to cancel my account due to this reason.

The cancellation of the card also came at an unprecedented time, the day I entered China. I figured it was still ok since I had back up credit cards and atm cards so did not think on it much until a month later entering Kyrgyzstan. The four digit pin ATM machine made all my cards useless and the one card that had 4 digit pin was the canceled YOUTRIP card.

While traveling in Kyrgyzstan meeting up on and off with Bern & Ita bumping into each other throughout the common route, I found out that they were going to fly back to KL for a week to sort out some of their important things. They offered to bring me some love from home like Chicken-rendang canned food or Kicap Maggie.

It did not register in my mind at that time somewhere at 7 Bulls canyon, but a few days later I figured if there was a chance of carrying stuff, I might as well see if I could get another Fintech Card. 

Stamps are one of the few things I buy as momentos when traveling

Checking the web and WISE was the more popular and reliable one for Malaysian citizen so a quick download of the app, punched in all the details and uploaded a few photos of documents and viola, my account was active within minutes.

The digital card was also active within minutes and now all that was left is to somehow transport the physical card from Malaysia to Kyrgyzstan. From here it was a tracking game. Card was send to my home where Dad picked it up and later met up with Bern & Ita at the airport handing it over and a week later when they flew back to Almaty Kazakhstan, I was there the next morning at their hotel collecting the WISE Card.

Using the WISE card throughout the four central Asia countries, Kazakhstan – Kyrgyzstan – Tajikistan – Uzbekistan was seamless and made the travel much easier in my sense. A prepaid credit card which tells you immediately the exchange rate of the purchase instead of getting a surprise a month later was much better than a bank credit card.

The best feature I would say about WISE app is that you would know immediately if the transaction is approved. Sometimes the vendors keep swiping the card and informed me that it did not go through and without the ability to read Russian, there was no way for me to verify if I would get charged double. This immediate notification of transaction done on the app makes it much safer than a normal credit card.

The only draw back would be the monthly free ATM withdrawal limit of RM 1000. Long term traveler like me always exceed this amount.

Traveled on: June 2024

Exploring Bishkek the Capital of Kyrgyzstan

Bishkek city was not a memorable city. It’s easily the most boring places in the whole of Kyrgyzstan but I do enjoy a good boring city walking around. Even with errands in between to get the Russian Transit Visa, I spend a good five days in Bishkek yet there is not much to write about.

It was lovely weather around 20 degrees during the day and the modern new city was designed with plenty of greenery and large sidewalks making strolling around getting lost the best past time. It became one of my downtime place to just rest up and recharge while cafe hopping letting the mind be free of thoughts.

Bishkek City

A local diner in Bishkek 

A Shopping Mall in Bishkek

Osh Bazaar in Bishkek seam like the main tourist thing to do which was a mumble jumbo mess of a big market selling almost anything you can think of but when it comes to specialized things that I was hunting such as bike parts or unique stickers, of course there were non to be found.

Nevertheless it was a good walk around Bishkek city going from bazaars to shopping malls to street trinket tables. I did however found rolling tobacco in Bishkek which was very welcomed since all my supply since Malaysia had been used up.

Osh Bazaar in Bishkek

Osh Bazaar in Bishkek

Osh Bazaar in Bishkek

Osh Bazaar in Bishkek

Tobacco Shop in Bishkek

I visited Bishkek state history museum which gave a quick overview of Kyrgyzstan history but not much depth could be gleamed. I find this mostly true for the whole of Central Asia when I travel. 

My lack of Central Asia history makes it even harder to gain the in-depth understanding of their culture and society even when visiting the museums. The people while friendly, were unable to fully converse and impart deep conversation due to language barrier.

A Day at the Museums in Bishkek

State History Museum - Bishkek

State History Museum - Bishkek 

The last unexpected find in Bishkek was finding a Casino. Here I paid the learning fee on how to play a new game called Russian Poker.

Traveled on: June 2024

Applying for a Russian Transit Visa in Bishkek

The process of applying a Russian Transit Visa was always an option but like every visa application there was always a chance of being rejected and this is stressful for a traveler especially if you really need that Visa to be approved.

I needed the visa to transit Russia from Kazakhstan to Mongolia. I would have love to obtain a full Tourist Visa allowing me to really explore at least a larger part of Russia but alas that path was much more difficult requiring invitation letter and help from tour agency to get documentation required for a full Tourist Visa. 

The alternative was a Transit Visa. Tourist Visa is relatively possible for Malaysian if applying in KL but then the Single Entry Russian Tourist Visa is valid for three months upon issued, hence for me, even if I got it, the Visa would have expired by the time I had visited Central Asia proper.

The other possibility was a Russian Tourist E-Visa which could be applied online from anywhere in the world. However this E-Visa had a list of borders that would allow its usage and non of the Kazakh – Russia Land border were on the list.

So back in Balykchy I submitted the online form for applying a Russian Transit Visa and booked my appointment slot two days later. The Russian Embassy in Bishkek appointment booking platform for Visa application was only on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

https://kyrgyz.mid.ru/ru/visa/visa_issues/

The link above provided the information for Russian Transit Visa (which was in Jun 2024). Filtering the requirement for Malaysian, what I needed was as follows

1. Photocopy of Passport (no less than six months to expiry date)

2. Visa Application Form filled up online at https://visa.kdmid.ru

Note: Fill up all info and print out. The date of entry and exit determined the transit days requested and the maximum is 10 days. Transit type applied TR2

3. One recent photo of applicant (3.5x4.5cm) –

Note: I used the spare photo from China Visa application which was slightly different size and it was accepted

4. Photocopy of Drivers License (International)

5. Photocopy of Vehicle Ownership Certificate

6. Cover Letter indicating the border of entry and exit including route info.

Note: This was self written and no hotel bookings was done along the route. Just a simple write up requesting permission to transit Russia via border xx to border xx via motorcycle in xx days

7. Print out of Mongolian Website indicating Malaysian do not require Visa for entry.

Note: This is for onward journey to after Russia making sure that you have a Visa to continue travel to the next country.

https://visa.kdmid.ru/queue/visitor.aspx

The link above is to get the online appointment for Visa application at the Russian Embassy in Bishkek. Everything is in Russian but a simple google lenses translation works to go through the form.

I arrived in Bishkek a day earlier and next day early morning I took a stroll to the Russian embassy. I was early and took an early brunch but still reaching the gate at 1pm. 

My appointment was at 3pm and checking with the guard which had a lock grill door, he checked his list finding my name and made me wait to the appointed time before letting me inside.

Russia Embassy side Entrance Gate in Bishkek - Kyrgyzstan

The application process was straightforward in a sense. Submitted all the document and the officer only asked for medical insurance but I told him I had read online under visa issue that this requirement is only for citizens of EU, China, Iran and Turkey. Malaysian do not require this medical insurance to transit Russia. The officer continue on with his typing and I just stood there patiently.

Officer: Do you want express or normal ??
Me: Express

While I had the time to go the normal service, waiting one week would have made me more nervous everyday thinking if I would get the Visa or not hence I opted for the more expensive Express Visa service hoping to secure that Transit Visa early and have a peace of mind for a secured route.

I paid the visa fee of 14400 Kyrgyz Som for the express service and was told to collect the passport the next day morning. Next day I got a beautiful new transit visa for 10 days, which seal my route for Sep 2024 towards Mongolia

Traveled on: Jun 2024

 

Riding from Balykchy to Bishkek with a Detour to Burana Tower

Weather was gloomy from Balykchy to Bishkek and forced me to don the wet weather gear. I think I must have put on and took off the rain gear maybe four times on the way to Bishkek for it was too cold when it rains and too hot when its dry.

Along the way I had a glimpse of Konorchek Canyon on the left side of the road but decided to give it a miss with the bad weather. The food stop on the right however was a delight for usually riding during the day, lunch is the hardest to find in remote areas.

Rest stop along the main national road in Kyrgyzstan 

Canteen like Diner Rest Stop

Lunch at the Rest Stop near Konorchek Canyon

I made a detour to Burana Tower on the way to Bishkek. The tower is mostly what is remained of the ancient settlement and not something one would pay attention to but once obtaining heritage status and with the proximity for easy access from Bishkek, tourist makes their way for the daytrip just to view the tower.

Rich in history and unique on its own but my lack of Central Asia general history makes visiting the tower just another stop to look and go. It was still a great detour with vast view of the surrounding area from the top of the Burana Tower.

World Heritage Site - Ancient settlement of Burana 

Burana Tower

View from the top of Burana Tower

The rest of the journey into Bishkek city was uneventful. It was time to run multiple important chores in Bishkek. 

Traveled on: June 2024