Anita Sibul in Central Asia: "To Appreciate How Much Estonian Freedom is Worth"

Content creator Anita Sibul (28) spent weeks traveling through Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. She was struck by the region's diversity, modern cities, mountainous landscapes, and Soviet legacy. Upon returning from the trip, she gained an even clearer understanding of how much Estonian freedom should be valued.

Estonian content creator Anita Sibul (28) recently returned from weeks-long travels through Central Asia, a region that surprises many Europeans with its contrasts: ultramodern cities alongside Soviet-era heritage, hospitable people within strictly controlled societies.

Sibul visited three countries—Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan-and concluded that the experience gave her a new perspective on the values of her homeland. "It became even clearer how much we should appreciate Estonian freedom," she said.

People and Culture

Sibul described Central Asian people with a striking comparison: orderly like the Chinese and hospitable like the Russians. The region's inhabitants welcomed the foreign traveler warmly, leaving a lasting impression.

During her travels, she discovered the region's extraordinary diversity, from modern capitals and skylines punctuated with towering skyscrapers to sprawling mountain landscapes and traditional ways of life. At the same time, she could not overlook the fact that in several countries, public life is heavily regulated by the state and personal freedoms are not taken for granted.