Tengrinews.kz — Twenty-nine-year-old Rami Tsukanov has been traveling through Central Asia for several months with almost no belongings and no return ticket. Hitchhiking and sleeping in a tent, he focuses his lens not on landscapes, but on the people who help a stranger on the road. Currently in Kazakhstan, the traveler admits that local hospitality has been a pleasant revelation.
"Living my dream"
Rami has no permanent residence. However, he says this is not a forced circumstance, but a conscious choice.
"I dreamed of traveling my whole life, but due to certain circumstances in Ukraine, I cannot be there. So I am living the dream—without a return ticket home," he said.
A journalist by training, Rami has loved filming since childhood, calling it the meaning of his life. Over time, traditional journalism evolved into a blog, but one with a specific mission.
"Kind people should be their country's landmarks"
Rami noted that his goal is much broader than just travel.
"I want to showcase people who are kind to a stranger on the road. I want those who are kind to me to become landmarks of their country. I want people who perform acts of kindness away from the spotlight to be recognized as national treasures," he shared.
Through his videos, Rami tries to convey a simple message: we must respect those ready to lend a helping hand and welcome a traveler with an open heart. He describes this as his small fight against prejudice and stereotypes.
From Europe to Central Asia
Rami already has dozens of countries under his belt. He hitchhiked across almost all of Europe, visiting Portugal, Spain, France, Monaco, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova.
He later headed to Asia, visiting Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore.
Two months ago, he flew to Uzbekistan to begin a new journey through Central Asia. From there, he hitchhiked across all of Uzbekistan, then Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, and is now traveling through Kazakhstan.
"Shocked by the hospitality"
Rami has been in Kazakhstan for about a month. He admitted that the country has pleasantly surprised him.
"I am shocked by the hospitality toward a stranger. They might feed you, pick you up on the side of the road, give you a lift, or let you into their home. For me, this is a pleasant surprise," he noted.
He cites the hospitality of Kazakhstanis as the main impression of his trip.
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According to the traveler, he has faced almost no serious difficulties during his journey.
"My health hasn't failed me, so everything has been seamless. Especially when people from Central Asia help—they don't let me stay in a difficult situation for long. They help as much as possible with water, food, and shelter," he noted.
Rami posts all his encounters and stories on his blog. The stars of his videos are ordinary people who once decided to help a stranger.
Ahead: Iran, Afghanistan, and the Caucasus
The traveler has no intention of stopping.
He is currently applying for visas to Iran and Afghanistan. After that, he plans to continue his journey through Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia.
There is no final destination on this route yet. However, there is a core mission he remains committed to: telling the stories of people for whom helping a stranger is a way of life.