En route from Ashgabat and the Darvaza Gas Crater to the Uzbek border and Khiva is one of Central Asia’s saddest historical sites and most poignant memories: the ruins of Konye-Urgench. With the dubious honor of being one of the bloodiest massacres in human history, Genghis Khan’s destruction of Konye-Urgench […]
Recent Posts
Sultanahmet
Istanbul: Sultanahmet Sultanahmet is the tourist heart of Istanbul, home to the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque and Basilica Cistern and more hotels and guesthouses than I care to remember. For good reason, too. The whole neighborhood is resplendent with beautiful old architecture and street food and Istanbul highlights, and […]
Portraits of Afghanistan
Much more than landscapes or bazaars or food, Afghanistan was about the people we met along the way. People who generally expressed a genuine interest in us, were very willing to engage, and just seemed so… normal I guess? So, here, I want you to meet some of them. These […]
Lahic Azerbaijan Travel Guide
Lahic is famous in Azerbaijan for its blacksmiths, whose workshops line the main streets of the Old Town. These were, I thought, a bit oversold and not that exciting. Much more interesting to me was simply walking the streets and alleys that branch off of the main road and cut […]
Basilica Cistern: Don’t Drink the Water
Basilica Cistern: Don’t Drink the Water For a “hidden gem” of Istanbul, the Basilica Cistern is decidedly crowded. No matter how long the line or how rainy the day, though, make time to visit. I think I lingered here longer than any other single tourist site in Istanbul. So much […]
Fredriksborg Castle: Up the Hillerod
Though perhaps not quite the same historical draw as Hamlet’s castle in Helsingor, the little town of Hillerod host such a nice little castle with spectacular grounds that Fredriksborg Slot is perhaps more worthy of your visit than its more famous cousin down the coastline. The castle itself is pretty […]
Hey there! I'm Stephen, this is my travel blog, and that's me in the poofy hat.
I'm a photographer / writer traveling since 2008, and I've been doing my best to visit amazing places.
My current focus is Central Asia, because for a hiking and camping enthusiast it's as good as it gets.