To say that the Burj Khalifa dominates the skyline of Dubai would be putting it lightly. The Khalifa IS the skyline of Dubai. There are other interesting and tall buildings, but they are emasculated dwarfs beside this. Taking the elevator to the 124th floor (out of 160) viewing platform is […]
Travel Words
Travel Moldova
I ended up in Chishinau, Moldova more because I couldn’t think of a good reason not to go than because I had any pressing desire to go there. A short bus ride away from Kamyanets-Podilsky, it seemed like a shame not to see what Moldova was all about while I […]
Nurata
I left Bukhara for Nurata, home to a fortress constructed by Alexander the Great around 327 B.C. Though a bit worse now for so many years’ wear, it was still an awesome feeling to sit on top of the fortress and watch the sun go down over the mountains surrounding […]
Abdullah
As enjoyable as the city of Shakhrisabz itself is the day spent with my driver/guide to, in, and back from the town. Abdullah found me trying to figure out the share-taxi system in Samarkand, and convinced me to ride with him. As the only English-speaker, about my age, with a […]
An Hour in the Air
For unreasonable reasons, I decided to fly back to Urumqi on my way out of the country. If it weren’t for Shanghai Airlines, I wouldn’t have been around Hotan long enough to this amused: So, perhaps Uigher/ Chinese race relations are still not so hot? As I wait for 5 […]
Train to Kashgar
Though I normally spring for hard sleeper beds when I have a choice, occasionally train travel in China is so popular that by the time I get to the ticket window to buy a departure a day or two away, I end up with a “hard seat” ticket. For relatively […]
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.