Kumtor Gold Mine: Kyrgyzstan’s Fine Line Between Ecology and Economy Standing squarely at the heart of countless clashes, the Kumtor Gold Mine is equally one of Kyrgyzstan’s most important economic contributors and one of its most controversial environmental and investment considerations. The Kumtor Gold Mine is located high in the mountains […]
Saving Snow Leopards in Kyrgyzstan: the NABU Rehabilitation Center Alternate Title: Gratuitous Pictures of Snow Leopards The whole thing started, really, with a ‘Special Exhibition on Snow Leopards’ in the Kyrgyzstan State Museum of Fine Arts. Walking through those quiet halls looking at a hundred-odd photos and drawings snow leopards […]
Kyrgyzstan’s Independence Day Holiday: Celebrating Nomad Style Holidays are always an awesome time to travel, and Independence Day is a particularly fine festivity. No matter whether Hot Dogs and Fireworks for the 4th of July in the US or Military Parades on Bastille Day in Paris, Independence Day holidays are […]
On Beautiful Places in Kyrgyzstan: Hiking in Shamsi Gorge There are countless beautiful places in Kyrgyzstan – I often feel like every new valley and every new gorge offer some new and incredible view – and of course not all of them can make it onto your Central Asia backpacking […]
Bishkek’s Kyrgyzstan State Museum of Fine Arts In an assuming building on a busy Sovietskaya, opposite the beautiful Bishkek Opera and Ballet Theatre, is one of the (actually very few) proper tourist sites in the Kyrgyz capital: the State Museum of Fine Arts. Though the presentation is not always top […]
Hiking Kyrgyzstan’s Chon-Kaindy Valley No matter the route, no matter the preparation, the simple truth is that not every hike will go as planned. Add into this a rarely-traveled route with a guide who has only visited once before, and its bound to be an adventure. Such was the case […]
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.