Real, honest, open hospitality is a truly amazing thing. This tradition runs deep through the cultures of most of Central Asia, but in my experiences nowhere near as much as Tajikistan. Though there are some really well-run and welcoming homestays in Tajikistan’s Fan Mountains, they don’t quite cover the whole […]
Tag: Former USSR
Samarkand Uzbekistan: The Crown of Central Asia
Samarkand Uzbekistan: The Crown of Central Asia “For lust of knowing what should not be known, We take the Golden Road to Samarkand.” -The Story of Hassan of Baghdad, by James Elroy Flecker Samarkand is Timur is Samarkand. Though not the place where he was born (which honor belongs to […]
Khojand Tajikistan: A Lazy Visitor’s Guide
Khojand Tajikistan: A Lazy Visitor’s Guide Contrary to what everyone I know in America seems to think, long-term independent travel is not just some big happy vacation. Crossing from Uzbekistan to Tajikistan was one of the most-hassle filled two days of my life, and by the time I got to […]
Tokmok Bazaar: Where to Buy a Kyrgyz Horse
Tokmok Bazaar: Where to Buy a Kyrgyz Horse
Old Town Khiva: Sweet Water in the Iqion Qala
Old Town Khiva: Sweet Water in the Iqion Qala I’ve written on here before about how Khiva is full of amazing people (who were amazingly patient with my attempts at portraits), but I didn’t really mention how incredible the Old Town (Iqion Qala) of Khiva itself is. This whole part […]
Uzbekistan’s Elliq Qala: Sandcastles Gone Wild
Uzbekistan’s Elliq Qala: Sandcastles Gone Wild Deep in the sands of Uzbekistan lies the Elliq Qala, or “50 Castles.” This “Golden Ring of Ancient Khorezm” is, rightly, one of the most widely touted tourist destinations in all of Central Asia. Though 20 ruins have been unearthed to date, this Land […]
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.