I decide to travel to Kazakhstan mainly because I am nearby. Just across the border from Urumqi, China; and my Chinese visa running worryingly low on days. I have to choose between trekking all the way back across the Middle Kingdom or taking the conveniently timed bus to Almaty. On […]
Tag: Thoughts
Conversation with the man in Orange
“Sit down, I would like to talk to you. Where you from? America?! I would like to know about your Obama.” “Do you know what is the ‘Tri-Lateral Commission’ in your country? IT is all the richest businessmen and politicians, lead by people like your Vice-President Dick Cheney. They have […]
Shopping in Dubai
Gone Shopping in Dubai Dubai is a huge destination for commercial travel, that is, making a special trip just to buy clothes and goods and anything you can imagine at cheaper prices. At the Gold Souk in particular, I was assured by a number of people that well-to-do Indian families […]
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 […]
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 […]
Notes from a Bus to Jiuzhaigou
7:55am Enter bus. There are no more window seats. This 12 hour ride will not involve sleep. Already wishing I’d at least considered a plane. 8:43am 1st movie started. There is a construction worker with a bullied but ambitious son. The father dies in an accident at work, and the […]
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.