Countries
Posts from or about various countries I’ve been to!
First Reflections on Turkmenistan (R)
There’s a reason Turkmenistan is sometimes referred to as the North Korea of Central Asia. The tourist rules are super restrictive, there’s a huge cult of personality built up around the former ruler (Turkmenbashi – literally “Leader of all Turkmen”), the state long controlled most media and nearly all of […]
Photo Slideshow: Turkmenistan (R)
Turkmenistan is amazing, and I may never visit again. Its beautiful, and yet very few people visit because of visa policies that are either expensive or asinine (depending on the visa). The people are mostly friendly and helpful and hospitable, but I also had two cops try to shake me […]
Keep It Weird (R)
Austin, Tx certainly feels like an abnormal place. Liberal political views surrounded by a sea of red, for one thing. Thrift Shop hipsters, for another. And, of course, the fact that biking is a huge deal in the city. Austin’s ghost bikes are a reminder, albeit a grim one, […]
One night in Davos (R)
After a day or checking out the mountains and cross-country skiing in Davos, our host Sven also recommended a concert happening that night atthe hotel he works at in Davos. After a coffee overlooking the town from a nearby slope, we headed to the monastery-turned-hotel to watch (of all things?) […]
Uzbek Bank Robbers (R)
Seriously, Uzbekistan would be the worst country in the world to rob banks. The US dollars and Uzbek som pictured here are cash equivalents: If $600 comes out to 1.68 million Som, and the largest bill is 1000 Som, can you imagine how many donkey carts it would take […]
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.