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 […]
Recent Posts
Walking Food Tour of Athens
Walking Food Tour of Athens: Greek Food for the Win There are a lot of good reasons to be excited about Greece. Beaches, history, and temples are all close to the top of the list. Taking the very top spot, though, may be one very important thing: FOOD. I was […]
Pierre Loti Cafe above Eyup
Pierre Loti Cafe above Eyup Inexplicably, the Pierre Loti Cafe way out in the Eyup district is meant to be a pretty common tourist attraction. While the view from the hilltop cafe and attached tram are nice, I found the cemetery and mosque down the hill far more interesting to […]
Pedernales Falls State Park
Pedernales Falls State Park Among the many parks and natural areas near Austin, Tx one of the ones I’m most anxious to re-visit is Pedernales Falls State Park. Not only is the main Falls area (pictured above) quite beautiful, but there are also less-walked trails in the park that lead […]
Dinner With a Local Family – My Favorite Istanbul Guided Tour
My Favorite Istanbul Guided Tour – Dinner With a Local Family I know I’ve only recently decried the ‘proper-tourist-trail’ thing, but one experience in Istanbul left me thinking about whether or not a guide can be a good thing on occasion. After all don’t we oftentimes need a translator? Someone […]
Billy Bobs Texas: The Biggest Little Honky-Tonk in the World
What is there to say, really, about the biggest honky-tonk in the world? It could fit thousands of people. I remember at least 8 bars and a short-order grill. There’s a rodeo arena INSIDE OF THE BAR. I’m talking, of course, about Billy Bob’s. Like the Fort Worth Stockyards where […]
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.