Central Asia is old. Old like “cradle of civilizations” old. Of all the old, though, the proto-urban site of Sarazm is perhaps the first of them all. Estimates suggest that Sarazm was settled over six THOUSAND years ago. You know what North America looked like then? A big forest. Sarazm […]
Recent Posts
Anadolu Kavegi: The Far End of the the Bosphorus
About as far away from Istanbul as it could be and still be an ‘Istanbul’ trip, the Anadolu Kavegi sits right on the end of the Bosphorus overlooking the Black Sea beyond. While the fort atop the hill is a pretty obvious draw it is not, to my mind, the […]
Denmark in Photos
Denmark surprised me, in large part because it was never a place I’d given much consideration to. Had I not had a friend living in Copenhagen for a short period, I probably wouln’t have gone. And yet, it has all the positives I expect out of Europe. Good food, historic […]
Ain’t No Party Like an Uzbek Party
Did you know that circumcision parties are a thing? Nope, me neither. Uzbekistan being what it is, though, even serious religious rites can serve as an excuse to get to together with friends and family a tables full of food and bottles full of vodka. Shortly after we walked by […]
Karakol, Kyrgyzstan: The City on the Shore of Issyk-Kol
Karakol Village in Kyrgyzstan —— Getting to Karakol from Bishkek is pretty straightforward, with share taxis and minbusses leaving from all the bus stations in Bishkek for Karakol (and other points on Issyk Kul en route). Fares in a minibus start from 300 Som, or in a share […]
Schloss Schonbrunn in Vienna
Fact: America doesn’t have nearly enough sweet castles. Vienna’s Schloss Shonbrunn, just outside the city center, makes for an awesome pretty-day excursion in the city. Arches, palatial rooms, well-situated cafes/beer gardens, and one of the oldest zoos anywhere. Take some time to visit if you’re ever in town. See what we’re missing, […]
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.