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 […]
Tag: Former USSR
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 […]
Wakhan Yamchun Fortress: A Silk Road Legacy
The Wakhan Cooridor, whichever side of the border you happen to be on, is all sorts of beautiful. It should be no surprise, of course, that there’s also a crazy long history to human habitation in the area. The Yamchun Fortress was built in the early 3rd Century B.C., almost […]
Darvaza Gas Crater: A Quick Trip to Hell
A quick trip to the gate of Hell, anyways. Somewhere out in the deserts of Turkmenistan in 1971, Soviet scientists made a bit of a blunder. In the process of drilling a natural gas well, they tapped into an underground cavern and released an unmanageable amount of the stuff. Attempting […]
Bishkek Bazaars: Market Madness Sales
Bishkek Markets
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.