As the home of ancient democracy, the modern Olympics, and the ruins of Classical Greek civilizations the city of Athens is an obvious tourist draw for tourists passing through Southern Europe. With the ongoing economic crisis in Greece and images in popular media of riots running through the streets of the city, though, potential travelers […]
What It’s Like in: Athens Greece Read More »
Brunei can rightly be called the only country I’ve ever traveled to just for the sake of the passport stamp. Dismayed by the cost of mountain permits in Malaysian Borneo, I opt instead for the oil-rich Sultanate Next Door. Prepared with my legal-maximum-import 1.5 liters of booze, I show up ready for boredom. I wander
Photo of the Week: Brunei Mosque Framed Read More »
Alcoholic Horse Milk Perhaps a remnant of Soviet culture, drinking culture is big in Kyrgyzstan. While vodka is usually the preferred imbibition, another option does exist. Kumis, a slightly alcoholic horse milk popular in a number of Turkic cultures, is particularly prevalent in Kyrgyzstan. Stalls on the country’s mountainous roadways or yurt tents at many of
8 Reasons to Visit Kyrgyzstan Read More »
Editor’s note: Both the US and British governments both warn against any travel to Afghanistan. Although, our Central Asia-based writer, Stephen Lioy, visited recently and lived to tell his story, does not mean it’s safe for foreign travelers. Though once a common stop on the Hippie Trail, Afghanistan is no longer a common destination on
Getting to Afghanistan Read More »
Something seems special about staring across a wide valley towards Afghanistan. All through the Tajik Wakhan, I find my eyes lingering at the villages just across the border and wondering what life is like there. This photo, taken above the village of Langar, is nearly to the end of the Tajik Wakhan. Several kilometers
Photo of the Week: View above the Tajik Wakhan Read More »
Listen in on a story about the beautiful mountains of Tajikistan, and you’ll almost certainly hear a tale of an epic road trip through the harsh but beautiful plateaus of the Pamir’s. Spend any time in the country, though, and you may find yourself equally drawn to the far less visited mountain ranges on the
Your Guide to the Fan Mountains of Tajikistan Read More »
Aksai Gorge near Almaty Kazakhstan Almaty just exudes ‘nature’ and ‘mountains’. From almost anywhere in the city, the Tian Shan Mountains form a beautiful snow-capped backdrop to city life. After spending nearly two weeks in the city waiting on an Uzbek visa, though, getting out of the city and into these mountains was my highest
Photo of the Week: Gorge-ous Outpost Aksai Kazakhstan Read More »
I remember (with embarrassment, now) Azerbaijan as a place where at least 30% of my interactions were astoundingly negative, occasionally progressing to in-your-face yelling by both parties. Xinaliq, then, stands out so brightly in comparison to the rest of Azerbaijan precisely because everyone I met seemed so kind. These two men, shepherds who spend much
Photo of the Week: Shepherds' Camp Azerbaijan Read More »
Khovsgol Lake, in the far northern reaches of Mongolia just below Siberian Russia, is actually one of the most popular tourist sites in the country. Show up outside of the summer high season, though, and you’d be forgiven for thinking otherwise. When I arrived at Khatgal, the main town and southernmost edge of the lake, the
Photo of the Week: Khovsgol Lake Panorama Mongolia Read More »
Everybody seems to know that Nepal has beautiful mountain hikes in the Himalayas. What many don’t consider, though, is that lowland Nepal is full of amazing folks and festivals as well. These two girls, in a village just outside the city of Janakpur, are all dressed up to celebrate the annual Sita Bibaha festival. Southern
Photo of the Week: Festive Day Best in Nepal Read More »
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