Nukus is often thought of as the gateway to the Aral Sea, but I think it’s a very intriguing destination in Uzbekistan in its own right. From its world-class Savitsky art museum to bustling bazaars, from its unique architectural style to its Karakalpak culture, Nukus offers a lot more than just being a waypoint between…
An eerily beautiful forest of submerged spruce rises out of electric turquoise and teal waters, making it hard to believe your eyes. This is Kaindy Lake, one of the most otherworldly sights in Kazakhstan: a country filled with natural wonders that look straight from another planet. Part of the Kolsay Lakes National Park, this beautiful…
If you’re visiting Big Almaty Lake, it is ideal to pair it with Alma-Arasan, a gorge with natural hot springs that make an easy day trip from Almaty. Alma-Arasan is, quite simply, stunning. Think slopes covered in Tien Shan spruce, hot and cold springs overlooking the river, a chilly plunge pool right in the river…
One of my favorite ways to discover unusual sights in a city is by playing around on Google Maps. I’ll enter some sort of word like “attraction” or “sight” or something of the sort, and then I’ll see if anything unexpected pops up. Well, did that technique ever serve me well in Bishkek. On my…
Normally, I like to see a country as in-depth as my time allows; I don’t visit countries just to say that I’ve “been there, done that.” However, my Central Asia trip was already quite long by my standards, which unfortunately meant that Tajikistan was going to be out of the cards… until I realized there…
One of my favorite memories of Khiva takes place in an odd location: sitting at a folding table covered by a blanket, sheltered from the street’s view by a fluttering wall of suzani embroidery, learning from a woodcarving master. Behind the suzani wall, the Islam Khoja Minaret stood above us, and countless travelers passed us…
What’s that Mike Tyson quote? Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth? That’s how I feel about Bishkek Airport. I’ve landed solo in many an international airport in my lifetime. I’ve visited about 80-odd countries, and probably flew into about half of them solo. But Bishkek’s Manas Airport has to take…
Within the UNESCO-listed fortified city of Itchan Kala, there are many places that easily take your breath away: this part of the city packs more sights per square inch than anywhere else I can think of in the world. And yet tucked away behind rather nondescript stone walls — hence its rather literal name, meaning…
People go to Vietnam for many reasons: the food, the landscapes, the intriguing history, and the enduring culture. But for me, I have to confess, one of the main reasons I keep returning to Vietnam is for its coffee. I have spent nearly every trip to Vietnam absolutely blitzed out of my mind on caffeine…