Tashkent was both the beginning and the end of my 27-day trip through Central Asia. I flew into Tashkent, traveled through Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and eventually returned to Tashkent before heading home. That gave me a chance to see the city twice — once when I was fresh off the plane (and completely…
Day 1 — Tashkent to Khiva Checked out of the hotel. The taxi driver was hilarious. After I told him I was American, he called two separate people from his cellphone so they could speak English with me. I have no idea who I was actually talking to! So weird. There really aren’t that many…
Bukhara was one of the places I was most interested in seeing during my Central Asia trip. The historic center is packed with mosques, madrasas, markets, monuments, and narrow streets that make you want to wander around with a camera all day. I arrived by sleeper train from Samarkand (departing at 3 p.m. with a…
Samarkand was one of the places I had been looking forward to most on my Central Asia trip. The city’s history, Islamic architecture, blue tilework, and legendary Silk Road reputation make it almost impossible to visit without carrying a camera. I spent several days exploring Samarkand, photographing the major monuments, wandering the streets, making a…
Kolsai Lake and the Road to the Yurt Camp I started early and went to the first pickup location at the Holiday Inn Express in Almaty because I wanted to get a window seat. Glad I did. I managed a ton of really bad photographs (and a few decent ones) from inside a moving bus….
Seven Lakes of Tajikistan I hate group tours. Like, really hate them. But after several days of cities and monuments, I was starting to feel a little citied out. I needed some nature. So I signed up for a group tour to see the Seven Lakes of Tajikistan the day before. The group met early…
What happens when you combine watercolor, wax, and Japanese rice paper? You get watercolor batik—a wonderfully unpredictable painting technique that produces rich layers of color, incredible textures, and effects that are nearly impossible to achieve with traditional watercolor methods. Join me, Ryan Fox, AWS, NWS, TWSA, for a special 60-minute watercolor batik demonstration during Watercolor…
Uzbekistan has been on my travel bucket list for decades. Seriously, decades. It all started years ago when I picked up a Lonely Planet Central Asia guidebook while spending the night at a friend’s apartment. I was immediately hooked on the ancient Silk Road cities, incredible architecture, and faraway places I knew absolutely nothing about….
Kazakhstan is huge. Seriously huge. It’s the ninth-largest country in the world, and I managed to explore just a small corner of it. My travels took me through southern Kazakhstan, beginning in Almaty, a surprisingly European-feeling city with leafy streets, lively neighborhoods, and spectacular mountains rising in the background. From there, I ventured into the…
Kyrgyzstan was amazing. Difficult to spell, but surprisingly easy to love. I started my travels in Bishkek, a surprisingly lovely capital filled with tree-lined streets, beautiful parks, and plenty of places to explore on foot. The surrounding mountains provide a spectacular backdrop and endless opportunities for day trips. The traffic, however, is another story. Bring…
