When mentioning Asia, too many people, especially in North America, automatically mean East Asia – China, Japan, Vietnam, Korea. That’s only a fraction of the whole enormous continent, however. For anyone actually interested in the Asian history, the attention should be inevitable drawn to Central Asia, or the so-called “The ‘Stans” – the 5 former…
My Photo Gear
A lot of people ask me about my photo gear – what do I use, where do I buy it, what do I recommend for this or that purpose. I have previously given photo gear recommendations in this blog in the “Photography Advice” section. As for where to buy, if you are in the US,…
Transportation Primer: Taxis
In my previous post, I wrote about the basics of bus transportation. Now, let’s talk about taxis. From my experience, taxi and other small vehicle drivers are some of the most dishonest, most aggressive people you are likely to meet in just about any country. These are rough men, hardened by the years behind the…
Transportation Primer: Buses
As a traveler, outside the place where you stay the night, you will spend most of your time on the road. And unless you are on a multi-day hike or a bike ride, that means some mode of transportation. As someone who has countless hours of experience with pretty much every mode of transportation, from…
The Story of a Photo – Together (Nepal)
It was early – not even 6 am yet, but the streets of Kathmandu were very much alive. Food vendors were firing up their stoves, small-time merchants began to arrange their goods on the sidewalk, and in general, the people (and an odd cow) were starting to go about their business. Yes, Nepal’s capital, as…
The “20-Dollar Rule” and Other Useful Hotel Tips
In one of the previous posts, we discussed the pros and cons of accommodations in hotels, hostels, AirBnB or Couchsurfing. I will now share the most widely known secret that lots of inexperienced travelers are unaware of. Based on my experience of around-the-world travels, you can find a room in a hotel for $20 plus/minus…
My Top Ten Favourite Cemeteries Around the World
Some people are reluctant to visit cemeteries – they are afraid to roam around high concentrations of graves, dead people’s spirits and possible ghosts. As for me, I think cemeteries are among the best sights in just about any city. Not only they allow you to feel the history or the place and literally walk…
Why I didn’t go to Burning Man (And Why You Should Still Go)
The week before Labor Day is an unusually quiet time in San Francisco. Street parking is easily available, there are fewer people walking, and clubs and bars are half-empty. Why? Because a big chunk of people under the age of 60 are off to the Black Rock Desert in Nevada for Burning Man. For the…
The Story of a Photo – A Deer in the Bus Station (Sri Lanka)
The place was Trincomalee, a Tamil town in northeastern Sri Lanka. It’s got a good beach, and a small tourist cluster on it. There’s snorkelling with small sharks, and some scuba diving, and even a surprisingly authentic Italian restaurant. But I was on my way back to Colombo, and while waiting for the bus, I…
Hostel? Hotel? AirBnB? Your Accommodation Options Abroad
When it comes to budget accommodations on your journey, many young backpackers choose to stay in hostels. It appears to be almost a rite of passage – to stay in a big, famous party dorm where beer and music never stop. And I get it. After all, a huge part of backpacking is socializing and…