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…
Author: roaminggene
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…
What is Your Social Responsibility as a Photographer?
Recently, I went to a photo critique meetup in San Francisco where I got to show my recent series about the streets of Saigon. It was a small group, mostly Bay Area millenials. Most were professional or serious amateur photographers. I was one of the three people showing, and when my turn came, I was,…
Staying Safe From Crime
Most of the world is pretty safe, believe it or not, contrary to what you may hear from the TV. Of course, there are variations. Generally, Asia is the safest region in the world, especially East and South-East Asia. Muslim countries are generally very safe as long as there is no warfare there, which we…
My Top 10 San Francisco Sights
There’s no question that San Francisco should be visited by anyone who sets foot in the US. Europeans, in particular, love it: its Victorian buildings and maritime setting reminds them of a few similarly set cities on the continent, plus its liberal traditions are closer to the hearts of many young European travelers. Just like…
The Story of a Photo – Hail Rider (Kyrgyzstan)
The hike to the mountain valley of Jety Oguz was supposed to be a beautiful one. A short taxi ride from Karakol, and you are in the foothills of Tian Shan, steadily ascending along the dirt road, bypassing the turnoff to the Girl’s Braids Waterfall and continuing forward till you pass lush pastures and face…
Car: to Rent Or Not to Rent?
On my recent trip in Eastern Europe, I spent a few days with friends with a rented car, and also travelled on my own using public transport. Let’s talk about pros and cons of each option. If there you are travelling with a friend and/or a girlfriend, the best choice is almost always to rent…
My Top 10 Man-Made Sights
Sometimes we travel to see the natural beauty, and sometimes we go half-way around the world just to gawk at the marvels build by man over the centuries. I love both equally, to be honest – in my most recent trip to Central Asia, for example, I had a chance to enjoy both types of…