Proud Parents

Proud Kazakh parents wait for their children to finish their wedding photos in front of the war memorial in Almaty's Panfilov Park. Read more about our experiences in Almaty and the Tian Shan Mountains.

Mobile is King

Choose whether you want to charge your phone or add a ringtone. This curious contraption can be found at the train station in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. Read more about our experiences in Almaty and the Tian Shan Mountains.

Seen A Lot

A vendor at Almaty's Zelyony Bazaar.The eyes say it all. Read more about our experiences in Almaty and the Tian Shan Mountains.

Convolutions Veal...

...with a side of piece of dried dread. Got to love English translations in the land of Borat. Read more about our experiences in Almaty and the Tian Shan Mountains.

Security Threat

Dan was shaken down by two plain-clothed security officers while taking this photo at the post office in Almaty. Who knew that taking a photo of a drawing from a 5th grader was considered high security? The men told Dan that in Kazakhstan we don't take photos. What a welcome...Read more about our experiences in Almaty and the Tian Shan Mountains.

Best Haircut in Almaty?

Dan overcame his fear of haircuts (after the Yerevan train station fiasco) and got a new do here in Almaty. The owners were all ethnic Kazakhs who had lived in China for the last 50+ years. The Kazakh government has wooed them back home. Read more about our experiences in Almaty and the Tian Shan Mountains.

Bird, Dropping

A young bride has some difficulty holding a dove for the photographer on her wedding day. Panfilov Park, Almaty.Read more about our experiences in Almaty and the Tian Shan Mountains.

Be Free!

A young couple releases doves into the air for good luck on their wedding day. ..Although it's also supposed to be good luck to be pooped on by a bird, that wasn't engineered into the day's festivities. Read more about our experiences in Almaty and the Tian Shan Mountains.

Photo Opp

A young girl tires of the endless photo session in front of the war memorial in Almaty's Panfilov Park. Read more about our experiences in Almaty and the Tian Shan Mountains.

Tongue and Cheek

Well, more like tongue and eyebrows. A vendor at the Zelyony Bazaar gets her eyebrows groomed in the midst of the meat section, with its hanging tongues and all. Read more about our experiences in Almaty and the Tian Shan Mountains.

Wait for Me

This girl in Almaty had a mysterious red mark on her forehead. We wondered whether the Hare Krishnas from Govinda restaurant had gotten hold of her. Read more about our experiences in Almaty and the Tian Shan Mountains.

Ego Award

A Hummer limousine wins the biggest car (and ego) award at Medeo resort outside of Almaty, Kazakhstan. Read more about our experiences in Almaty and the Tian Shan Mountains.

Just a Little More

The bride does gymnastics to get the perfect shot at Medeo outside of Almaty, Kazakhstan.The groom prepares himself for marriage in the background by downing some sparkling wine. Read more about our experiences in Almaty and the Tian Shan Mountains.

Wedding Day

Photo opportunities abound at Medeo outside of Almaty, Kazakhstan. Read more about our experiences in Almaty and the Tian Shan Mountains.

All Dressed Up but Nowhere to Go

Medeo - Almaty, Kazakhstan. Read more about our experiences in Almaty and the Tian Shan Mountains.

Almaty Calling

Habits start early... Read more about our experiences in Almaty and the Tian Shan Mountains.

Young Entrepreneurs

These two boys decided to make a little money after school by selling apples at Almaty's Zelyony Bazaar. Read more about our experiences in Almaty and the Tian Shan Mountains.

Perfect for Ajvar

Red peppers and eggplant are in season at Almaty's Zelyony Bazaar.Now, all we need to do is import some Balkan cuisine (ajvar, red pepper spread) and Mediterranean cuisine (roasted eggplant) and we'd have a meal. Dig deeper into Central Asian Cuisine and find out the best and worst of food and markets in the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Buy from Me!

Two young entrepreneurs try their hand at selling apples in Almaty's Zelyony Bazaar. Read more about our experiences in Almaty and the Tian Shan Mountains.

Good Price, My Friend

A vendor at Almaty's Zelyony Bazaar makes a deal. Read more about our experiences in Almaty and the Tian Shan Mountains.

Pepper Potential

We figured that Mexican cuisine has a chance in Almaty, with all the hot peppers on offer at the Zelyony Bazaar. Read more about our experiences in Almaty and the Tian Shan Mountains.

Trail Mix

Nuts, dried fruit and candied fruit at Almaty's Zelyony Bazaar.Dig deeper into Central Asian Cuisine and find out the best and worst of food and markets in the Caucasus and Central Asia.

A Sweet Offer

Dried fruit vendors are always quick to offer free samples of dried apricots and raisins to rope in customers. This vendor at Almaty's Zelyony Bazaar was from Samarkand, Uzbekistan. He seemed happy to find out we had visited his home town. The vendor next to him was not so friendly, unfortunately. He pointed us to the sign above the floor indicating no photos and told us we would be fined $100. After Dan's shake-down by security for taking an innocent photo at the local post office, we decided to end our visit to the market. No photos at a food market?! Ridiculous. Read more about our experiences in Almaty and the Tian Shan Mountains.

Brothel Furnishings?

A curious find in our room at a hotel-by-the-hour in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. Let your imaginations run wild on what it might be used for......Read more about our night at the brothel in Shymkent.

Uncornered Market

Kazakhstan: Weddings, Markets and Miscellany

Traditional China in Pingyao

Visiting the Warriors in Xi'an, China

A Tibetan Pilgrimage - Xiahe, China

Central Asia - Landscapes and Cityscapes

People of Central Asia