art studio visit

A few weekends ago, a friend and former coworker was visiting from Almaty and offered to show us her father’s art studio in Bishkek. Her father, Jyrgal Maturaimov, is a very talented painter. Farrell had seen some of her father’s paintings that she had posted on Facebook, and we had already decided that we need …

Sponsored Post: Brilliant Bulgaria!

Why Bulgaria should be on your Holiday Hit List It might not be the most obvious holiday destination, but Bulgaria has a lot to offer visitors. With a proud history, delicious food and wonderful beaches there’s something for everyone. Activities on offer include horse riding, diving, quad biking, cycling and snow sports, perfect for a …

Chinese New Year

(Reminder, today is the last day to take the super short Reader Survey, please and thank you!) Gong xi fa cai! Happy Chinese New Year! I wouldn’t say that there are a ton of Chinese people in Bishkek, but enough that fireworks and Chinese New Year celebrations aren’t incredibly rare each year. Our excuse for …

my newest addition

…to my growing collection of film cameras! I picked up this Smena-35 (Смена-35) at Orto-Sai Bazaar for 300 som (about $8). I was drawn partially to the packaging (it was one of the only cameras this vendor had that came with its original box and instruction manual) and partially to my recent desire to pick …

another dreary day

This is my third Bishkek winter, and yet again I trudge through cold puddles under sludge-colored skies and think, “Wait, what made me want to move here again?” The weather has been particularly atrocious, so this morning when I saw a fresh layer of snow, I got up with Farrell and decided I might as …