I’ve been shooting like crazy with my army of Soviet-era film cameras lately, testing to see if they work, getting comfortable with the settings, and taking advantage of cheap prices for developing the film. Here are some of my favorites from the recent rolls, rollover the image to see which camera I used. There are …
Monthly Archives: July 2013
so much fabric
In an attempt to do as many Central Asia-related activities (and buy as many Central Asia-related things) as I possibly can before I move to Belgium, I went a bit crazy collecting different fabrics with the intention of getting some sweet threads made. Why? Mostly just because it seems like a ridiculous luxury to get …
illogical thoughts on moving to Belgium
I have so many post drafts that are long (really long) ramblings about how frustrating it is that I don’t know what the next step in my life is, how I’ve been saying for the past year that I want to move out of Kyrgyzstan by August 2013 and how by mid-July we still had …
the weird mural in Issyk Kul
This mural has become something of a legend in my mind. My former Belgian housemate first told me about it a few years ago after he drove past it and snapped a photo. “Have you heard about the painting with the big, pink dragon attacking the White House?” Uhh, no. No, I haven’t. Can you …
this is what sucks about being an expat
I had to say goodbye to a really good friend last night. Farrell played a show at an outdoor cafe with Eholami and Dad Manki. It was a beautiful, clear night, and I sat on the grass while Darwin managed to sleep for several hours in a pair of “junior-sized” noise-blocking earphones. People rocked out. …
Kazakh Music Friday
Kazakh Music Friday is a (rare) feature in which I post a pop music video from an artist in Kazakhstan. It could be catchy, annoying, funny, insightful, brilliant, awful, or anything in between. It’s what’s playing on the radio, what all the cool kids are listening to these days. Kazakh Music Friday is not trying …
a perfect weekend in Tamga
There were several factors that made this possibly one of the best trips to Issyk Kul that I’ve ever had. First, wonderful company. Daniel was prepared for anything, and he had a car, and he’s a very laid-back, awesome guy. When the apartment we rented didn’t have sugar, he had sugar (a necessity for my …
how to find an apartment in Bishkek
OKAY GUYS. I get it. I’ve mentioned enough real estate-related terms on this blog that many of you end up here from Google looking for actual advice on how to find an apartment or a house in Bishkek. I receive an unbelieveable amount of emails asking for tips on apartment-hunting, or flat out asking if …
Kyrgyz Music Friday
Kyrgyz Music Friday is a (sometimes) weekly feature in which I post a pop music video from an artist in Kyrgyzstan. It could be catchy, annoying, funny, insightful, brilliant, awful, or anything in between. It’s what’s playing on the radio, what all the cool kids are listening to these days. Kyrgyz Music Friday is not …
Foods I ate in Istanbul
I love Turkish food. I don’t eat it as much anymore, but at my old house in Bishkek, we lived near several Turkish restaurants that we went to all the time. When I went to Istanbul last month, I knew I would enjoy eating as much Turkish food as I could. My week of eating …