Soles of a Nomad

The Registan is more than a famous landmark—it’s a place that overwhelms with scale, beauty, and history the moment you step into it. This post explores Samarkand’s great square as both architecture and lived space, from its monumental madrassas and symbolic tilework to the quiet awe of standing there alone at dawn or watching it glow during the nightly light show.

Khiva is one of the most intact Silk Road cities in Central Asia, a place where massive mudbrick walls still enclose a living old town. This nuts-and-bolts guide covers when to go, how to get there, where to stay, what to eat, and how much time to spend—so you can slow down, wander the Itchan Kala, and experience Khiva at its best.

Think you’re ready for the Ubud Sacred Monkey Forest? Meet Lil’ Kiki, your simian host and expert in tourist-watching and snack theft. This post gives you all the essentials (and some monkey gossip) for your visit to one of Bali’s wildest attractions.

Some works of art don’t just please the eye—they punch the soul. This post reflects on the rare and unforgettable moments when a painting or sculpture reaches across time and medium to move you, overwhelm you, and quietly change you.

A section of the lunch counter from Goldsboro, NC A Day of Monuments, Museums, and Meaning   On a family trip to the mainland, we spent...