The World Nomad Games (At a Glance) When a horse handler caught the eye of my camera, he put on a little show. On September 5th, I arrived in Astana bagless and approaching 30 hours without sleep. The airline left my luggage in Istanbul, but I was too excited to be consumed by the inconvenience. I ventured into the city, knowing I still had a camera, passport, and a semi-operational human body. Kazakhstan is the birthplace of tulips and apples. It's inhabited by over 120 ethnic groups. Many...

The Only Two People You Should Try to Impress A mother and her daughter at Carnaval de Valencia - March 2024 As a teenager, I was always trying to impress someone. Whether it was the crowd at a sporting event or a girl at the mall, I sought validation in the words and reactions of others. I couldn't conjure self-acceptance, so I continued seeking. Hey, look at me! Yeah, no thanks. If we must impress anyone in this life, let it be two people: The child self and the older self. First is the...

Conquer the Fear of Flying When I was six, my family went to San Diego to visit relatives. I had the aisle seat on the outbound flight, and my brother had the window. Seated between us was a fella who snored like a beached walrus. Naturally, we decided to mess with him. First, we removed his watch and put it on the opposite wrist. Then, we emptied the contents of a ketchup packet on his upper back. Somehow, he didn't wake up. Had the guy been conscious, his in-flight experience would have...