Central Asia is a land unto itself. From the jaw-droppingly beautiful and harsh heights of the Pamir and Tian Shan Mountains to the vibrant hues of markets and the dusty streets of ancient Silk Road cities, somewhere in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan there are landslides to be conquered, hot springs to be enjoyed and amazing textiles to be bought.

Alex Blossom is an educator and adventurer currently living in Moscow, Russia.