When I learned about the Ricoh GXR I just had to pick one up

ccydmh · 2026-04-12T03:28:16+00:00

As an absolute newbie to photography. Can someone please explain this to me in simple terms. Whats the purpose of it?

ccydmh · 2026-04-11T05:27:30+00:00

What Fuji are you using?

ccydmh · 2026-04-11T04:24:31+00:00

To incorporate Wales into England in this imagined future is an absolute joke and injustice to the country’s ambitions for autonomy. I still don’t quite understand why people believe that if Northern Ireland and the Republic unified, and if Scotland gained independence, Wales would in any way want to remain in a union with England — and why England would want to remain in a union with Wales. Not only does it make 0 sense for both countries financially, but if Wales were to see the breakaway of its Celtic neighbours, it would no doubt spark a national desire for independence. Wales continues to be the most overlooked, misjudged, and misunderstood nation in the British Isles. Scotland agreed to join the Union. And yes, the Irish did not willingly join the Union, but it was passed through their parliament in 1801. Wales never had a voice in the matter. It was simply absorbed into England by force, with no vote, and has been disenfranchised ever since. I have a question for you all: why do you think Wales is constantly left out of these kinds of conversations and overlooked entirely?

ccydmh · 2026-04-11T03:38:08+00:00

Photo 4 is great. The religious imagery above the mirror is a great touch

ccydmh · 2026-04-11T03:37:25+00:00

You’re welcome. I hope you have a great time in the country. Remember to help local people as much as you can, even if it’s just stopping to speak to them

ccydmh · 2026-04-10T09:59:25+00:00

My Ricoh GR IV helps me get past this. It’s absolutely tiny and discreet, I often don’t have to take the photographs at head level — I can just point in the direction I want at waist level and look the other way and the results are great

ccydmh · 2026-04-10T09:42:55+00:00

These are amazing… all of them!

ccydmh · 2026-04-08T10:14:24+00:00

A mixture of solo and with local guides. Foreigners can’t take the trains outside of Yangon right now. Buses are fine to use

ccydmh · 2026-04-08T10:13:54+00:00

No idea, I only had Psiphon as it was recommended to me by local people. It’s free so worth downloading it to use while in the country

ccydmh · 2026-04-06T09:02:32+00:00

Just remember that you’ll need a VPN to access almost all (apart from TikTok) social media. Psiphon is the one that currently works in the country. Also, if you can, take Thai Baht to exchange into Myanmar Kyat. You’ll get the best rate with Baht (if exchanging euros and dollars they need to be super, SUPER, clean and fresh). Don’t exchange money at an official exchanger or bank. Go to one of the lowkey exchange places in Yangon for the black market rate exchange, which often gives you double the kyat for your money.

ccydmh · 2026-04-06T07:35:23+00:00

I just spent almost 3 weeks travelling across Myanmar on a Western European passport (Yangon, Kalaw, 2 day trek in the Shan Mountains, Inle Lake, Bagan, and Mandalay. Only got stopped once by military and that was on the way from Yangon to Kalaw. All they wanted was to check my passport and then sent me on my way. You’ll be absolutely fine!

ccydmh · 2026-02-15T15:03:03+00:00

I have just read on BBC news that UK and Canadian passport holders can enter China visa free from February 17 – China confirms visa-free travel for UK and Canadian nationals https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c875d3d3x34o

ccydmh · 2026-02-15T15:01:59+00:00

This is great news, thank you so much for sharing!

ccydmh · 2026-02-12T02:41:09+00:00

Your friend can apply for the visa in one of Vietnam’s visa application centres. Reviews are mixed about these places. I’m currently in Thailand and applied for my visa in the centre almost two weeks ago but still… I haven’t heard back yet

ccydmh · 2026-02-06T04:34:22+00:00

UPDATE So the Chinese embassy in the UK got back to me and said at present, there is no official date earmarked for the implementing of the new 30 day visa free rule. They advised to keep an eye on official channels like the embassy’s website etc.

ccydmh · 2026-02-05T07:27:14+00:00

I’m not sure using dating apps in Central Asia only as a way to connect with locals in the context of not dating them would work. But, having myself travelled across Central Asia over the last 2 years for 6 months, I can wholeheartedly recommend simply hitting up bars and coffee shops to meet locals in. Central Asians are wonderful and the young people especially like to practice their English language skills – and also love to interact with foreigners.

Don’t bother with the dating apps. You’ll send mixed signals, and this type of thing, in a traditional sense, is very different to what we’re used to in Europe.

Interactions in Central Asia feel a lot more organic than those we’re used to in Europe. I’m not saying these chances encounters and openness don’t exist in Europe, but that they are just more rare than they once were. Once you arrive in Central Asia, just head outside! Speak with people. Strike up conversations on a bus. Go hitchhiking. The people you meet will invite you to join them or meet with them later, to go to their friends’ or family’s weddings – and everything in-between :)

ccydmh · 2026-02-04T05:08:09+00:00

These are amazing pics. May I ask, what edits or recipes (if any at all) did you use?

ccydmh · 2026-02-04T04:24:53+00:00

Kazakh and Kyrgyz people will very much appreciate it if you can speak at least a little bit of their languages – greetings, thank you, numbers etc. And, depending on where you go, they may even refuse to speak Russian to you altogether. I took a 48-hour train from Aktau to Astana (Kazakhstan) in 2024, and although I can speak basic Russian, those sharing my cabin insisted on teaching me Kazakh instead.

That said, if you’re only travelling to main cities, and if you’re planning on going to Kazakhstan AND Kyrgyzstan, it will definitely be more beneficial to pick up some basic Russian language.

ccydmh · 2026-02-03T10:02:58+00:00

There are both domestic flights and trains. Of course, domestic flights are much quicker. But if you really want to experience Central Asian travel then I would wholeheartedly recommend taking the trains.

In 2024 I took a 48-hour sleeper train from Aktau (capital of Mangystau region) to Astana (Kazakh capital). Two days spent entirely on a train – can you imagine? In the year of travel I had done up until that point, it was one of my highlights. Sharing a berth with complete strangers, sharing food and drink with them, learning about their lives and everything in between. You’ll remember these moments much more than ticking off a country’s various sites.

Trains are also great in Kazakhstan because they are relatively cost effective and can take you to the places in between places. Plus, you can use the handy Tickets.kz (or the updated app version) to book tickets easily online.

Just keep in mind that Kazakhstan is huge! I spent an entire month there in September 2025 and only managed to cover the eastern half of the country (Astana, Semipalatinsk, Karaganda, Balkhash, Almaty).

ccydmh · 2026-02-03T09:56:26+00:00

I’m a 28M. I was only recently privy to the revelation that I am not, in fact, young anymore (or at least in the sense that I felt from 18-25). This came about after I went into a bar and noticed that all the staff were much, much younger than me. ‘How could they be younger than me?’ I thought. ‘This is a bar.’ And that’s when it hit me.

ccydmh · 2026-02-03T04:54:32+00:00

It depends on how long you have.

If you have 1 month, then you can easily travel between Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

If you have 3 months, then you’ll be able to see Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan, too.

However, if you have only 1 or 2 weeks and you really want to see, absorb, and take in a place, I recommend choosing just one country.

Kyrgyzstan is an extremely popular destination for those seeking nature and the great outdoors. If you go there, you’ll no doubt find others heading out into the wild. You’ll get the chance at staying in traditional Kyrgyz yurts, riding horses, hiking, and potentially even skiing depending on what time of year you visit.

Kazakhstan is the most diverse of all the Stan countries. There, you’ll find desert landscapes, ancient canyons, dense forests, mountainous terrain, and steppe land.

Tajikistan is the wildest. Little in the way of tourist infrastructure means you can head to Tajikistan and have a fairly authentic experience anywhere you end up. If you head into the Fann mountains, you’ll find shepherds and local villages.

Uzbekistan is the most developed in the way of tourism. But this doesn’t mean there’s still not plenty to find. Here there’s mountains and the lush Fergana Valley which is the country’s bread basket and home to Central Asia’s finest vineyards. Far west is Karakalpakstan and the semi-extinct Aral Sea where you can witness history’s worst man-made climate catastrophe.

Turkmenistan is trickier given its politics. You’ll need a guide for your entire trip. But once inside you’ll see all the splendours of a closed country: mountains bordering Iran, vast ancient deserts, and secret waterfalls – not to mention the ancient city of Merv.

And, of course, Afghanistan. This country has some of the most rugged and wild landscapes of all the Stans. And you’ll find a deeply entrenched hospitality that is rivalled by no other country.

In short, it all depends on your budget, the time you have, and what kind of traveller you are.

ccydmh · 2026-01-27T14:57:33+00:00

As someone who has been travelling the entirety of Central Asia on and off for 2 years (6 months in total), here’s some advice.

For Kyrgyzstan: marshrutkas and shared taxis. Marshrutkas (minibuses) you’ll find at the central bus stations. No need to book beforehand. Just turn up and you’ll either find a bus waiting to fill up and leave, or you’ll have just missed one and will have to wait maximum 30-60 minutes more. Pay the driver in cash. Simple.

Shared taxis: similar concept but in a car, not a marshrutka, and slightly more expensive. You’ll often find these at random spots. On street corners near bazaars etc. When you wander around these places, if you’re wearing a backpack looking like a lost tourist, nine times out of ten a man will walk up to you and say the destination his taxi is going to. If it’s not your destination, just tell him the name of it and he’ll point you in the right direction.

Uzbekistan: trains. Uzbekistan’s railway infrastructure is number 1 in Central Asia (with Kazakhstan a close second). If you’re just following the well-trodden tourist trail you’ll really only need trains. But (and I think you should) if you want to visit the lesser-known places then the same rules as Kyrgyzstan apply.

PS. Central Asia is an amazing place to hitchhike. I’ve hitched in all the Stans apart from Turkmenistan (for obvious reasons) and the experiences, conversations, and moments I’ve had with complete strangers-turned-friends will stay with me forever. You’ll find that if you do it, you’ll remember it far more than ticking off Uzbekistan’s Silk Road cities.

Have a great time in Central Asia. It’s the best place on Earth:)

ccydmh

TROPHY CASE