Andrei Zviagintsev

From the mountain gorge I moved to the other side of the lake to spend the night in a tent by the water. This is my first night in the open air, tomorrow it will be clear whether I like this style of travel or not.

I drove half of my way around Lake Issyk-Kul along the southern shore in 3 days. To go around the lake, you need to go back along the northern side. In a few days I will rest and work in Karakol, maybe go to the mountains again, and then go further. P.S.: The landscapes from the window here remind me of scenes from westerns.

We spent the night in a neighboring village in a house with a view of a potato field and mountains. Several thick blankets folded on the floor served as beds. Tired, went to bed early and finally got some sleep!

At the top we were covered by rain and a hurricane wind. It became dangerous to go down on horses, although it was also dangerous without them. There was a moment when I slid down the grass in a raincoat, hoping to get to the bottom faster. By the way, I filmed this moment on video - the video will soon be released on YouTube. But the landscapes here are of course incredible, I would hardly have wandered here myself.

After the morning shooting we went to the village to climb to the mountain lake on horses. The village itself was at an altitude of 2100 meters, at what altitude the lake is - I do not know, but we climbed for more than three hours. At the beginning of the journey thunder rumbled over the mountains.

The day started at 5 o'clock with filming in the canyon and on the lake shore. This is my part of the contribution to the volunteer project.

I spent that night in a yurt. The night on Issyk-Kul was cold, but 3 blankets helped me sleep soundly) But I really didn't want to get out from under the blanket.

In Bishkek, I found a volunteer project that turned into a trip to Lake Issyk-Kul. That's where I met a baby camel. I originally planned to go there later and hitchhike, but it turned out even better.

5 days ago I left Almaty to go on a vlog trip around Kyrgyzstan. Today I petted a baby camel for the first time.

23.06.2025
Today is my day off.

I haven't published short news stories here for a little over three months. During this time, I finished volunteering in Laos and went to Almaty, visiting Bangkok and New Delhi. I'll try to improve and share news more often. By the way, I'm on social networks and I'm much more active there, all the links are in contacts - add me, let's be friends! (Photo from my first mountain peak in Almaty)

I've been in Laos for two months now. Sometimes in the evenings I come to the veranda just to watch the sunset.

Today we photographed elephants. Perhaps we will make canvases with photos for the wall. It is a pity for the animals, of course. Although the baby elephants are quite friendly and inquisitive, and tourists feed them well. Mixed impressions.

Today I'm taking pictures of food for the menu.

Exactly 2 years ago I flew away from home and haven't been back since. I remember the snowfall at the airport, my doubts before getting my boarding pass - "Maybe I shouldn't?", how a wheel was torn off my suitcase on the way, how I couldn't call a taxi at night, how I was looking for a SIM card with this suitcase on one wheel, how I saw the Caspian Sea from the hotel window for the first time... All this seemed so complicated, incomprehensible, and dangerous in places. And now two years have passed, but it feels like five.

A woman behind the glass with a kind smile is doing something magical with a dress on a mannequin in her studio, a man on the river bank is slowly weaving boats, apparently for sale, and the owner of a cafe is cheerfully playing with a dog waiting for the first customers, somewhere in the background there is calm music, and I am just strolling here after breakfast. Morning in Tam Coc.

This morning we met with Ola, took some photos, which I will show you soon. And last time we saw each other was on Phangan in Thailand. In general, it is interesting - you travel, meet someone, make new acquaintances, friends, then your paths diverge, and after a while you can meet in another city, country or even on another continent.

In Asia, I have moments when it seems like I've been there before. It's like a feeling when you just woke up, you don't remember what the dream was about, but the mood is still there. A fleeting deja vu. And here it's the same. One of the most peaceful and pleasant places I've been to is the "Temple on the Island"

I myself find it hard to believe that phones have learned to take photos like this. Amazing!

Street, gates, tables, a bike, and inside the houses kids are watching cartoons. This is the vibe of local cafes.
Greens, rice noodles, hot sauce with apples and carrots, something like our lula kebab. Local lunch for locals - very delicious!

My first day in a new city. Ninh Binh, Vietnam, 3.12.24

You need to set yourself a reminder:
Don't forget to just live! I know it sounds pompous, but personally, I really often forget and fly somewhere without stopping..

By the way, to be honest, I wanted to leave here today, but I was too lazy. It's probably for the best.

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Look like a lumberjack from Utah?) Today I walked 17.4 kilometers - crossed a gorge with a valley. It doesn't seem like much, but it's always difficult in the mountains!

I also like to take a walk, wander into some unfamiliar yard and make an unexpected discovery. For some reason, this house brought to mind "The Blue House Where Frida Lived". By the way, I would really like to visit there someday!

Working a lot and solving problems, I often forget to just enjoy life! But I like to take local food, find a place with a beautiful view and sit down to eat;) For some reason, we don't do this at home. And it costs practically nothing, such a lunch cost only about $1.2 - the price of a happy moment.

So, let's sum it up: in 2.5 weeks in Sapa I launched advertising and 2 sites, plus my own. I think we can move on.

Today is exactly half a year since I've been in Southeast Asia. On May 30th I flew to Kuala Lumpur for the first time. And the weather today is just great - no fog, no rain!

It's raining in Sapa today.. I don't really like this kind of weather, but it looks very atmospheric.