Post #22: First Flight

Today, I embarked on my first work trip in Brazil and had my first airline and airport experiences. Those well-acquainted with my job know that I am on the road constantly and spend a serious amount of time hanging out in airports going from to and fro. Here are a few observations from my first trip out:

- Brasília's airport is situated a short drive from my house and it is not traumatic or congested to get there. This is going to make life really wonderful.
- The airport is pretty organized. Brazilians have a culture of lining up and no one seems to cut, even though the lines often move pretty slowly. No one invaded my personal space or tried to elbow past. Another good point for travel here.
- Online check in, clear signage, and availability of Uber makes departing and arriving more straightforward and less stressful on both ends.
- July is the month of vacation and families were everywhere with small, medium, and big-sized kids in tow. The airport was busy and a bit noisy!
- Gates can be a bit difficult to navigate. Sometimes the gates change minutes before departing and the loudspeakers do not necessarily announce your flight. I will have to be alert.
- Airlines here are legit and have nice, roomy planes. I would say it is on par or a step up from flying in the U.S.
- Prices for airline tickets will not break your wallet if you plan in advance. Sometimes you can get to Rio or Sao Paulo for around USD $50-60.
- There are good places to stop for snacks, including a roasted nuts, gelato, and coffee.
- Many connections go directly through Brasília, making this a decent hub, even if the population centers are elsewhere in the country.

All in all, I was excited to check out the experience and to know that flying is not likely to be one of the stressors of travel here. Hooray!

Some insights from/about Central Asia

Howdy, y'all

In my absence, I've been busy cruising around the region (or racing as fast as one might be able in this vast space). I've stumbled upon some recent news worth a gander:

Atlantic Monthly article "The City of White Marble" on Ashgabat, Turkmenistan with great photography of the city. I visit this city for work frequently and continue to marvel at its grandeur.

A cynical look (with great photos) at Murghab, Tajikistan "In the Middle of Somewhere" by Joshua Kucera. The place is completely on top of the world but not quite as bleak as the author conveys. I was completely charmed by the people living here.

Business Insider recently posted a listing of "The 20 Worst Airlines in the World." Central Asia has made room for itself on this list, multiple times.

With humor and straight from the heart of Central Asia, I am humbly yours! Stay tuned for more updates from my recent trip to Uzbekistan!

Hardly a wink during this long winter's sleep

Howdy friends and family! My blogging activity has lulled to a slow, and you might have wondered if the bitter blasts of cold air on the Steppe had finally driven me to a hibernating slumber during spells of more than -40 this winter. Nope! Rather, I've been busily meeting new friends (and reuniting with some old ones) and trotting around the region. My Nomad Club Card is worn with use, my feet have covered a lot of territory, and I have been richly blessed. Here are some highlights just to catch you up.

In early November, I zoomed south after a trip to northeastern Kazakhstan to visit Turkmenistan. It's a 2,000 mile journey and the difference was palpable as I went from frigid Pavlodar, where it was -20 Centigrade to +24 Centigrade in Ashgabat all in one day!


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Turkmenistan was the biggest, cleanest marble city I have every seen. White buildings lining spotless boulevards lined by fountains and statues in every direction. It was spectacular, particularly as the city emerges from a desert. From the plane window I only saw desolate sands in every direction as far as you can see. There are camels being traded at the market and, I've since been told, cobras swishing around in those deserts (ai ai ai). My highlights included visiting markets and marveling at the beautiful handicrafts and carpets (see pictures, below) with new co-adventurers I met along the way.

Carpet and hat escapades brought me back home just in time for the Annual Marine Ball in Astana where I got to glide around the room with my husband and feel fancy for an evening.

From 2012-11 Marine Ball

From 2012-11 Marine Ball

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In December, I once again escaped the cold Astana temperatures and ventured south to Uzbekistan. I fell in love with cosmopolitan Tashkent and felt surrounded by history in rich tapestries, the old city of Khiva, and even in the dust of Urgench. The trip was spectacular and I felt at home (after all, there was still a hanger with my name on it in the coat closet at the Embassy!) in the green city. I cannot wait to go back next summer and hope to visit Bukhara and Samarkand while I am there.

One quirky detail about Uzbekistan: The national currency, Som, come only in denominations of 1,000 (2,000=$1 USD). Here's what it looks like to pay for dinner in a restaurant!

My final travels in Kazakhstan last year were up to the northwest in the city of Aktobe, where, among other things, I had the pleasure of viewing traditional dances, songs, and dombra performances by local school children.


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A whirlwind of new faces and new places, and I do have to admit that it did leave me dizzy and tired and very much in need of a long winter's nap.