Author: Novastan 
Novastan
Written articles:
The Ascension Cathedral in Almaty
The Ascension Cathedral is the largest Orthodox building (56 metres high) built entirely of wood and the second largest in the world. It was this architecture that enabled it… [...]
Work in progress
Two stools, a basin and a knife set the scene in the Meros paper factory, in Kunigil, a village near Samarkand. Over a cup of tea, a craftswoman from… [...]
Carrier horse
A break for horses by the Yellow Lake, Saryköl, in the Naryn Region, Kyrgyzstan. The Kyrgyz people rely heavily on horses in their daily lives: they ferment mare’s milk to… [...]
Trade in Sheep
In winter, the sheep traded on the market are protected from the cold temperatures of Karakol thanks to their wool. Credit: Davide Pilloni (@flip_khan, Italy) Find… [...]
Guardian of the steppes
Many steppe marmots (Marmota baibacina) live between Akkol and Makinsk. While the young explore their surroundings, the adults keep watch in the shade of the birds… [...]
Desert fauna
A Phrynocephalus mystaceus, or toad-headed agama, basks in the sun among saxaul bushes. This small lizard (about 20 cm from head to tail), found notably in Altyn-Emel… [...]
In the heights of Tajikistan
In Tajikistan, a country where 93% of the territory is mountainous, journeys between cities are long and winding. Transport lorries, private cars and shared taxis cross paths on the… [...]
70 years of Xinjiang: Beijing celebrates and enacts new political doctrine
The 70th anniversary of Xinjiang, China’s Uyghur region, was celebrated with great fanfare in Ürümqi. The ceremony was marked by the presence of Xi Jinping, the first Chinese president to… [...]
Sunset glints
The day draws to a close in Khiva. The setting sun highlights Itchan Kala, the old city museum, and in particular the Muhammad Rahim Khan Madrasah. Khiva… [...]
Flaming flag
The Kyrgyz flag flaps in the wind against a stormy sky above the Tash Rabat camp. Slightly frayed, it features the old version of the national flag with wavy… [...]
Kyrgyzstan’s march to smother the free press
Kyrgyzstan is sliding down to full blown autocracy. The country has traditionally stood out for offering greater protections for free speech, political parties, and NGOs than any other Central Asian… [...]