On the Silk Road, Traces of Once Bustling Intercontinental Trade
Lahore, Pakistan, is more visibly armed than Alabama, choked by Kafka-grade bureaucracy and pollution so thick you spit gray into the sink when you brush your teeth.
These realities do not mar Lahore's five spreads in THE SILK ROAD: A Living History (Hemeria, $55), a sometimes beautiful travelogue of landscapes, buildings and faces along the route that once conveyed untold wealth between Europe and China, before the 16th century took trade out to sea.
What the photographer Christopher Wilton-Steer does catch is the odd potential for solitude in a city so populous, as well as its architectural dignity and the benevolent pride with which Pakistanis regard outsiders. Wilton-Steer is a Londoner. In his overland trek spanning thousands of miles and 170 photographs, taken from both drone and ground vantages, his goal is feel-good: to prove that the Silk Road's 'legacy of interconnectivity and exchange' lives today, he writes, even if the literal goods now go by boat.
The photos deliver. Because they flow west to east in the book, and because Wilton-Steer's favorite angles emerge as patterns throughout, they braid a telling human gradient: from onion domes in Venice to the pitched facades of Uzbekistan, from a Christian stele in Turkey to a Buddhist one in South Asia, from Uyghur faces to Han ones across China. And much to his credit, he doesn't falsely rusticate. His natives drive trucks past ruined Soviet airstrips. They wear cheugy leopard-print sweaters when they spin wool. That's life.
But revelation isn't the endgame of the picturesque. Wilton-Steer's crinkled peaks and tender children of Tajikistan are prettily shot, but does it matter that the new schools, infrastructures, marketplaces and tourist centers that he depicts have been funded by the Aga Khan IV, the late billionaire developer and Muslim leader whose foundation also financed the photographer's voyage? (Wilton-Steer is the organization's head of communications.) This welcome if partisan book optimistically suggests that although container ships do the carrying now, cultural traders are alive and well on the Silk Road.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Getting hitched? Here are some of Pueblo's best wedding venues to consider for the big day
Pueblo lovebirds who have decided to tie the knot have hundreds of choices to make before the big day, from where to get hitched to what to wear, who to invite, what to eat, what kind of flowers to use for decorating, and who to hire for photography. When it comes to choosing the site, considerations often include whether the ceremony will be indoors or outdoors (or a little of both), as well as atmosphere, accommodations, staff, accessibility, and even parking. Josh and Kristan Lepik of Lepik Photography have been capturing memorable moments of Puebloans' wedding events for the past 12 years. They've spent a lot of time gauging the pros and cons of wedding venues they've worked at and have shared blog posts on their website that help newlyweds-to-be decide where they want to hold their big event. "We are trying to be that premier place to help choose venues. We started with a blog on the Abriendo Inn and the Union Depot and we are currently working on the convention center," Josh Lepik told the Chieftain. The photographers' website also lists considerations to take into account for several different photography locations and sample pictures at each site. They even get into details like whether there is a parking fee. When it comes to making the choice, sometimes multiple options get the nod. "We had one couple that got married at a very tiny church and then the reception was in a backyard so neither place was great for photos," he explained. It turned out that Lake Pueblo was between the church and the reception, "so we went to the north entrance of the reservoir and there is a road off to the right with a half-circle parking lot and that's right by the water so that's where we took the photos." "The good thing about Pueblo is that you can get anywhere in 20 minutes. We try to find unique places around Pueblo that can make it epic," Lepik explained. The former passenger train station, built in 1889, is a red-brick marvel harkening back to the Romanesque era. A large banquet hall can accommodate up to 500 guests and is used for more than 200 events yearly, from wedding receptions to private parties. "It is a great location, has a bridal loft for getting ready and plenty of photo opportunities," Lepik said. Find out more at This circa 1906 blonde-brick four-story mansion offers a fairy-tale-like setting for weddings. The Abriendo Inn is owned by Jeff and Cindy Baily. Cindy Baily has three decades of experience as a wedding planner and the couple hosts 10 to 12 weddings and receptions each year, ranging from 30 people inside to up to 325 people outside. The inn has "obvious beauty both inside, with stunning woodwork, stained glass windows, and chandeliers, and outside with beautiful lawn, trees and a water fountain," Cindy Bailey said. "There are plenty of rooms for all guests to get ready, and it's a beautiful property for taking lots of pictures," Lepik said. "We offer clients a one-stop shop for their special day. Couples and guests can attend the ceremony and reception all in one place, eliminating the need to travel to a new location for each part of the event," Cindy Bailey explained. Find out more at Surrounded by green meadows, aspen and pine trees, and breathtaking views of the Wet Mountain Range, Brush Canyon Ranch is a private, quiet mountain location that specializes in outdoor weddings. The facility is highlighted by a ceremony gazebo, a reception pavilion and cabin lodging. "It is a great location with suites for both the bride and groom to get ready, plus it is great for photos," Lepik said. Find out more at The 1997 convention center received major upgrades in 2019. The center can accommodate almost any budget and weddings ranging from 25 to 1,000 guests With an in-house culinary team, the center staff can also handle the reception and feeding guests. "It is one of the top places in Pueblo. They can accommodate any size of wedding with multiple rooms that can expand. It is in the heart of downtown with lots of parking and is easily accessible," Lepik said. He pointed out the convention center has limited photo opportunities, "unless you drive a short distance or walk to the riverwalk." Some other popular wedding venues in Pueblo include the , which is centrally located in the heart of downtown and provides nice shade; the , which has Industrial vibes, an outdoor patio and inside space; and the , which is a "wonderful riverwalk venue with plenty of parking where there are lots of photo opportunities," Lepik said. Both and can be good outdoor-only wedding venues with "plenty of space for everyone, which makes them great for the ceremony and reception," Lepik said. "The only downside is they are fully outdoors, so weather will be the biggest factor." Pueblo is also home to several other smaller event and reception halls and there are several other ranches that also host weddings in the county. The Lepiks have worked to build up their business and that effort has won them Best of Pueblo Community Choice Awards for photography businesses for the past few years. They said one thing they've learned is that there are many great choices for photos in the community. The old jailhouse, the Station at the Riverwalk, a public sidewalk with beautiful blooming trees in the background, the dome in Mineral Palace Park, and many other places can be ideal to capture memories of the big day. "We got married at the top of the (Rawlings) library on Abriendo. You can rent out the whole rooftop of the library and it was insanely cheap," Lepik said. "We felt like we were on top of the city, on top of the library on top of the hill on Abriendo. We had half indoor and half outdoor accomodations and it was truly cool," he explained. More: How the Pueblo Convention Center set a new gross revenue record in 2024 Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon covers business news. She can be reached by email at tharmon@ or via X at Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Here are the best wedding venues in Pueblo, Colorado
Vogue
2 hours ago
- Vogue
COMO Shambhala at COMO Metropolitan Singapore
Welcome to the second iteration of Vogue's global spa guide, an index of the 100 best spas in the world, built from the expertise of our global editors and trusted contributors. There is a lot to choose from in the world of wellness, and no matter how far you're planning to travel—from a subway ride to a trans-Atlantic flight—we want to make sure it's worth the journey. Whatever your path, let us be your guide. Why go here? COMO Shambhala Singapore is the only Singaporean outlet for the Singapore-based and founded COMO Shambhala, part of the larger COMO hotels & resorts empire, founded by Christina Ong. While the Bali location is advertised as the premiere retreat for a secluded, all-encompassing experience, the Singapore location is the 'urban flagship,' touted as the center for innovation for the entire Shambhala enterprise. In a city where you can't walk a block without running into a second-floor walk-in massage parlor, it offers something distinctly high-end, stylish, efficient, and elegant. Photo: Courtesy of COMO Shambhala What's the vibe? Designed by Milan-based designer and architect, Paola Navone of OTTO Studio, COMO Shambhala Singapore is aesthetically unified by its pale blue tiles, sort of like what you might find in an upscale Italian pool or a location scouted by Italian director Paolo Sorrentino. It's a quite distinct look for an Asian spa, modern, crisp and without a bamboo shoot or orchid in sight. (Delicious warm ginger tea is served in cups sourced by Ong from artisanal pottery studio in Ubud, Bali, pottery—that's the kind of inspired aesthetic grace notes the spa incorporates.) The spa itself feels like the kind of place that busy Singaporeans might stop by for an hour or two. People don't seem to stay still in general in this city, and the spa seems aware that it's (mostly) catering to a clientele that is on the move. (There is a multi-day 'digestive reset' program involving cleanses of varying intensities if you do want to call the hotel and spa home for a stretch.) On the day I visited there were far more people bustling in and out in spandex than shuffling around in robes. What's the history? As mentioned, COMO Shambhala, with 16 locations around the world (spanning the globe, from Turks and Caicos to Bhutan to London), has become synonymous with elegant, high-end wellness retreats. But there is a special resonance to COMO Shambhala Singapore, the only Singaporean outlet for the Singapore-based company. COMO Shambhala, in fact, first started in 1997 as a local yoga studio in the city. This outlet is part of the relatively new COMO Orchard hotel, which opened in 2023, just off the buzzing, luxury-laden shopping thoroughfare of Orchard Road where pedestrians pass in and out of air-conditioned malls, laden with Gucci or Prada shopping bags.
Skift
3 hours ago
- Skift
Ixigo Lands $11 Million From Schroder Fund, Elevation Capital Trims Stake
Ixigo's focus on the next billion users in India, along with diversification and bet on profitable acquisitions has driven it to profitability in an already lucrative Indian market. Asset management company Schroder International Selection Fund has made an investment in online travel agency Ixigo. Through the block deal investment, the financial institution acquired a 1.38% stake in Ixigo, the online travel agency said in a statement. On Thursday, Ixigo shareholder Elevation capital sold 7.5 million shares in a block deal for about INR 1.35 billion ($15.7 million). Schroder acquired nearly 5.37 million shares for INR 969 million ($11.2 million). Last month, Elevation offloaded over 21.5 lakh shares for INR 382 million ($4.4 million). Even with the block deal, Elevation Capital still holds 12.08% in Ixigo. According to Ixigo, Elevation got a 2500% return on its latest partial
