Ole Bouman
@olebouman.bsky.social
A dome under the Dome of #Heaven, the #clouds a #chorus to sing its #grace.
#soltaniyeh
#iran
#persia
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
#soltaniyeh
#iran
#persia
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
Soltaniyeh Dome, an architectural marvel halfway Shanghai
If I think back of the architectural highlights of my Journey to the East, The Soltaniyeh Dome in Zanjan province, Iran, is definitely among them.
open.substack.com
April 5, 2025 at 11:56 AM
A dome under the Dome of #Heaven, the #clouds a #chorus to sing its #grace.
#soltaniyeh
#iran
#persia
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
#soltaniyeh
#iran
#persia
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
For all Americans who now frantically ask themselves where is the point, and when is the moment, that they will decide to rise up, here is a story of a compatriot who took the stance. Courtesy Iranian heritage conservation.
#journeytotheeast
#iran
#tabriz
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
#journeytotheeast
#iran
#tabriz
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
Where are American Baskervilles Today?
Finally, I arrived in Tabriz, a city that, for reasons I don’t fully understand, had been on my mind for a long time.
open.substack.com
March 27, 2025 at 8:41 PM
For all Americans who now frantically ask themselves where is the point, and when is the moment, that they will decide to rise up, here is a story of a compatriot who took the stance. Courtesy Iranian heritage conservation.
#journeytotheeast
#iran
#tabriz
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
#journeytotheeast
#iran
#tabriz
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
A mountain that sparked some of the greatest stories ever told.
#Ararat
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
#Ararat
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
Mount Ararat: Two Arks on the Brink of the East
Where Türkiye, Armenia, and Iran meet, I finally reached the Great Ararat, a mountain of majestic shape and proportions—a legacy of volcanic activity from ages past.
open.substack.com
March 19, 2025 at 9:32 PM
A mountain that sparked some of the greatest stories ever told.
#Ararat
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
#Ararat
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
Report from the confluence of where I come from and where I want to go to.
#Euphrates
#middleeast
#middlewest
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
#Euphrates
#middleeast
#middlewest
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
The shimmer of the Euphrates
From a caravanserai at Tercan, Türkiye
open.substack.com
March 17, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Report from the confluence of where I come from and where I want to go to.
#Euphrates
#middleeast
#middlewest
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
#Euphrates
#middleeast
#middlewest
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
A whistling wind, cawing crows, a snarling dog, while the distant past stares me in the face.
#solitude
#loneliness
#curiosity
#escape
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
#solitude
#loneliness
#curiosity
#escape
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
The cave dwellings of Todurge
At Zara, Türkiye
open.substack.com
March 7, 2025 at 1:58 PM
A whistling wind, cawing crows, a snarling dog, while the distant past stares me in the face.
#solitude
#loneliness
#curiosity
#escape
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
#solitude
#loneliness
#curiosity
#escape
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
Imagine, there is no plastic
Not easy if you try
Imagine, we put our resources not into military, space, or AI projects, but into a planetary project to clean up the mess. Now that’s a sound business case.
#plastic
#planet
#microplastics
#pollution
#nowheretohide
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
Not easy if you try
Imagine, we put our resources not into military, space, or AI projects, but into a planetary project to clean up the mess. Now that’s a sound business case.
#plastic
#planet
#microplastics
#pollution
#nowheretohide
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
Plastic planet
If I look back at my photo’s, taken along the roads of the countries I crossed, the most obvious sight is the synthetical packaging and wrappers from fast food and drinks, with a dominant presence of ...
open.substack.com
March 6, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Imagine, there is no plastic
Not easy if you try
Imagine, we put our resources not into military, space, or AI projects, but into a planetary project to clean up the mess. Now that’s a sound business case.
#plastic
#planet
#microplastics
#pollution
#nowheretohide
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
Not easy if you try
Imagine, we put our resources not into military, space, or AI projects, but into a planetary project to clean up the mess. Now that’s a sound business case.
#plastic
#planet
#microplastics
#pollution
#nowheretohide
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
There are a few reasons why I’m glad to have made a stop at Ankara. Here are reasons 1 and 2.
#enroute
#fringebenefitofvisa
#synchronicity
#perfecttiming
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
#enroute
#fringebenefitofvisa
#synchronicity
#perfecttiming
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
Applying for Visa for Iran exactly at the right time
at Ankara, Türkiye
open.substack.com
March 4, 2025 at 6:24 AM
There are a few reasons why I’m glad to have made a stop at Ankara. Here are reasons 1 and 2.
#enroute
#fringebenefitofvisa
#synchronicity
#perfecttiming
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
#enroute
#fringebenefitofvisa
#synchronicity
#perfecttiming
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
While witnessing the dissolution of the #West and its self-proclaimed centrality in the multipolar world, I try to anticipate a next chapter with a #JourneytotheEast. (Spoiler alert: it’s not about expanding our military as quickly as possible.) #Substack
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
Istanbul: East and West at the Cross Roads
Journey to the East Blog Video
open.substack.com
March 2, 2025 at 6:19 PM
While witnessing the dissolution of the #West and its self-proclaimed centrality in the multipolar world, I try to anticipate a next chapter with a #JourneytotheEast. (Spoiler alert: it’s not about expanding our military as quickly as possible.) #Substack
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
Cycling through the most contested spot on #Earth since the Fourth #Crusade. Correction: since the Trojan War
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
The Antechamber of Asia
At Edirne, Türkiye
open.substack.com
February 28, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Cycling through the most contested spot on #Earth since the Fourth #Crusade. Correction: since the Trojan War
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
Reaching the End of #Europe and seeing #Asia at the #Horizon.
#oldcontinent
#onecontinentdone
#hagiasophia
#bosphorus
#turkiye
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
#oldcontinent
#onecontinentdone
#hagiasophia
#bosphorus
#turkiye
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
Istanbul: East and West at the Crossroads
At Istanbul, Türkiye
open.substack.com
February 26, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Reaching the End of #Europe and seeing #Asia at the #Horizon.
#oldcontinent
#onecontinentdone
#hagiasophia
#bosphorus
#turkiye
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
#oldcontinent
#onecontinentdone
#hagiasophia
#bosphorus
#turkiye
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
Dear Greek friends (and all others),
I hope you don’t mind if I share a few images and thoughts from the border of your country, aka the border of the European Union. few kilometers before I reached Türkiye, I ran into an obstacle that in itself considered my road as an obstacle too.
#Greece
#flood
I hope you don’t mind if I share a few images and thoughts from the border of your country, aka the border of the European Union. few kilometers before I reached Türkiye, I ran into an obstacle that in itself considered my road as an obstacle too.
#Greece
#flood
Nature is stronger than my Komoot
At Marasia, Greece, near Türkiye
open.substack.com
February 25, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Between; #between #Serbia and #Bulgaria; Between so much less. Between so much more.
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
When we were young
At Bregovo, Bulgaria
open.substack.com
February 21, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Between; #between #Serbia and #Bulgaria; Between so much less. Between so much more.
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
Dear #Serbian and other friends,
Here is to Tito.
#NonalignedMovement
#yugoslavia
#belgrade
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
Here is to Tito.
#NonalignedMovement
#yugoslavia
#belgrade
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
Tito Mausoleum
At Yugoslavia Historical Museum, Serbia
open.substack.com
February 20, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Dear #Serbian and other friends,
Here is to Tito.
#NonalignedMovement
#yugoslavia
#belgrade
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
Here is to Tito.
#NonalignedMovement
#yugoslavia
#belgrade
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
If the Bluesky algorithm prevents me from reaching you, you are welcome to join me on s.u.b.s.t.a.c.k. Today further reflections on the power (or -lessness) of #design.
#hungary
#Dunaujvaros
#coldwarhistory
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
#hungary
#Dunaujvaros
#coldwarhistory
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
The Power of Design
at Dunaújváros, Hungary
open.substack.com
February 19, 2025 at 1:16 PM
If the Bluesky algorithm prevents me from reaching you, you are welcome to join me on s.u.b.s.t.a.c.k. Today further reflections on the power (or -lessness) of #design.
#hungary
#Dunaujvaros
#coldwarhistory
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
#hungary
#Dunaujvaros
#coldwarhistory
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
Want to know Sándor Petöfi? Meet him at this corner of Szep Utica, late night #Budapest.
#journeytotheeast
#freedom
#slavery
#revolution
Poet of the Nation open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
#journeytotheeast
#freedom
#slavery
#revolution
Poet of the Nation open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
Poet of the Nation
At Budapest, Hungary
open.substack.com
February 18, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Want to know Sándor Petöfi? Meet him at this corner of Szep Utica, late night #Budapest.
#journeytotheeast
#freedom
#slavery
#revolution
Poet of the Nation open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
#journeytotheeast
#freedom
#slavery
#revolution
Poet of the Nation open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
Come with me to see a forgotten monument at the outskirts of #Bratislava.
(This post contains a preview of a forthcoming book about Journey to the East, highlighting the perpetuating tensions and sometimes awkward dialogues between East and West as found on my quest for a New Silk on an Old Road.)
(This post contains a preview of a forthcoming book about Journey to the East, highlighting the perpetuating tensions and sometimes awkward dialogues between East and West as found on my quest for a New Silk on an Old Road.)
Bridge of Heroes
At Bratislava, Slovakia
open.substack.com
February 17, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Come with me to see a forgotten monument at the outskirts of #Bratislava.
(This post contains a preview of a forthcoming book about Journey to the East, highlighting the perpetuating tensions and sometimes awkward dialogues between East and West as found on my quest for a New Silk on an Old Road.)
(This post contains a preview of a forthcoming book about Journey to the East, highlighting the perpetuating tensions and sometimes awkward dialogues between East and West as found on my quest for a New Silk on an Old Road.)
I'm re-enacting my recent #JourneytotheEast by bike, this time to help myself and others to understand what has happened between Amsterdam and Shanghai, and to share more of this journey's riches by writing on Substack. Please join me, if you wish.
#europe #history #secondworldwar #firstworldwar
#europe #history #secondworldwar #firstworldwar
Remembering the War
In my life, I have been traversing the Ardennes a number of times, and if you know anything about cycling sports, this is the setting of intrepid cyclists, braving the cold and steep roads during Lièg...
open.substack.com
February 11, 2025 at 2:49 PM
I'm re-enacting my recent #JourneytotheEast by bike, this time to help myself and others to understand what has happened between Amsterdam and Shanghai, and to share more of this journey's riches by writing on Substack. Please join me, if you wish.
#europe #history #secondworldwar #firstworldwar
#europe #history #secondworldwar #firstworldwar
Dear friends from Belgium, and all others,
Please join me in this little prayer,
and a Salute to the #Ark
#journeytotheeast
#belgium
#mothermary
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
Please join me in this little prayer,
and a Salute to the #Ark
#journeytotheeast
#belgium
#mothermary
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
Mother Mary on Ark
On the fourth day of my Journey to the East, it struck me: I was entirely on my own.
open.substack.com
February 10, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Dear friends from Belgium, and all others,
Please join me in this little prayer,
and a Salute to the #Ark
#journeytotheeast
#belgium
#mothermary
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
Please join me in this little prayer,
and a Salute to the #Ark
#journeytotheeast
#belgium
#mothermary
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
I stayed the first night in a psychiatric hospital. Fortunately, it had been designed by Aldo van Eyck.
Huize Padua
Continuing past Den Bosch, I expected this cultural pattern to persist for many days, perhaps all the way to Vienna, another bastion of Catholicism.
open.substack.com
February 7, 2025 at 7:53 AM
I stayed the first night in a psychiatric hospital. Fortunately, it had been designed by Aldo van Eyck.
I stayed the first night in a psychiatric hospital. Fortunately, it had been designed by Aldo van Eyck.
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
Huize Padua
Continuing past Den Bosch, I expected this cultural pattern to persist for many days, perhaps all the way to Vienna, another bastion of Catholicism.
open.substack.com
February 7, 2025 at 5:12 AM
I stayed the first night in a psychiatric hospital. Fortunately, it had been designed by Aldo van Eyck.
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
open.substack.com/pub/olebouma...
