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Central Asia Combined Silk Road Tour

• Fully Guided
• Personalized
• In-depth Cultural

Traveled in September 2023

• Introduction
• Day 1 Bishkek
• Day 2 Issyk Kul Lake
• Day 3 Issyk Kul Lake / Bishkek
• Day 4 Almaty
• Day 5 Almaty
• Day 6 Dushanbe
• Day 7 Khujand (Leninabad)
• Day 8 Khujand (Leninabad) / Penjikent 300 km
• Day 9 Penjikent to Samarkand
• Day 10 Samarkand
• Day 11 Bukhara
• Day 12 Bukhara
• Day 13 Bukhara
• Day 14 Mary
• Day 15 Ashgabat
• Day 16 Ashgabat
• Day 17 Darvaza
• Day 18 Khiva
• Day 19 Khiva
• Day 20 Tashkent
• Day 21 Departure

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What's Included

• Accommodation
• Additional Services

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Operated by Steppe Journeys

Central Asia is a region of ancient cultures, fairy-tale cities, open steppes, deserts, and...

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Customer Reviews

• Overall Rating Excellent 4.9
• Itinerary Excellent 4.7
• Guide Excellent 4.8
• Transport Excellent 4.9
• Accommodation Excellent 4.6
• Food Excellent 4.5
• Tour Operator Steppe Journeys 4.6
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• DM Dearbhla · 3rd July 2024 I couldn’t recommend this company/tour more. Seeing the five countries was fascinating and everything went smoothly. The local guides and drivers were brilliant and punctual every day. Communication with the team at Steppe Journeys was excellent and... Show more Trip date: June 2024

Dates & Availability

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• Upcoming departures
• August 2024
• September 2024
• October 2024
• August 2025
• September 2025
• October 2025
• Get Instant Confirmation Wednesday 24 Jul, 2024 Tuesday 13 Aug, 2024 English Almost Sold Out Multiple Room Types €3,481 Confirm Dates
• Get Instant Confirmation Sunday 28 Jul, 2024 Saturday 17 Aug, 2024 English , German, Italian +2 more Filling Fast Multiple Room Types €3,481 + €110 flight ALA-DUS Confirm Dates
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• Get Instant Confirmation Sunday 30 Mar, 2025 Saturday 19 Apr, 2025 English Filling Fast Multiple Room Types €3,665 + €110 flight ALA-DUS 0% Interest Instalments Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h
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Frequently Asked Questions

In general you can dress how you wish as if you were in your home country. However when entering open mosques during sightseeing it is recommended for women to cover their heads with light scarf and wear shorts that are longer than knee length.

WIFI is usually available in all hotels however sometimes there can be an additional charge for this, you also have the option of using the internet at a local cafe.

Voltage throughout the region is 220-250V. You will find in most of the hotels there are European-style sockets with 2 round pins. You may wish to take an adaptor if yours is different.

It is recommended to always drink bottled water rather than tap water, bottled water will be readily available for you.

Generally through Central Asia, Russian is the 'second language' and people in the service and tourism sectors often speak English and a range of other European languages. Official languages are: Uzbekistan = Uzbek, Kazakhstan = Kazakh, Kyrgyzstan = Kyrgyz , Turkmenistan = Turkmen. These all belong to the Turkish language group.

Merchants will generally prefer you to pay in cash however in any high standard hotels you will be able to pay via Mastercard or Visa without any issues.

Only four currencies are convertible in Central Asia which are; US dollar, Euro, UK pounds and Japanese yen. There are exchange offices located at airports on arrival, hotels and local banks to change any money you wish. Uzbekistan's currency is 'soum', Kazakhstan 'tenge', Kyrgyzstan 'sum', Tajikistan 'somoni' and Turkmenistan 'manat'.

You will find that Uzbekistan has a strictly continental climate: summer is hot and winter is cold. The best time to travel in that area is spring, summer or autumn; if you like dry cold with a snowy winter then it is best to visit in winter as it can be very beautiful also at that time.

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Steppe journeys reviews, reviews ( 67 ) 5.0.

The Scoop: What to Know about Smithsonian Journeys

Here at TourScoop, we want to help you make confident decisions about tour vacations. Here’s our comprehensive review of Smithsonian Journeys.

A leader in cultural travel,  Smithsonian Journeys  offers expert-led trips on all seven continents. Inspired by the mission of the Smithsonian Institution (“an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge”) Smithsonian Journeys uses travel to create cultural awareness and help participants better understand the world. 

Itineraries focus on immersive experiences “through the Smithsonian lens” plus a high level of service. For more than 50 years, the company’s trips have reflected the reputation, collections, and research of the Smithsonian Institution, and tour participants tend to be intellectually curious, adventurous life-long learners with a passion for deeper learning and exploration. And traveling with Smithsonian Journeys helps support the Smithsonian’s mission to preserve natural and cultural heritage and advance research around the world.

TourScoop takeaways 

• Destinations: More than 300 departures on all seven continents
• Tour Size Average:  Group size varies depending on trip type. Almost all land trips are small groups of 12 to 24 travelers. Cruises range from a river boat with 44 guests to ocean-going vessels accommodating 184 to 264 guests. In some cases (including on river cruises), the Smithsonian Journeys group may share the ship with other leading cultural and educational institutions. 
• Tour Type: Land-based tours, small-ship ocean cruises, river cruises, train tours, and private jet journeys 

How to book

Travelers can book tours through the  Smithsonian Journeys website  or by calling 855-330-1542.

Credibility check

Smithsonian Journeys is a Smithsonian Institution educational outreach program. It works with tour operators that have earned top accreditations and awards.  Ponant , the company’s partner in small-ship cruising, recently received Green Globe certification for sustainability, an international standard for sustainability in travel and tourism.

Tour destinations

Smithsonian Journeys offers more than 300 departures on all seven continents each year, leading trips to destinations including Antarctica, Australia, the Middle East.

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Recently debuted tour options include the 15-day  Legendary Turkey and the Turquoise Coast  land tour, a 10-day  Tuscany and Cinque Terre  active journey, and an eight-day  Gorillas of Rwanda  active journey.

Smithsonian Journeys offers several different tour types.  Land Journeys  take care of almost every detail for passengers, allowing them to immerse themselves in the destinations visited.  Ocean Cruising  trips feature small ships with all-suite cabins, upscale amenities and cuisine, and engaging staff.  River Cruising  tours travel historic waterways on river boats that are small enough to dock in compact ports but still have plenty of amenities.

Cultural Stays  include a single hotel stay for exploring a destination in-depth, while  Special Interest  tours dive into topics like art and history. New  Active Journeys  include activities like hiking and biking and feature a maximum of 18 travelers, and  Family Journeys  offer kid-friendly itineraries. Travelers can also tour by  train  or  private jet  or create their own  Tailor-Made Journeys .

Tour guides

Every trip includes at least one Tour Director to handle all the details for stress-free travel. Tour Directors share their on-the-ground insights of the destination, infusing each trip with a personal touch and providing recommendations for restaurants and activities during free time. Local guides take into account the intellectual interests of Smithsonian Journeys travelers, and most trips visit both must-see sights and more off-the-beaten-path spots accessed through the local guides.

Trips also include Smithsonian Journeys Experts. These scholars from around the world with expertise in history, culture, politics, the natural world, and the fine arts add their specialized knowledge to the tours and share their perspectives and insights with travelers throughout the trip. Travelers tend to appreciate how the experts help elevate the trip beyond a standard travel tour.

What’s included

Smithsonian Journeys tour prices include:

• All on-tour transportation (unless otherwise noted)
• Accommodations
• Meals as noted in itinerary
• An experienced Travel Director, a Smithsonian Journeys Expert (unless otherwise noted), and local guides throughout the trip
• Excursions, activities, sightseeing, and visits led by local specialists and/or highly qualified guides (as noted in the itinerary)
• Pre-tour educational information, including a reading list
• All gratuities except for the crew on ship or train journeys (unless otherwise noted); recommended guidelines are provided for tipping crew on ship or train journeys
• Port taxes for cruises (unless otherwise noted) 
• Group airport transfers at starting and ending points on international tours
• Personal listening devices and Wi-Fi on many tours
• Complimentary beer and wine served with lunch and dinner on ship journeys
• A basic medical expense and evacuation plan through Trip Mate at no additional charge
• Airfare included on some tours (as noted in the tour price information)

What’s not included

Smithsonian Journeys tour prices do not include:

• Airfare and related fees (unless otherwise noted as included in the itinerary)
• Passport and all visa fees, any other travel documentation, and immunizations and medications as required
• Transfers to and from home airport
• Activities, excursions, or extensions listed as optional or any special pre- or post-tour arrangements
• Trip cancellation and interruption or travel delay coverage
• Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone, alcoholic beverages, and meals other than specified in the itinerary
• Gratuities for crew on ship or train journeys

Typical travelers

Smithsonian Journeys travelers tend to be 55+. But the company’s different tour types attract a variety of travelers. Active itineraries see travelers from 45 to 70 years of age, while special interest tours tend to skew a bit older, with participants generally ranging from 55 to 80 years of age. Family Journeys are popular for multigenerational trips and are well suited for kids ages eight and up. 

Communication

Travelers receive pre-tour materials ahead of their trip, including a reading list to help prepare for the topics covered during the tour. For any questions about a reservation, travelers can call or email a destination specialist at 855-330-1542 or [email protected]. Tour Directors provide info and handle questions on the ground.

Loyalty program

Smithsonian Journeys offers discounts for repeat travelers and, as part of the Smithsonian Institution, offers exclusive travel discounts for members of Friends of the Smithsonian .

Sustainability efforts

To help sustain the character and biodiversity of the destinations visited and the well-being of those who live there, Smithsonian Journeys selects partners who support regional economies and meet the company’s standards for responsible travel. The Smithsonian is making efforts to mitigate its carbon footprint and study the causes and impacts of climate change around the world to help inform solutions for the future.

Health and safety practices

Smithsonian Journeys works closely with its travel partners to develop health and safety measures, in consultation with related organizations including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Its  Health & Safety Protocols page  outlines the most up-to-date guidelines and requirements. The purchase of travel insurance is recommended for all guests, and Smithsonian Journeys offers an option for tourgoers.

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The post The Scoop: What to Know about Smithsonian Journeys appeared first on Tour Scoop .

A brave — and oddly endearing — memoir about surviving breast cancer

In “Mourning a Breast,” the Hong Kong writer Xi Xi tells a story that defies all expectations.

The Hong Kong writer and poet Xi Xi introduces her book “ Mourning a Breast ” in a straightforward way: “This is a book about breasts.” Xi Xi was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1989, at the age of 52. In the months that followed, she underwent a mastectomy, followed by radiation and hormone therapy, all while caring for her ailing mother. Originally published in Taiwan in 1992, her genre-bending exploration of those experiences has now been faithfully translated into English by Jennifer Feeley. It is a book that combines introspection and intellect to form a kaleidoscopic and compassionate account of an afflicted body and a society in transition.

New York Review Books, which published this edition, describes her book as a semi-autobiographical novel, but Xi Xi (a pen name that is always given in full) would probably shrug. “Dear reader, you’re welcome to categorize it however you’d like; this time, it’s up to you,” she writes in the preface. She even tells us to just read whichever parts suit our fancy: “Perhaps it’s not worth spending too much time reading this book — you’re better off just flipping through a few chapters and choosing the ones that most interest you.”

Disregard Xi Xi’s humility. While the chapters — each with curious titles such as “Thrice Strikin the White Bone Demon” and “Marvelous Tales of Fruits and Vegetables” — can stand alone, it’s worth taking the time to read the book in its entirety and let yourself become enveloped in her world.

We begin in the women’s changing room of a public pool, where Xi Xi, a self-professed avid but clumsy swimmer, stands beside other women, her thoughts alternating between her own mortality and the sensuousness around her. “The pitter-patter of falling water echoed in my ears, and it was as though I could hear the squelching of soap on women’s skin. Supple flesh, water, the sweet scent of soap. When could I go swimming again? I didn’t know. I had no way of guessing, understanding, exploring, or predicting my fate.”

In the chapters that follow, we accompany her into exam rooms and surgical wards, through a bathroom renovation and on long walks. On the day of her biopsy, she brings with her four copies of “Madame Bovary,” in French, Chinese and English, perusing each translation before her doctor interrupts. On another day, she becomes a flaneuse, taking us through both the landmarks and lesser-known passageways of cosmopolitan Hong Kong. She pauses in an arcade, gazes into the shimmering windows of a lingerie shop and wonders, “Is there a lingerie shop that sells bras for only one breast?” Not in this arcade, she decides.

“Mourning a Breast” resists the conventions of the breast cancer memoir. Rather than plotting a singular, heroic journey between biopsy and remission, punctuated by platitudes and metaphors of war , Xi Xi learns to listen.

“My body began to speak more and more frequently, protesting a host of injustices, as though a revolution had begun inside me,” she writes. She turns to her love of languages and literature, as well as care from friends and community, for support. Along the way, she learns another language — that of the body. “I was body illiterate,” she admits.

Xi Xi’s writing is most affecting when she employs a stream-of-consciousness style, with vivid, dissociative fragments reflecting the disease’s confounding etiology and devastating effects. The morning after her mastectomy, her breast, which she refers to as “my specimen,” is presented to her in a plastic bag at her bedside. Her sentences are jumbled and jarring as she tries to process what she sees. She recalls “Strange Tales From the Liaozhai Studio,” a compendium of short stories from the 17th century, and the “Heart Sutra” before remembering a serial killer who lived in her neighborhood and kept his victims’ breasts preserved in jars. The paragraph becomes a whirlpool of thoughts as she attempts to reconcile her body and mind.

Xi Xi’s intellect and candor find kinship in the cancer narratives of Susan Sontag and Audre Lorde, but her style most closely anticipates that of Anne Boyer, who reckoned with a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer in “The Undying,” which won a Pulitzer Prize in 2020. Like “Mourning a Breast,” Boyer’s book is composed of short sections that push against narrative convention. But where Boyer’s words burn with righteous fury at cancer’s manifold injustices and indignities, Xi Xi offers moments of lightness. In a short chapter called “Non-Stories,” she presents unrelated tidbits about cancer drawn from the news. The last is about a chubby amphibian shaped like a cancer cell, leading some to call it “cancer cell frog.” “The name is weird, but the frog itself looks fascinating and cute. It’s flat and round, like a red bean paste pancake,” she observes with amusement.

Xi Xi is an endearing writer. Her oeuvre, which contains short stories, novels, poetry and essays, holds a prominent place in the literature of Hong Kong. “Mourning a Breast” is significant because it is one of the first cancer narratives to be written from the perspective of a woman in the Sinophere. “Because it isn’t suitable to let others look, nor is it easy to talk about, it remains unnoticed,” she writes of the illness. “It’s like a disease that only has an implied meaning but lacks any explicit signifiers.” Her book broke the silence at a time when Hong Kong had the highest rates of breast cancer diagnosis in Asia.

Xi Xi was also writing during a pivotal moment in the city’s history. Residents were grappling with the impending handover of the territory from Britain to China in 1997, with many — including Xi Xi’s family doctor — preparing to emigrate. Others expressed their anxiety and grief about the city’s political future by taking to the streets to support Beijing’s pro-democracy student protesters in 1989. Xi Xi only alludes to these transformative events, but against this political backdrop, the discovery of a malignant, foreign growth in one’s breast could be interpreted as a somatic metaphor for betrayal.

What, in the end, are we to take from Xi Xi’s account? Perhaps what is so remarkable is the simplicity of her message: Take good care of yourself and those around you. “What do I have compared to others in this world? Wealth, good looks, knowledge, health? I have none of those, but I do have friends,” she writes. Xi Xi died peacefully of heart failure in late 2022, at 85, surrounded by loved ones. Her voice lives on, reaching out to us as a friend might, generous and kind.

Mimi Cheng is a cultural historian and writer. She is at work on her first book.

Mourning a Breast

By Xi Xi, translated from Chinese by Jennifer Feeley

New York Review Books. 313 pp. $18.95

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Forest Whitaker’s ‘Emperor of Ocean Park’ Is a Provocative Murder-Mystery, Once It Finds Its Footing: TV Review

By Aramide Tinubu

Aramide Tinubu

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It’s never been more evident how politics, wealth and power intersect within this country. Together, this trifecta allows certain people to maintain control over others. Based on Stephen L. Carter’s best-selling novel and adapted for television by Sherman Payne, MGM+ ‘s “ Emperor of Ocean Park ” is a murder mystery about grief — and about how influence can sustain and destroy those who wield it. Though the tone and pacing of the 10-episode series initially stumbles, when it finds its footing in Episode 4, the narrative soars, taking the audience on a unique journey of a family divided by political ideology, secrets and vengeance. 

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“Emperor of Ocean Park” has familiar themes like sibling conflict and parental loss, but two major plot points elevate it. As a far-right conservative, Judge Garland is a pariah in the Black community. Even his children – save the moderate-leaning Mariah – have vastly different politics than he does. The series illustrates how these ideals cause tension among the Garlands, and offers a window into the judge’s beliefs. A man born in the years after World War II, his personal doctrine advocates for Black people winning on their own merits, even if the only way of doing so means working twice as hard. But, as his children try to get him to understand, there is little humanity in self-exploitation while seeking perfection — especially for the historically disadvantaged. 

Mariah’s professional and familial trajectory is another arc rarely represented on television. A Pulitzer-Award-winning journalist who lost her job after the 2008 economic crisis, she seems outwardly fulfilled as a stay-at-home mother and wife of a wealthy tycoon, Howard Denton (Bryan Greenberg). Amid her quest to reveal the truth regarding her father’s death, she struggles with the aftereffects of suppressing her own ambitions and settling into a life of comfort that was supposed to bring her contentment. Haunted by her life choices, she allows herself and her brothers to be enveloped in the complex maze of lies, coverups and incidents the judge masterfully began weaving years prior. 

Grief is the heartbeat of the “Emperor of Ocean Park.” A core component of the human condition, it’s an emotion everyone experiences, and what we do to move through those feelings often makes us unrecognizable. As the audience is introduced to the judge in the past, the series showcases how his anguish led him down a quest he could never walk back. This same zeal drives the Garland siblings to uncover the mysterious “arrangements” their dad kept secret. 

While “Emperor of Ocean Park” starts on a rocky road, with Whitaker as the lead and Coleman, Mack and Simmons carrying the story in the present, the show unfolds like a chess game. As the series opens, none of the characters or storylines are distinct. Yet, as the show rumbles toward its conclusion, the privileged but chaotic world around the Garland family reveals itself, showing the viewer how vital each cryptic hint and clue was from the very beginning.

“Emperor of Ocean Park” premieres July 14 on MGM+ with new episodes dropping weekly on Sundays.

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More From Forbes

From scrambled eggs to global success: ember’s entrepreneurial journey.

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Ember is the world’s first temperature-controlled coffee mug and has since expanded to multiple new ... [+] categories including baby bottles.

The story of Ember began with a simple observation over breakfast: cold scrambled eggs. Fueled by his background in thermal science engineering and a penchant for innovation, Ember Founder and Chairman Clay Alexander embarked on a mission to revolutionize the way people eat, drink, and live. I sat down with Clay to learn more about his journey launching the world’s first temperature-controlled coffee mug, the global expansion of the business in partnership with Starbucks and Apple, and why he believes so strongly in entrepreneurs protecting their ideas.

Dave Knox: Let's dive into Ember for those who might not know the story. Can you give a brief overview and the backstory of what inspired you to launch the business?

Alexander: It all started with scrambled eggs. Despite our current reputation for creating the world's first temperature-controlled coffee mug and self-warming baby bottle, and more recently, the self-refrigerated cloud-based shipping box, the idea initially stemmed from a frustratingly common problem: cold eggs. Back in 2009, I had just sold my invention of the world's brightest LED light bulb to GE and was immersed in thermal science engineering. One morning, while enjoying breakfast with my wife, I noticed my scrambled eggs cooling too quickly on the plate. In that moment, I thought, "This is the 21st century. My dinner plate should be able to maintain a decent eating temperature." So, I began experimenting, strapping RC car batteries and temperature control circuitry to the dinner plates in my kitchen, ultimately creating the world's first self-warming plate.

The breakthrough moment came when I realized the potential to embed temperature control into various household items. With over 250 granted patents worldwide, I knew the importance of protecting this idea. Thus, I began filing patents on the concept of embedding temperature control technology into all forms of drinkware and dishware. Self-funding Ember for the first five years, our small team dedicated countless hours to research and development in our lab. Years later, when we finally received our first granted patent, it was a significant milestone.

In 2016, we partnered with Starbucks to launch the world's first temperature-controlled coffee mug. The response was phenomenal, with the product selling out nationwide within seven days, far exceeding expectations. This successful launch solidified our partnership with Starbucks, leading to subsequent successful product launches and exponential growth.

Today, Ember products are available in over 27 countries and 5,000 retail locations. We're on track to sell over a million Ember Mugs this year, demonstrating the widespread appeal and impact of our innovative technology in enhancing everyday experiences.

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Knox: Let's delve deeper into the Starbucks story. Every startup dreams of collaborating with industry giants like them. How did you transition from having an idea to convincing the world's largest coffee company to partner with you and embrace what was then an unproven opportunity?

Alexander: It wasn't easy. For nearly two years, I relentlessly pursued a partnership with Starbucks. I wanted Ember to be more than just a gadget; I envisioned it as an aspirational consumer brand enhancing the coffee-drinking experience. Despite facing numerous rejections, I persisted. Eventually, I was introduced to Howard Schultz through a mutual friend, and he immediately saw the potential of the Ember Mug. Howard recognized how our product could enhance Starbucks' core offering by delivering a consistently perfect cup of coffee with every sip.

With Howard's endorsement, doors began to open. We swiftly moved from pitch to shelf in just two months, a record-breaking timeline for a company of Starbucks' magnitude. Our partnership with Starbucks has endured since 2016, a testament to our shared vision and mutual success. While not in all their stores today, our products can still be found in select locations around the world, including the Reserve stores. We even collaborated on a special Starbucks-branded Ember Mug, featuring the iconic Reserve logo, further solidifying our partnership.

Knox: Reflecting on Ember's journey, what were the pivotal moments that propelled its growth from the initial launch to where it stands today?

Alexander: There were several pivotal moments that stand out. Firstly, securing partnerships with major retailers like Best Buy, Costco, and Target was monumental. Each launch brought its own challenges and successes, contributing significantly to our brand's expansion. However, one standout moment was our collaboration with Apple.

Getting into Apple Stores was a long and rigorous process. We pitched our product to Apple multiple times and underwent extensive testing before receiving approval. The global launch was particularly memorable. Apple proposed launching Ember in 27 countries simultaneously, a feat that required substantial preparation on our part. We had to adapt our product, packaging, and operations to meet international standards.

The year leading up to the global launch was intense. We worked tirelessly to establish distribution channels, customer service centers, and ensure compliance with various regulations. Despite the challenges, we saw it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and committed to making it happen.

The day of the international launch was surreal. Walking into an Apple Store in London and seeing our product prominently displayed and the Apple staff well-trained on the Ember Mug was incredibly rewarding. Apple's commitment to showcasing Ember across the globe was commendable, and our partnership with them continues to thrive to this day.

In fact, we've developed unique features for Apple users, such as integration with Apple Health to track caffeine intake and sleep patterns. Our latest version of the Ember Travel Mug even incorporates the Find My feature, allowing users to locate their mug using GPS.

Overall, our partnership with Apple has been instrumental in solidifying Ember's position in the market and opening doors to new opportunities for innovation and growth.

Knox: You mentioned earlier that the initial inspiration for Ember came from wanting to keep your eggs warm. When did you decide to expand beyond coffee and pursue products like the self-warming baby bottle?

Alexander: That decision came from personal experience as a parent. When my daughter Charlotte was born, I found myself grappling with the traditional method of warming baby bottles. The cumbersome process of using hot water baths seemed outdated and inefficient. Watching Charlotte cry as I struggled to warm her bottle made me realize there had to be a better solution.

That's when I envisioned the world's first self-warming baby bottle. I wanted a solution that could not only warm milk to the perfect temperature but also be portable and convenient for busy parents on the go. The result was the Ember baby bottle, which launched last year as part of our infant feeding system.

The Ember Baby Bottle System features a thermal dome and a magnetic hockey puck, keeping milk cool for up to four hours while on the move. With just a tap on your phone, you can warm the milk in about 4 1/2 minutes, faster than traditional plug-in warmers. Moreover, its portability means you can provide warm milk for your baby anywhere, whether you're at Disneyland or out for a walk in the park.

This product expansion marked a significant shift for Ember from being solely known as a coffee cup company to becoming recognized as a temperature control brand. We're proud to offer innovative solutions that address parenting pain points and enhance the everyday experiences of families worldwide.

Knox: When launching the Ember Mug, you emphasized the importance of partnerships with brands like Starbucks and Apple. As you introduced the new baby bottle product, did you seek out similar partnerships, or did Ember's established growth allow you to pursue a different approach?

Alexander: By the time we launched the baby bottle, Ember had spent five years building a strong global brand. With over 1 million opt-in email addresses and a growing audience, we felt confident in our ability to reach consumers directly. We opted for a direct-to-consumer approach, leveraging our established platform and brand recognition.

Launching the baby bottle through our website and select registries allowed us to maintain full control over marketing and messaging. Our website showcases compelling branding, videos, and imagery, ensuring a consistent and impactful launch.

While we're excited about potential partnerships with retailers in the future, launching independently provided us with the freedom to execute our vision precisely as we imagined it.

Knox: Congratulations on receiving the Fast Company World Changing Ideas Award! Could you share more about Ember's expansion into life sciences and the development of the Ember Cube?

Alexander: Winning the Fast Company World Changing Ideas Award is an incredible honor for us, recognizing over five years of hard work devoted to the Ember Cube's development. This groundbreaking innovation marks a significant milestone for our company, and we're thrilled to receive such prestigious recognition.

Now, let's delve into the Ember Cube. It represents a revolutionary solution to a pressing issue in the healthcare industry—medicine spoilage. Each year, an estimated $35 billion worth of medicine is lost due to temperature excursions and spoilage, highlighting the urgent need for a more effective shipping solution.

The Ember Cube is the world's first self-refrigerated, cloud-based shipping box, equipped with real-time cellular monitoring of temperature, humidity, and ambient conditions. One of its many unique features lies in its ability to return itself to the distribution center after each use. Upon reaching its destination, whether it's a patient's doorstep or a doctor's office, users can simply push a button on the Ember Cube labeled "Return to Sender." Once the button is pushed, the box communicates with the cloud to automatically schedule a pickup by UPS or FedEx, and then prints a return shipping label on the built-in screen. This seamless process eliminates the hassle of manual returns and ensures efficient retrieval of the box for reuse.

The Ember Cube's impact extends beyond temperature control. In a deep dive lab analysis conducted by Intertech Labs, it was found that using the Ember Cube reduces CO2 emissions by an impressive 92% compared to today’s industry standard shipping methods involving cardboard, Styrofoam, and ice packs. This remarkable reduction in carbon footprint underscores our commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.

The journey into Ember LifeSciences began with a series of meetings at the Mayo Clinic, where discussions revealed the critical need for improved temperature control in healthcare logistics. Recognizing the opportunity to address this challenge, Ember embarked on a mission to develop the Ember Cube.

Through collaboration with industry stakeholders and iterative design processes, we refined the Cube's technology to ensure optimal performance. The final product utilizes a hybrid system that combines active refrigeration with passive cooling, ensuring that medicines remain at the required temperature for up to 72 hours, even in the harshest summer conditions.

In summary, the Ember Cube represents a paradigm shift in temperature-controlled logistics, offering a sustainable, efficient, and reliable solution for medicine shipping. We're proud of this invention and the positive impact it will have on healthcare delivery worldwide.

Knox: Your journey as an inventor and entrepreneur is truly inspiring, especially with over 200 patents to your name. For aspiring entrepreneurs and inventors looking to follow a similar path, what advice do you offer?

Alexander: First and foremost, I emphasize the importance of protecting your idea. Before engaging with anyone, filing a patent is crucial. Countless stories underscore the risks of sharing ideas without proper protection. Establishing patent protection safeguards your invention and establishes your ownership, deterring potential exploitation.

Beyond legal safeguards, perseverance has been instrumental in my journey. Belief in your vision is paramount. For me, in the early days, I had unwavering faith in the potential of Ember’s temperature control technology to deliver a more enjoyable drinking experience to coffee lovers worldwide. Despite skepticism and naysayers, I remained steadfast in my conviction. Persistence in the face of adversity is key; for every rejection, there's the possibility of finding that one pivotal yes.

Maintaining clarity and conviction in communicating your vision is essential. Even when met with skepticism, being able to articulate the value and potential of your idea can sway skeptics. It's a numbers game—expecting many rejections before finding the right support.

Consider our journey with Starbucks. Despite encountering numerous rejections over the period of two years, eventually securing Howard Schultz's support was transformative. It underscores the power of perseverance and conviction.

In essence, my advice boils down to two principles: Protect your idea by leveraging the patent system through patents, and pursue your vision with relentless perseverance and conviction. While challenges may arise, an unwavering belief in your idea can propel you forward, eventually leading to success.

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Music and Concerts | Journey, Def Leppard pack a one-two punch of…

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Music and concerts, subscriber only, music and concerts | journey, def leppard pack a one-two punch of rock music at orlando stadium show | review and photos.

Singer Joe Elliott of Def Leppard performs at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on July 10, 2024. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

Guitarist Phil Collen of Def Leppard performs at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on July 10, 2024. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

Guitarist Vivian Campbell of Def Leppard performs at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on July 10, 2024. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

Singer Arnel Pineda and drummer Deen Castronovo of Journey perform at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on July 10, 2024. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

Singer Arnel Pineda of Journey interacts with fans at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on July 10, 2024. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

Lead guitarist Neal Schon of Journey performs at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on July 10, 2024. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

Bassist and backing vocalist Rick Savage of Def Leppard performs at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on July 10, 2024. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

Journey performs at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on July 10, 2024. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

Dummer Deen Castronovo of Journey performs at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on July 10, 2024. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

Singer Arnel Pineda of Journey leaps into the air at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on July 10, 2024. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

The arena rock anthems that came to define Journey’s sound worked especially well for the crowd gathered at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium Wednesday night, while Def Leppard’s raucous glam metal brought many to their feet and singing along. At first glance, the two acts might seem like an odd pairing to co-headline a tour, but they’ve had success in the past. On a tour of nearly 60 cities together in 2018, the bands sold more than 1 million tickets .

After opener Cheap Trick graced the stage, Journey came out swinging with “Only the Young” as singer Arnel Pineda — a vocal doppelgänger of former singer Steve Perry — skipped up and down the central runway that jutted out from the main stage, holding hands and fist bumping fans along the way. Neal Schon, the band’s co-founder and last original member still with the group, showed his charismatic smile and worked his way up and down his guitar neck with ease throughout the set.

The hits to follow sent waves of nostalgia through the audience, starting with the tender sounds of “Faithfully,” “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin'” and the power ballad “Open Arms,” which was prefaced by a touching piano solo from Jonathan Cain. Praise is also warranted for drummer Deen Castronovo, who had two kick drums, several cymbals and many toms at his disposal and used all of them liberally, rightfully so.

The band, now celebrating its 50th anniversary, picked up the energy with “Wheel in the Sky,” “Separate Ways” and “Any Way You Want It,” featuring soaring high notes from Pineda, who reached into the stratosphere with his vocal chords. Near the later part of the set, “Lights” had everyone in the crowd using their phone flashlight to illuminate the stadium.

Predictably, “Don’t Stop Believin'” was the appropriate set closer of the night, making for a jubilant sing-along with the crowd hanging onto every word. The band went out with a bang as streamers fell over the floor.

While the members of Journey have rotated and some have been replaced, what remains consistent is the passion behind the music and the songs that are beloved by many, as evidenced by the number of fans dancing and singing along. This reviewer is too young to remember when most of these songs were first released, but did grow up in a household where Journey was frequently played through the stereo, connected to a 300-disc carousel.

As crews worked to change over the instruments to prepare for Def Leppard, an on-screen countdown showed the exact number of minutes and seconds until the English rockers took to the stage. And rock, they sure did, coming out as lead singer Joe Elliott led the charge with “Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop).” Other hits early in the set included “Foolin’,” “Animal” and “Love Bites.”

In most songs, guitarists Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell deftly traded guitar solos and riffs from opposite sides of the stage. Joined by bassist Rick Savage, the musicians frequently combined their talents for three- and four-part harmonies. It was also impressive to watch drummer Rick Allen, who had his left arm amputated in 1985, navigate his way around the set and even take a solo at one point.

Def Leppard then brought fans a new song, “Just Like ’73,” which was released in 2024 but conjures memories from an era more than 50 years ago. The band brought the energy way down as Elliott appeared with just an acoustic guitar for “Two Steps Behind” and “This Guitar,” during which he was joined by his bandmates sans drums. It might have been a confusing moment for some, seeing such hard rockers as Def Leppard go stripped-down and acoustic for a few songs, but they came roaring back with electric guitars on full volume in the middle of “Bringin’ On the Heartbreak.”

It was a mad sprint to the finish after that as the band jammed on “Rock of Ages,” “Photograph,” “Hysteria” and their ever-popular hit, “Pour Some Sugar On Me,” which served as the closer. It was a hot, sticky sweet ending to an overcast and muggy, but always rocking and exciting, evening at Camping World Stadium.

Find me  @PConnPie on Instagram  or send me an email:  [email protected] .

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