Day One -- Thursday -- 18 September 2025

Departure Location: University of Central Asia, Central Administration Office, Bishkek

Location: UCA Campus Dining Hall

Location: UCA Campus; Naryn River

Take a slow, deep breath and step away from the everyday rush. Join us for a contemplative walk from UCA's campus down to the beautiful Naryn River, where we'll explore playful, mindful practices designed to deepen your connection with yourself, your fellow walkers, and the spectacular landscape of the Mountains of Heaven.

Dr Michael Garbutt is a writer, artist, documentary maker, and experience designer with qualifications in architecture, literature, and discourse analysis. His current research focuses on aesthetic experience in museums, galleries, and both natural and urban environments.

Location: UCA Campus Dining Hall

Location: UCA Campus; Zoom

Jon Jacobsen’s creative journey began with grief, using image-making to navigate memory, loss, and transformation. What started as a personal act of emotional expression has grown into a career at the intersection of visual storytelling, brand strategy, and cultural research. His work has been showcased at fashion film festivals, galleries, and institutions worldwide, with collaborations including Sony, Universal, Converse, and SHOWstudio. Blending surreal symbolism with strategic insight, he crafts narratives that translate emotion into identity, resonating deeply with audiences. As a contributor to Protein’s Cultural Hub, his current research examines how visual language supports memory, grief, and cultural belonging, merging psychology, aesthetics, and storytelling to bridge the personal and the collective.