"Ak-Jol " is yelled by well-wishers, inscribed into leather flasks, and is displayed prominently outside of the Manas Airport in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Ak-Jol directly translates to White Road in Kyrgyz, but in its common usage it is an exclamation of good luck.

The phrase is used in relation to travel, both physically, across mountains or international boarders, but this does not fully describe its full meaning. Ak-Jol has emotional connotations as well. It can be said when you graduate from school, or are going through a massive shift in your life. Ak-Jol is how the graphic novel the Karakol Diaries begins, and how it will end.

The Karakol Diaries is a travel guide tangled up in a personal story. The narrative is adapted from journal entries written on scrap paper in the back of a van, while traveling through northern Kyrgyzstan.

It is an attempt to capture a moment of great beauty and pain, as well as provide a snap shot of Kyrgyzstan, its landmarks and cultural depth. There is a deep care in the Karakol Diaries directed towards the people and the places in this graphic novel. This project as a thank you gift for the support and embrace.

This is an exhalation of breath.

Ak-Jol