world travellers dsl

World Travellers: Travel With Kevin and Ruth

The latest in this long line of World Travellers is with Kevin and Ruth. It is a total pleasure to feature Kevin and Ruth today and break away from the usual 20-30 year olds I interview. This couple are in their 50s and could teach us all a thing or two. Here’s their wisdom… Who Read more about World Travellers: Travel With Kevin and Ruth[…]

mantenga swaziland

Backpacking in Swaziland: The Sibhaca Dance and Mantenga Cultural Village

I admit that I haven’t even begun to write about most of my travel experiences on here yet, some have simply had to slip through the net. If I stopped travelling NOW, I’d have enough stories for one post every day on here for the next 10 years. So in an attempt not to lose Read more about Backpacking in Swaziland: The Sibhaca Dance and Mantenga Cultural Village[…]

duhok kurdistan iraq

10 Things to see and do in Duhok, Kurdistan, Iraq

Duhok/Dohuk in Kurdistan in Iraq is an odd kind of town. You’ve never been in one like it before and you’ll never be in one like it again. In fact, the nearest comparison I can make to Dohuk is with a town called Vank in Nagorno Karabakh. Basically Dohuk wants to be cool. It really Read more about 10 Things to see and do in Duhok, Kurdistan, Iraq[…]

turkey iran border

World Borders: How to get from Turkey to Iran (Gurbulak to Bazargan)

As far as world borders go, this one from Iran to Turkey overland is one of the fastest and easiest believe it or not. In fact, I was a bit surprised by the simplicity of it. If you’re heading overland from Gurbulak to Bazargan, here’s a guide on how to get from Turkey to Iran. Read more about World Borders: How to get from Turkey to Iran (Gurbulak to Bazargan)[…]

dont stop living

Sunday’s Inspiration: Don’t Stop Living

It’s just a short and sweet Sunday’s Inspiration for you today while I briefly share the story of this website’s title. I’ve touched on it before but thought an explanation was needed. Not only is Don’t Stop Living the title of my website, it’s also my philosophy in life, it’s also a poem and song Read more about Sunday’s Inspiration: Don’t Stop Living[…]

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Friday’s Featured Food: Fish Sandwich in Istanbul, Turkey

Turkey wasn’t on the initial agenda when we went backpacking in the Middle East and surrounding countries, but we ended up spending a whopping 3 weeks in Turkey in the end, compared with our 10 days in each of Armenia and Azerbaijan! This gave me a chance to sample the delights of Adana, Istanbul, Dogubayazit, Read more about Friday’s Featured Food: Fish Sandwich in Istanbul, Turkey[…]

cluedo pub crawl manchester

Thirsty Thursdays: The Cluedo Pub Crawl, Manchester and Bury, England

While living in England I used to LOVE my pub crawls. I’ve touched on a few of them before, including the epic 2007 “Countries of the World” pub crawl in London. In 2005, me and three mates also did the Monopoly Pub Crawl (41 bars over 2 days – to be completed within 41 hours!), Read more about Thirsty Thursdays: The Cluedo Pub Crawl, Manchester and Bury, England[…]

amna suraka sulaymaniyah jonny blair

Saddam Hussein’s House of Horrors: My Trip to Amna Suraka Red Security Complex, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, Iraq

OK get ready for this one please. It’s fresh from my backpacking adventures in Iraq. I’ll warn you that this story isn’t for the faint hearted. I’m guessing that if you’re reading, you might have an idea who Saddam Hussein is. Yes, he was the leader of the Ba’ ath party in Iraq from 1979 Read more about Saddam Hussein’s House of Horrors: My Trip to Amna Suraka Red Security Complex, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, Iraq[…]