Backpacking in Karakalpakstan🔵🟡🟢🔴: My Night at the Jipek Joli Hotel in Nukus

Posted on February 12, 2016February 2, 2025 by Jonny Blair

Believe me, this was another crazy journey on this ball. I mean, for a start how many of you have heard of Karakalpakstan? Sorry where? Karakalpakstan!! I travel full-time and until last week, I also hadn’t heard of it!! It’s an autonomous region within Uzbekistan. But they have their own language, people, culture, borders, road Read more about Backpacking in Karakalpakstan🔵🟡🟢🔴: My Night at the Jipek Joli Hotel in Nukus[…]

Friday’s Featured Food: Eating the National Dish Mantoo in Sunatala Restaurant, Masa e Sharif, Afghanistan

Friday’s Featured Food: Eating the National Dish Mantoo in Sunatala Restaurant, Masar e Sharif, Afghanistan

Posted on February 12, 2016February 12, 2016 by Jonny Blair

It was a real treat and a major league feast when I tried Mantoo for the first time after securing a visa for Afghanistan. Mantoo is Afghanistan’s National dish and my guide Noor opts to take me to Sunatala Restaurant – the best Mantoo restaurant in Masar e Sharif. This place is boomingly popular – Read more about Friday’s Featured Food: Eating the National Dish Mantoo in Sunatala Restaurant, Masar e Sharif, Afghanistan[…]

Thirsty Thursdays: Saturday Night out in Afghanistan – Shisha and Tea in Abshar Shisha Lounge, Masar e Sharif

Posted on February 11, 2016February 12, 2016 by Jonny Blair

I love a good old Saturday night out with the lads down the pub, and it’s the same world everywhere we go in that respect. It’s just that in some countries the entertainment and choice of drinks differs. Here in Afghanistan, the lads invited me for an Afghani style Saturday night out in downtown Masar Read more about Thirsty Thursdays: Saturday Night out in Afghanistan – Shisha and Tea in Abshar Shisha Lounge, Masar e Sharif[…]

Backpacking in Uzbekistan🇺🇿: Doing a Guided Day Tour of Samarkand City

Posted on February 10, 2016January 13, 2025 by Jonny Blair

The very name of “Samarkand” in Uzbekistan rings through travellers ears and they think of sparkling architecture and striking images they have seen from professional photographers the world over. While all of that is true, we missed the point somehow. Samarkand is not about touristic spots, it is a normal, fully-functioning and thriving city and Read more about Backpacking in Uzbekistan🇺🇿: Doing a Guided Day Tour of Samarkand City[…]

Backpacking in Uzbekistan🇺🇿: Staying at Jahongir Bed and Breakfast in Samarkand City

Posted on February 9, 2016January 13, 2025 by Jonny Blair

So after getting my Letter of Invitation, my Uzbekistan Visa and negotiating my way out of Tajikistan and through the ridiculously strict and thorough Uzbek border control points (give us a break lads), I made my way to Samarkand City. Worse for wear, feeling love for only Bishkek, Khorog and Tashkent, somehow my opinion changed a Read more about Backpacking in Uzbekistan🇺🇿: Staying at Jahongir Bed and Breakfast in Samarkand City[…]

Backpacking in Afghanistan: Top 5 Sights in Masar e Sharif

Backpacking in Afghanistan🇦🇫: 10 Outrageously Cool Things to Check Out in Masar e Sharif

Posted on February 8, 2016September 3, 2024 by Jonny Blair

Masar e-Sharif is Afghanistan’s third biggest city. It boasts an estimated population of around 1 million people and sits shyly, unknown to most backpackers, in a country less ventured. On my tour of Central Asia, I made sure I got this place on my list. Masar e Sharif is home of the famous Blue Mosque and Shrine Read more about Backpacking in Afghanistan🇦🇫: 10 Outrageously Cool Things to Check Out in Masar e Sharif[…]

Staying at Marian’s Guesthouse in Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Posted on February 7, 2016February 8, 2016 by Jonny Blair

On arrival in Tajikistan for the first time, I based myself in a guesthouse that knows a bit about hospitality. A quick bit of online research showed that Marian’s Guesthouse in Dushanbe was the first and original guesthouse option in the Tajikistan capital. This was my place to stay and a cool base while touring Read more about Staying at Marian’s Guesthouse in Dushanbe, Tajikistan[…]

Getting an Afghanistan Visa in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

How to Get an Afghanistan🇦🇫Visa in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan🇰🇬

Posted on February 6, 2016September 3, 2024 by Jonny Blair

When you’ve visited over 150 countries, getting visas just doesn’t get any easier, believe me. Normally it’s the countries we visit later on that are the harder ones to secure visas for and with me, I’ve been through a load of visa applications the last few weeks while being temporarily based in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Gradually Read more about How to Get an Afghanistan🇦🇫Visa in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan🇰🇬[…]

Backpacking in Afghanistan🇦🇫: Touring the Ancient City of Balkh, Top 10 Sights

Posted on February 5, 2016January 13, 2025 by Jonny Blair

I’ve been busting to get some stuff on Afghanistan written and there will be a load more posts to come from my adventures to places like Tashkurgan, Masar e Sharif, Balkh, Samangan and Hayratan. I’d love it if you can all read this article, like it, share it and inspire more backpackers to venture to more Read more about Backpacking in Afghanistan🇦🇫: Touring the Ancient City of Balkh, Top 10 Sights[…]

How to Get An Uzbekistan🇺🇿Visa in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan🇰🇬

Posted on February 4, 2016January 13, 2025 by Jonny Blair

So I have been in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan for the last month sourcing visas for the neighbouring countries like Tajikistan and Gorno Badakhshan amongst others. One of the hardest beasts to negotiate is the visa for Uzbekistan. So I thought I’d give you all a run down of how I secured my Uzbekistan Visa here in Read more about How to Get An Uzbekistan🇺🇿Visa in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan🇰🇬[…]