Backpacking In Somaliland: Staying At Jees Hotel In Hargeisa On 1st January 2026, after a frustrating Somaliland visa procedure, I became the first tourist this year to cross the land border between Djibouti to Somaliland at Loyaada. No pleasure cruise. Shortly after that, I heard the border had closed (that could of course be fake Read more about Backpacking In Somaliland🟩⬜️🟥: Staying At Jees Hotel In Hargeisa[…]
Backpacking In Rwanda: Staying At The Discover Rwanda Hostel, Kigali I stayed in two different places in Kigali in Rwanda, as well as spending a night in Kigali airport on a layover on route to Kenya. Our first port of call was the Discover Rwanda Hostel. This is a textbook typical backpackers hostel in the Read more about Backpacking In Rwanda🇷🇼: Staying At The Discover Rwanda Hostel, Kigali[…]
“Could you tell me how to get? How to get to Glentoran Street?” – Adapted from Sesame Street Theme Tune. Actually, I can tell you how to get to Glentoran Street and my Dad especially can. For years and years, Glentoran Street was on my mind. I knew about it, I knew where it once Read more about Reminiscing Where Dad Was Born: Glentoran🟢🔴⚫Street, East Belfast, Northern Ireland[…]
When backpacking in Somaliland (after a nuts visa experience and a mental border crossing), I decided to try their traditional breakfast, which is locally known as Beer Iyo Basal. Ironically the local spelling includes the word “beer” as this is a dry, alcohol-free country. In English, it is known as Somali-Style Liver. I had heard Read more about Friday’s Featured Food: Somali-Style Liver (Beer Iyo Basal) In Hargeisa, Somaliland[…]
“Don’t tell me it’s not worth fighting for” – Bryan Adams. Tears drained naturally from my eyes when I heard this Bryan Adams song being sung in a bar I once worked in – 21 years later, in a hotel I once stayed in – 31 years earlier. The Heathlands Hotel in East Cliff, Bournemouth, Read more about 21 Years Later: Sentimental Return To The Heathlands Hotel Where Once I Worked In Bournemouth England[…]
“Have I gone up in the world or has the world gone down on me?” – Robbie Williams. As a hardcore long-term backpacker, who is currently single and loveless after too many ruined romances and disaster relationships, I only ever wanted to visit The Maldives with a lovely lady. That was the dream. That was Read more about Backpacking In The Maldives🇲🇻: Adaaran Prestige Vadoo Resort🛖🌊Day Tour With Maldives Traveller[…]
“Sleeper” – Louise Wener. The Maldives will never rank high on my travel odyssey. A country that caused me stress, heartache, fake news, bribery, corruption and theft of money. I won’t be back till ye. Close yer door on the way out, “The” Maldives, or send me £2,000 which won’t even cover your fakery. I Read more about Backpacking In The Maldives🇲🇻: Sleeping In A Pod At Nap Corner, Male[…]
“Way on down south London Town” – Mark Knopfler. Back in 2006, a year before this blog even started, I got a job in London working in PR for Bite Communications. I needed to find somewhere to live there pretty fast. I got flat hunting and spent a few weeks trying to locate a cheap Read more about Living In London: Overview Of Some Neighbourhoods To Stay In[…]
“Though the oceans are wide and the mountains are high, it’s a small world after all” – Sherman Brothers. Seasons Lodge! Well this is just a wild one. Seasons Lodge is the place to be. But perhaps this time, this story is more phenomenal than the destination, and a crazier one than many that have Read more about Sleeping In Paradise: My Relaxing “Small World”🌎Time at Seasons Lodge🛖🏚️, Pongwe, Zanzibar🇹🇿[…]
“I ain’t got no time for no monkey business” – Freddie Mercury. After a horrific time trying to get out of The Maldives through India and Ethiopia, I never thought I’d actually make it to Zanzibar, which was supposed to be new country two on the Rainy Summertime tour. In the end, I had 6 Read more about Backpacking In Zanzibar: Staying At Bottoms Up Backpackers In Stone Town, Unguja Island[…]