Backpacking in Afghanistan: My Hotel Stay in Masar e Sharif

This is probably the first hotel review I ever do where I won’t mention the actual name of the hotel. There are security reasons for this of course and I was there on tour with a cool company and they sorted out my accommodation. I didn’t go online and book any hotels or hostels. In Read more about Backpacking in Afghanistan: My Hotel Stay in Masar e Sharif[…]

Backpacking in Uzbekistan: Staying at Madina and Ali’s Guesthouse in Bukhara

My Uzbekistan adventure continued and I tried to make the most of the limited visa time I had in the country. Two quick nights in Bukhara were in store, one of them I had to be up early the next day to head on the wacaday journey to Karakalpakstan. This time I went for a Read more about Backpacking in Uzbekistan: Staying at Madina and Ali’s Guesthouse in Bukhara[…]

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

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[…]

Staying at Marian’s Guesthouse in Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Staying at Marian’s Guesthouse in Dushanbe, Tajikistan

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[…]

My Magical Winter Stay at Pamir Lodge in Khorog, Capital of the Pamirs, Gorno Badakhshan, Tajikistan🇹🇯

“They can come true, yeah. They can come true.” – Gabrielle Dreams can come true, apparently. Central Asia continued to inspire as I left behind the bright lights and modern parks of the Tajik capital city of Dushanbe on route to the Pamirs region, Gorno Badakhshan. This was off the wall stuff. Off the cliff I Read more about My Magical Winter Stay at Pamir Lodge in Khorog, Capital of the Pamirs, Gorno Badakhshan, Tajikistan🇹🇯[…]

Backpacking in Laos: Staying at Vang Vieng Guesthouse, Vang Vieng

“I think this hostel is after a mad right” – Chaz Fitzsimmons Well after a couple of crazy days in Vientiane, touring the sights, staying in the Sabaidy Guesthouse for $3 a night, we got a truck and a mini-bus up north to the crazy town of Vang Vieng. Yes, this place is totally nuts. Read more about Backpacking in Laos: Staying at Vang Vieng Guesthouse, Vang Vieng[…]

Staying in a Cabin in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England

Over the years I have stayed in many and various types of accommodation. I’m talking all extremes and here are some of the places I have slept overnight on what has become a crazy journey: Night train to Moldova A Salt Hotel in Bolivia A boat anchored in Antarctica Tents on the Inca Trail in Read more about Staying in a Cabin in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England[…]

Backpacking in England: Staying at the Lea Hurst Hotel, Bournemouth, Dorset

If you have followed my travels down the years, you have probably heard me mention the seaside town of Bournemouth in Dorset, England a few times on my blog. I first visited this iconic coastal resort in 1994 on a family holiday. I later returned here to Bournemouth to live, work and study. It is a Read more about Backpacking in England: Staying at the Lea Hurst Hotel, Bournemouth, Dorset[…]