At the end of December 2015, I crossed the border from the Kazakhstani town of Korday into the magical world of Kyrgyzstan. After initially touring some cool sights in the north of the country, like Ruh Ordo, Ala Archa National Park and the Petroglyphs at Cholpon Ata, it became obvious that I would use the Read more about Staying at the Luxury 4 Star Hotel Evropa (Europa) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan[…]
“It’s easy to fall into something new that shines” – Ben Paulley (2005). So a week ago yesterday I arrived in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan having crossed overland from Kazakhstan. On arrival I received a 60 day entry visa stamp, so yes I can stay legally as a tourist here for a brace of months. At the Read more about Why I’m Spending at Least a Month in Bishkek, Magnetic Kyrgyzstan🇰🇬[…]
I arrived early morning into the city of Almaty in Kazakhstan after what had been a pretty intense few weeks of travel (I toured Chernobyl and Auschwitz in consecutive weeks). It was Christmas Eve, there was snow in the air and I needed a place to stay. Step in, the cosy, family run Almaty Backpackers, Read more about Backpacking in Kazakhstan: Staying at Almaty Backpackers/ Silk Road Hostel[…]
After crossing the border by night train from Krakow in Poland, it was time to tour some parts of the Ukraine (Lviv, Kiev and the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone). I started off in the city of Lviv, which is the hardcore heartland of the Ukraine. This city lives and breathes the country’s nationalistic values and deserves Read more about Staying at the Fantastic Citadel Inn in Lviv, Ukraine[…]
My journey east took me by train from the gorgeous city of Lviv to the bustling Ukrainian capital city, Kiev. It was here that I was able to backpack round the sights of the city, learn more about Ukrainian culture and tour the Chernobyl Exclusion zone (some 29 years after the disaster in the area). Read more about Backpacking in Ukraine: Staying at the Tiu Kreschatik Hostel in Kiev[…]
Kraków is an old school backpacker’s trail hang out. Most overland backpackers and inter-railers end up here on their journeys around Europe, it’s such a cliched stop over, some North Americans even think it’s the capital city. Some travellers make it their only stop in Poland. But despite my long travel adventures, until December 2015, Read more about Backpacking in Poland: Staying at the Highly Rated Mosquito Hostel in Kraków[…]
It was my first time in Poland in 8 years. It did feel hard to believe that it had been so long, probably aided by the fact that I have met so many Polish people around the world in my jobs and travels the last few years. And it was time to tour Poznań finally. Read more about Backpacking in Poland: Staying at the Poco Loco Hostel in Poznań[…]
Imagine having a 24 hour transit in Gatwick Airport and wondering what to do. Well, actually, this is the type of thing I should have been doing for years. Relaxing. Here at the Yotel in Gatwick Airport in 2015, was the first ever time for me to stay in an airport hotel. In 2015, I Read more about My Stay at the Yotel in Gatwick Airport, London, England[…]
I’ve stayed in hundreds of hostels down the years on my backpacking journeys. Each one has its own style and uniqueness about it and that is one of the joys of travel to me. Belfast City is Northern Ireland’s capital and November 2015 saw me staying in a Belfast hostel for the first time ever. Read more about Backpacking in Belfast: Staying at the Largest Hostel in Northern Ireland🔴✋️☘️[…]
“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[…]