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

Posted on February 9, 2016February 9, 2016 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[…]

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[…]

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

Posted on January 30, 2016January 8, 2018 by Jonny Blair

“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 Kyrgyzstan: My Stay at Apple Hostel – The Best Hostel in Bishkek

Posted on January 26, 2016April 4, 2016 by Jonny Blair

At the end of 2015 I was sitting in the Almaty Backpackers in Kazakhstan trying to plan my trip across the border into Kyrgyzstan. I had no idea where to stay in Bishkek, no idea where to even go next, but then I saw a flier in that hostel for the Apple Hostel in Bishkek. Read more about Backpacking in Kyrgyzstan: My Stay at Apple Hostel – The Best Hostel in Bishkek[…]

Staying at the Luxury 4 Star Hotel Evropa (Europa) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Posted on January 15, 2016January 15, 2016 by Jonny Blair

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[…]

Backpacking in Kazakhstan: Staying at Almaty Backpackers/ Silk Road Hostel

Posted on December 29, 2015December 31, 2015 by Jonny Blair

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[…]

Staying at the Fantastic Citadel Inn in Lviv, Ukraine

Posted on December 25, 2015December 31, 2015 by Jonny Blair

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[…]

Backpacking in Ukraine: Staying at the Tiu Khreshchatyk Hostel in Kiev

Backpacking in Ukraine: Staying at the Tiu Kreschatik Hostel in Kiev

Posted on December 24, 2015December 27, 2015 by Jonny Blair

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[…]