Backpacking in Belarus: My Stay At Stary Mińsk Hostel, Mińsk

Backpacking in Belarus: My Stay At Stary Mińsk Hostel, Mińsk

So far i have to Belarus 4 times, 3 of those visits I have been in Minsk at some point. Yet I haven’t written about my accommodation much until now – I really should cover my night in the Hotel Minsk and the Hotel Bobruisk some time. I’ve so far visited 4 Belarusian cities (Minsk, Read more about Backpacking in Belarus: My Stay At Stary Mińsk Hostel, Mińsk[…]

Sunday's Inspiration: Postcards From Babruysk, Belarus, 12 Years Later

Sunday’s Inspiration: Postcards From Babruysk, Belarus, 12 Years Later

Sunday Story time and a flashback to 2007… Just under 12 years ago (August 2007) when I started this travel blog, one of the first articles I wrote was about the city of Babruisk / Bobruisk / Babruysk in Belarus. I was there on a crazy train journey from Minsk, all alone to watch a Read more about Sunday’s Inspiration: Postcards From Babruysk, Belarus, 12 Years Later[…]

How to Get a Belarus Visa in Warsaw, Poland

How to Get a Belarus Visa in Warsaw, Poland

I recently made a long awaited return to Belarus. It was originally one of the first 25 countries I ever visited, back in 2007 when I was attending the Belarus v. Northern Ireland women’s match. At the time I got my Belarus visa from the Embassy in London. On that trip I also backpacked through Read more about How to Get a Belarus Visa in Warsaw, Poland[…]

Backpacking in Belarus: Staying at the Kip Town Hostel in Grodno

Backpacking in Belarus: Staying at the Kip Town Hostel in Grodno

2018 meant a welcome return to Belarus after a gap of 11 years. While my 2007 adventure took me to Babruysk and Minsk, here in 2018 I backpacked Grodno after another gruelling visa struggle at the Belarus Embassy (in Warsaw this time). Grodno is a cool city in western Belarus. Its only about 20 minutes Read more about Backpacking in Belarus: Staying at the Kip Town Hostel in Grodno[…]

Backpacking in Belarus: Top 5 Sights in Bobruisk

Backpacking in Belarus: Top 5 Sights in Bobruisk

“We’re in the army. Now. Woah oh we’re in the army.” – Status Quo. I find it hard to believe that it has been nine years since I backpacked my way to the unknown and non-touristy city of Bobruisk in Belarus. This obscure journey was the story I wrote for Shaun Schofield’s book “Albania to Read more about Backpacking in Belarus: Top 5 Sights in Bobruisk[…]

porridge in belarus

Friday’s Featured Food: Belarussian Porridge in Bobruisk, Belarus

It’s a long time since I wrote anything about Belarus (even though I once wrote a chapter for a book on my trip there). And as it’s yet to feature on my Friday’s Featured Food series, I thought it was time to recollect that day I tried Belarussian Porridge in the drab city of Bobruisk. Read more about Friday’s Featured Food: Belarussian Porridge in Bobruisk, Belarus[…]

The bleakness of communism…living differently in similarity

I found myself exposed to the innocence of communism a few times. I had never seen Eastern Europe before the wall came down. But I had savoured the drab, greyness of a growing Varshava in 2005. I also strode my skeleton through the streets of Beijing in hope of finding an answer to the question Read more about The bleakness of communism…living differently in similarity[…]

Northern Ireland football team in Belarus

Five Nil and you still Don’t sing! Belarus 5-0 Northern Ireland, in Bobruisk

“We’re in the army now” – Status Quo. I had watched the Northern Ireland ladies team in May 2007 in Gillingham, Kent. We lost 4-0 to England and played with passion and pride against full-time professionals. Me and a few of the lads sang our hearts out, completely making fools of the silent England fans Read more about Five Nil and you still Don’t sing! Belarus 5-0 Northern Ireland, in Bobruisk[…]