On the World Borders series on here, I’m perpetually behind schedule in terms of writing. I must have written only 10% of the border crossings I have done and probably will never have time to cover them all, but I want to – as I know they have helped you on your way and that was…
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I breathed a sigh of relief and release on this one, as I finally escaped the realm of Uzbekistan and into the fresh evening air of democratic Kazakhstan. Having crossed in and out of Uzbek borders 4 times, and Kazak borders 3 times, this one was surprisingly easy and as a result, I recommend this…
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After my completely Wacaday “Timmy Mallet” journey to Nukus in Karakalpakstan (that is not a joke), I ended up in an allegedly very touristic city in Uzbekistan – Khiva, often spelt Qhiva. The weirdest thing was I was told this spot was one of the most touristic in the entire country and would be packed…
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“Before you take my heart; reconsider.” – Texas. On route to Afghanistan from Uzbekistan, I had a night and half day to “kill” in the city of Termiz. Billed as a backpacker’s classic, this joint arguably looks out of place in Uzbekistan. I could easily have jigsaw puzzled this place into El Salvador, Honduras or…
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“Somebody save me” – Theme Tune from Smallville which features Clark Kent (not Tash Kent). A few Uzbeks have been in touch recently – Bek and Akmaljon. They don’t like the way I have written about their country but I can only write about what really happens when I travel. I don’t want to be…
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After the madness of the wacaday adventure in the barely known republic of Karakalpakstan, it was time to get back to some textbook Uzbekistan sightseeing and the city of Khiva was on the agenda. I wanted to stay in the Ichan Kala (“Old walled town”) which is the typical tourist option but by far the…
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My final stop on my Uzbekistan overland trip was in the capital city. It was here that I finally felt at ease with the Uzbeks when I arrived in their glamorous, northern swanky hub of Tashkent. The capital seemed to like me and I liked it too. It was nice to finally find a really cool city…
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Wow, wow, wow! That is all I can say about the wacky Republic of Karakalpakstan if you read my Wacaday report of my journey there, you’ll know this was lunacy turned on its head. This autonomous region within Uzbekistan that probably should have been its own country. To see what Karakalpakstan was all about, I…
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“Let’s play mallet’s mallet” – Timmy Mallet, Wacaday (1980s). Well I thought I’d had some crazy journeys in life but this one topped them all for ridiculous wackiness. I half expected Timmy Mallet to come out and whack me on the head at any moment and shout “Wacaday” at me! This could be lunacy on…
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“Altogether now, in no mans land.” – The Farm. In life as it happens, it’s going to be quite hard to describe the sheer adrenalin rush and magic of the winter day when I backpacked it alone into Afghanistan. It’s just another day in my life but as a heated ball beat down on my Northern…
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