“Out comes the goalkeeper [Rinat Dasaev no less]. Nat too sure this time. And it’s a goal! Terry Moore taking the credit for that” – Northern Irish commentator (1988) commenting on the night Glentoran were 1-0 up and just a goal away from taking the mighty Spartak Moscow to extra time in Belfast City. My Read more about The Day I…Lobbed⚽The Goalkeeper🧤From 30 Yards In Afghanistan🇦🇫[…]
On this adventure through Central Asia, I have already written about my wonderful stay in Pamir Lodge and the spontaneous live article from Khorog. This is a region known as Gorno Badakhshan and you need a separate permit to visit, away from the main part of Tajikistan, so pick up your Gorno Badakhshan permit and Read more about Backpacking in Gorno Badakhshan🇹🇯: Top 22 Sights in Khorog, Capital of the Pamirs[…]
I simply loved the pronunciation of this city. SHYMKENT! Wee shimmy. Ess Hym Kent. Shy m Kent. Shimkent. Chimkent. Spelt Shymkent, once called Chernayaev, currently housing 850,000 people, it’s a somewhat inspiring city with low promotion. Is it shy? Why are the first three letters spelling the word shy? I headed to find the answers. Read more about Backpacking in Kazakhstan: Top 7 Shy Sights in Shymkent[…]
For the fourth year in a row I present the top Northern Irish travel blogs for you to follow. Congratulations to everyone that is included on the 2016 list, I’ve enjoyed compiling it once again and catching up with all your stories. I’ll be doing the next one in January or February 2017. There have been Read more about Top 15 Northern Irish Travel Blogs 2016[…]
If you’re ever backpacking in Afghanistan, make sure to get a trip to a local stadium to watch the national sport – Buzkashi! It’s the iconical backpacking in Afghanistan experience, and I had to get a visit to a Buzkashi game sorted during my time in the country! This was such an exciting experience! After crossing Read more about Watching Buzkashi🐎In Masar e Sharif: Afghanistan’s🇦🇫National Sport[…]
Masar e-Sharif is Afghanistan’s third biggest city. It boasts an estimated population of around 1 million people and sits shyly, unknown to most backpackers, in a country less ventured. On my tour of Central Asia, I made sure I got this place on my list. Masar e Sharif is home of the famous Blue Mosque and Shrine Read more about Backpacking in Afghanistan🇦🇫: 10 Outrageously Cool Things to Check Out in Masar e Sharif[…]
When you’ve visited over 150 countries, getting visas just doesn’t get any easier, believe me. Normally it’s the countries we visit later on that are the harder ones to secure visas for and with me, I’ve been through a load of visa applications the last few weeks while being temporarily based in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Gradually Read more about How to Get an Afghanistan🇦🇫Visa in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan🇰🇬[…]
So I have been in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan for the last month sourcing visas for the neighbouring countries like Tajikistan and Gorno Badakhshan amongst others. One of the hardest beasts to negotiate is the visa for Uzbekistan. So I thought I’d give you all a run down of how I secured my Uzbekistan Visa here in Read more about How to Get An Uzbekistan🇺🇿Visa in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan🇰🇬[…]
Central Asia is a region of the world which continues to be less explored than the countries that surround it. India, China, Russia – they’ve been backpacked to the hilt and they continue to be. But spare a thought for the magnificent Stan nations. There are lots of them, and while touring this region, my Read more about How To Get A Letter of Invitation for Visiting Uzbekistan🇺🇿[…]
Visas in hand for Tajikistan and Gorno Badakhshan (ye-ha!), it was on with the show, the reality show. After arriving in Tajikistan and checking into Marian’s Guesthouse, I was ready to explore this less-ventured country and I started things off in the capital city, Dushanbe. Dushanbe translates as “Monday” and is a booming city with Read more about Backpacking in Tajikistan🇹🇯: A Guided Tour of Dushanbe, on a Monday![…]