World Borders: My Crazy Journey to Nukus in Karakalpakstan (Within Uzbekistan)

World Borders: My Wacaday Journey to Nukus in Karakalpakstan (Within Uzbekistan)

“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 Read more about World Borders: My Wacaday Journey to Nukus in Karakalpakstan (Within Uzbekistan)[…]

World Borders: Crossing From Uzbekistan to Afghanistan on Friendship Bridge to Hayratan

World Borders: My Journey From Uzbekistan to Afghanistan on Friendship Bridge to Hayratan

“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 Read more about World Borders: My Journey From Uzbekistan to Afghanistan on Friendship Bridge to Hayratan[…]

Backpacking in Uzbekistan: Staying at Madina and Ali’s Guesthouse in Bukhara

My Uzbekistan adventure continued and I tried to make the most of the limited visa time I had in the country. Two quick nights in Bukhara were in store, one of them I had to be up early the next day to head on the wacaday journey to Karakalpakstan. This time I went for a Read more about Backpacking in Uzbekistan: Staying at Madina and Ali’s Guesthouse in Bukhara[…]

Backpacking in Karakalpakstan: My Night at the Jipek Joli Hotel in Nukus

Believe me, this was another crazy journey on this ball. I mean, for a start how many of you have heard of Karakalpakstan? Sorry where? Karakalpakstan!! I travel full-time and until last week, I also hadn’t heard of it!! It’s an autonomous region within Uzbekistan. But they have their own language, people, culture, borders, road Read more about Backpacking in Karakalpakstan: My Night at the Jipek Joli Hotel in Nukus[…]

Backpacking in Uzbekistan: Doing a Guided Day Tour of Samarkand City

Backpacking in Uzbekistan: Doing a Guided Day Tour of Samarkand City

The very name of “Samarkand” in Uzbekistan rings through travellers ears and they think of sparkling architecture and striking images they have seen from professional photographers the world over. While all of that is true, we missed the point somehow. Samarkand is not about touristic spots, it is a normal, fully-functioning and thriving city and Read more about Backpacking in Uzbekistan: Doing a Guided Day Tour of Samarkand City[…]

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

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[…]

How to Get An Uzbekistan 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[…]

How To Get A Letter of Invitation for Visiting Uzbekistan

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[…]