I meandered my way back into the republic of Kazakhstan thanks to a clever visa free passport switch at the border (Irish for Uzbek visa, British for Kazak visa free entry). The toughest part of my Central Asian adventure was over and I’d escaped Uzbekistan. The countries of Kazakhstan and Kyrgzstan were up next, both Read more about Staying at the Orbita Boutique Hotel in Shymkent, Kazakhstan🇰🇿[…]
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 Read more about Backpacking in Uzbekistan🇺🇿: Staying at Gulnara Guesthouse in Tashkent (the Capital)[…]
This is probably the first hotel review I ever do where I won’t mention the actual name of the hotel. There are security reasons for this of course and I was there on tour with a cool company and they sorted out my accommodation. I didn’t go online and book any hotels or hostels. In Read more about Backpacking in Afghanistan🇦🇫: My Hotel Stay in Masar e Sharif[…]
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[…]
“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🇹🇯[…]
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[…]
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[…]
Imagine having a 24 hour transit in Gatwick Airport and wondering what to do. Well, actually, this is the type of thing I should have been doing for years. Relaxing. Here at the Yotel in Gatwick Airport in 2015, was the first ever time for me to stay in an airport hotel. In 2015, I Read more about My Stay at the Yotel in Gatwick Airport, London, England[…]
Take a more unusual backpacking trip to the fantastic Channel Islands, you don’t get as many backpackers and global travellers here and the region is a complete breath of fresh air. This magical set of islands are off the coast of France, yet remain under the rule of the U.K. A fascinating history exists here and Read more about Staying at the Ommaroo Hotel in St. Helier Jersey[…]
I had visited the town of Cheltenham a few times as a keen football fan, I ended up at Whaddon Road, the home of Cheltenham Town FC. However, if you know your English geography you will know that the town often goes hand in hand with nearby Gloucester City. Cheltenham and Gloucester are right beside Read more about Staying at the Quaint, Quirky, Puzzling Edward Hotel in Gloucester, England[…]