Kyrgyzstan continues to surprise the everyday backpacker and with a blast from the past we ended up visiting some cool Petroglyphs near the lakeside town of Cholpon Ata. I say blast from the past because back in 2013, we visited the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Qobustan in Azerbaijan and there we saw many ancient Read more about Backpacking in Kyrgyzstan: Visiting Petroglyphs near Lake Issyk-Kul, Cholpon Ata[…]
When you are out travelling the world you never know where you will end up next. Every new city or town I arrive in, I do little research. It’s only when you get to these places that you get extra ideas. A couple of my blog followers, Laura and Kyle alerted me of Cafe Masoch Read more about Thirsty Thursdays: Getting Handcuffed and Spanked in the home of Masochism in Lviv, Ukraine[…]
Following my trip out of Kiev to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, and being based in the Tiu Kreschatik Hostel, we arrived at the CEZ entrance. The area beyond this checkpoint is out of bounds for tourists and ordinary people. You need a pass and you need to be there as part of a guided and Read more about Backpacking in Ukraine: Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Tour Part 2 – Arrival at the CEZ at Dityatki Checkpoint[…]
Over the past few decades, Dubai has certainly captivated the world with its dazzling transformation from a small Arab town to a grand global city. From the spectacular skyscrapers and chic megamalls, to the charming local culture and the surrounding desert, Dubai has much to offer to the discerning traveler and the shopaholic. Dubai holidays Read more about Plan a Memorable Holiday in Dubai, UAE[…]
I arrived early morning into the city of Almaty in Kazakhstan after what had been a pretty intense few weeks of travel (I toured Chernobyl and Auschwitz in consecutive weeks). It was Christmas Eve, there was snow in the air and I needed a place to stay. Step in, the cosy, family run Almaty Backpackers, Read more about Backpacking in Kazakhstan: Staying at Almaty Backpackers/ Silk Road Hostel[…]
Before I decided on doing the border crossing between Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan, I did a bit of research into it. The reason being, I was travelling alone, it was my first time in this region and I wanted to make sure everything ran smoothly. In the winter time in the Stans, you also have to Read more about World Borders: How to Get From Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan (Almaty to Bishkek by Marshrutky)[…]
When backpacking in Ukraine, I organised a day tour of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone covers an area of 1,000 square miles and straddles the official land borders of Belarus and Ukraine. When I backpacked to the city of Bobruisck in Belarus in 2007, I remember reading about how close I was Read more about Backpacking in Ukraine: Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Tour Part 1 – Chicane Kiev[…]
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[…]
My journey east took me by train from the gorgeous city of Lviv to the bustling Ukrainian capital city, Kiev. It was here that I was able to backpack round the sights of the city, learn more about Ukrainian culture and tour the Chernobyl Exclusion zone (some 29 years after the disaster in the area). Read more about Backpacking in Ukraine: Staying at the Tiu Kreschatik Hostel in Kiev[…]
A long overdue article on here today and one I have been buzzing about for a brace of years – Shabbat dinner in Jerusalem, Israel. One thing shocked me when I was in Israel – the food! It’s amazing, it’s healthy, it’s nutritious, it’s plentiful and it’s diverse. Which is completely the opposite from I Read more about Friday’s Featured Food: Shabbat Dinner in Jerusalem, Israel[…]