As far as world borders go, this one from Iran to Turkey overland is one of the fastest and easiest believe it or not. In fact, I was a bit surprised by the simplicity of it. If you’re heading overland from Gurbulak to Bazargan, here’s a guide on how to get from Turkey to Iran.…
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Turkey wasn’t on the initial agenda when we went backpacking in the Middle East and surrounding countries, but we ended up spending a whopping 3 weeks in Turkey in the end, compared with our 10 days in each of Armenia and Azerbaijan! This gave me a chance to sample the delights of Adana, Istanbul, Dogubayazit,…
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“Death camp palace” – Manic Street Preachers. OK get ready for this one please. It’s fresh from my backpacking adventures in Iraq. I’ll warn you that this story isn’t for the faint hearted. I’m guessing that if you’re reading, you might have an idea who Saddam Hussein is. Yes, he was the leader of the…
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Staying in the town of Wadi Musa had me dreaming myself back about 3 years to my time in Bolivia’s La Paz. This city in Jordan is built on hills, offers rectangular boxed shaped brick lego style houses deep into mountains and bears that “brown sugar” colouring. The similarity to La Paz was uncanny as…
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This is a short Friday’s Featured Food today and it’s topical as it also comes from Iraq, where you might have heard I’ve been backpacking in since New Year’s Eve. When you wander the markets, bazaars and streets of Iraqi Kurdistan, you will notice how many different types of ready to eat food there are.…
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While I certainly didn’t go backpacking in Iraq to get drunk, it was pleasing that I was able to relax and enjoy some ice cold beers in some really really good bars while touring the northern part of the country, Kurdistan. All bars are safe to drink in, all friendly and they serve alcohol –…
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I recently had the pleasure to stay in the superb Abraham Hostel in Jerusalem, Israel. Having stayed in a load of hostels down the years, it’s my duty to inform you that this was one of my favourites – this place ROCKS! In fact, don’t even consider a visit to Jerusalem without staying here. My…
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When life takes you to a place as unique and magnificent as Amadiya in Iraq, you might just need to pinch yourself and check it’s all real. It was. After getting an Iraqi Kurdistan visa on arrival at Erbil airport and touring the northern part of the country, it was time to check out Iraq’s…
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Religious buffs the world over flock to the Israeli capital city of Jerusalem. Inside this bustling city are tons of sights to see, old and new, Jewish and Muslim, Israeli and Palestinian. Politics aside, I headed on the Holy City Tour while based at the Abraham Hostel nearby. What’s so Unique About Jerusalem’s Holy City?…
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Iran will throw more surprises at you than your expectant heart expected. What you experience when visiting Kandovan cave town is a place peculiarly similar to Turkey’s Cappadocia yet so quiet and untouristy and blatantly without the same commercial appeal. There are still currently no buses that run to Kandovan Cave Town!! Making it an…
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