Backpacking in Ukraine: Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Tour Part 5 – Backpacking in Kopachi

Posted on January 18, 2016January 15, 2016 by Jonny Blair

“I can feel the warning signs running around my mind” – Noel Gallagher. So far the day tour of Chernobyl has the mind constantly churning with thoughts. Against a dirty, smoggy, swollen sky it hardly seems appropriate to smile at any point. It’s easy to know that something bad happened here. You just sense it Read more about Backpacking in Ukraine: Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Tour Part 5 – Backpacking in Kopachi[…]

Backpacking in Ukraine: Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Tour Part 4 – Secret Duga Radar System

Posted on January 11, 2016January 11, 2016 by Jonny Blair

“Your joys are counterfeit. This happiness corrupt political shit” – Richey James Edwards. So in the fourth installment of my trip to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, I report on the journey driving down a Soviet built “road” through a dense forest to a radar system, often known as DUGA 1. This part of the tour seemed less Read more about Backpacking in Ukraine: Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Tour Part 4 – Secret Duga Radar System[…]

Thirsty Thursdays: Top 5 Bars in Lviv, Ukraine

Posted on January 7, 2016January 4, 2016 by Jonny Blair

The fact that Lviv Ukraine is brimmed full of wacky themed bars is enough to make any keen pub go-er enjoy this thriving nationalistic city with some style and panache. And let me tell you, it ain’t no glammed up pretentious place either. Italians, leave your Ferraris behind; mainland Brits, forget trying to be a Read more about Thirsty Thursdays: Top 5 Bars in Lviv, Ukraine[…]

Backpacking in Ukraine: Touring the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Tour Part 3 – Backpacking in Chernobyl Town

Backpacking in Ukraine: Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Tour Part 3 – “Backpacking” in Chernobyl Town

Posted on January 3, 2016January 2, 2016 by Jonny Blair

As with most of my journeys, I go to places without a huge amount of advance research. I find it clouds my method of thought and gives me an opinion of what to expect before I arrive. Sometimes, we go with the flow. I headed to Chernobyl with a clear head and the memory of Read more about Backpacking in Ukraine: Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Tour Part 3 – “Backpacking” in Chernobyl Town[…]

Thirsty Thursdays: Getting Handcuffed and Spanked in the home of Masochism in Lviv, Ukraine

Posted on December 31, 2015December 31, 2015 by Jonny Blair

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[…]

Backpacking in Ukraine: Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Tour Part 2 – Arrival at the CEZ at Dityatki Checkpoint

Posted on December 30, 2015January 30, 2016 by Jonny Blair

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[…]

Staying at the Fantastic Citadel Inn in Lviv, Ukraine

Posted on December 25, 2015December 31, 2015 by Jonny Blair

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[…]

Backpacking in Ukraine: Staying at the Tiu Khreshchatyk Hostel in Kiev

Backpacking in Ukraine: Staying at the Tiu Kreschatik Hostel in Kiev

Posted on December 24, 2015December 27, 2015 by Jonny Blair

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[…]