Northern Ireland – Page 10 – Don't Stop Living

World Borders: Getting the Belfast to Birkenhead Ferry (Northern Ireland to England)

Posted on May 5, 2014May 1, 2014 by Jonny Blair

It was a return to the familiar border crossings for me earlier in the year as I got the ferry from Belfast to Birkenhead. It’s a great way to get from Northern Ireland to England, and also avoids the hassle of flying, allows you to drive there by car, bring as much as you want (no bans on deodorants/liquids etc.) and is also much cheaper than going by plane anyway. I’d totally recommend it.

boat northern ireland to england — Crossing from Northern Ireland to England

Booking your ticket for the ferry from Belfast to Birkenhead

OK there are a few ways to book your ticket, the easiest being online. Just go to the Stena Line Website and pick your sailing and your day. For the crossing I did and recommend you want Belfast to Liverpool. Basically Birkenhead is classed as Liverpool. You can book with a vehicle or as a foot passenger. There are other routes out of Northern Ireland (Belfast and Larne) to England (Fleetwood) and Scotland (Larne, Cairnryan) but my favourite is the night crossing from Belfast to Birkenhead.

belfast liverpool ticket ferry — Boarding Card for the Belfast to Birkenhead ferry crossing from Northern Ireland to England.

I have been with a car in the past, however for this post I’ll concentrate on the backpacker style crossing – i.e. a foot passenger. My most recent bit of travelling in the UK was done on buses and ferries.

The entrance to the ferry terminal in Belfast - car check in and foot passenger check in. — The entrance to the ferry terminal in Belfast – car check in and foot passenger check in.

Currently the foot passenger ticket is a bargain price at £19. There are two sailings – a daytime sailing and a night time sailing. I chose daytime, though in honesty I normally prefer the night sailing – you do pay extra for a cabin though.

belfast ferry northern ireland — The ferry terminal in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Check in and Boarding the boat in Belfast, Northern Ireland

After checking in at the foot passenger desk, you’ll be given your boarding pass and if you have paid for a cabin or the lounge you will get a pass card for that. It costs an extra £20 for access to the lounge. It’s a business lounge known as the Stena Plus Lounge.

mum and dad belfast harbour — Saying goodbye to my parents in Belfast harbour, again.

I had made a surprise visit back to my hometown of Bangor in January 2014 – first visit to Northern Ireland in 2 years but it went very quickly. My Mum and Dad gave me a lift to Belfast ferry terminal and I was off on my adventures again. No matter how old or experienced we get in life, there is ALWAYS a hint of sadness on these moments. Leaving Northern Ireland each time still makes me cry.

leaving belfast northern ireland — Saying bye to Mum in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Saying bye to Dad in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

I said my farewells to my parents and headed into the waiting room. The waiting room/boarding lounge in Belfast is actually pretty cool. It has TVs on, newspapers and drink dispensers.

belfast birkenhead ferry — Getting my ticket and boarding for the ferry from Belfast to Birkenhead.

After getting my boarding pass and waiting in the boarding lounge for 10 – 20 minutes we get a bus that takes us onto the ferry. The ferry was due to leave at 10.30 am. We boarded around 9.45 am.

The boarding lounge/waiting room in Belfast harbour.

The ferry has an escalator. Up the escalator and we’re on as foot passengers. Got to be some irony in the fact that “foot” passengers get a bus onto the vessel!

The Stena Plus “Business” Lounge (i.e. Backpacker Travel Blog Land)

On board the Stena Lagan boat there is a “business lounge” called the Stena Plus Lounge. From my perspective I was able to get some work done in peace on my laptop and take advantage of the freebies. for the £20 I probably took about £40 worth off them – that’s standard for a backpacker. For me it was worth it. Your belongings are safer in the lounge, you have free tea, coffee, hot chocolate and orange juice. Free wine too. Free breakfast cereals, snacks, fruit etc. Let’s just say I milked it. As I got off the boat I also had a bag full of cans, crisps and fruit. So £20 – yes worth it! It also has internet access but please note it was very slow and intermittent (we’re at sea!) so not ideal for updating a travel blog, however as usual I did all my stuff online.

stena lounge onboard — Updating my travel blog on the Irish Sea in the Stena Plus Lounge.

Passport Stamps and Immigration leaving Belfast, Northern Ireland

I’ll have to state the obvious here. There are no passport stamps and no immigration. There were not even any bag checks. On occasion there might be bag checks. You might wonder why. The fact remains, Northern Ireland and England are both countries within the UK and therefore there is no border control needed. The only border control you will witness between countries in the British Isles is between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Flights from Scotland to England, Wales to Northern Ireland etc. are the same. You need ID to board, but you will not be stamped or given any type of “immigration cards”.

belfast airport arrival passport — There is no internal passport stamping or immigration between countries within the UK such as Northern Ireland and England.

Leaving Belfast, Northern Ireland

Leaving Belfast is always tinged with emotion and as the Stena Lagan sailed away I pondered on where the hell life had taken me. This was my first time back in Northern Ireland since passing the 10 year mark away and I followed the ferry away from beautiful Northern Ireland until the land was no more visible.

belfast leaving northern ireland — Belfast fades out of view and I’m sailing across the Irish Sea…

Onboard the Stena Lagan

I love being at sea. I used to work on ferries and also try to promote living a life of travel by working on Cruise Ships. It’s a peaceful and calm way to travel. Here are some photos with descriptions of the different parts of the Stena Lagan ferry.

There's an onboard cinema - these are the films. — There’s an onboard cinema – these are the films.

Wow - changed times you can now get online (albeit slow and intermittent). — Wow – changed times you can now get online (albeit slow and intermittent).

stena lounge business — My boarding card and Stena Plus Lounge card

View out on deck as we leave behind Belfast city.

stena lagan bar guinness harp — The bar – Guinness and Harp on tap of course 😉

The Stena Plus Lounge/travel bloggers lounge.

The Journey to Liverpool, England

The journey across the Irish Sea is fairly smooth and I always enjoy it. We arrived into Liverpool on time at 6.30 pm so the journey is about 8 hours. During the journey I ate, drank a lot of tea and coffee, updated my travel blog and planned my upcoming trips and relaxed.

irish sea travel — Sailing across the Irish Sea – keep your eyes peeled for the Isle of Man!

If you look carefully and on a good day you can see the Isle of Man. I didn’t on this occasion though.

liverpool ferry arrival — Arriving into Birkenhead, Liverpool, back in England.

You can really relax on board the Stena Lagan – it was also pretty quiet and a really easy place to chill out and get work done.

Arrival in Birkenhead, Liverpool, England

Arrival into Birkenhead in Liverpool England is smooth. Camera buffs will like the view of the city of Liverpool across the bay as you sail in. There is no immigration procedure, no passport check and no bag checks. It is very smooth.

Vehicles are let off the boat first and foot passengers get another bus to the terminal.

liverpool england ferry — Leaving the ferry on arrival in Birkenhead, Liverpool.

From the terminal you are still in Birkenhead which is quite far from Liverpool city. You can pay for another bus from the terminal to the train station at Hamilton Square and head on your way to the city centre from there.

Arrival at Hamilton Square train station in Liverpool, England.

I haven’t properly written about backpacking in Liverpool yet but my youngest brother lives there and I included Liverpool in my top 5 backpacking places in England. I’m sure I’ll get some more stuff written at some point.

Some videos of my trip from World Borders: Getting the Belfast to Birkenhead Ferry (Northern Ireland to England):

Is this the way to Fortaleza? Don’t Stop Living goes full circle again, my World Cup Travel Plans!

Posted on May 2, 2014July 15, 2016 by Jonny Blair

I cast my mind to my trip to Suriname in 2011. On the way to meet my friends in Recife, Brazil I had a stopover in a city unknown to me at the time, Fortaleza. It was a four hour layover and I was back in Brazil after the magic of tropical Suriname. It was always a dream of mine to go to the World Cup someday. I had an option to go to Germany in 2006 as my best mate Neil headed out there with a tent and backpacked it properly on the cheap. Sadly, I had just got a new job in London for a PR firm so timings didn’t suit me and ashamedly work got in the way (crazy I know, I know but that was then and this is now). In 2010 when the World Cup was in South Africa, I was busy planning my Antarctica and South America trip. But I set my sights on the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. I hoped Northern Ireland would qualify. But realistically we don’t have a decent team anymore. It didn’t matter now. I just wanted to go to the World Cup. I was adamant I would do it.

In 1986 with my Mexico 86 sticker book open at the Northern Ireland page, but I'm drawing the hero of that World Cup - Diego. — In 1986 with my Mexico 86 sticker book open at the Northern Ireland page, but I’m drawing the hero of that World Cup – Diego.

I started planning early for it, monitoring when the tickets would go on sale and applying as soon as they did. I made sure I was awake early and in a place with decent internet. It was August 2013 when they went on sale and I was back in my Hong Kong base after a trip to Africa. I applied, then that week we headed backpacking in North Korea before heading on a flight direct to Amman in Jordan to tour the Middle East for the next few months.

Happy times supporting Northern Ireland.

I was in the Why Not hostel in Tbilisi Georgia one night. It had been a good day. I had given up drinking that week after some carnage in Nagorno Karabakh. And there it was. In my email inbox – tickets confirmed for a World Cup match to be held in Fortaleza!!! I was so excited but it’s only sinking in now! As a big Northern Ireland fan, sadly my team won’t be there this year – we have qualified twice during my lifetime though – 1982 and 1986. I still have my Mexico 86 scarf that my Dad bought me. I wasn’t there back then – I was only 6 when we played in the 1986 World Cup. The biggest irony of all is that Northern Ireland’s last match was against Brazil. In Mexico. And I’m going to watch Brazil v. Mexico in the World Cup this year!

Watching Nacional in Uruguay on my travels.

I’m sure I will have more World Cup previews and posts to come, but just a quick overview on this year’s competition! The 20th FIFA World Cup is due to kick off on 12th June in Sao Paulo in when the hosts, Brazil, play Croatia, in Group A. The competition hasn’t been hosted by Brazil since 1950, so it’s the first time in the modern era and it promises to be a spectacular tournament. In 1950, Brazil lost the Final 2-1 to Uruguay, a win which has haunted them since. They have made amends though, lifting FIVE World Cups since then and have to be the bookies favourites this time round. In 2010 I visited the awesome World Cup museum in Montevideo, Uruguay – in the stadium where the first World Cup was held. In 2011 I also made it to the football museum in Sao Paulo in Brazil.

Inside the Museu Do Futebol during my second visit to Brazil in 2011.

In many ways, it’s the return of football to its “heartland”. The game may have been invented by the English, but it is most loved and revered by the Brazilians, an opinion which is hard to argue against. As Northern Ireland fans we sing “We’re Not Brazil, We’re Northern Ireland”, an ode to the team that play the people’s game the way it should be played. With passion, with style, with flambouyance, with skill. Brazil is also the only nation that has qualified for all 20 World Cup tournaments so far. Before the bookies change their odds when the squads are announced, it’s a great time to get an early bet on the World Cup and I’ll be honest I’m not sure who I’ll pick.

Wearing my Uruguay shirt in Montevideo in 2010, but I'm not sure who will win this year! — Wearing my Uruguay shirt in Montevideo in 2010, but I’m not sure who will win this year!

As already mentioned, Brazil are the favourites, followed by Argentina, Germany and Spain. But if you’re looking out for a value punt, then consider the Italian team, which during history has been the second most-successful nation, but is currently priced at around 25/1 because their squad for this year’s World Cup isn’t considered to be as strong as normal. They could be a dark horse, and despite their tough groups Cameroon and Ghana also have to be fancied. Ivory Coast should get through the group stages. My English mates will tell me England have a chance. But then so have Portugal. And Uruguay, who incidentally play Northern Ireland in a friendly just before the World Cup.

Watching Northern Ireland in Adana, Turkey last year. Next stop: Brazil for the World Cup!

So guys and girls, the madness awaits. It’s just under 6 weeks until it all kicks off!! If you can be in Brazil during the world cup, even if you can’t actually get tickets to any of the games, the atmosphere promises to be electric, with the footballing action going on in 12 different venues around the country; from the rainforest city of Manaus through to the beach resorts like Recife and Fortaleza, to the world-famous Maracana stadium in Rio where the final will be held on July 13th. Just being in any of those cities while the games are on will be an incredible experience, with partying going on in the streets all through the competition. I’m going to do my best to catch up with a few mates out there too – both Brazilian mates and some travel buddies down the years that are heading out there – Carlo, Ray, Moby, Leif. Plus my girlfriend and 2 of my best mates Neil and Chris.

Should your team get knocked out early, then you still have the amazing experience of exploring different regions of Brazil while you are there. It’s a country with such a myriad of different landscapes that you could take months to see it all, I’ll be aiming to do some non-football backpacking as usual too, read about my Iguacu waterfalls trip here.

To be able to say I was there in Brazil for the 2014 World Cup will be one of those travel memories that I know I will never forget and I’ll be sticking a few bets on to hopefully gain a bit of extra cash for my upcoming backpacking adventures. More likely though, it’ll go to help cover the costs of this blow-out Brazilian tour. It won’t be cheap. For that you can be sure.

On a side note, I’m still on target for my 5 travel dreams this year and seriously aiming for my 100th country. While in Brazil, I plan to have side trips to Guyana and French Guyana, two countries in South America that I missed first time round!

Life has truly gone full circle for me this time. It was my love of football that started me travelling. It was the Mexico 86 Panini album that I read and thought I wonder what Uruguay, Iraq, South Korea and Hungary are like. I’ve now been to a load of these places and ticked off some travel dreams. The big one is to go to a World Cup match now. The fact that it’s taking me back to Fortaleza is uncannily freaky. But I’m ready for it!

See you all in Brazil. Bring it on!!

My Return to Norn Iron Matches: Azerbaijan 2-0 Northern Ireland in Baku

Posted on April 9, 2014April 13, 2016 by Jonny Blair

My return to watching Northern Ireland matches after a 4 year absence.

This is a break from the usual travel and lifestyle posts on here and I’m glad to be finally writing about watching football again, not just on my own site but I’ve done a load of football articles recently, including on UFWC. Football has played a big part in my travels, it’s a MASSIVE part of my life and when things went wrong, I had to pick myself up and ponder on what might have been. I should be known as the football backpacker in fact – the visa tips and travel essentials will have to wait as I write about my long awaited return to Norn Iron (Northern Ireland) matches in October 2013.

My trip to Azerbaijan to watch Norn Iron in October 2013.

When Don’t Stop Living started in 2007, I was chairman of the South of England Northern Ireland Supporters Club. I was based in the south of England at the time and I was a season ticket holder at AFC Bournemouth and a block booker at Windsor Park in Belfast in Northern Ireland. Somehow, in the madness of it all, I managed not to miss a Northern Ireland home match from 1996 – September 2009, yes and I still did a load of backpacking and cheap travel trips in those days too.

I used to be a regular at Northern Ireland matches.

Yet, I haven’t been to a Northern Ireland home match since 2009. Before that I had already backpacked to places like Russia, Germany, USA, China and New Zealand (all in 2004 – 2007) and I eyed up Taiwan, Australia and South America next. Within a week or two of Northern Ireland’s home defeat to Slovakia in 2009, that was it – I was off – I was backpacking through Taiwan, loving life again after being suicidal for most of 2009. But I made the decision in February 2009 not to attend any more Northern Ireland matches, except those already booked (I had my tickets already for a few). I said I would NEVER go to a match again, Bournemouth, Glentoran or Northern Ireland. I was on a down and out of touch. Life had to change and I was done with the past and moved on. Bang – that was it. A light backpack was all I had as I headed for the city of Xinying on Taiwan.

norn iron shirt taiwan — Backpacking in Taiwan in 2009 wearing my Northern Ireland shirt.

From Taiwan onwards, things changed for me. I was happy again. I had new friends. My lifestyle improved, this blog progressed into a business, my travels took me to all seven continents, I met the best girl ever in Antarctica and I decided to base myself in Hong Kong for a while, working both online and in local schools and bars. I still loved and watched Northern Ireland everywhere I went though – the entire time. Even though I tried to change – I couldn’t – it was in my heart. Nobody could get me so down or depressed that I would miss a Northern Ireland match. Nobody.

Watching Northern Ireland on my laptop in Australia in 2010.

I watched the matches on my laptop, I kept tabs via Facebook, BBC and Our Wee Country. I just didn’t attend the matches anymore. I even formed two new Northern Ireland Supporters Clubs on the move – one in Tasmania in 2010 and one in Hong Kong in 2012. When 2013 came round I looked at the fixtures and fancied the Azerbaijan away match so I set my mind on it. It seemed like the closest match to my base in Hong Kong and my girlfriend Panny was up for it. Neither of us had been to the Middle East properly before and it was our next backpacking adventure. We had the option of free tours and hostels thrown into the mix through my travel writing and we were off – Israel, Iran, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Jordan etc… Another mate of mine was also meant to come to the match, but pulled out. We didn’t even have a visa for Azerbaijan until the day before we entered the country! We got our visas in Batumi, Georgia. I contacted the Irish FA in Belfast and got 2 tickets sorted and it was happening.

Backpacking in Azerbaijan ready for the match!

I was off to watch Northern Ireland again. I’m a big Northern Ireland fan. I still have my Mexico 86 scarf that my Dad bought me for the World Cup. I was there all through the 90s too and even the Healy years – when we beat England, Spain and Sweden. Those were the glory days. These days, we’re not quite as good! It had been almost 5 years since an away match and over 4 years since any match at all and I was happy to be back again.

jonny blair 1980s ni kit — A photo of me from the 1980s wearing my first ever Northern Ireland kit.

Life had taken a turn for the better and I was looking forward to becoming part of the Green and White Army once again. A few of my old Northern Ireland buddies were going – Nial Coulter, Andrew Milliken (Moby) and Garreth Todd. The hardcore fans would be at this one though oddly my good old NI supporting buddy Graham Anderson wasn’t there. But all was set! Bring it on!

jonny blair night train — Night train to Baku from Tbilisi ready for my Norn Iron return.

After arriving in Baku by train the day before the match I headed out with some lads for a few beers – I couldn’t believe there were only about 13 of us in a wee bar in central Baku. I met Davy McKinley, Kibby and Paul Ballard in there and we enjoyed the local pints of Xirdalan (I believe).

Match day in Baku with the Norn Iron fans - the Green and White Army. — Match day in Baku with the Norn Iron fans – the Green and White Army.

Match day arrived and I was interviewed on Sky Sports along with Shaun Schofield. In the intervening years, I had written a chapter for Shaun Schofield’s book “Albania to America with Belfast in between”.

baku jonny blair — Getting interviewed in Baku, Azerbaijan on match day.

We collected our tickets on the same day that we toured the James Bond Oil Fields, the amazing Qobustan Rock Inscriptions and the Mud Volcanoes. In our hostel dorm in the Caspian were two Polish girls who were due to leave Baku early the next morning, so we invited them to the match and low and behold, not only did they come to the match, but they wore green and they were issued with free tickets from the IFA!

Our match tickets for Azerbaijan v. Northern Ireland in Baku.

A few beers by the sinking sun over the Caspian Sea and it was time to head to the stadium. It was emotional.

Azerbaijan are not a great team. In fact they are dire. I really believed in my heart that we would win. The problem was I had only watched Northern Ireland online for the last 4 years on my travels. I didn’t really know we weren’t that good any more. I was actually a bit out of touch – I didn’t even know all the songs anymore! But I got into the new ones pretty quickly – they didn’t even have anything to do with football! “Gerry knew”, “We are the Peru 2” and “You can lick my hole again”.

baku azerbaijan — Panny and I outside the Stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan.

We had our own small green and white section in the crowd, some 39 of us and we all sang loud and proud for our wee country. By half time we should have been winning, but it was 0-0. That is – if possession counts for anything. It doesn’t. The only thing in football that is important is scoring goals. It’s fact. Nobody cares how you score them. Yes, we would all love to be like Maradona or George Best and score exquisite goals every time, but at the end of the day, just putting the ball in the net will do.

I was surprised to learn that on a few websites, Azerbaijan were actually the online favourite for the match, probably because of home advantage as both teams are mediocre if truth be told. At half time though, it was 0-0 and we had played better. Despite a bit of half time optimism, we all knew the story. When you support Northern Ireland the word “conceding” becomes all too common.

jonny blair flag — Back in the Northern Ireland end – 4 years on with my girlfriend Panny Yu and my travelling Northern Ireland flag.

It took the Azeris just 13 minutes of the second half to score their first. From there, realistically we were trying to salvage a point. Then in the last minute, Jonny Evans ridiculously launched into a crazy tackle, got himself sent off and gifted Azerbaijan a free kick within shooting range. They scored it. We lost 2-0.

Back in the stand with the GAWA - Nial and Davy. — Back in the stand with the GAWA – Nial and Davy.

Life had gone FULL CIRCLE again and freaked me out. My first ever Northern Ireland match had finished 0-2 (a home defeat to Yugoslavia in September 1990), my “last ever” Northern Ireland home match had finished 0-2 (a home defeat to Slovakia in September 2009) and I should have seen it coming. The 2-0 defeat was inevitable. Match Report on the BBC.

After the 2-0 defeat we headed to the team bus to meet the players.

At the Final whistle, we headed to meet the players. We had a right to. Some of these lads had spent a fortune following the team in the previous few years, only to suffer horrendous results – a 1-1 draw in the Faroes, a 3-2 defeat in Luxembourg, a 6-0 crushing by Holland etc.

The lads showing off their free Azerbaijan shirts after the match at the Bakcell Arena.

A few of the players spoke to us. Alan Mannus, our reserve goalkeeper gave me his top kindly. Thanks Alan! I have worn it in a few places around the world since. But the team were woeful. We made amends the following Tuesday with a 1-1 draw in Israel, but my return to watching Northern Ireland had ended in defeat.

Wearing Alan Mannus's shirt while backpacking near Lake Masazir, Azerbaijan. — Wearing Alan Mannus’s shirt while backpacking near Lake Masazir, Azerbaijan.

After the match the Azerbaijan FA gave a load of Northern Ireland fans free shirts. It was incredible. The hospitality was immense. I got free shirts and socks, plus a football programme for my collection. Then we headed to the Shakespeare Bar for a mega drowning our sorrows party. It was my first Northern Ireland match in my 30s and I felt it, though I still partied until about 4am. Whiskey and beer go hand in hand when following Norn Iron: “Drinking all over the world”.

The table of whiskey bought for us by the Azerbaijan FA.

The Azerbaijan FA put a $200 US tab on the bar and gave us all free whiskey. Amazing hospitality. We toasted to their win – we weren’t good enough over the 90 minutes. After the music and drinking in the Shakespeare, I ended up with Kyle from Lurgan and his English girlfriend in a wee local bar called Vertigo drinking creme de Menthe.

It had been an emotional return to watch my beloved Northern Ireland and by chance I would get to see the boys AGAIN the following month in a fluke friendly in Adana, Turkey.

Bring on the next one. I’m back.

Green and White Army!

* Apologies to my regular readers who were expecting more backpacking tips, travel essentials etc. today. This is my travel lifestyle blog and I love to mix it up. I don’t want to be an also ran.

Safe travels one and all.

Working Wednesdays: Feature in the Ards Chronicle, Newtownards, Northern Ireland

Posted on April 2, 2014May 2, 2014 by Jonny Blair

This week has been a really, really busy one in my travel lifestyle. Last week I got a tweet out of the blue from a journalist from my birthtown of Newtownards. She writes for the Newtownards Chronicle, a weekly paper which oddly I once worked with the sister company/newspaper while doing my media course in Belfast. In fact, the week of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, I was helping out with an election campaign for Ulster Unionist candidate Jack Beattie and he was interviewed by the paper when I was with him. Fast forward to the week of my 34th birthday, last week and not only am I interviewed by the newspaper, but I was delighted to get a full page feature, entitled “Where’s Jonny? ‘Business Backpacker’ on mission to visit his 100th Country”

If you’ve read my extensive Jonny Blair Media Appearances post before, you will know I’ve appeared quite a bit in the press, but this is a special one for me. As it’s in my birthtown, it’s a newspaper I love, it’s now in colour, it’s a full page feature and it details my entire travel lifestyle condensed nicely into one interview. Head out to your local shop in North Down (Ards and Bangor area) in Northern Ireland and pick up a copy if you’re interested in following my story and the local news. If you can read the small print, I’ve also scanned it in below. The article is copyright of the Ards Chronicle and the photos copyright Jonny Blair.

jonny blair ards chronicle — My Interview in the Ards Chronicle, Northern Ireland this week (March 2014)

I’d like to thank Gillian Halliday from the Ards Chronicle for the interview opportunity. Hopefully I can help encourage others to live a travel lifestyle, especially those from my hometown and homeland. You can also read the article online: Ards Chronicle Interview.

Here are a few other articles I have written on Newtownards, the town where I was born:

– Coffee in Knott’s, Newtownards
– Top 10 Backpacker Sights in Newtownards

And if you need some travel inspiration on this working Wednesday, here are three books I recommend:
1. The Cargo Ship Diaries – Ace Irish Traveller Niall Doherty’s story of how he has travelled the world for 2 and a half years without flying! Amazing inspiration.
2. How to Live a Life of Travel – Long term traveller (since 1999) Derek Earl Baron shows you how to do it properly as an expert.
3. Nomadic Matt’s How to Travel the World on $50 US A Day – Yes it’s true you can do it. Matt’s book is awesome!

Sunday’s Inspiration: 10 Ways to get Noticed (and the Day I…Scored a Hat-Trick)

Posted on March 23, 2014December 18, 2021 by Jonny Blair

“Don’t be someone who they forget” – Melanie Chisholm.

jonny blair get noticed — Don’t be someone who they forget. 10 ways to get NOTICED.

The Spice Girls were pretty big weren’t they? They were huge in fact. They were noticed. They won’t be forgotten. Neither should you strive to be the forgotten one. I hate anonymity. It grills me. It’s almost fake. Standing back and hiding yourself. Do you dress yourself in dark to hide from the world?
I don’t. I don’t aspire to be the forgotten one. I’m more Toto Schillachi than I am Colin Ramirez (exactly – who is he?). This might be a long post and I could have cut it into two parts but it’s all in one so here goes…

getting noticed — Sunday’s Inspiration: 10 Ways To Get Noticed.

I used to be the forgotten one, I used to go un-noticed, especially at school and when playing football as a teenager. I was nobody’s hero. I never craved the limelight, I never really wanted it. I didn’t want the glory. There was no money to have so I didn’t have a want for it. A few triggers changed this attitude for me. I was one of the least noticed players in my BB football team in Northern Ireland. Yet I played as a striker. A striker that goes un-noticed?? What that meant was I wasn’t really any good.

A photo of me playing football aged 11 (I'm the guy chasing the player on the ball. I went un-noticed. — A photo of me playing football aged 11 (I’m the guy chasing the player on the ball. I went un-noticed.

Good strikers get noticed all the time, by: Scoring a goal. Hitting the post. Missing a penalty. Getting sent off. Hitting the bar from 40 yards out. Bagging a Hat-trick in the FA Cup. I went un-noticed. So I did something about it. I played football every week, sometimes every day down the park aged between 9 – 13. I practiced, I trained, I watched football on TV. Still, when I was 13/14 and on paper probably the least admired player on the pitch, I was still one of the “also rans” of the team. My own team never saw me as a danger-man so obviously neither did the opposition. I saw this as the opportunity to prove them wrong. Never underestimate someone. Never underestimate yourself. Believe. I was more belief than confidence. But I bumped them both up.

Me wearing a Northern Ireland kit with an NI football in the 1980s.

So one day I was out on the pitch and I looked at the opponents two centre halves and thought to myself “I’ll score a hat trick today”. I set my mind to it and that was it. My aim was to score twice in the first half by chasing through balls, by wanting it, by looking for slip ups, by shocking my entire team by offering to take a 30 yard free kick, by challenging for every ball and knackering myself out, even if it meant being tired or working too hard. I was up for it. I wanted it, big time.

By half time I’d scored twice. (I can’t remember if the score was 2-2 or we were 2-1 up). I made it look easy that day. I was the hungriest player on the pitch. By a country mile. I wasn’t the best player on the pitch, not by a lot shot. Maybe I was one of the worst players on the pitch, but by half time I had made the opposition defence look weak, I had made it look like I was the best player on the pitch. I had got noticed.

northern ireland BB cup — My football glory moment was winning the Northern Ireland cup in 1997-1998.

“You are who you make people believe you are” – Malachy Murray (I think)

I knew at half time my own team would be thinking:
– If we get a penalty give it to Jonny for his hat trick
– Let Jonny continue playing the way he is – he wants it

I knew at half time the other team would be thinking:
– That small striker that scored those 2 goals is crap. They were flukes. He’s nothing to worry about. Don’t mark him – he’ll be too tired for the second half. Mark the big lad up front with him (who incidentally was called Chris Stewart).

So at half time we had our usual orange slices and water. But I had only scored two goals. Nobody remembers that. Only a hat trick hero gets remembered. I crept up slow. A few minutes into the second half I ran along to a through ball down the line on the left side. I cut inside a defender, swerved back on myself and fired a left foot rifle into the bottom corner. I remember so well I could recreate the goal again right now. The keeper had no chance. I had scored a screamer. I had just scored a hat trick. As my team mates came over to celebrate with me I know for a fact they were shocked. I wasnt. I was just shocked at how easily I had done it. We won the match 4-2 that day. That meant that without me it would have been a defeat. I was ecstatic. I had stood out from the crowd. I had believed in myself and I had got noticed. There was a certain sense of inspiration in me that day. I had no real right to score a hat-trick. I wasn’t the best player on the pitch. I wasn’t even the best player in our team. In fact some weeks, I’d be happy to be a substitute. But I had proved myself. I was pretty confident and content.

being noticed bangor grammar — Me and my school class mates in 1991. I guess a few of us went on to be “noticed”.

In the next match I scored twice and hit the post and I think we won 7-3. Confidence comes and goes. And that was that. Those two matches were the best two personal matches in my career (although from a team perspective I later won the NI BB National Cup). But something had changed. I wasn’t the forgotten man any more. As it happens, and predictably so I never scored a hat trick before or after that match. It stands as my only career hat-trick! I’m proud of that day and I loved the attention. I remember people saying “what? Jonny got a hat trick?” even the next week someone said to me “heard you got a hat trick last week and the third was like Teddy Sheringham”. Yes I did and they were all screamers – not even arrogant to say it – they were good goals and any football fan would know it. And I did watch a lot of Teddy Sheringham and Matt Le Tissier goals on TV and VHS in those days. A DVD copy of my hat-trick match sadly doesn’t exist. I had proved my point though. Here are the goals from my hat trick, as best I can remember them, as recreated by real footballers:

Goal 1 – Jonny Blair for 10th Bangor BB, 1994. Right foot shot inside the box from cross in:

Goal 2 – Jonny Blair for 10th Bangor BB, 1994. Left foot deft easy finish inside the box – first goal on this clip:

Goal 3 – Jonny Blair for 10th Bangor BB, 1994. Left foot deft easy finish inside the box after running down the line (can be any of these goals):

So I had got noticed and that was 20 years ago. I never wanted to be the quiet one again. I wanted the limelight, I wanted the success, I wanted the attention.

“It’s funny how your dreams change as you’re growing old. You don’t wanna be a spaceman, you just want the GOLD.” – Noel Gallagher

Here are 10 ways I personally believe you can go from being a nobody to being noticed, but you have to want it.

1. Be relentless.
“I can’t sleep cos the world won’t wait” – Liam Gallagher. The world won’t stop for you and you have to grasp these moments while they happen. Don’t just do things once, twice, be relentless. Keep doing things. Over and over again. You score a goal one week. Score another one the next week. Never slow down. Never stop. I’m relentless. 7 years of travel blogging will tell you that.

2. Be hungry.
You have to WANT things. Be hungry for success. Even be hungry for failure. We all make mistakes. Sometimes we make them for a good reason – so that we know what not to do. I’m hungry. Right now I want success from this travel blog. I want happiness, health and peace for myself, my girlfriend, my family, her family, my friends. The hunger and desire in me is sky high now. I could eat a whole pizza. I’m a greedy ba$tard.

3. Bombard people.
Sometimes people don’t notice you – or they brush things off to pretend they don’t notice you. In that case, continue to be relentless and bombard people with things until they notice you. A good example of this is the rock band Manic Street Preachers. In the early days, they bombarded every single record label, gig venue, music journalist etc. in London (and bug UK cities) with their songs, their messages. They kept at it. Eventually they got signed, they got big gigs, they got on Top of the Pops. They were relentless. In fact, it took them about 10 years to get a number one single. Proof that longevity and relentlessness works.

4. Never change your message.
Consistency is key. You have a message to tell people – tell them. Stick with it. Don’t change it. It’s your message. Barack Obama wants to be the “first black President”. He stuck with it, he stuck with it. HE DID IT.

“The song remains the same” – Led Zepellin

5. Have good PR
If you can’t do PR for yourself, get someone to do your PR. Everyone needs good PR. By that I mean Public Relations. Strategies, marketing, business models. I do my own PR. JonnyBlair.com. I have a degree in the subject and years of experience. It works. PR works. Outsource your message to a PR agency. They’ll brainstorm your needs and send your message out and get the attention you need.

“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some hire Public Relations Officers” – Daniel J. Boorstin

6. Prove the doubters wrong.
Everyone has doubters. Even Diego Maradona. When he returned to the World Cup in 1990 and 1994 people said “Oh he’s had his glory moment”. He got to the Final in 1990 and he scored a 30 yard screamer in 1994. Ignore the fact he got done for drugs, he proved a point. Andre Agassi returned from the tennis wilderness to reach a Wimbledon Final.

7. Be sensational.
Do SOMETHING a bit CRAZY. Just something. It will get noticed and stand out. Be aware though, that publicity for sensational stories can be both negative and positive so get ready for the onslaught. My hat-trick was also a bit crazy. It was like I was the quiet Nick Barmby character in a team with Teddy Sheringham and Alan Shearer. Yet I bagged a hat-trick. A sensational thing could be anything – running naked down the High Street, slagging off the local MP on TV or Radio, booking a return flight to Iraq to go backpacking, dressing up as one of the X-Men down your local pub. You’ll be talked about – you’ll be noticed. One rock star releases a brilliant song. Another rock star throws a TV out the window. Who makes the news the next day? Sadly the one who threw the TV. I’m not suggesting to do that, but something within the law that is sensational.

8. Appear on the Biggest News Site in your Target Country
Going back to my media and PR roots here, one thing I know is that news is read by everyone. You get nowhere on your own without media. Nobody reads this travel blog. Nobody reads my stories without me appearing on other media. Look at the biggest media channels and target them. Last year I appeared on national Northern Irish radio and on the biggest news site in the UK – the BBC. These opportunities actually came to me – I didn’t look for them, but my hunger, desire, passion and sensationalism got me noticed. I also got interviewed on Sky Sports in Baku, Azerbaijan. Get yourself familiar with giving quotes to a microphone.

azerbaijan baku — Appear on Big Media Channels – my interview on Sky Sports in 2013 from Baku, Azerbaijan.

9. Promote the good stuff.
Talk about the good times. Promote them. Big them up. Make them sound amazing. That time you hiked through the rain for 4 days to reach a lost city. Talk about it. Rave about it and convince and inspire others to follow in your footsteps. Aim to get noticed by urging others to do what you do. You’ll get a load of kudos and respect.

10. Gloss over the shit.
You wrote a crap blog post once, you lost money in a river. Laugh it off. Gloss over. We all have good or bad moments. You’ll get noticed for these crazy stories too – so use them to your advantage. If done the right way and if you can admit your mistakes and laugh them off then you can polish your turds.

That’s my Sunday’s Inspiration for today – I have a really busy few weeks coming up with work, online business, new websites etc. and my next proper travels will be to East Timor as I aim to visit 100 countries within the year. I hope you can get cracking on these 10 ways to get noticed and see if they work. If all that fails, you can always Dress up as a frog in downtown London.

Friday’s Featured Food: Morning Coffee and Scones in Knotts, Newtownards, Northern Ireland

Posted on March 21, 2014January 28, 2021 by Jonny Blair

When life takes you back to the town you were born in after backpacking incessantly to 188 countries around the world, you do often wonder what sparkle your original home has left for you.

Knotts in Newtownards, Northern Ireland.

Straight from my adventures in the Middle East (touring Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan etc.), I headed back with my Mum for a morning touring the main street of Newtownards in Northern Ireland. Back in 1980, I was born in Newtownards Hospital. This is where my journey really began. Time for a wee cuppa coffee and a scone so it is. Forgive the Northern Irish speak, I won’t shy away from my cherished homeland ever.

newtownards coffee scones — Back in my birth town of Newtownards enjoying coffee and scones.

“stepped off a train all alone at dawn, back into the hole where I was born.”- Noel Gallagher

As much as I like Oasis, Noel Gallagher possibly got it wrong on this one. No doubt a bit of tongue in cheek involved there, but here I was, back in “the hole where I was born”. Except I love it. I love Newtownards. I’m proud of it. I like the people, I like the vibe. I wouldn’t choose to be born anywhere else. On this journey “home”, in January 2014 it was time for a Friday’s Featured Food.

backpacking in newtownards — Driving through my birth town of Newtownards, Northern Ireland.

Incidentally if you are reading and you read before that I am from Bangor in Northern Ireland, then that is because I am. Please don’t get confused. I was BORN in Newtownards, but I grew up in Bangor. Both are home and I have an affinity with both, just as I do with Belfast, the Northern Irish capital where I spent a lot of my childhood, teenage years and right into adulthood, I love Belfast too. But on arrival in Newtownards this year – it was my turn to take my Mum back to one of our favourite coffee shops in the world – Knotts.

Friday's Featured Food comes from Knott's in Newtownards, Northern Ireland. — Friday’s Featured Food comes from Knotts in Newtownards, Northern Ireland.

Where is Knotts?

Knotts is on High Street, the main shopping street in Newtownards, near Conway Square (Ards Square). It’s beside Wardens of Newtownards and is the busiest and best coffee shop in town. I love it. It’s always a special place and I’ve now had a coffee in here on every decade of my life. In we went. Full address and website:

Knotts Bakery Newtownards

49 High Street

Newtownards
County Down
Northern Ireland

BT23 7HS

newtownards northern ireland — Knotts Restaurant and Cafe in Newtownards. A “quare wee spot”.

What to drink in Knotts?

The selection is good here. A range of coffees and tea plus soft drinks. I normally go for an Irish tea or a cappuccino/latte. Today it was a large cappuccino. The coffee and tea is also served expertly, at reasonable prices and without the garbage or over commercialist nature of ridiculous companies like Ratsbux.

coffee in knotts newtownards — Mid morning snack for me and my Mum – scones and coffee. LOVE it.

ards backpacking northern ireland — My Mum with her coffee and scone in Knotts, Newtownards, Northern Ireland

What to eat in Knotts?

You have a huge range of treats – Irish and foreign. I normally go for a raisin soda and a wee scone if it’s mid morning. These are local treats – scrumptious Northern Irish food. But they also do excellent salads, full on Ulster Frys (Northern Irish breakfast) and a range of cool lunch dishes. The range varies too and they often have soup of the day and dish of the day. If it’s lunchtime I’ll go for an Ulster fry or one of their specials. Scones in Knotts are excellent.

knotts newtownards — Range of bread including sodas in Knotts.

backpacking in ards — Sweet snacks and cakes in Knotts. The lovely wee scones.

ards backpacker northern ireland — Amazingly delicious salads – welcome to Newtownards.

What Price is the food and drink in Knotts?

It’s very very reasonable and affordable. Almost all breakfast items will be priced around £3 to £5. Full meals at lunch also between £5 and £10. Though please note that prices vary all the time. The menu below is the January 2014 prices.

SO if you ever end up in Newtownards, Northern Ireland make sure you pop into Knotts Bakery! If any of the Knotts managers or staff are reading, I’d appreciate a free fry and a coffee next time 😉

A video of me having coffee and scones in Knotts:

Top 10 Backpackery Things to do in Newtownards, Northern Ireland🔴✋️☘️: The Town Where I was Born!

Posted on March 15, 2014October 17, 2024 by Jonny Blair

Life may take you on many roads and to many towns and cities around the world but one fact is true: you can only have one birth town. You are born in one place and we must try and be proud of our roots. I certainly am, and I owe a lot more to my birthtown than I’ve ever given it credit for. Despite sounding like a modern day metropolis due to its possibly misleading name, the little town of Newtownards is quite the opposite. This unknown gem is where I started my journey round this planet and I love it. Newtownards never loses its appeal or its sparkle to me. And hold on a second – can you go backpacking in your hometown?? Yes, yes, you can. I’m a global traveller but I want to help promote towns like Newtownards to the world so these are my tips for a traveller – all cheap and authentic. You’ll probably love places like Newtownards. Be a tourist everyday, everywhere you go.

While I admit I’ve only been to Newtownards twice in about 5 years, that’s because I’ve been travelling the world on a mission rather than my neglect for charming Ards. I recently travelled back to Newtownards to check it out all over again. In list form now, my personal top 10 backpackery things to do in Newtownards – if you need any travel tips on other parts of Northern Ireland please e-mail me or leave a comment below.

newtownards conway square — Local shops in Conway Square, Newtownards.

1. Scrabo Tower (also known as the 1857 Memorial Tower)

This is far and away the main attraction and I love it. Scrabo Tower (in local dialect pronounced Scrabbatar) sits on the top of Scrabo Hill. You can drive up to the car park, and walk up to the tower. I have reason to believe it’s official name is the 1857 Memorial Tower but nobody calls it that. At least I don’t.

Scrabo Tower sits high and proud and is visible from most of North Down. It was built in 1857 as a memorial to Charles Stewart, the 3rd Marquess of Londonderry who was one of the Duke of Wellington’s Generals during the Napoleonic Wars. The Third Marquis, or “Warring Charlie” as he was also known, inherited the title and family seat of Mount Stewart after his brother, The Second Marquis, committed suicide.

backpacking newtownards — Backpacking in Newtownards – back in my birth town exploring Scrabo Tower.

Scrabo Tower offers incredible views across Strangford Lough over Newtownards and even over to Scotland on a good day. The Tower contains two floors of displays and a climb of 122 steps to the top open viewing level. Scrabo Country Park is always open, however the tower is currently closed so please take note. Normally admission to the park and the tower is FREE!! Even if the tower is closed, you need to go up the hill to check out its exterior and the views! Read the full history on the Scrabo Tower Website.

2. Conway Square (Ards Square)

Every Northern Irish town has a wee square. Newtownards is the same. Ards is proudly British. The Union flag flies here and is justified given the obvious Unionist presence in this Northern Irish stronghold.

backpacking ards — The Union Flag flying in Conway Square, Newtownards.

People fought and died for Britain and Ireland during the two main wars of the last century. Conway Square is the centre point of Newtownards and is bang in the town centre. The main building in the town square houses Ards Art Centre and also has the town clock.

ards art centre — Ards Art Centre and the town clock in Conway Square.

It’s worth checking out the Blair Paddy Mayne statue too. Blair Mayne co-founded the SAS and was a highly regarded member of the British Army. His statue sits in the main square too.

They often have markets and festivals on here too. It’s all about kids and the family. Good old Newtownards. It was a really happy moment going back there with Mum this year and flying my Northern Ireland flag. Our flag doesn’t get enough coverage and I have campaigned for a Northern Ireland flag emoji on radio/Podcast, in newspaper and on blogs.

conway square ards backpacker — Proudly flying my travelling Northern Ireland flag in Conway Square, Newtownards.

3. Ards War Memorial

The war memorial in Ards commemorates those who fought and died in the First and Second World Wars. As sad as it is to say it, but Northern Irish towns all have war memorials and yes I recommend visiting them as a “backpacking sight” on your tour. I’ve been to some conflict zones on my travels, such as Palestine, Iraq and Venezuela and I find it REALLY important to respect those who fought and died for our freedom today. I hope the Protestants and Catholics of Newtownards can live in peace for eternity – make it a proud wee Northern Irish town.

4. The Somme Centre

Ouch – you’re going to tell me off again for including another “war related sight”, but honestly – the battle of the Somme was a major battle during the First World War and this centre is a really really insightful place. I went with my Dad and got a guided tour. There’s an entry fee but it’s worth it. Somme Centre website.

ards somme — The Somme Heritage Centre, Newtownards.

The Lonely Planet guides have annoyed me a bit by never having released a Northern Ireland Lonely Planet. While I lobby them for that, at least the Somme Centre makes the Lonely Planet Ireland (Travel Guide), which incorporates Northern Ireland into. Oh – we get a chapter with a separate section.

5. Avalon Guitars

While Irish Music is famous the world over, Newtownards boasts Avalon Guitars. From this tranquil town, guitars are made and sold all over the world. The likes of James Morrison and Bruce Springsteen have used Avalon Guitars down the years. Visitors and welcomed to their workshop and showroom! Something unique and random to do when you backpack your way here. Avalon Guitars Newtownards.

6. Knotts Bakery

I’ve been around the world and drank coffee in many places, but my favourite place for a morning coffee and scone is still Knotts. Sitting noticeably on Newtownards High Street, this charming coffee shop ain’t changed in years. And it has no reason to. Top Irish breakfasts are served to perfection. Homemade scones and cakes come in good varieties and you just sit down with a cup of tea or coffee and forget about the world.

7. Ark Open Farm

Opposite the Somme Heritage Centre on the other side of the carriageway to Bangor is the Ark Open Farm. It’s been there for years and is popular with families and school children. The farm has sheep, cattle, poultry, llamas, donkeys etc. A chance for kids to hand feed animals and experience Ards farm life. The Ark Open Farm.

8. Wardens

I’m including Wardens on here as it’s a Newtownards institution. Famous for generations, this is a traditional big town department store in a small town. It does the town proud. It’s for buying home decorations, furniture and appliances. For a backpacker, it provides you with an insight into what Northern Irish people do on the weekends when they’re not down the pub. “Aye the locals love a wee bit of shopping so they do”.

ards backpacking — Wardens in Newtownards.

9. “Woolco” (Ards Shopping Centre)

Locals call it Woolco, at least I hope they still do. That’s what I call it. This was always the local shopping centre in the area. Pop in for a browse. Asda, Boots, Easons etc. Northern Irish people love a good bit of shopping and you can see it all in action here.

Take a wee dander or a browse round Ards Shopping Centre.

10. The Spirit Merchant/Ards Wetherspoons

All backpackers want a beer and while Ards has a load of good pubs, I have to recommend the Wetherspoons as it’s CHEAP. Just take my advice and don’t turn up in a Celtic shirt. In fact, you won’t get in.

spoons ards — Backpacker tip for a cheap beer – Wetherspoons in Newtownards.

I’m glad to have shared this post on Newtownards my birth town with you all today. I hope some of you get out to Ards on your backpacking journey as it is not a touristy town. Newtownards was also the town where I passed my Driving Test and got my Foundation Studies qualification as I went to the tech there. It holds many happy memories.

I hope to write more about my beautiful Northern Irish homeland in times to come. Bangor and Belfast are also great places to tour and of course, Ireland’s Highest Pub (The Ponderosa) and Ireland’s Oldest Pub (Grace Neill’s) are also in Northern Ireland. I hope you enjoyed my top 10 backpackery things to do in Newtownards, Northern Ireland. Here are a few videos from me in Ards in January 2014 and April 2012 – my last two visits back there:

Friday’s Featured Food: Belarussian Porridge in Bobruisk, Belarus🇧🇾

Posted on February 21, 2014November 22, 2024 by Jonny Blair

It’s a long time since I wrote anything about Belarus (even though I once wrote a chapter for a book on my trip there). And as it’s yet to feature on my Friday’s Featured Food series, I thought it was time to recollect that day I tried Belarussian Porridge in the drab city of Bobruisk. Intriguing…

The porridge arrives on my breakfast table next to my orange juice and my cup of tea. I was expecting normal porridge. But then again “what is normal?”. Was that porridge I had as a child growing up in Northern Ireland the normal stuff? That was just my opinion wasn’t it? For the record I used to eat Quaker Oats porridge growing up. Most of the year, once a day, in the morning , especially in cold winters.

bobruisk belarus — The Tourist Hotel in Bobruisk, Belarus.

However I kind of neglected porridge when I started travelling and indeed I hadn’t had it for many years the day I arrived ridiculously into the city of Bobruisk. Bobruisk is one of the most obscure places I have ever been. A city in eastern Belarus, not far from the site of the horrible Chernobyl disaster (which occurred just across the border into the Ukraine). I ended up staying by the Berezina River in the Hotel Tourist in Bobruisk. There were no backpackers or hostels in Bobruisk back in 2007 when I visited. There may be now.

belarus train bobruisk — The crazy train ride from Minsk to Bobruisk back in 2007.

Anyway I got a crazy train from Minsk out to Bobruisk for a football match and after hitching a cheap ride to the hotel (story for another day) I chilled out. Next morning it was down to the dining room for breakfast. When porridge arrived it had these random “sweets” in it. I scoffed the lot in next to no time as I was just hungry after the latest bit of travel (had been in Russia and China before Belarus). But the porridge was horrible!!

Breakfast table in the Hotel Tourist all ready for the day ahead, in Bobruisk.

I had been having breakfast with the entire Northern Ireland ladies football team and their backroom staff including David Currie (from the IFA) and Alfie Wylie (head coach) so it wasn’t like a lonely breakfast experience. The room was full and everyone agreed the porridge was disgusting. Somehow we all ate it. Next morning it was back to cornflakes for me and jam on toast. In the end the football match turned out to be a 5-0 defeat to Belarus. Maybe, just maybe it was the yucky porridge that did it.

breakfast in bobruisk — Lots of us together for breakfast in Bobruisk, Belarus.

I haven’t been back to Belarus since (just done Armenia, Georgia, Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan though) and still wonder if the locals actually like this stuff. Happy eating my friends, Belarussian porridge is one of the worst dishes I’ve ever had.

Friday’s Featured Food is an ongoing regular feature on Don’t Stop Living – a lifestyle of travel. If you have a meal, bar, pub, restaurant, brand or idea that you would like reviewed or featured on Friday’s Featured Food, please get in touch via my contacts page or my advertising page. I’d love to hear from you! I’d also love a free pint and a meal. Cheers!