Somalia – photo gallery
Conflict Research and Travel
North Korea – An American travels to Pyongyang
Brando Cox shares how he visited North Korea as one of the first American allowed into the country following Madeleine Albright’s US State Department visit
North Korea – Pyongyang, Mysteries & Secrets of a Reclusive Nation’s Capital
Pyongyang Subway Mysteriousness A surprising highlight of our journey was the Pyongyang subway, which was both exciting and mysterious. Only in North Korea is the subway thrilling. At 110 metres (360 ft) it’s one of the deepest in the world, apparently designed to double as a bomb shelter. The station was bustling with people as […]
Turkmenistan. 2026 Travel guide – Independently explore this mysterious country
Brando shares how he visited Turkmenistan on a semi independant itenerary, seeing the major sights, in one of the world’s most mysterious countries.
Turkmenistan – Photo Gallery 2024
Turkmenistan – Independent travel photo gallery 2023
Travel to Ashgabat,
Afghanistan – Reflections on Afghan Resilience Amidst Conflict
Afghanistan is on a heartbreaking journey to stability though the price is often freedom. People showered unimaginable kindness during my travels through a county oversaturated with incredible sights yet overshadowed by decades of war and violence. Despite this troubled past and years spent living under a cloud of fear, stress and uncertainty they rise above to exude a palpable warmth and love on a traveler they have just met.
It completely breaks my heart imagining what changes will come in the next ten years as the world chooses to mostly ignore Afghanistan. A time when the country will fight its most important fight – the struggle to come to terms with a generational and ideological crossroads which will define success or set a path towards failure for future generations.
Afghanistan – Safety & Checkpoints, Checkpoints, SO many Checkpoints
Afghanistan – Safety & Checkpoints, Checkpoints, SO many Checkpoints Safety is naturally one of the top concerns for many when they think about traveling in Afghanistan. The country has seen decades upon decades of war and for most of our lives every time Afghanistan is in the news, or in a movie – its for […]
Afghanistan – Crossing the border from Tajikistan
Afghanistan – Crossing the border from Tajikistan Traveling to Dushanbe, Tajikistan The morning of my travels to Afghanistan begin with a jarring message – my local contact who was supposed to meet me at the border was no longer available due to some sort of emergency. This was an interesting mental twist in a journey […]
Afghanistan – Bamyan. The Buddhas and the City of Screams
As we drove from Kabul to Bamyan, the road was new and perfect….except for every quarter mile or so there are small sections missing, or torn up. These are where roadside bombs, IEDs, or missiles hit the road during the war. Its crazy to see, and there are so many. A sad reminder of where you are visiting what daily life must have been like.
Afghanistan – Mazar i Sharif & Balkh Independent travel
Mazar – i – Sharif Mazar is an ancient city of over 500,000 inhabitants known for the magnificent and expansive blue mosque complex The cities name translates to “tomb of the saint” which is a reference to the tomb of Ali, the famed cousin, son-in-law and companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Miraculously, the mosque […]