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.
Destinations
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 […]
Afghanistan – The Ancient City of Herat
I walked alone across the long bridge over the Panj River between Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Military vehicles and watchtowers on both ends reminded me that I wasn’t really alone. At the end of the bridge there is a large gate controlling the entrance into Afghanistan. I had a long walk to ponder the wisdom of my decision to travel through Afghanistan, but I was eager to witness the current state of affairs, learn more about Afghani daily life, and see some of the amazingly beautiful sights we hear far too little about.
Afghanistan – Exploring Kabul
Kabul Think of Kabul and a range of thoughts and emotions flood through, in a similar way the city affects travelers arriving for the first time. We arrived in Kabul exhausted from an overnight bus journey over the beautiful Khaosan Mountain Pass, along a beautiful nameless river, and through the Panjshir Valley. After a short […]
Afghanistan – 2026 Independent Travel Guide
Want to go deeper in Afghanistan? See below NothingDeclared individual city guides and specialty resources: Money ATMs will most likely not work with any foreign debit cards in Afghanistan. Therefore most travelers rely on the old fashioned method – money exchanges. AFN is the currency in Afghanistan and its necessary to change dollars to this […]
Bangladesh – Independent Travel Guide and Top Tips
Bangladesh Trip Report This report details how to independently travel in Bangladesh. I was exploring the Sundarbans years ago in 2011 and, across the mangrove delta formed by the confluence of the Ganges was the country of Bangladesh. We returned to Calcutta, a city which I had grown to love, and a part of me […]
Dakar, Senegal – a complete traveler’s guide to discover this fascinating city
All in one Dakar city guide covering transportation, lodging, day trips, and Covid testing.
On the western horn of Africa, Dakar is a massive bustling city which for years served as a melting pot of Portuguese, French, West African, Saharan and Islamic influence. great food, diverse architecture, fascinating people with a unique history, great beaches and sights – Dakar has it all!
Stuck in Somalia! (and getting kicked out of Ethiopia for refusing to pay a bribe)
Stuck in Somalia! (and getting kicked out of Ethiopia for refusing to pay a bribe) The first surprise, prior to visiting Somalia in 2008, was when I collected my tourist visa from the Somaliland consulate in Addis Ababa. You know you are going a bit off the beaten tourist track when your visa number is […]
Belarus! Top 5 things to experience in this unique country in 5 days!
Getting in. For a long time, Belarus was one of the most difficult countries to visit. Even more so for curious Americans! Once requiring an arduous and expensive visa dance, with a lot of steps, and a high level of rejections. Belarus would complete my visit of every country in Europe! For years, I had […]
North Korea, a trip from Pyongyang to the DMZ
North Korea. The most isolated country exists in a world of its own. However, lets back up a bit. In 2003 I took my first solo trip to South Korea and somewhere along the way discovered my passion for conflict resolution. My trip to South Korea was my first time travelling alone….something I never realized until writing this post. […]