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© Nothing Declared: About

© Nothing Declared creator Brandon Niles Cox is an avid traveler with a dream of inspiring and helping others reach epic reach off beaten destinations. Working as a leader in the aviation industry, a travel consultant and sommelier. Nothing Declared focuses on adventure travel, international conflict research, photography, and the wine we enjoy along the way.
This site features detailed travel tips, how to guides, photography and informative short stories on rarely visited part of the world. The world is remarkably accessible, and we all need guidance on how to efficiently get there!

Brandon has spent over 120 months in 170+ countries on all 7 continents as an avid traveler, independent international conflict researcher, author, and photographer.

Currently he lives with his wife Emily in London, UK having recently moved from Paris, France. Brandon has worked as a leader specializing in building joint venture alliances, revenue & inventory management, pricing, capacity optimization and network management. He worked for the Coca-Cola Company after graduating from Georgia Tech studying Industrial Engineering, Management and Marketing. He has studied at Oxford University, as well as in Australia, France, New Zealand and Japan. His passion for adventure travel and conflict resolution began on a sporadic excursion from Japan to South Korea in 2003. Since then, his research has taken him to all 7 continents, over a hundred countries through over 34 active conflict zones. He has produced and directed documentaries in Ukraine, and researched conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, and Somalia during a 9 month overland journey through Africa from South Africa to Jordan and back.
Brandon Niles Cox’s work has been featured by CNN, Georgia Tech, Georgia Tech Alumni Quarterly, MTV, and Delta Air Lines Inc.

Recent Posts

Bangladesh – Independent Travel Guide and Top Tips - 17 May , 2025

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Afghanistan – Reflections - 28 Sep , 2024

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Afghanistan – Torkham border crossing to Pakistan. Independent travel - 28 Sep , 2024

Afghanistan – The Ancient City of Herat - 28 Sep , 2024

Afghanistan – Mazar i Sharif & Balkh Independent travel - 28 Sep , 2024

Afghanistan – Bamyan. The Buddhas and the City of Screams - 28 Sep , 2024

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Making the least traveled places 🌍 more accessible
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First night in Nepal at the Buddha Stupa खास

First night in Nepal at the Buddha Stupa
खास्ति चैत्य in central Kathmandu Nepal 🇳🇵

We loved exploring this incredible place next to our hotel (shoutout to Hyatt Regency Kathmandu). The stupa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, it's one of the largest spherical stupas in the world (and the largest in Nepal).

Believed to have been originally built in the 5th century CE during the reign of King Manadeva.

The current structure likely dates from the 14th century, possibly reconstructed after Mughal invasions.

According to legend, it was built by an old widow who petitioned the king for land to build a shrine to honor the Buddha. Her sons and later generations completed the structure.

It lies on the ancient trade route from Tibet, which helped establish it as a key site for Tibetan merchants and refugees.

We took a boat and then got horribly, horribly los

We took a boat and then got horribly, horribly lost trying to find this pagoda / temple in Nepal.

Don't do that we did and try to take the windy mountain path which goes in circles and makes no sense!

Go the long way and take the road on the other side. Trust us!!

Also, the sunset and boat trip are totally amazing!

📍Pokhara, Nepal

Remembering & Rebuilding — A Decade Since the Ne

Remembering & Rebuilding — A Decade Since the Nepal Earthquake 🇳🇵

📅 2025 marks 10 years since the devastating 7.8‑magnitude quake of 2015.

Nearly 9,000 lives lost, 22,000 injured, and around 1 million buildings damaged — including a staggering 80% of schools and hundreds of thousands of homes/health facilities .

🏗️ What’s been rebuilt and reinforced since then:

Homes: Over 800,000 earthquake‑resilient houses now stand, backed by government grants (USD 3K-home + USD 1.5K retrofit) .

Schools & public buildings: Around 7,500 schools (plus hospitals, government offices, heritage sites) were rebuilt or strengthened with seismic‑safe designs, WASH facilities, and improved infrastructure .

Educational impact: Organizations like Juniper Trust rebuilt 20 schools by 2023, benefiting over 2,000 children , while All Hands and Hearts supported 30 schools and 30,700 people across affected districts .

🤝 Community, government & global solidarity:

The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) coordinated efforts with partners such as the World Bank, ADB, UNOPS, and NGOs .

International aid came from major donors — IMF, USA, Japan, EU, India, UK, Australia, and others — funding around Rs 470 billion in reconstruction projects .

80% of damaged structures rebuilt—with rural areas reaching 95% reconstruction .

💡 A decade of resilience & forward-thinking:

Nepal embraced the "Build Back Better" principle—upgrading building codes, retrofitting schools and heritage sites like Boudha Stupa (see my earlier reel)

Authorities trained hundreds in disaster risk reduction and revised building regulations to better withstand future quakes .

Exploring the Sacred Pashupatinath Temple – Kat

Exploring the Sacred Pashupatinath Temple – Kathmandu

Overlooking the banks of the Bagmati River in Kathmandu, Pashupatinath Temple is one of the holiest Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its rich history dating back to the 5th century, it's more than just a religious site – it's a deep dive into Nepal’s spiritual and cultural heartbeat.

What to Expect:
🔹 Stunning architecture with golden roofs & intricate wood carvings
🔹 Sacred cremation ghats along the Bagmati River
🔹 Aarti ceremonies that fill the air with chants, music, and devotion
🔹 Wandering sadhus (Hindu holy men) and peaceful monkeys roaming the grounds

🙏 Good to Know: ✔️ Non-Hindus can explore the outer temple complex
✔️ Modest dress is recommended
✔️ Early morning or evening visits offer the most serene experience
✔️ Photography is allowed in most areas (except inside the main temple)

📍Whether you’re seeking spiritual insight or just curious about Nepal’s heritage, Pashupatinath offers a powerful, humbling experience you won’t forget.

Have you been here or planning to go?

Inner courtyard views are the worst, except in Nep

Inner courtyard views are the worst, except in Nepal🇳🇵

Follow @nothing_declared as we explore this amazing country

Unforgettable morning coffee with this view...look

Unforgettable morning coffee with this view...looking out over what seems like a different world.

Continue the journey, and follow us @nothing_declared

To get here, first travel to Kathmandu and then grab a taxi to Bhaktapur. It's a 45 min drive, and you can use ride hailing sites to make it cheap and easy. There is an entrance fee for the city. You can get this view for free though.

Once you arrive at the main gate, don't go in just yet. Head to the right and look for khwapa chhen Guest House and Restaurant. Go to the top floor and voilà, the most incredible vantage point.

📍Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Nepal
भक्तपुर दरबार क्षेत्र

Just a cow. I'm going on a stroll. Living my dream

Just a cow. I'm going on a stroll. Living my dream without a worry in the world. No one will eat me because cows are holy in Hinduism.

Holy Cow! 🐄 Follow us as we continue exploring Nepal 🇳🇵

Bucketlist item ✔️ Last weekend? Just me, 100

Bucketlist item ✔️

Last weekend? Just me, 100,000 fellow music lovers, and the Vienna Philharmonic playing their hearts out at Schönbrunn Palace. 🌙🎼

🌸 The Summer Night Concert (Sommernachtskonzert) = classical music, fairy-tale lights, and baroque beauty wrapped into one FREE magical night. Yes, free. Yes, real. Yes, in Vienna. 🇦🇹💫

📍 Location: Schönbrunn Palace Gardens
🎶 Soundtrack: Live orchestra, world-class soloists
👗 Dress code: Picnic chic with a side of opera glam
📷 Pro tip: Arrive early, pack snacks, and claim your patch of grass!

Honestly? Mozart would’ve LOVED this party. 💁‍♂️

#ViennaVibes #Sommernachtskonzert #ViennaPhilharmonic #ClassicalCool #PalaceParty #SchönbrunnMagic #FreeConcertGoals #AustrianAesthetics #MusicUnderTheStars

📍Bouddhanath Stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal Our firs

📍Bouddhanath Stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal

Our first night in Nepal was magical...we found this "buddah temple" nearby our hotel and it was incredible walking around with zero tourists at night, just soaking it in.

Nepal welcomes you 8x times before you can even ex

Nepal welcomes you 8x times before you can even exit the airport 🇳🇵❤️🍍

It's beautiful, it's huge, and it surprised us wit

It's beautiful, it's huge, and it surprised us with its incredible design.

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Bet you wouldn't have guessed Mumbai 🇮🇳 (BOM)

The adventure continues!!

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#india #mumbai #airports #BOM #Travel #instatravel #travelgram #wonderlust #wander #AdventureTime #OffTheBeatenPath #BucketListTravel #ExploringTheWorld #TravelDiaries #EpicJourneys #CentralAsia #TravelFun #UnusualDestinations #visiteverycountry #everycountryintheworld #everycountry #takemoreadventures #beautifuldestinations

Grateful and honored to be featured by Georgia Tec

Grateful and honored to be featured by Georgia Tech this week 🐝🌎

GO Jackets!

@gtalumni @georgiatech @georgiatecheurope

NEW: independent travel guide to Bangladesh poste

NEW: independent travel guide to Bangladesh posted on nothingdeclared.com (link also in bio). Let me know what you think!

Exploring the Netherlands never comes without surp

Exploring the Netherlands never comes without surprises!

I love Highland cows and have seen them many times as I wandered the hills of Scotland. I never expected to fond them just a few miles from Amsterdam!

visiteverycountry #everycountryintheworld #everycountry #takemoreadventures #beautifuldestinations #culturetrip #IAmATraveler

Flowers for Mothers Day? The Netherlands has you

Flowers for Mothers Day? The Netherlands has you covered.
Did you know it's the World's largest exporter? 🌼 🌸
Accounting for around 40-50% of the global trade!

Follow us for more hyperlapses. These took 20+ hrs to film... outside the fields on paths surrounding them.

Also. I have a very patient wife 😌

#timelapse #everycountryintheworld #Amsterdam #amstergram #flowerphotography #travel #beautifuldestinations #nl #flowers

Jeddah Airport is beautiful 😍 Behind me is the

Jeddah Airport is beautiful 😍
Behind me is the world largest airport aquarium!
Quite the specific record category.
My wife says it looks like I'm being beamed up to a spaceship...
What do you think?

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#travel #sauditourism #saudiarabia #saudi #formula1 #everycountry #everycountryintheworld #everypassportstamp ##travelgram #Travel #solotravel

Formula 1 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 An ex

Formula 1 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦

An experience I won't forget. Excited to see how this country continues welcoming the world in coming years. Its so wonderful to explore and interact with locals who have so much kindness and joy to share.

#saudi #saudiarabia #sauditourism #formula1 #f1 #Travel #instatravel #travelgram #wonderlust #wander #AdventureTime #OffTheBeatenPath #BucketListTravel #ExploringTheWorld #TravelDiaries #EpicJourneys #CentralAsia #TravelFun #UnusualDestinations #visiteverycountry #everycountryintheworld #everycountry #takemoreadventures #beautifuldestinations

I'm from ATL, and frequently ran into Usher in my

I'm from ATL, and frequently ran into Usher in my college days.
Seeing Usher in Saudi Arabia was a very different, very exciting experience. It's amazing how this country is welcoming the world 🇸🇦 ❤️

#usher #atl #jeddah #saudiarabia #sauditourism #atlantaphotographer #atlantaartist #atlanta #atlantanightlife #sauditrends #atliens

Have you been to Kings Day? KINGS DAY 2025 Amster

Have you been to Kings Day?

KINGS DAY 2025
Amsterdam, Netherlands 🇳🇱

#kingsday #Amsterdam #amsterdamcity #amsterdam🇳🇱 #netherlands #thenetherlands #timelapse #hyperlapse #timelapsevideo #hyperlapsevideo

After a partial Formula 1 fail at Kuala Lumpur in

After a partial Formula 1 fail at Kuala Lumpur in 2009 ( rained out halfway) but followed by an amazing Jamiroquai concert 🎧

I tried F1 again this year in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 for a much drier experience

#jeddah #saudiarabia #saudi #f1 #f1memes #f1news #formula1 #maxverstappen #travelgram #travel

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