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 […]
Afghanistan – Independently explore 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 & Top Tips
Want to independently explore, backpack or just travel 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 […]
Bangladesh – Independent Travel Guide and Top Tips
Independent Travel in Bangladesh: Routes, Safety, and Cultural Depth 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 […]
Bosnia and Herzegovina – Mostar, Stari Most bridge Jump
2010-10-11 Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina 1991 saw the deterioration of Yugoslavia following the pressures of economic hardship, ethnic conflict, and incendiary Serbian President Milosevic. Bosnia declared independence in 1992 and the region disintegrated into a bitter civil war for the next three years. In 2010 I spent several months traveling through Kosovo, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia […]
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 […]