Senegal & The Gambia: Travelling overland from Dakar to the Gambia using public transport! After full week of work plus a few days exploring Dakar, I was ready to move on. Dakar is a truly unique place, rough around the edges, bristling with diversity & full of interesting places. I was anxious to leave the […]
Conflict and Adventure Travel
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.
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 – 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.
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 […]
Lebanon
2013-4-21 Lebanon: Beirut, Tripoli, and Byblos A wave of emotions swept over me as my flight from Saudi Arabia descended into Beirut, Lebanon. Undeniably, there was a lot of excitement. For years I had dreamed of the day I would be able to walk the streets of Beirut and Byblos. I met many Lebanese in […]