Shiraz | The Perfect Introduction To Iran

April 20, 2017.Reading time 8 minutes.

Shiraz. When I think about this stunning city, it is honestly a miracle that my face doesn’t break from smiling so hard. Shiraz was the first city I visited in Iran, and jeez, what a way to start! Shiraz is the 6th most populated city in Iran and the capital of the province of Fars. […]

OMG I’m In Iran!

April 17, 2017.Reading time 4 minutes.

When I decided to backpack through Iran, people were vehemently against it. I had not received such backlash about a trip since I travelled through South Africa solo! I had family, friends, colleagues and even readers express their concerns. These concerns ranged from the legitimate (“won’t you have to wear a headscarf?”) to the downright ridiculous (“I saw […]

A Little More Istanbul

April 13, 2017.Reading time 6 minutes.

Let me preface this post by apologizing for the recent hiatus! It has been an uncharacteristically busy few weeks for me and writing has unfortunately been pushed a bit to the wayside. But never fear, regular posting starts again now! The last time I wrote, I had spent time exploring some of the most famous […]

Tremendously Turkish | Falling In Love With Istanbul

March 23, 2017.Reading time 8 minutes.

When I was working out how to fly from Kiev, Ukraine to Shiraz, Iran – the most direct and affordable flights always involved a stopover in Istanbul. However, these stopovers were bloody long (12-18 hours!) and the idea of rushing around in Istanbul for a few hours to try and make the most of such […]

10 Things You Need To Know Before Visiting Chernobyl

March 20, 2017.Reading time 6 minutes.

Ever thought about visiting the infamous Chernobyl Exclusion Zone? If so, here are ten things you should know before going on such a trip. 1. It’s safe In terms of exposure to radiation, a visit to Chernobyl can be compared to spending a few hours in an aeroplane. The area still does have ‘hot spots’ […]

Exploring The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone | An Experience Like No Other

March 18, 2017.Reading time 15 minutes.

I’m not exactly sure when I learned about the Chernobyl disaster. I can’t have been a little kid, where on Earth would I have heard about such an event? I also know that it had to have been sometime prior to 2012. It was in this year that the horror film Chernobyl Diaries was released, and I […]

Very Strange, Very Beautiful: Welcome to Kiev!

March 16, 2017.Reading time 8 minutes.

After breezing through the Ukraine VOA process, it was time for me to get moving and start exploring! I’ll be the first to admit that I didn’t expect a whole lot from Kiev. The reality is that my time in Ukraine was purely a result of me wanting to visit the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (stay […]

Everything You Need To Know About The Visa On Arrival In Ukraine

March 13, 2017.Reading time 8 minutes.

Sometimes, finding accurate information on the vast space we call the Internet can be kinda tough. People love to share stories that are incredibly positive or incredibly negative – but finding any accuracy and real neutrality can be difficult. I found this out firsthand when I tried to search for accurate and up to date […]

A Side Trip To Pretty Sibiu

March 11, 2017.Reading time 4 minutes.

When I decided to go ahead with a short Romanian pit stop on my way to Ukraine, I had initially only planned to visit Brasov and Bucharest. However, thanks to a few suggestions from some wonderful globetrotting friends, I decided that I should make a pit stop to one of the smaller cities, even if […]

Get Your Garlic! Get Your Stake! I’m In Transylvania!

March 9, 2017.Reading time 6 minutes.

After a wonderful ‘pick me up’ in the form of a Slovakian weekend, I was feeling recharged and ready to do a little exploring in a new country. It took two trains and an encounter with the most disgusting toilet on planet Earth, but after not too long I had arrived in Romania! If you […]