The Rabati castle of Akhaltsikhe! On the way to Vardzia! Located in Southern Georgia just shy of the Armenian and Turkish borders! The site of the Khertvisi fortress here in Georgia dates back as far as the 4th or 5th…
Important Hiking Lessons Learned in Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park
An important lesson to take home. Remember this wise advice when hiking 4 kilometres at sunset into Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park to swim in thermal hot springs that are the origin of the most famous mineral water in Georgia. You must hike…
Stunning Views Atop Batumi Botanical Gardens
Stunning views atop Batumi botanical gardens with the Black Sea and Abkhazia in the distance! Georgia – what a country!! Georgia (Batumi Botanical Gardens) – one final shot for the day to top off our visit to what I…
Off we go! First stop – Batumi!
Out of Tbilisi with John Frehill to Batumi – Borjomi – Chiatura and Vardzia (plus a few little cities and towns in between) for the next few days! Crossing the centre of this stunning nation, haven’t passed through this region…
Stunning Sunsets Atop Uplistsikhe, The Oldest City in the Caucases
Enjoying a stunning sunset atop the oldest city in the Caucasus, the cave city of Uplistsikhe is over 2,500 years old and was 80,000-sq-meters before it was destroyed by the Mongols!! Brilliant last few days in the paradise of the…
When a BELARUSIAN meets an AUSTRALIAN
BREST – BELARUS (86). What happens when a BELARUSIAN and an AUSTRALIAN meet over a meal and many drinks in Turkmenistan? In one of the least visited regions (Köýtendag Nature Reserve, formerly Kugitang Nature Reserve) of one of the least…
Farewell GEORGIA Hello BELARUS
Hello BELARUS for the next month (staying with local friends and couchsurfing) then onto UKRAINE for 2 weeks! I’ve been in Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia (previously all of Central Asia) for the past few months and on my way to…
A Millionaire in Belarus Rubles
Today I leave behind my beloved GEORGIA for the next 6 weeks, 4 in BELARUS (86) and 2 in Ukraine (87)! Just before leaving Georgia I’ve become a millionaire! Today in 2 hours BELARUS will re-denominate their currency and turn…
Armenia Road Trip: Karabakh
NAGORNO-KARABAKH – the highly controversial town of AGDAM (essentially a ghost town with a post apocalyptic feel) at an abandoned mosque left to ruin. The 85th nation (or breakaway region/state) I’ve lived, worked, volunteered, studied, explored or simply backpacked around!…
Armenia Road Trip: Day 1 Geghard Monastery
Now off to explore the ancient monasteries and temples that litter the countryside of Armenia!! Tomorrow off to NAGORNO