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Post-Soviet

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Post-Soviet states are fascinating travel destinations. They represent 15 independent states that emerged after the collapse of the Former Soviet Union through the late 1980's until December 1991.

10 Must-Visit Museums in the Age of Dark Tourism

November 9, 2019

Killing Fields Cambodia

This is the darkest article I have ever written. Its content might disturb some readers.

Forbidden Hitchhiking to the ‘Door to Hell’ in Turkmenistan

November 19, 2017

Turkmenistan

A detailled account of me trying to reach a giant burning hole in the middle of nowhere in the Karakum desert in Turkmenistan.

The Ultimate Bucket List: Things to Do in Minsk

September 13, 2017

Grafitti at

Belarus, one of the least visited countries in Europe, now allows for 5-day visa free travel. Check out my bucket list to see what cool things there are to do in the capital Minsk!

Kurgan Slavy: a Must-See Soviet WWII Memorial in Belarus

July 23, 2017

Kurgan Slavy - Mound of Glory Belarus

People from all over Belarus brought a handful of soil from their village, ultimately making a 35-meter high hill. On top they built an incredible memorial.

A Massive Soviet-Style Military Parade in Minsk

July 7, 2017

A mighty show of military force, you would almost think the Cold War in Belarus never ended. Check out these pictures to see for yourself.

Dead Goat Carcass Throwing at the World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan

October 30, 2016

Kok-Boru Kyrgyzstan

The world’s toughest men on horseback fighting over a dead goat! Kok-Boru is a dangerous sports played only in Central Asia.

Three Weeks of Backpacking in Central Asia: Route, Accommodation and Expenses

October 23, 2016

Tamga / Issyk-Kul

In an almost forgotten corner of the world there is a lot to discover. See how I travelled in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

Ukraine’s Secret and Abandoned Tank Graveyard

January 19, 2016

Hundreds of rusty old battle tanks, as far as the eye can see. I located a secret tank graveyard in east Ukraine only to find out it remains heavily guarded.

Getting Arrested by the KGB, in a Country That Doesn’t Officially Exist

February 27, 2015

The entry sign to Tiraspol

Getting arrested abroad is something you should always avoid. But getting arrested in a country that doesn’t even officially exist, is definitely next-level. It happened to me in Transnistria.

Sloviansk – a Former Separatist Stronghold in East Ukraine

January 5, 2015

Sloviansk was once a stronghold of the separatists in east Ukraine, until after months of shelling the Ukrainian army took it back. I visited this city in Donbass to see for myself the aftermath of the siege of Sloviansk.

A Soviet-Style Military Parade in the Streets of Kyiv, Ukraine

December 3, 2014

Armoured vehicles, ballistic missiles and heavy air-defence systems driving down the central street of Kyiv. I attended a military parade on Ukraine’s 23rd anniversary of national independence.

Transnistria – Trans…what???

September 14, 2014

Like in many countries in eastern Europe, people still drive their old Russian Lada's.

Welcome to Transnistria: a frozen-conflict separatist breakaway state of Moldova not recognised by any country in the world. A place where people consider themselves Soviet citizens more than anywhere else in the world.

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Chasing the micro states of Europe, here’s anoth Chasing the micro states of Europe, here’s another one visited: San Marino, one of the world’s oldest republics. It is home to just 33,000 people and is completely surrounded by Italy.

Have you ever heard of this place before? Have you visited?

#sanmarino #unesco #unescoheritage #micronation #travel #happyeaster #instatravel #backpacker #solotravel #mountain #castle #globetrotter #eps #everycountry #wanderlust #passionpassport #everypassportstamp #adventure #italy #enclave #tourism #tourist #natgeo
I visited Ukraine several times, heartbreaking to I visited Ukraine several times, heartbreaking to see what is happening now. Hoping for better days and for all hostilities to end asap…

#ukraine #kyiv #travel #peace
Back in 2014 I visited, by myself, the Ukrainian-c Back in 2014 I visited, by myself, the Ukrainian-controlled part of eastern province Donetsk to see the direct aftermath of the 2014 war.

I’m shocked to learn that a full scale war has now returned to Ukraine.

Places that I visited back then, Kharkiv, Slovyansk and Kramatorsk are now under attack by Russia. My thoughts are with all people affected.

Pray for Ukraine.
Exploring ancient lands in a forgotten corner of t Exploring ancient lands in a forgotten corner of the world. 

This is Alinja castle, the Machu Picchu of Azerbaijan but without the visitors. It’s hidden within the mountains of Nakhchivan, an autonomous region and exclave of Azerbaijan that hardly sees any visitors.

Have you heard of this place before?

#azerbaijan #nakhchivan #naxcivan #azeri #alinjafortress #alinjagala #asia #caucasus #globetrotter #nomadmania #everycountry #adventure #wanderlust #exploretheworld #travelstoke #lonelyplanet #lp #everypassportstamp #voyage #travel #instatravel #explorer #machupicchu #landscape #mountain #hiking #nature #passionpassport #backpacker #goexplore
Secret picture inside a militia checkpoint in Iraq Secret picture inside a militia checkpoint in Iraq.

Reliving my 2021 experience travelling independently through Iraq (backpacking style)

#iraq #samarra #middleeast #solotravel #traveller #instatravel #traveler #travel #tourist #tourism #visitiraq #passionpassport #adventure #wanderlust #globetrotter #everycountry #everypassportstamp #backpacker #beautifuldestinations #postcardsfromtheworld #postcardplaces #exploremore #traveladdict #roamtheplanet
Is this the most beautiful monument in the world? Is this the most beautiful monument in the world?

It has the most mesmerising curved shape, two carefully positioned pieces in dreamy and heavenly colours. An oasis of beauty and peace in a city so hectic, congested and scarred by years of conflict. 

This is the Al-Shaheed (Martyr’s) monument, completed in 1983 and dedicated to the Iraqi soldiers who died in the Iraq Iran war of the 1980s. 

#iraq #visitiraq #baghdad #middleeast #history #martyr #art #monument #eastereggs #onion #traveler #instatravel #travel #tourist #tourism #natgeo #passionpassport #wanderlust #globetrotter #traveladdict #solotravel #adventure #backpacker #beautifuldestinations #postcardsfromtheworld #postcardplaces #everycountry #eps #blue #exploremore
Mysterious ancient Roman arch found in middle of n Mysterious ancient Roman arch found in middle of nowhere near Mosul, Iraq.

#iraq #middleeast #history #ancient #mosul #bridge #arch #traveler #instatravel #travel #tourist #tourism #natgeo #nationalgeographic #mesopotamia #roman #romanempire #passionpassport #everycountry #traveladdict #adventure #visitiraq #solotravel #backpacker #wanderlust #beautifulworld #postcardsfromtheworld #postcardplaces
Iraq, where you can have ancient Mesopotamian wond Iraq, where you can have ancient Mesopotamian wonders (dating back 4,000 years) all to yourself.

#iraq #nasiriyah #mesopotamia #ziggurat #ur #uruk #visitiraq #middleeast #architecture #history #ruins #tourist #traveler #travel #instatravel #archeology #exploretheworld #natgeo #everycountryintheworld #everypassportstamp #eps #everycountry #passionpassport #wanderlust #offbeat #traveladdict #globetrotter #happy #everydaymiddleeast #postcardsfromtheworld
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