Categories
South America Venezuela

Venezuela

Venezuela is a country located on the northern coast of South America. It is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Guyana to the east, Brazil to the south, and Colombia to the west. The country has a rich history and diverse culture, with influences from its indigenous population, Spanish colonizers, and African slaves.

Venezuela’s geography is varied, with highlands, plains, and jungles. The country is known for its natural beauty, including Angel Falls, the world’s highest waterfall, and the beaches of Margarita Island.

The capital city of Venezuela is Caracas, a vibrant and bustling metropolis. The city is home to many museums, theaters, and art galleries, as well as delicious food and a vibrant nightlife. Other notable cities in Venezuela include Maracaibo, Valencia, and Barquisimeto.

Venezuela is also known for its music, with genres such as salsa, merengue, and reggaeton popular throughout the country. Sports are also an important part of Venezuelan culture, with baseball being the most popular.

Despite its challenges, Venezuela remains a unique and fascinating destination for travelers who are interested in exploring its culture, history, and natural beauty.

Traveling in Venezuela on February of 2023

Transport

Like in any other South American country, there are various buses daily between main cities located at their respective bus terminals. Entering from Cucuta(Colombia) and going to San Cristobal will require shared cab (5USD) from bus terminal. Santa Elena de Uairen to the border of Brazil by shared cab (3USD) can be found within the centre of the town.

ATM and currency!

This is probably the main issue currently when traveling around Venezuela. It’s very likely your card won’t work due to sanctions. It’s important to bring enough cash for the whole journey. USDs are accepted everywhere these days, but prepare some smaller notes prior, even supermarkets can struggle with 5USD change. In case you travel to Ecuador before, start collecting small notes, since USD is official currency there. Also depending on your destination, within the state of Tachira, Colombian pesos are accepted everywhere and would often offer slightly better rate, same applies with Brazilian reais within the proximity of the Border of Brazil.

Safety

Prior to visiting Venezuela, my main concern was the safety situation. However, to my surprise, I found it to be much safer than other countries in the region, such as Guyana, Colombia, Surinameand others. The only unpleasant experience I had was at a checkpoint between the Colombian border and San Cristobal, where I was asked to undress and pay a bribe (I didn’t pay, other reports mention 5-10USD). While there are various checkpoints closer to the borders, they usually ask repetitive questions and nothing more. I always felt safe during my travels in Venezuela.

Categories
Asia Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is a beautiful and diverse country located in Central Asia, known for its stunning mountain landscapes, rich history, and friendly people. As a traveler, you’ll find plenty to see and do.

One of the most popular destinations in Kyrgyzstan is Lake Issyk-Kul, the second-largest alpine lake in the world. The crystal-clear waters of the lake are perfect for swimming, and the surrounding mountains provide a beautiful backdrop for hiking, trekking, and horseback riding.

Kyrgyzstan is also known for its nomadic culture, and you can experience this firsthand by staying in a traditional yurt camp. These portable tents are used by Kyrgyz nomads as temporary homes during their seasonal migrations, and they offer a unique and authentic glimpse into traditional Kyrgyz life.

Move around

The capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, serves as the main transportation hub of the country. However, if you want to venture deeper into nature, relying solely on public transportation may not be the best option. Fortunately, hitchhiking is a popular and culturally accepted practice in Kyrgyzstan, as it is in other parts of Central Asia. Marshrutkas, which are local minivans, provide affordable transportation between major cities, and the cost of transportation within the country is generally very reasonable.

For example, in the summer of 2022, a marshrutka ride from Bishkek to Balykchy, a distance of 200km, cost around 3 USD. Alternatively, taking the train on Saturdays is almost the same price and provides a scenic journey, making it a better option, in my opinion. When traveling around Issyk Kul lake, transportation is easily accessible with marshrutkas, shared cabs, and hitchhiking. Despite the area being quite touristy during the summer, prices remain low, and the locals are incredibly hospitable.

Bishkek to Osh can be reached by shared cab which is about 20USD one way (700km) they can be found around place called Osh Bazaar in Bishkek. Even though it seemed closer from the Issyk Kul lake to take another route to Osh, I didn’t manage to find a transport and was advised by others that the road condition is very bad.

In and out

After arriving from Almaty, Kazakhstan, I took a shared cab to Bishkek, although I can’t recall the exact price, it was likely around 10-15 USD. The cabs depart from the central bus station and usually only leave once they are full or when passengers agree to split the cost.

Crossing the border was a breeze, but after passing through, I had to find another form of transportation to get to Bishkek. Walking would have been an option, but with nearly 20km to cover, it wasn’t the most practical choice. Instead, I decided to team up with other passengers from my previous ride, and together, we shared a cab to Bishkek, paying only around 1 USD each.

After Kyrgyzstan I was going to Uzbekistan, reaching border from Osh was very easy using public transport within the city, it would even be easy to walk since it’s only 5km away. Border itself was hassle free, and from the other side in Uzbekistan there are many taxi drivers with whom you have to negotiate, I took the bus to Andijan and it was around 1USD if I remember correctly.

Categories
India

Northern India

Northern India is a region that encompasses the northern part of India, which includes the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Delhi. The region is characterized by its diverse geography, vibrant culture, and rich history.

The northern region of India is home to the Himalayan mountain range, which spans across several states in the region. This mountain range is known for its snow-capped peaks, beautiful valleys, and scenic landscapes. The region also includes the fertile plains of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers, which are home to some of the most important cities in India such as Delhi, Agra, and Varanasi.

The region has a rich cultural heritage that is reflected in its art, music, dance, and cuisine. Northern India is known for its iconic landmarks, such as the Taj Mahal in Agra, the Red Fort and Jama Masjid in Delhi, the Golden Temple in Amritsar, and the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand.

The people of northern India are known for their warmth and hospitality. The region has a diverse population with a mix of different ethnicities and religions, including Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, and Buddhism. The languages spoken in the region are also diverse, with Hindi being the most widely spoken language.

Overall, Northern India is a fascinating region that offers a unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. It is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in exploring the diverse and vibrant culture of India.

Sim card warning!

It’s much more difficult to obtain sim card in India then it is in other countries. As a foreigner you can obtain only pre-paid one and if you get it outside Jammu and Kashmir/Ladakh, it won’t work there. Also once getting one from Vodafone in Delhi, it was required to provide personal details of a local person, luckily an Indian friend could help me out with it, no idea how it would be solved otherwise.

How to move around?

It’s very easy to move around Rajasthan and most parts within the states between Ladakh and Delhi, there are various bus services provided, both low budget and more comfortable options, lots of options are available online and there are usually many more available at the bus terminals, in many cases online platforms will not support foreign bank cards, therefore, try various sites in case you don’t have an Indian bank card.

Ladakh/Jammu and Kashmir

It’s important to note that the following experience is based on my travels during the summer season of 2022, as many roads in the region are closed during winter. While informal minivans between cities are readily available in Jammu and Kashmir, traveling in Ladakh is a different story. Navigating the region is more challenging than other parts of India, but it’s well worth the effort.

One way to reach the capital city of Leh is by bus from Manali in Himachal Pradesh, which takes an entire day but offers stunning scenery. In Leh, there is a main bus terminal with two timetables, but keep in mind that some rides may be cancelled if demand is low. Don’t rely on my attached photo as a reliable source of timetable information, as it may already be outdated!

Another more reliable way is shared cab, but it’s much more expensive than buses and you need other passengers. In my case round-trip from Leh to Pangong lake was almost 30USD, which is considered a very good price. Also I had to use it from Leh to Kargil (20USD) for a decent road and around 200km distance, public buses were out of service due to Muharram celebrations.

On another day, I took a bus from Leh to Hunder, which actually went further than my intended destination. I ended up getting off in the middle of nowhere next to Udmaru Bridge, with the goal of reaching Turtuk, the last place before Pakistan that foreigners are allowed to visit. Hitchhiking was my only option, but since only one or two cars pass by each hour, it was uncertain. Despite the uncertainty, everything worked out fine in the end, since most people are very welcoming and happy to help.

Categories
Asia Pakistan

Pakistan

Travel warnings and restrictions

This page provides information on travel restrictions within the country during the summer of 2022. While I will be sharing my own experiences and highlighting regions where I faced issues, it is important to note that this list may not be comprehensive. It’s always a good idea to check the areas you intend to visit before you travel.

I traveled through the Gilgit-Baltistan region and did not face any major issues. I did come across a few checkpoints on the way, but they did not cause any significant delays. However, I did not venture far off the main roads and cities. At one checkpoint from Gilgit to Skardu, I was asked for a hotel confirmation. I am unsure of how the situation would have played out if I did not have one. Overall, I found the country to be extremely safe during my month-long journey.

South of Punjab and Northern Sindh provinces!

This area is very tricky! It’s very likely you won’t be allowed to travel without police escort. First strange thing noticed, once booking a hotel online in Faisalabad, the host cancelled it. The real “fun” started once i decided to go directly to Multan. I had reservation, but the hotel told me that they have no rights to accommodate a foreigner! ”Hotel Multan Continental” was the cheapest one (20USD) apart from expensive western chains, which had ”appropriate security standarts” to accommodate foreigners. In order to check-in, it was required to arrive with police escort, so I managed to get it after couple of hours at the local police station. Afterwards, there was no way to move around independently. Hotel would contact police and they would escort me, extremely slow and lengthy response usually. Once they escorted me to the bus, which would take me to Bahawalpur. It seemed ok, but the following they once I was hitchhiking back from Derawar, police noticed me and the same thing happened. I spent over 3h in two different police stations before I could go back to Bahawalpur, where the local police was waiting me. Since my train was following day at night, after check-out time was forced to spend 8 hours at Bahawalapur train station. Arriving early at Sukkur, there was no police, but then later next day at Hyderabad, the police noiced me again, so I went to Karachi in order to get rid of them. Karachi was hassle free, but my day trip to Thatta ended up with another police escort.

Kashmir and Balochistan

These areas require special seperate permits to visit. I had minivan from Mansehra to Muzaffarabad, the border control guys were friendly and really tried to help me, but they had no authority to let me pass the border with Azad Kashmir. From what I’ve heard it takes up to two weeks prior to get these permits. Regards Balochistan, there was an exception which allowed me to do a day-trip from Karachi to Gaddani.

Categories
Asia Pakistan

Gilgit-Baltistan

Hunza Valley is a beautiful valley located in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan. It is surrounded by the majestic mountains of the Karakoram range and is known for its stunning natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and hospitable people. The valley is situated at an altitude of 2,438 meters (7,999 feet) above sea level and spans an area of approximately 7,900 square kilometers.

The valley is home to several small villages, including Karimabad, Altit, and Baltit. These villages offer a glimpse into the traditional way of life of the local people, who are predominantly Ismaili Muslims. The people of Hunza are known for their hospitality, and visitors can expect to be warmly welcomed.

One of the most famous landmarks in the valley is the Baltit Fort, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fort was built in the 8th century and served as the residence of the Mirs of Hunza until the 1940s. Today, it has been restored and turned into a museum that showcases the history and culture of the region.

Hunza Valley is also known for its stunning natural beauty. Visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, including Rakaposhi, Ultar Sar, and Ladyfinger Peak. The valley is also home to several glaciers, including the famous Batura Glacier, which is one of the largest glaciers outside of the polar regions.

How to get around?

From Islamabad/Rawalpindi to Hunza it was very easy and comfortable bus ride with “Faisal movers”, they have wide coverage and can be suggested for the ones who prefer more comfortable rides. The price for this journey at the summer of 2022 was less than 20USD (20h journey, depending on various conditions).

Hunza-Gilgit-Skardu – there is a regular minivan service between, they can be pretty packed and the price was just couple of USD, however the road condition at the summer of 2022 was surprisingly good.

Skardu-Islamabad

When i was returning from Skardu, decided to try small minivan, since from this city options are more limited. The journey, was aproximately two times shorter and cheaper, however it was one of the least comortable rides throughout my travels.

Categories
South America

Guyana

Guyana is a hidden gem in South America, full of natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. The country boasts pristine rainforests, stunning waterfalls, and a diverse mix of indigenous, African, and East Indian cultures.

One of the must-visit destinations in Guyana is the Kaieteur Falls, which is five times higher than Niagara Falls and one of the most powerful waterfalls in the world. The journey to the falls is an adventure in itself, with a small plane ride and a trek through the rainforest. But the awe-inspiring views of the falls and the surrounding landscape are worth it.

Another highlight of Guyana is its wildlife. The country is home to jaguars, giant river otters, caimans, and a variety of exotic birds. A visit to the Iwokrama Rainforest Reserve offers a chance to spot some of these incredible creatures.

The capital city of Georgetown is also worth exploring, with its colonial architecture and lively markets. The St. George’s Cathedral and the Parliament Building are some of the notable landmarks to see.

Finally, the food in Guyana is a unique blend of African, East Indian, and Creole influences. Don’t miss the opportunity to try dishes like pepperpot, curry, and roti.

How to move around?

You can enter from Brazil by taking a shared cab from Boa Vista to the border of Guyana, price will depend on the ammount of passangers, currently (beginning of 2023 it’s around 10USD).

Travelling between Lethem and Georgetown is easy but not very comfortable due to the road conditions. The price at the moment is around 70USD, the journey takes around 15 hours, depending on the road condition and the schedule of the boat in the middle of the journey. Also it’s possible to fly various times throughout the day, price is around (150-200USD) and it takes around 1h.

To and from Suriname. This process is very easy, but it costs around 50USD. Road condition is much better and it takes just a few hours. It’s possible to go from Georgetown to the border of Suriname or already book it for Paramaribo(50USD). Border crossing is with ferry (extra 15USD). In order to book the transport, consult your hotel usually people are very helpful with that.

Kaieteur falls

Very easy to visit, but expensive. Best price I found was 280USD. Not hard to find since it’s the main tourist attraction in the country and most agencies offer daily tours. Whole journey one-way takes around one hour, once you’re there it takes around 2 hours to explore the area, the hike is extremely short and easy.

Categories
Mexico North America

Acapulco

The city is one of Mexico’s oldest beach resorts, coming into prominence in the 1940s through the 1960s as a getaway for Hollywood stars and millionaires. Acapulco was once a popular tourist resort, but due to a massive upsurge in gang violence and homicide numbers since 2014, Acapulco no longer attracts many foreign tourists, and most now only come from Mexico itself. However, according to my personal experience visiting the city on 2021, felt safe in any central parts around the seaside even at night. As always, my advice not to blindly follow usual rate of murders per 100.000. Do your own research about real causes and you will see that this type of violence almost always is between gangs and tourists are victims rarely.

How to get here?

As you would to any other major Mexican city. Intercity buses are well connected and domestic flight are quite cheap.

Categories
Asia Bhutan

Bhutan

Among the most secretive and isolated countries as well as smallest one’s with a land area below 40000 km². Bhutan’s highest peaks are above 7000 m tall. Elevation rises from 200 m in the southern foothills to more than 7,000 m. This great geographical diversity combined with equally diverse climate conditions contributes to Bhutan’s outstanding range of biodiversity and ecosystems. From visiting nearly 80 countries, have never seen any other country where traditions are so much enforced. Heritage sites bill insists on national dress in government meetings and in schools. Even building a regular private house requires a local architect and traditional architecture elements in it’s design.

How to get there?

This is the trickiest part, unless you are a citizen of India, Bangladesh or Maldives. Otherwise the cost of visa is 200 USD during low season and 250 USD during high season, the prices mentioned are per single day! Licensed tour guides accompany tourists during their trips and arrange accommodations – independent tourism by foreigners (except for citizens of Bangladesh, India, and Maldives) is prohibited!

In my case, we were in Kathmandu, Nepal already. There you can find different tour agencies who will sort out everything for you. The price was around 1300 EUR for 3.5 days and 3 nights with two guides, excursions and everything included. The country itself is very cheap, visa itself is the most painful part. Probably there are another ways how to save a hundred or two euros, but our time was limited and tourism agency seemed the most logical option.

Flight from Nepal to Bhutan

One of the most interesting and scenic flights in my life, even though duration was only around 45 minutes. It’s very likely to see mount Everest during this flight, choose seat accordingly! From what I heard it’s even better than separate 200 USD flight next to it. Paro airport, which is the main airport of Buthan has very unique geography. With surrounding peaks as high as 5,500 m, it is considered one of the world’s most challenging airports, fewer than two dozen pilots are certified to land at the airport. Flights to and from Paro are allowed under visual meteorological conditions only and are restricted to daylight hours from sunrise to sunset.

Categories
Europe Iceland

Iceland

The most sparsely populated country in Europe with only slightly above 370 000 inhabitants. It’s main island is right below the Arctic Circle. The climate of Iceland is subarctic. Even though most coastal winters are warmer than most of us would think, due to Gulf Stream it has a temperate climate, despite a high latitude. The nature in this country is very unique due to it’s geysers, black sand, lava fields, mountains, glaciers, and many glacial rivers.

Move around

In my opinion, the best option is car rental. Since the country is sparsely populated and many points of interest are very remote, it’s quite logical that public transportation and hitchhiking is not like in other European countries. Be extra careful with hitchhiking, according to my driving experience, there are some parts of country, where maybe couple of cars will pass in hours.

Categories
Brazil South America

Sao Paulo

The 4th most populous city in the world and the most populated in the Western and Southern hemispheres. It’s a home to the largest Arab, Italian, Japanese, and Portuguese diasporas, also it’s native inhabitants are representing over 200 different nationalities.

Sao Paulo is one of the most unequal cities i have seen. Vila Nova Conceição for example is the neighborhood with the highest real estate prices above 3000 EUR per m². At the same time there is an area commonly called ”Cracolândia”, where one can see the summary of the major humanity’s issues.

How to move around?

Metro is probably the best option in case it’s located close from your destination, however, rush hours can be insane since it’s one of the most densely populated places on planet.

Ridesharing companies are widely used and are great solution if mobile internet is available. They are also good in terms of safety and especially at night.

Safety!

As you may know largest cities in Brazil are infamous when it comes to safety. My main advise is, don’t generalize locations too much! It depends big time in which part of the city you are located, before booking hotel or doing other activities, would highly suggest to do research about neighborhoods. Don’t enter Favelas (slums or shanty towns) on your own, it’s usually easy to distinguish due to the orange bricks and concrete mixture, which gives an impression about unfinished building.