Our Latest Blog Posts
Our blog posts cover an eclectic range of topics and destinations. In sharing our experiences, we hope to inspire you to travel to off the beaten path destinations and seek out unconventional things to see and do in better-known places. Niche topics include abandoned places, street art, Soviet-era monuments and Brutalist architecture, but you’ll also find ‘what to do guides’ and other invaluable tips to help you plan your journey along the path less travelled. Although we have posts spanning six continents, lately our focus has been on Asia (notably, Taiwan and Southeast Asia), and the New East – Eastern Europe, the Balkans, the Baltic states, and Central Asia.
2020, the year in travel that wasn’t!
It’s that time of year when many travel bloggers round-up the past year in travel. 2020 was different, so here are some reflections.
Ukraine by train: Itineraries for visiting Ukraine by rail
Travelling around Ukraine by rail. Three itineraries to help you plan a trip around Ukraine by train using the best combination of routes.
Socialist-era monuments and memorials near Buzludzha in Bulgaria
A guide to the socialist-era monuments and memorials near Buzludzha in Bulgaria. What to see in and around Shipka and Kazanlak.
A guide to the purpose-built city of Slavutych in Ukraine
Slavutych: A photographic journey through Ukraine’s ‘21st-century city’. A walk around the purpose-built city built in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster.
How to visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Ukraine
A guide on how to visit all seven of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Ukraine independently (by public transport and without taking a tour).
Abandoned Abkhazia: Thermal Power Plant in Tkvarcheli
Visiting an abandoned thermal Power Plant in Tkvarcheli. This ruined power plant in Abkhazia is among our most interesting urban explorations.
Travel tips for Ukraine – A guide for independent travellers (and backpackers on a budget)
The best travel tips for Ukraine. A guide for backpacking in Ukraine on a budget with advice and resources for planning a visit to Ukraine.
Abandoned Georgia: Former Pioneer Palace in Chiatura
The abandoned former Pioneer Palace in Chiatura, Georgia. The story behind and photos of the abandoned palace for young pioneers in Chiatura.
World Smile Day 2020: Twenty smiles to brighten your day
In celebration of World Smile Day, a photo essay featuring some of the smiling faces we have encountered during our travels around Asia.
Distinctive Architecture in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Architecture in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Phnom Penh’s architectural heritage from French Colonial to New Khmer Architecture.
Abandoned Croatia: former Separation Mine in Potpićan
Visiting the abandoned Separation Mine in Potpićan in Croatia. Close to pretty Labin, the former mine was once part of Istria’s coal mining industry.
Things to do in Chiatura, Georgia (with a map of locations)
Is it still worth visiting Chiatura in Georgia if the Soviet-era cable cars aren’t operating? Things to do in Chiatura, including a map.
