Stories

…from the road less traveled.

Who knows? Maybe you’ll find some inspiration for that next big trip.

The tomb of Javindi Bibi
Afghanistan

Letting your guard down, or trying to: travels in southern Pakistan

We’ve been to Pakistan before. It felt familiar and comfortable. But I was too quick to let my guard down. Literally. The immigration officer reappeared and informed us that it wasn’t safe for us to travel alone to Peshawar. As foreigners we wouldn’t be allowed to spend the night there, either. And so we found ourselves in the back of another taxi, this time riding through Khyber Pass with an armed guard in the front seat.

February 11, 2024
Sakhi Shrine, Kabul
Afghanistan

Border to border: an unexpected journey in Afghanistan

So this was it. We drove slowly through the greyness over the Friendship bridge between Tajikistan and Afghanistan. There was no time to question the wisdom of our decision. I couldn’t think about it anyway, what with ‘I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus’ still stuck in my head.

January 28, 2024
Mount Nemrut Turkey
Iraq

Killing time in Turkish tombs: on the way to Iraqi Kurdistan

I felt like I could just stay in Istanbul, breakfasting and hanging out with cats, but it was time to get this show on the road. We were bound for Iraqi Kurdistan: an autonomous region in northern Iraq. Still, we weren’t in any rush to get there. We had time to kill and a bit of Turkey to cross.

December 30, 2023
Cinema Odeon Asmara Eritrea
Eritrea

Eritrea: a week in Africa’s North Korea

An Italian colony, a British protectorate, an Ethiopian state – Eritrea has changed hands a few times. Since achieving independence in 1993 after a long and bloody fight, it has become a reclusive nation often referred to as ‘The North Korea of Africa’.

November 15, 2023
Kruger National Park South Africa griaffe
Mozambique

Overcrowding and animals: it’s Africa, after all

I was ready to leave Tofo. I’d had my fill of lazy days at the beach, and started to get restless. And so that’s why I went from travelling by overcrowded chapa in Mozambique to safariing in a Kia Picanto in South Africa.

February 25, 2020
Tofino beach Tofo Mozambique
Mozambique

Tofo living and other extremes

Oyv went home from Maputo, but I carried on up the coast to Tofo and life on the beach. Tofo-living is like a break from…well, from everything. Definitely from travel; even from Africa. Because sometimes, travelling is all about extremes.

February 14, 2020
dhow Cabaceira Ilha de Mocambique
Malawi

Fears, phobias and Mozambique, finally

We faced a couple of hiccups on our way into Mozambique overland: heavy rainstorms that washed out roads, plus armed conflict just over the border. But we made it, finally, and after some rough travel, life slowed down to a relaxing pace.

February 5, 2020
Lake Malawi Myoka Village lodge
Malawi

Mafia Island and a detour around Lake Malawi: Christmas as usual

Oyv and I met up in Dar es Salaam, ready for some sun and snorkelling on Mafia Island. Really, we were on our way to Mozambique, but unforeseen issues at the border caused us to double-back and detour – right around one of Africa’s Great Lakes and into Malawi.

January 23, 2020
Cutest skipper ever! - My ride back to Shimoni from Wasini. Southern coast of Kenya.
Kenya

Déjà Vu on the Coast of East Africa

Travelling down the coast of East Africa, forts, medieval mosques and palaces, and faded colonial ruins start to feel familiar, very fast. From Somalia to Mozambique: Arab traders, Indian merchants, Portuguese conquerors, and other European powers (plus more than a few missionaries and explorers) – this place has seen them all.

January 9, 2020
Overlooking Turtuk and the Karakoram range, Turktuk, India. Line of Control, Kashmir
India

Noble Silence: A Three Day Meditation Retreat in Ladakh

What could be better than three days of total quiet? Here’s my take on what it’s like to attend a three-day silent meditation retreat in Ladakh, plus info on where to sign up, accommodation, costs and transportation.

October 19, 2019
The tomb of Javindi Bibi
Afghanistan

Letting your guard down, or trying to: travels in southern Pakistan

We’ve been to Pakistan before. It felt familiar and comfortable. But I was too quick to let my guard down. Literally. The immigration officer reappeared and informed us that it wasn’t safe for us to travel alone to Peshawar. As foreigners we wouldn’t be allowed to spend the night there, either. And so we found ourselves in the back of another taxi, this time riding through Khyber Pass with an armed guard in the front seat.

Read More »
February 11, 2024
Sakhi Shrine, Kabul
Afghanistan

Border to border: an unexpected journey in Afghanistan

So this was it. We drove slowly through the greyness over the Friendship bridge between Tajikistan and Afghanistan. There was no time to question the wisdom of our decision. I couldn’t think about it anyway, what with ‘I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus’ still stuck in my head.

Read More »
January 28, 2024
Mount Nemrut Turkey
Iraq

Killing time in Turkish tombs: on the way to Iraqi Kurdistan

I felt like I could just stay in Istanbul, breakfasting and hanging out with cats, but it was time to get this show on the road. We were bound for Iraqi Kurdistan: an autonomous region in northern Iraq. Still, we weren’t in any rush to get there. We had time to kill and a bit of Turkey to cross.

Read More »
December 30, 2023
Cinema Odeon Asmara Eritrea
Eritrea

Eritrea: a week in Africa’s North Korea

An Italian colony, a British protectorate, an Ethiopian state – Eritrea has changed hands a few times. Since achieving independence in 1993 after a long and bloody fight, it has become a reclusive nation often referred to as ‘The North Korea of Africa’.

Read More »
November 15, 2023
Tofino beach Tofo Mozambique
Mozambique

Tofo living and other extremes

Oyv went home from Maputo, but I carried on up the coast to Tofo and life on the beach. Tofo-living is like a break from…well, from everything. Definitely from travel; even from Africa. Because sometimes, travelling is all about extremes.

Read More »
February 14, 2020
dhow Cabaceira Ilha de Mocambique
Malawi

Fears, phobias and Mozambique, finally

We faced a couple of hiccups on our way into Mozambique overland: heavy rainstorms that washed out roads, plus armed conflict just over the border. But we made it, finally, and after some rough travel, life slowed down to a relaxing pace.

Read More »
February 5, 2020
Cutest skipper ever! - My ride back to Shimoni from Wasini. Southern coast of Kenya.
Kenya

Déjà Vu on the Coast of East Africa

Travelling down the coast of East Africa, forts, medieval mosques and palaces, and faded colonial ruins start to feel familiar, very fast. From Somalia to Mozambique: Arab traders, Indian merchants, Portuguese conquerors, and other European powers (plus more than a few missionaries and explorers) – this place has seen them all.

Read More »
January 9, 2020