Men Türkmenistany gowy görýärin we ýakyn wagtda bu ajaýyp ýurda baryp görmek isleýärin.

1:  ASHGABAT

The capital of Turkmenistan of Ashgabat is the first thing to see. The city is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the whitest city on the planet. 543 buildings are built in the same style-they are lined with white marble. Absolutely beautiful architecture and extremely clean.

2. The ancient city of Nisa

If you drive 18 kilometers west of Ashgabat, you can meet the remains of the ancient city of Nisa. The monuments are protected and included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The exhibits found during the excavations are kept in the State Cultural Center of Turkmenistan.

3. The Ruins Of Merv

In the south-eastern part of Turkmenistan, there is another UNESCO World Heritage Site, older than Nisa. These are the ruins of the ancient city of Merv. Its top is still decorated with a brick dome. The items found during the excavations are kept in the United Museum of History. I LOVE THIS COUNTRY!

4. Fiery Gas Crater of Karakum Desert

The place of the Fiert Gas Crater of Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan is remembered for a lifetime. Darvaza means “gate” in the national language. The gas crater 90 km from the village of Yerbent is very unique. Anyone who comes here at night becomes an eyewitness to an incredible sight: in the middle of the sands, in pitch darkness, an orange fiery light breaks out from under the ground.

5. Traditional cuisine

People travel to Turkmenistan to eat delicious meat and fish. Most of all, the locals love chicken and lamb. The restaurants serve game, goat and camel meat. Milk is drunk by camel and sheep. The serving plate in Turkmenistan is prepared at every step. Lamb meat is finely chopped, fried in lard and canned.

I love Turkmenistan and I hope to visit this beautiful country soon.  Bu ýurt haýran galdyryjy we ýakyn wagtda görmek isleýärin.

Gustav Rosted Soerensen

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My trip to Mozambique started as crazy as possible, when I met my local friend Henry in the city center of Maputo. I had walked around the city all day, and then Henry called me to pick me up at the beach side. Henry is a business owner with a big solar power company in Maputo, Mozambique. We had some Mozambican dinner and the best local Mozambican beer ever, and then we went straight to a night out in Maputo. Henry introduced me to his newest employee and friend in his transport company, an ex gangster and ex car hijacker, who now tried to change his life after a long time in prison, and was trying to get out on the right side. Pretty crazy to go out with a guy with that history, but I believe in the best in human, and if someone is nice to me, I’ll be nice to them! Period!

Crazy Time With Henry And His Friend

I had a crazy and good time with Henry and his gangster friend, but I must admit I wasn’t feeling totally relaxed at all times, because of the saying once a criminal, always a criminal! I let the guy take pictures with my phone and even hold some of my belongings and I was honestly a nerve wreck most of the time!

Stopped By Corrupt Police A Lot In Maputo

I was stopped 5 times by the corrupt police in Maputo on my solo walk around the city on my 1st day, and because I didn’t want to pay for anything, I wasted some time where they had to look in my bag and do some checks ups on me etc. Really annoying to be looked at like a money object from the police, when you just want to chill and hangout with the nice population here! It was crazy to see how my gangster friend handled these situation with the police. All the time he just gave them a little something, and then he was allowed to go. I found out it wasn’t only me who had to deal with situations like that with the police here in Mozambique, especially when the police fined my gangster friend, because they claimed he didn’t come when they ask him to come, even though I was there and saw it wasn’t true AT ALL what the police said! Henry told me the police make around $200 a month in salary, but a lot more with this hustling mentality!

Leaving Maputo To Explore Mozambique

Henry and I left Maputo and we left his gangster friend, and even though I liked him, it was a kind of a relieve to just be with Henry and to escape the corrupt police a bit in Maputo. We enjoyed the beach a lot and I especially loved to chill out in Macaneta and see some extremely beautiful beaches up on the coast!

Mozambique has a coastline stretching roughly 1,535 miles along the Indian Ocean and some very beautiful beaches! It was great to see another side of this country!

Would I Hang Out With A Gangster Again?

I learned a lot from hanging out for 3 days with a gangster in Mozambique. First of all I learned to not be too judgemental about other people with a certain past, because he was actually a nice guy, who had just made a lot of wrong decisions is his ‘previous life.’ I always have a certain skepticism about new people in new places until I get to know them, and I think it’s a good thing to have a bit of skepticism, because then you can only get a positive surprise. I surely had a really positive experience in Mozambique with Henry, with this ex-gangster and with the local population, and I learned that crime won’t benefit you in the long run and I hope this ex-gangster has learned the same thing. All the good people will want to do good, rather than do bad in the end. That’s the moral of the story and I have no problem with hanging out with people who have taken their punishment and who is now willing to change their life for the better.

What a Week In Mozambique

What a life lesson it was for me to come to Mozambique to meet the people I met here. I surely learned a lot and I hope to come back to Mozambique one day.

Gustav

gus1thego.com

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1. Morocco is located in the northwestern corner of Africa.

2. The Kingdom of Morocco is the official name of Morocco.

3. There are approximately 36 million people living in Morocco.

4. The capital city of Morocco is Rabat.

5. The largest city in Morraco is Casablanca.

6. The official currency of Morocco is the Dirham.

7. The people of this area are called Berbers or Amazigh.

8. Moroccans speak a dialect of Arabic known as Darija.

9. Toubkal is the tallest mountain of Morocco and the highest peak in North Africa.

10. The official languages of Morocco are Berber and Arabic.

11. The most well-known Moroccan food is couscous, a dish typically eaten on the Islamic holy day.

12. The most popular sport in Morocco is Football.

13. Marrakech is a popular tourist attraction in Morroco.

14. Agadir is one of the major urban centers of Morocco and is located on the Atlantic Ocean.

15. Agadir was mostly destroyed by an earthquake in 1960.

18. Morocco is one of the world’s largest producers of illicit hashish.

19. A Moroccan widow wears white for 40 days after her husband’s death to show she is in mourning.

20. Morocco shares its border with Algeria and Western Sahara.

21. Morocco is the largest producer and exporter of sardines in the world.

22. The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is the world’s seventh largest mosque.

23. The Moroccan national costume is called Djellaba.

24. Tangier is the oldest city in Morocco.

25. Morocco is the only African country that is not a member of the African Union.

26. Morocco’s highest point is Jebel Toubkal at 13,665 feet.

27. The lowest point of Morocco is Sebkha Tah.

28. Tourism is one of the country’s most important economic industries.

29. Morocco was the first nation to sign a treaty with the United States in 1786.

30. Morocco is second to Egypt in the Arab world for encouraging friendly relations with Israel.

Hope you enjoyed these 30 Morocco Facts. How many did you know of them? Please comment below!

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15. Experiencing The Algerian Hospitality And Mountains

Go to Morocco and you’ll meet a lot of tourists, go to Algeria and you’ll hardly meet any. I didn’t meet 1 tourist on my trip through Algeria, and to be fair the visa was one of the hardest I’ve ever tried to get. It was impossible for me to go on a tourist visa, so I had to go on a business visa. Thanks to my friend Djaber and my own creative skills we made it possible, and Algerians (the Amazigh people) has a sharing mentality and hospitality I’ve rarely seen anywhere else in the World. I was completely blown away by Algeria, the people, the mountains and the beauty. This is one of my favorite countries in Africa.

14. Driving All Around Namibia For 2 Weeks

Coming to Namibia with no plans, splashing out $500 on a rental car last minute, because it was IMPOSSIBLE to get around without a car in Namibia, forgetting my International Driver License which is necessary to have to rent a car, (thinking f*ck,) meeting two Namibian strangers by incident last minute, and David didn’t really have any plans for the next long time, so I asked if he wanted to join my trip for free. He did and so did Susan!⁣ Strangers who became friends and joined me on this EPIC trip around Namibia. You can watch the video from our crazy ride around Namibia below!

The World’s Most Empty Country! – YouTube Video – Gus1thego

13. Attending An Indian Wedding In London, England

When my parents got married 10 people attended, to this magnificent, fairy tale alike Indian wedding +400 attended and it gave me goosebumps being a part of. Furthermore the male spouse, my friend Hemal, whom I traveled Brazil with in 2016 gave me a shout-out in his wedding speech. Incredible day!

You can read all the details about this beautiful Indian wedding below in the link.

12. Surfing In El Salvador And Costa Rica

I have surfed in a few countries before, but no place like Costa Rica or El Salvador. I like to learn things myself and even though I’m good at most sports, surfing has always been slightly difficult for me! I like to challenge myself (one of the reasons why I love to travel,) and I felt like both El Salvador and Costa Rica was a good chance to take some surf lessons and actually improve my technique a bit. I must say I had an amazing time exploring both countries and I still think back on a few perfect days hitting the waves on some super beautiful beaches there. “If you’re having a bad day, catch a wave.” Surfing is really something I want to do a bit more of and get better at, when I feel like having some more time! Amazing feeling!

11. Visiting The Great Wall Of China

I have technically visited China 4 times, two times Hong Kong and one time on a 48 hour transit, but this was my first visit to ‘The Great Wall of China’ and walking around here for hours was worth every second!
I went to one of the best preserved parts, called Mutianyu, and it was surprisingly quiet. I couldn’t imagine a better day at the wall with sunshine, a clear sight and almost zero people. One of the greatest sights in the World!

These are my visits to the New 7 Wonders of the World below. There’s only 1 of them I didn’t visit yet, check it out!

The 7 New Wonders Of The World

10. Visiting The Taj Mahal

I loved it so much that I went to see the sunrise in the morning and then spent all day to see the sunset. The most impressive thing about the Taj is the absolute perfect symmetry that around 20,000 people built in the 17th century. You can notice the perfection and small details, when the sun is low in the sky, and the shadows are perfectly cast on the marble stone. It surely is the one of the most perfect buildings in the World and it deserves its name as the “Monument of Love.”

The 7 New Wonders Of The World

9. Holding A Travel Speech In Iraq

Iraq became my first place to hold a travel speech. I honestly couldn’t imagine a better destination to do it, breaking all stereotypes! I did it in front of 40 people in Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan, and Kurdistan completely blew my mind. Iraqi Kurdistan is NOT at all what you think, super friendly people and it felt really safe in this region everywhere I went. Holding a travel speech in Iraq was a perfect experience and the Iraqi people really enjoyed interacting with me, and asked me several questions about my travels. I can’t wait to come back to Kurdistan, and I’m also really excited to travel around mainland Iraq in the close future!

8. Volcano Boarding In Nicaragua

When Cerro Negro—Nicaragua’s youngest volcano—last erupted in 1999, boulders tumbled down the western slope, creating a rocky, ascendable path. On the opposite side, the wind deposited dark, smooth ash that is perfect for sliding. In 2004, this unique pairing of terrains sparked an outlandish idea: volcano boarding. This is the only place in the world I’ve heard of where you can sit upright on plywood, feet-first, and coast down a cindery flank of a still-active volcano! This is the only place to do Volcano boarding. Rated #2 on CNN’s “Thrill seekers bucket list” Volcano boarding is a must do before you die! So much fun!

7. Seeing The Komodo Dragons With My Own Eyes

The wildlife is on another level in Indonesia. Here sitting with a Komodo dragon, which can only be found on a few Indonesian islands in the World. There are only around 5,000 komodo dragons left worldwide. Psychical features of a dinosaur, a deadly lethal venom and they can grow up to nearly 4 meter long with a top speed of 20 km/h. One of the craziest animals I’ve ever been close to!

7 Reasons Why I Love Indonesia (Pro Traveler-Tips!)

6. Feeding Wild Hyenas With My Mouth In Ethiopia

Feeding Hyenas happens in Harar, the oldest Islamic city in all of Africa. I don’t harbor some kind of death wish, although such a desire might explain why I decided to feed a wild hyena from my mouth, placing my face within easy striking distance of one of the fiercest, most dangerous predators on Earth. With its incredibly powerful jaws, a hyena can even crush and digest elephant bones. Read the full story below!

Feeding Wild Hyenas With My Mouth In Ethiopia

5. Visiting Saudi Arabia

In 2019, a number of Western travel influencers worked with the Saudi government to market inbound tourism due to the new E-Visa, which has now been introduced in Saudi Arabia. This triggered substantial controversy as the authenticity of their posts was questioned. Just to avoid all confusion: My trip to Saudi Arabia was NOT sponsored. My travel here was with my own funds and no state invitation.

I was very satisfied with my stay in Saudi Arabia, a country I’ve heard too much bad stuff about before coming here, and my 100% honest Saudi Arabia video went viral with more than 120,000 views. Check it out by clicking the link below.

Is Saudi Arabia Safe? – Gus1thego

4. On The Inside of North Korea

North Korea was a VERY SPECIAL experience for me! I was extremely lucky to go during May Celebrations, so I was allowed to walk freely on several occasions, and I’m one of few travelers who had several encounters with the North Korean people. A bizarre and surreal country to be on the inside of! You can check my Youtube Video about my visit to North Korea by clicking the link below.

On The Inside Of North Korea – My Daily Life Here – Gus1thego

3. Traveling Syria for 1 Week

I traveled Syria when ISIS-Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was still alive, so there were some serious tensions, especially in the north of Syria. The capital Damascus in the south feels even safer than most European capitals. But Syria left a mark on me and is honestly an amazing country! I hope it will soon be completely safe again! You can watch my video about my Syria trip by clicking the link below.

Is SYRIA Safe? (Denmark Guy) – Gus1thego

2. Experiencing Pakistan

Whenever I talk about Pakistan, I’m close to break down in tears. This country got totally under my skin. AMAZING people, AMAZING hospitality, one of the friendliest countries on earth, with mountain scenery that is beyond anyone’s wildest imagination. To all of my Pakistani friends, a big Pakistan Zindabad from your Danish friend

Check out my 2 videos below about my visit to Pakistan to better understand why I love this country!

Is Pakistan Safe? (Denmark Guy)

Is Everything Really FREE in Pakistan?

1. Traveling West Africa Solo With No Car (And 0 Flights)

Most of the few travelers who went to West Africa, will usually talk a lot of sh*t about the region, because it’s challenging as few others, but it’s a beautiful challenge. If you’re an adventure traveler like me, you’ll love West Africa, the good and the bad days on the road, and it was my most rewarding travel experience traveling from Senegal to Togo over several months solo, just me and my backpack and without taking any flights. I lost 7kg and it was one of my toughest travel ever, but I enjoyed it so much! If you want to read in details about my West Africa trip and how it went, click the link below.

What Is It Really Like To Travel West Africa Solo With No Car (0 Flights)

Now you have some inspiration for your future travels. I’m btw going to the most dangerous country of them all (they say) to celebrate Christmas, I’m not sure any travelers have done that before, so if you want to follow my journey, you can follow me on Instagram: @gustavrosted, Subscribe on Youtube: gus1thego or follow me on Facebook: Gustav Rosted.

Feel free to share the article and safe travels everyone!

Gustav

gus1thego.com

The post My Top 15 BEST TRAVEL EXPERIENCES – 2019 appeared first on gus1thego.

This post is my input: Is Guinea Dangerous?

What Is Guinea?

Guinea is a West African country of 94,926 square miles of land, one of the greenest countries I’ve ever seen. The capital city of Guinea is Conakry and Conakry is also the largest city in Guinea. Guinea has a total population of 10.2 million people and the official language of Guinea is French. Other languages used in Guinea are Fula, Maninka and Susu. Guinea is also called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from Guinea-Bissau, which is right next to Guinea, but is very different, in fact they speak Portuguese in Guinea-Bissau, where they speak French in Guinea. A totally different vibe in the two countries!

Dangers in Guinea?

There was a epidemic of Ebola virus disease (EVD) which affected Guinea in 2014 and 2015 and that’s maybe why I didn’t meet 1 tourist here. People are very scared to go to Guinea!

I’ve been to Guinea 3 times, and I’ve made some interesting observations in the country. The people is overall nice in Guinea, but there are a few things you have to be cautious of. Ebola? Yes, there’s still a small risk of an outbreak again, but Ebola is currently under control in the country. Secondly the police. Some of them, not all, but some of the police officers are definitely devils in uniforms in Guinea and will try to get money of out of you in any way possible. I was stopped many times by police or fake police in Guinea who wanted to inspect me, but I never paid any bribes, because I just took my time. I know how to handle situations like this after more than 1,5 year in Africa in total. Some travelers who are not experienced in Africa will maybe fall for the pressure and pay the money they ask for, but as long as you haven’t done anything wrong you should never pay money or bribe anyone. Keep your cool and patience, have order in all of your documents (very important!) and show them you’re tough and not an easy target.

Read my:

How To Avoid The 7 Most Common Travel Scams (Africa)

Why Are People Yelling In The Minibus?

Maybe I was unlucky, maybe it was coincident, maybe it was because of the terrible roads in the rain season, but I’ve honestly never experienced more people yelling of each other in minibuses than in Guinea, and I took a lot of these small vans/minibuses. I have been all around Guinea by minibus, by jumping on trucks, cars and motor bikes etc., and I witnessed so many aggressive discussions. Funny enough atmosphere was good outside of these minibuses. Maybe it’s because of the bad road conditions that people get frustrated. Read this to learn a bit more about the roads in Guinea

The Scariest Border Crossing – From Guinea Bissau to Guinea

Some of the roads are okay, some are terrible and some are non-existent! It’s the country I’ve been in with some of the words roads ever during rain season, but also one of the most beautiful countrysides I’ve ever seen. The contradiction is real.

Friendly People?

There are obviously some dangers in Guinea. Dangerous roads, lot of road incidents, corrupt police, but the people in Guinea is in general very friendly. Sure there are good and bad people in every country, and even though I speak limited French I had a good time with many of the Guineans.

Is Guinea A Dangerous Country?

I enjoyed eating 6-7 mangoes a day from the trees in this green and lush West African country. I remember all the good things here, the amazing landscapes, the green scenery, the waterfalls, the wild adventures. Guinea is not for the soft traveler, but it’s a country an explorer loves! I honestly wouldn’t say Guinea is a dangerous country, and I take the few bad experiences I had here with me with a smile. It was tough yes, but I’ll remember Guinea for all the good things. This country was probably my wildest, most off-the-beaten-path adventure ever!

Hope to come back to Guinea again and I’m excited to see the development in this really interesting country. I will follow the future of Guinea closely!

Gustav

gus1thego.com

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1. The Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa

2. The only country with which The Gambia has a border is Senegal

3. In 1964, the prime minister of The Gambia said that one of the reasons they like to have ‘The’ in their name is to avoid confusion with Zambia

4. The national football team of The Gambia is nicknamed The Scorpions.

5. People cast their votes in elections in The Gambia by dropping stones in holes.

6.The highest point of the country is Red Rock, at only 53 meters (174 feet) above sea level.

7. The Gambia has 80 kilometers (50 miles) of coastline.

The Gambia is such a green, sunny and beautiful destination in West Africa.. Hope to come back again!

Gustav

gus1thego.com

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West Africa Is Forgotten?

Traveling for the sake of traveling and seeing as much of this kaleidoscope of a world we all live in is about the only reason most of us ever need to travel. Variation is always the inspiration for me. It’s amazing how different (and of course similar) life is across the globe. It’s a great feeling to know this first hand and at least get a foot on each of the World’s major regions. With this in mind, West Africa with all its mystic, alluring place names and sense of adventure is somewhere ignored… or perhaps just tucked away in a corner, way off any round-the-world ticket and just waiting to be explored.

Dangers of West Africa?

For most English speaking travelers it’s way down the list. Let’s be fair, it’s hot, on the whole comparably expensive (flights, visas) and with few noteworthy attractions. What you’ll read about West Africa – the crime, malaria, disease, conflicts, poverty, corruption and lack of infrastructure – might also worry you to a certain extent. Having noted all this, many are still very much attracted to the region and what they imagine will be a lot of virgin ground, few travelers and many of those friendly African smiles you’ll encounter. For me traveling West Africa solo has been one of the greatest adventure travels ever!

Lots of Challenges On The Way

Traveling West Africa solo with no car over a long period of time will bring you a lot of challenges. Cars will most certainly break down, there’s always complications of getting around, basic facilities, lack of tourist infrastructure, etc., and from a budget independent travel perspective is on the whole not fun, not easy, not cheap and certainly no picnic. But.. Traveling West Africa has been one of my favorite travels this year. I have been to more than 130 countries in total, and this year I have visit +40 countries (new and old ones,) but West Africa stands out as something really special to me. Maybe because it was the most challenging trip, where I also lost 7kg, but also because of many other things. This trip was memorable!

Most Scary Incidents of My Life

I will honestly never forget this West Africa trip, both for the good and for the bad. A big terrorist attack in Mali, a near-death experience (read the story here!) and getting caught in the middle of shootings and explosions in Liberia (read here!,) but I will also remember West Africa for so much good stuff.

So Cool – No Tourists Around?!

Tell me one other region in the World, where you’ll hardly meet any other tourists? There are very few people traveling in West Africa. Not a great place to go if you want to meet other people, but if you want the most unique adventures, it’s a perfect place to go. Like being the only tourist at the Kambadaga Falls, after riding a motorbike for hours through some very difficult jungle terrain with terrible roads. So rewarding!

The Hardest Area In The World To Travel?

Let me be honest with you, West Africa is the hardest area I’ve traveled in. I still remember crossing from Guinea-Bissau to Guinea after a bumpy ride through the jungle on a tree platform in the middle of nowhere during the night. The story is here: The Scariest Border Crossing From Guinea Bissau To Guinea

It didn’t make it much easier to not have my own car, but having to jump on trucks, shared cars, mini busses etc. I loved the adventure in that and getting to live 100% like a local West African-citizen, but to be fair you’re packed in like no where else. I remember we sat 2 guys and a kid on the front seat next to the driver when crossing into Mali, and I had the shift in between my legs, so the driver had his hand in between my legs most of the ride and it was so painful with so little space. My back hurt! In West Africa the car/bus leave when it’s FULL, not one minute before.. And you can always squeeze in one extra person!

Some places the roads are good, some places the roads are bad and some places the roads are non-existent.

What Is Good To Know In West Africa?

1: French Speakers

Remember they speak French in most of the West African countries. I spoke absolutely zero French before coming here, but I taught myself a bit a long the way, because it is very helpful to speak in West Africa. Very few people in the Francophone countries speak English. Now, even with reasonable French, it can be quite hard to get a bottle of water! You can still survive without speaking French (I did,) but I must admit it would’ve been pretty helpful to speak a bit. But again, I learned the necessary on the road as always.

2: Avoid Scams – Be Patient

I’m very proud to say I didn’t get scammed in West Africa (on a large scale), first of all because I’ve spent a long time in Africa and I know when to be patient and when to be mad, and I make sure to always know the price before I buy anything, because if there’s no price list it can happen sellers will try to charge you a huge amount of money. I have written a really helpful guide on: How To Avoid 7 Scams In Africa

3: Rip Off

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve met so many lovely people in West Africa. But the problem in some countries/areas is that you’ll meet police or people who wants to rip you off. Behind this is the culture of ‘the rich SHOULD give to the poor’. So if you’re asked for 2 dollars for water, it’s not seen as a rip off, just rebalancing the money distribution. If you are on a tight budget you will have to work pretty hard to get the right price on things. I remember taking a photo of a flag pole in Ivory Coast that a local Ivorian guy had just taken seconds before me without any problems. When I took the photo the police yelled “no, no, no!” and took me to the Police Station for 5 hours, where I had to talk to so many different Police Officers.. I kept my patience and explained myself well, and therefore I managed to not pay anything. You’ll most likely meet cops, who are like ‘Devils in Uniform’ who’ll try to rip you off in any way possible, but as long as you’re not scared and keep your cool, you can manage situations like this. It’s a patience game.

4: Bring Cash

There are plenty of working ATMs, but don’t rely on everyone in every town to work. Bring a big amount of cash reserves with you. The CFA currency is used almost everywhere in West Africa and it really cuts down hassle.

5: Be Happy And Enjoy

The real West Africa, the music, age old traditions, dances, mystique and big smiles. West Africa is an experience in itself. Go with a positive attitude and don’t let delays or anything destroy your mood. When being in West Africa you just have to go with the flow, and see what the day brings. Be happy and enjoy!

Ready To Travel West Africa?

You’re now ready to travel West Africa. To be fair, it’s an adventure of a life-time and I honestly hope I’m able to do it again one day, because I made some memories I’ll never forget on this trip, both good and bad, but I still get a big smile on my face when I think about how raw and cool it was to travel West Africa solo.

Gustav

gus1thego.com

The post What Is It Really Like To Travel WEST AFRICA Solo? (No Car) appeared first on gus1thego.

1. Malawi is a country with an amazingly diverse population

A variety of different ethnic groups reside in this small African country. Some of the most well-know tribes are the Chewa, Lomwe, Ngonde, Ngoni, Nyanja, Sena, Tumbuko and Yao.

2. The capital Lilongwe is something of a child

Lilongwe is younger than Blantyre. Pretty much. While there has been a fishing village on the banks of the Lilongwe River for centuries, the modern city was only officially founded as a trading post in 1906 – and only recognized as a town in 1947. It became the Malawian capital even later, in 1975 – when kingpin status was taken away from Zomba, which had stood as the administrative hub in the colonial era. In truth, Lilongwe is not a place which will detain travelers for too long, but it was still pretty cool and I still remember the dangerous tree bridges in town crossing the Lilongwe Weather and the colorful markets.

Do you like my Malawian shirt?

3. Malawi is Africa’s 2. Largest Tea Producer

Malawi has a variety of fair trade coffee and tea plantations, including ones at renowned Satemwa and Thyolo, which were established almost 100 years ago. The country is the second largest tea producer in Africa after Kenya.

4. Mt. Mulanje is Africa’s Highest Peak south of Mt. Kilimanjaro

Malawi can be very mountainous at places. The majestic Mt. Mulanje rises to 3000 metres providing incredible views of the surrounding landscape from its heights. Here with some curious followers in a small Malawian village!

5. Malawi is home to the popular pet fish Cichlid

Cichlid, a very common pet fish, resides in Lake Malawi. The lake is estimated to have close to 3000 species of cichlids, the most of any lake in the world.

These Were 5 Weird Facts About Malawi

These were in fact 5 weirdly cool facts about Malawi, a green and lush country I went all the way through in 2017 and had a pretty epic time in when it didn’t rain. But a little rain won’t stop the guys from posing!

 Did you know any of these weird facts about Malawi? Have you been there?

– Gustav

gus1thego.com

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These are 7 countries that I find really underrated, and you might consider to visit these in the near future!

7. Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is a very underrated place with a lot of misconceptions. While some may hate it because of its relatively strict rules, there’s a lot of good in it too. These are 20 Things I Like About Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has some unique landscape you won’t see anywhere else. But is it safe to go to Saudi Arabia?

Check my YT-Video here about the safety in the country: Is Saudi Arabia Safe?

6. Bulgaria

A lot of people from my country goes to Sunny Beach or Golden Sands in Bulgaria to get super drunk and party, with some of the cheapest alcohol in Europe. But Bulgaria actually has a lot more to offer. The capital Sofia and the two very beautiful cities Plovdiv and Varna are cool places to visit + the fascinating mountains which exists in Bulgaria and the fact that Bulgaria is a diamond in the spa crown of Europe changed my mind about this country. Yes, you can have a great party in Bulgaria, but Bulgaria is so much else. Bulgaria is rich with natural resources – mineral water, healing springs, pure air (at most places). The mountains and the plains offer different opportunities for rest, relax and heal yourself.

I can recommend to visit the spa Sapareva Banya. Not many towns can say they have their own geyser. Sapareva Banya welcomes its guests by its steaming geyser in the center of the city. The town attracts us with its closeness to Sofia, its friendly locals and its huge amount of pools and thermal delights for resting and getting prettier. It should be named SPApareva Banya. Consider exploring Bulgaria properly!

5. Tajikistan

Tajikstan is very underrated. Its array of cultures, languages, valleys and mountains makes it interesting. The Pamir mountain range, aka the “Roof of the World”, located west, is Tajikistan’s main attraction, with its beautiful mountainous landscape and magnificent trails. Some really nice mountains in general and you have to make time for scenic stops and spontaneous detours by striking moonscapes, glistening lakes, wandering yaks, and the imposingly large, snow-capped Hindu Kush mountains. Tajikistan was a big surprise!

4. Belarus

Belarus is one of those destinations that has most people scratching their heads and reaching for Google maps. But it won’t be long before travellers from around the globe figure out that it’s one of Eastern Europe’s unsung heroes. I traveled around Belarus in 2017, and to be fair it’s maybe the cheapest country in Europe alongside Ukraine. You get a lot of value for your money here and there’s quiet a lot to see.

My only problem here was the language barrier, when I left the capital Minsk and explored the country. If you don’t speak Belarusian or Russian it’s a little hard to communicate, especially with the older generation. Anyway, I found Belarus, the sights and the prices very underrated! Cheapest in Europe!

3. Ghana

I traveled around Ghana in early 2019, and while the visa was a pain in the arse to get, it was such a great country on the inside. One of Africa’s most peaceful countries and a lot of cool cities like Tamale, Kumasi and Accra and a beautiful country side and nice beaches. The best thing about Ghana is the people, the music and the vibes, I loved the atmosphere in Ghana and enjoyed the characteristic way Ghanaian people speak English. Here pictured at a street celebration in Accra, and I must say the people in Ghana certainly knows how to throw a party and dance to a Sarkodie, Stonebwoy and Kweli Artur-Ghana-banger.. You name it! Great times in Ghana! Some would maybe think it’s a dangerous African country.. Not at all, one of the most underrated and awesome African countries!

2. Iran

It’s almost a cliché by now, but Iranians are perhaps some of the friendliest people in the world, and just about anyone that has been will testify enthusiastically to this. Furthermore Iran offers varied and dramatic landscapes, with beautiful mountains, forests and deserts and a lot of Natural Wonders.

Political situation is a little complicated in Iran, but let’s not forget this is truly a remarkable country; super friendly people, inimitably rich in history and natural beauty, and home to some of the oldest civilizations on Earth. All those places that you’ve heard about—Persepolis and Shiraz, the mosques of Esfahan, the Silk Road, the desert city of Yazd, the ski slopes of the Alborz and the otherworldiness of Qeshm island—they’re absolutely worth the hype.

1. Pakistan

The Pakistani people are some of the friendliest and most welcoming people I’ve encountered in my travels. For me Pakistan is the most misunderstood and most underrated country in the World. With mighty mountains, lush green plateaus, golden sand deserts, some of the oldest cities in the World and the emerald colored Arabian sea etc. The list go on! I still have the Hunza Valley in the North of Pakistan stuck in my head. BUT IS PAKISTAN SAFE? Check this video I made there: ‘Is Pakistan Safe?’

Furthermore I received so many gifts and free stuff in Pakistan, which lead me to the BIG question in this travel video: ‘Is Everything Really FREE In Pakistan?’

Pakistan is an experience you don’t want to miss out on and is for me the most underrated country!

These were in fact 7 Underrated Countries that just came to my mind.. Can you name any?

Gustav

gus1thego.com

The post 7 UNDERRATED COUNTRIES (traveler with +130 countries visited) appeared first on gus1thego.

1: Somaliland was an internationally-recognized country for 5 days

Despite the local government’s declaration of independence in 1991, Somaliland is not an internationally recognized country. It is a self-declared republic that has been seeking recognition since.

What makes this most interesting is that, for a brief period of five days in 1960, when Somaliland became independent from the UK, the country existed as an independent state. However, it then agreed to join the rest of Somalia who had been under Italian rule until then to form a greater Somalia.

2: Mobile payments are more used than anywhere else

Somaliland pays one the lowest rates for mobile calls in the world. Furthermore the mobile payments in Somaliland are so important that they are estimated to account for half of the transactions and they are made in US Dollars. Bill Gates even claimed: “Somaliland is a sort of a country and it is sort of not. It is very small, but it is phenomenal. As a percentage of GDP that goes through cellphone-based money they are the highest in the world.” There are 3 reasons why mobile payments are so high in Somaliland.

Firstly, the Somali currency, the Shilling, is constantly devalued and suffers from inflation, so it is less and less valuable every day.

Secondly, the amount of counterfeit Shilling is so high that the World Bank estimates 98% of the currency is fake.

Thirdly, the exchange rate of the Shilling is about 8,000 per US Dollar, so you only need to exchange 100 US Dollar to become an instant millionaire.

3. It’s the desert, but when it rains, it floods

I was very confused when it started to pour like crazy and the ground became absolutely drenched and flooded. I thought Somaliland would be similar to Djibouti: desertic and dry. But Somaliland is a bit greener and it does get a lot of rain, even if the soil is not particularly fertile. I have never seen as much rain as my 2nd day in Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland. My shoes were totally wet walking around in 5 centimeter water in the streets and I had to run into a private home to escape the heavy rain.

4: Drive on the right, steering wheel on the right

Cars in Somaliland drive on the right hand side of the road but have the steering wheel on the right. This makes for the very weird situations of the passenger seat being next to the oncoming traffic.

This would probably mean that the cars used are imported from left hand driving countries, of which there aren’t too many, but some of which are neighbors of Somaliland. Here I was in a car with a Somali guy driving on the right hand side with a steering wheel on the right and the driver had no legs. How many of you guys have tried that?

5: Spaghetti with your camel, curry with your pancakes

After having eaten crocodile in Zimbabwe and kangaroo in Australia, it was the perfect time to try to eat camel in Somaliland. Why? Of the world’s estimated 14 million camels, Somalia, a country of some 10 million people, has more than seven million – the highest number in the world. A big amount of them can be found in Somaliland, which is one of the best places to try to eat camel.

Camel meat is pretty healthy, it is very greasy, fatty and chewy and not the most pleasant to eat. At least not to me, but it’s an interesting experience. So is a pancake with curry! Somalilanders like interesting food.

6: Fast internet and free WiFI

You can’t compare the slow internet (close to no wifi) in the east of Ethiopia , where I was feeding wild hyenas with my mouth, with the super fast internet for African standards in Somaliland. I was very surprised to find decent WIFi in most hotels and restaurants in Somaliland. Yes, I lost my phone in Somalia, you can read about that story here, but I did have one day with amazing wifi before I was disconnected a week (with no phone) traveling around Somalia and Eritrea. Perfect, right? No seriously, the wifi is pretty great in Somaliland!

7. The Government has an annual budget of only 295 million USD dollars

The Government has an annual budget of only 295 million USD dollar. Most infrastructure projects are paid by the Somali community through fundraising. No doubt less than 300 million USD dollar is a very low amount for a self-declared country of 3,5 million people.

8. Bring cash here

Bring cash. Preferably a stack of cold, hard, American dollars. The nation is not hooked into the global financial system in any meaningful way. Cash services are shaping up in Hargeisa, which has just started to launch a series of traditional bank branches and reportedly launched its first two ATMs in 2014. But you still can’t rely on these young banks and ATMs for all your financial needs. Also, Somaliland will try to milk a little money from you as soon as you touch down, charging entry, exit, and security fees at border control, often forcing you to change some dollars to shillings upon entry as well. So remember to bring a good amount of cash to Somaliland, mobile payments are for the locals mostly unfortunately.

9. Las Geel, earliest known cave paintings in Africa

Laas Geel, meaning ‘source of water for camels’, is a complex of  cave paintings located 55 kilometers (34 miles) northeast of Hargeisa, Somaliland. They contain some of the earliest known cave paintings in Africa. Weird combination of cows in ceremonial robes that are accompanied by a giraffe, domesticated dogs, and humans. Laas Geel’s rock art is estimated to date to somewhere between 9,000 and 3,000 years BC.

10. First country to use Biometric Iris scanning voting system for elections

Somaliland will be the first country to use Biometric Iris scanning voting system for elections, the most advanced voting register system in the world. A very progressive and innovative nation!

Hope You Learned Something New About Somaliland

I hope you learned something new about Somaliland after reading these 10 weird, but interesting facts. How many of these did you know before reading this article? Let me know!

Goodbye Somaliland! Can’t wait to come back here again one day..

Gustav

gus1thego.com

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