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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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.

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. They have high employment rate.

2. Free health care for all residents.

3. Free education for all (attending Universities for most Expats’ children is complicated).

4. Tax-free salary for all.

5. Mostly modern infrastructure.

6. One can literally walk around anywhere at any given time feeling safe.

7. “Ladies first” is a reality there. In public, if men and women are walking towards each other the man would move aside while the women keeps on walking. They respect women in that matter.

8. For the most part, law and order situation is pretty decent. Murder rate is pretty low.

9. Food is very cheap (and good!) with countless restaurants everywhere.

10. Every Friday families would go to the beaches, parks, restaurants etc.

11. Very rarely you’ll hear about war/terrorism here, only small problems with Yemen.

12. 33+% of its population are foreigners. Very diverse.

13. There are plenty of luxury malls.

14. I was never afraid that someone would steal from me, no matter where I was here.

15. In a 10-year period things has changed positively in KSA.

16. As far as I can tell, Saudis don’t dislike their government and King Salman

17. Most Saudis have a good heart and are generous people. They don’t lose their
temper fast!

18. Overall people seem happy and live a simple life

19. A lot of the Saudi people are very welcoming and helpful from my experience

20. Some of the most fascinating desert landscapes I’ve ever seen (Edge of the World)

 

Is Saudi Arabia A Dangerous Country?

Both Saudi women and men can be very conservative, especially in Riyadh, where Jeddah is more liberal and open-minded. The questioner have a very exaggerated picture of Saudi Arabia. In my opinion, the scariest thing in Saudi Arabia is probably the road traffic, certain people tend to drive recklessly.

Of course there are things that can improve here, but these are the 20 things I like about Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia. An underrated country.

Gustav

gus1thego.com

 

 

The post 20 Things I Like About Saudi Arabia (Pro-Traveler!) appeared first on gus1thego.

1. City On The Move

I have been to many big cities around the World, and if you go to most big cities there are usually higher risks of criminals trying to harm you, scams, etc., but in Karachi it felt different to me. It has the distinct feel of a city on the move, but people are still greeting you with a welcoming feeling. People seem to be on the go in Karachi, and it gives a wild energy, and it’s really fascinating to observe this city on the move.

2. Food And Cuisines

Karachi is known as the city by the sea, so it has some mouth-watering fish markets and restaurants.

You can find food from all over Pakistan here in Karachi, to match your tastes. Go to Hyderabad Colony for the most authentic Hyderabadi achars, or go to Burns Road for the best kababs, haleem and other desi foods. Or, if you like to have karak dhoodh patti chai, then head to the tea shops around Cantt Station. For gola ganda head to Dhoraji Colony, if you like spicy ‘disco aaloo’ go to the thelas in Kharadar, or if the legendary Bihari Kabab is more to your taste, you should head to Meerut Kebab house.

3. Cosmopolitan Feeling

Karachi is relatively young, but it has some of the most interesting architecture. A good way to explore this is to drive around the Old City — Kharadar, Mithadar, Saddar, Elphinstone Street, M A Jinnah Road, Napier Road, and their surrounding areas. I was in Karachi mid October, and would strongly recommend to do your city tour early in the morning to avoid the crowds and the insane heat in the middle of the day.

I was told you will find far more women drivers in Karachi than in any other Pakistani city, and in general Karachi has a distinct cosmopolitan and urban feel to it, which is super cool. This city is alive!

4. The Prices

Karachi is among the world’s top 10 cheapest cities in the World again in 2019, and the megalopolis called home by over 16 million people, has remained in the top 10 cheapest cities in the World consistently over the past decade, even ranking as the cheapest city a few times. The surveys are measuring the comparative cost of more than 200 items in each location, including housing, transport, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment, and Karachi is just unbelievably cheap! Furthermore the Pakistani hospitality is unreal, so you’ll have so much free stuff, and when you sometimes try to pay for something or split the bill, it happens that a Pakistani person won’t let you. Hospitality is great in Karachi!

5. The Adventures

Karachi is a city for a traveler who loves a wild adventure. Jump on the colorful buses, take a rickshaw ride, throw yourself out in the wild, hectic and lively streets of Karachi, and just breath in the cool craziness of this huge city. Karachi is an experience well-worth it, and I’m honestly so excited to explore the rest of Pakistan after some adventurous days in Karachi.

Some would say don’t go to Karachi, and I would say go to Karachi! If you only visit Lahore, only visit Islamabad or only visit Karachi, you haven’t been to Pakistan. Then you’ve only been to a city in Pakistan! Try out the biggest city in Pakistan and promise me to explore the rest of Pakistan too. That’s what I’m planning to do, because it’s such a beautiful country. I’m feeling the good vibes and beauty already!

Pakistan Zindabad… Next stop: Lahore! Before heading to the mountains.. Can’t wait to see what this country has in store!

Gustav

gus1thego.com

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My Realizations From Traveling

I’ve made some realizations during my last 7 years of traveling, living a lot of the time out of a backpack, which I’m really grateful for I’ve experienced! When going back to Denmark, I sometimes had a place to stay and sometimes not, having to move all of my things from one place to a storage room or crash friends or even my parents place. It’s difficult to move around all the time with too much material stuff you have to carry with you. For me too much stuff doesn’t really match with my travels around the World.

I know if I want to travel, I have to drag my stuff along or make sure it’s in a safe place before I can leave. It’s annoying, especially if you have a lot of things! I’ve seen the material possessions I have decrease more over the years. When I was younger it was mostly about impressing friends with expensive things, but now I mostly don’t care about material stuff, except clothing to some extent, and even if I see a nice car, I think of expenses, rather than how awesome it looks! Working more hours to afford it = Less travel.

No way!

I still have some things I’m not willing to let go off (Airpods, Sony A6000 Camera, Osprey Fairpoint 40 L Backpack, etc.. Basically these 20 things in this link, but I’ve become more of a minimalist nonetheless by traveling the World over the years. I now have more stories to tell and less stuff to show.

Your Choices?

Ask yourself: Did I really buy this Mercedes car or that Rolex watch, because I genuinely love it so much? Am I so truly passionate about this thing and is it TOTALLY for me, not for others? Or did I actually buy it to fill out an emotional gap I have, or maybe to impress a person I don’t even like? Why did I spent money I don’t have, now having to work extra hours, having less hours to do what I really love? Everybody is probably guilty on buying something to impress others, to boost their ego for a short period, for the sake of getting compliments and mostly fake recognition from their friends. Maybe it’s time to change.

Will Material Stuff Make You Happy?

Most people have this false belief that the more they own, the happier they’ll be. Material stuff will NEVER make you happy! Imagine having the mansion, The TVs.. But having no real friends or family? How would your life be? So many people are slaves to their stuff. But the truth is the more you have, the more you’ll have to manage and worry about. It complicates life.

Have Some Memories

When you go on a vacation, you’ll remember it for years. Those unique experiences become the story you’ll tell forever and a big part of you and I can assure you that nobody will remember your expensive, yet uncomfortable designer couch or $10.000 flat-screen you just bought in 8 years from now. It’ll be garbage!

On the other hand you’ll always have the memories to look back on from traveling.

Shoes And Bed Are Kind Of Important

All being said: Choose your shoes and bed wisely. That’s were you spent most of your life and I really love my travel shoes, most of all the Nike Air Max 97 (on the pic) or the Nike Airmax 270. Both perfect travel shoes for men! Just thoughts from me on a Friday evening, preparing myself slowly in Sweden to go back for a new ride in Africa. Starting with going back to Ethiopia and then I’ll see where the roads will take me..

Do you agree with some of these thoughts? Guilty, not guilty?

Gustav

gus1thego.com

The post The EXACT Reason Why You Should Travel MORE! (With Solution!) appeared first on gus1thego.

Is it safe to travel to Iraq?

This is the $1,000,000 question that any adventurous traveler wonders at least once in his or her’s life. The answer is: ”it depends”.

For a long time Iraq has had an negative reputation in the media and around the World for its safety issues.

The thread of ISIS

Starting with the Iraq-Iran war in 1980, to the Saddam Hussein Gulf conflict (where Saddam Hussein gassed 5,000 Kurds in Halabja etc.) and then the current civil war now after the USA invasion, where the bloodthirsty Islamic State appeared in the country..

I admit it, it doesn’t sound as the best travel destination! But the reality is different.

I stayed most of my time in Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan. Erbil is the most modern place in the region, guarded by the legendary Peshmerga. Therefore from a safety point of view, the entire region can be classified as relatively safe.

If you take a look at the maps below, you will see the evolution of the ISIS territory.

As you can see, from 2014 to 2017, ISIS was, basically, bordering Iraqi Kurdistan.

In July 2017, the Iraqi forces took Mosul back, so the region got safer than ever.

Loads of checkpoints

There are loads of checkpoints across all cities and roads, where they will ask for your passport and, occasionally, they will even check the car.

As a Western foreigner, I didn’t have any troubles, but once I was traveling by taxi with an Arab man, and the Peshmergas (Kurdish soldiers) took my driver out for 10 minutes at least. They found him suspicious in their eyes. They basically question everything here, which is a good thing to prevent terrorist attacks.

Is Kurdistan safe? What is it like to travel there?

When I went walking to Erbil’s citadel, I couldn’t believe what my eyes saw: Kids playing football in the streets, nice cafés and terraces and everybody seemed to have a happy, normal life.

Didn’t see any tourists though on my 10 km solo walk around the city, but I was quite shocked when I saw a local Kurdish guy with a beer in his hand. I would personally never drink in the streets in a muslim country, as I respect the country’s rules as a guest, but this little episode showed me that Kurdistan is one of the most liberal and open-minded parts of the Middle East, that follows a similar lifestyle to Lebanon.

The airport security is extreme

I had never before seen such a degree of airport security. Only Israel comes close!

From the moment I left the city until the moment I boarded the plane, I passed through over 10 different checkpoints. I had to get out at three checkpoints and they checked everything inside the car with police dogs and with all the guys armed.

Cars and buses couldn’t go to the departure or arrival terminal, so I had to walk the last part myself.

Should you visit Iraqi Kurdistan?

Even if you go with a friend or you go solo like me, you should! Yes, there’s a risk involved when you’re going to a country like Iraq, but there’s a risk anywhere in the World! And the risk here in Kurdistan is very low.

With a huge touristic potential, impressive landscapes, a deep history, and some of the most hospitable people you’ll ever find, Kurdistan is a must-visit destination. Just go!

– Gustav

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Here are some random pictures from all over the world. One from each country/territory. I will add more here and there from new travels and adventures, so check back every now and then. Enjoy!

Albania

Algeria

Andorra

Argentina

Armenia

Australia

Austria

Azerbaidjan

Bahrain

Belarus

Belgium

Belize

Brazil

Bulgaria

Burkina Faso

Burma / Myanmar

China

Croatia

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Egypt

Eswatini

Ethiopia

Faroe Islands

Finland

Gambia

Georgia

Ghana

Gibraltar

Greece

Guernsey

Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

Honduras

Hong Kong

India

Iran

Iraq

Ivory Coast

 

Japan

Jordan

Kazakhstan

Kenya

Kuwait

Kyrgyzstan

Laos

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Macedonia

Maldives

Monaco

Mozambique

Myanmar

Nepal

Netherlands

New Zealand

North Korea

Oman

Paraguay

Quebec

Russia

Sri Lanka

South Korea

Spain

Sweden

Tajikistan

Tanzania

Thailand

Uganda

United Arab Emirates

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Kuwait is a Muslim country and while not as conservative as many of its Gulf neighbours, you should behave and dress in a respectful way.

You have to respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times and be aware of your actions to ensure that you do not offend other cultures or religious beliefs, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas.

Don’t Do’s In Kuwait

The following are illegal in Kuwait:

• Homosexual acts
• Importation and use of alcohol
• Importation and use of pork products
• Pornography
• Drink driving

In terms of dress code, Kuwait is fairly relaxed, however, to avoid unnecessary attention women should not wear short skirts, sleeveless shirts or low necklines. Bikinis are fine at the hotel pool, but not on public beaches.

The Emir of Kuwait is venerated. Prison terms of up to seven years can be imposed for challenging the authority of the Emir or insulting him – whether by speech, writing, drawing or any other means of expression.

Taking photographs of or near government buildings or other infrastructure, including oil fields, can lead to detention. It is also forbidden to take photographs at some shopping centres.

Alcohol is totally prohibited in Kuwait. It may not be imported, manufactured or served. Some expat-geared restaurants offer “special” tea, but unlike neighbouring states; Bahrain, Qatar and UAE, alcohol cannot be even served at hotels or by permit holders.

So, apart from the ever present threat of terrorism and “abstract” drivers, Kuwait has to be one of the easiest and safest countries for travel in the Gulf region.

Climate of Kuwait

July in Kuwait was the hottest month ever recorded on the planet. The epicenter of the global heat wave was Kuwait, where the temperature in Mitribah hit 129.2 degrees, making it the hottest place on Earth. People in Kuwait will literally escape from their country in July and August, because the temperatures get extremely hot.

The Kuwaitian People

I was shocked when reading that Kuwaitian people are among the most unfriendly people in the World, because it’s very far from my own experiences in Kuwait. I was invited for coffee more than 10 times and the Kuwaitian people were very curious about what brought me to Kuwait. My best advice dealing with the Kuwaitian people is to respect them and their culture and they will respect you back.

I will forever remember my Kuwaitian friend Mohammed, who made my stay in Kuwait absolutely unforgettable with hospitality rarely seen anywhere else.

Rich, safe and just about crime free Kuwait is a great entry point to the Muslim world of souks, mosques and that all important warm Arabian hospitality.

I hope to re-visit Kuwait one day.

– Gustav

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