On my trip to Laos in December 2022 (read about this journey HERE), I met Karolina, a fellow traveler from Poland. During her multi-months through Asia, she stayed on the island of Koh Rong Sanloem (sometimes also spelt as "SaMloem") in Cambodia. According to Karolina, the island was a real tropical beach paradise and still… Continue reading A Disappearing Paradise: the Island of Koh Rong Sanloem (Cambodia)

The chances are great that you have never been to Laos. It is the only landlocked country in the Southeast Asia which is bordered by Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and China. While being still "off the beaten track," Laos offers a lot for more adventurous people. Why to Go to Laos?First Thing First: How to… Continue reading Laos: Captivating Beauty and Motorbikers Paradise

My trip to Cabo Verde in December 2021 was a great success. And I decided to check out another former Portuguese colony in Africa: Sao Tome and Principe. An island nation, it is located off the western coast of Central Africa and right on equator. In fact, many tourists to Sao Tome make a point… Continue reading A Week in the Second Smallest African Nation: Sao Tome and Principe

I bet you never heard of Cabo Verde: did you? Also known as "Cape Verde," it is an archipelago and a country in Atlantic Ocean close to African coast. It consists of ten - amazingly different in terms of landscapes - volcanic islands. They are situated  between 600 to 850 kilometers (320 to 460 nautical miles)… Continue reading Cabo Verde: a Dream for Exploring the Nation of Islands

I grew up in former USSR which consisted of fifteen republics with Russia being by far the largest. By the time Soviet Union broke apart in 1991, I have traveled to all of these republics - presently independent states - except for one: Armenia. It is late August of 2021 and it is time to… Continue reading Armenia: First Christian Nation and the “Country of Stones.”

It is early August of 2021 and my brother Vladimir (who lives in Russia) invited me to join a private boat trip with a group of friends on the lake Baikal. Situated in Russia's Southern Siberia, Baikal is a natural marvel and also a sacred place. With 23,600 km3 (5,700 cu mi) of water, Baikal is the world's largest freshwater lake by… Continue reading Sacred Sea: the Trip to Lake Baikal in Russian Siberia

At the beginning of May 2021, I planed to go to Turkey for couple of weeks. The idea was to first explore the nature, captivating landscapes and early Christian monuments of Cappadocia and then to spend about ten days with my mother (she was coming from Russia) in some nice resort hotel in the coastal… Continue reading Full Lockdown in Turkey or the Best Time to Travel to Cappadocia

Normally, in January/February I go to Hawaii to visit friends and to get a healthy portion of suntan and swimming. But this year with required COVID test or self-quarantine upon arrival, this option looked complicated. Instead, I decided to go to Mexico and check out Yucatan. First, let’s make it clear: there are two “Yucatans.”… Continue reading Yucatan: Pink Beaches, Cenotes, Flamingos, and much more…

When people think about California, the typical images coming to mind are something like ocean, beaches, orange trees, expensive houses, Silicon valleys, etc. Yet there is another California - the area where relatively few people live and the nature (very beautiful) is barely touched by civilization. I am talking about Eastern Sierras - huge area… Continue reading Escape into California’s wilderness: Eastern Sierras