Tag Archives: Central Asia

Motorbike Overlanding – 5 years on 2 wheels – What Now?

Posted on September 18, 2017 by laurapattara

As it turns out, I’m getting bored of travelling by motorbike. There, I’ve said it. Am I allowed to say that?! It seems not. Most times I dare say that to fellow travelling bikers we meet on the road, they’re … Continue reading →

Posted in Overlanding | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Kyrgyzstan: Where Central Asia Revealed Her Soul

Posted on August 13, 2014 by laurapattara

Kyrgyzstan is a land of unexpected surprises. One certainly wouldn’t know it by just looking at it on a map or by basing one’s assumptions on visits to any of the other Stans in Central Asia. Everything from the culture, … Continue reading →

Posted in Overlanding | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Long-term Travel & the Importance of Social Interaction

Posted on June 10, 2014 by laurapattara

One need not be a Guantanamo Bay detainee to understand that having minimal social interaction can wreck havoc on one’s mental health. There is a very good reason why the use of solitary confinement is still widespread the world over … Continue reading →

Posted in Overlanding | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Welcome to Tajikistan…wanna plov?

Posted on June 5, 2014 by laurapattara

No matter what anyone tries to tell you, trust me when I say that patience is not an inherent trait, but rather a learned one. Learning it, however, is not nearly as easy as it sounds. After almost a decade … Continue reading →

Posted in Overlanding, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Uzbekistan: from tired overlander to reinvigorated tourist

Posted on May 30, 2014 by laurapattara

Within just 100kms of crossing the invisible border between Karakalpakstan and the rest of Uzbekistan, we join the tarmac highway once again. Finally, I think to myself, we can get some serious kilometres out of the way. Yet it barely … Continue reading →

Posted in Overlanding | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Karakalpakstan: the Stan the World Forgot

Posted on May 11, 2014 by laurapattara

It must really suck to be a Karakalpak. Once upon a time, you were one of Central Asia’s most avid farmers, then your land was prostituted, polluted and destroyed beyond recognition and, even after your livelihood was obliterated, you were … Continue reading →

Posted in Overlanding | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

From Georgia to Azerbaijan on frayed nerves

Posted on April 10, 2014 by laurapattara

‘You should be able to board the ferry to Kazakhstan in about 20 minutes’ said the friendly port guard in Baku. Just a wee while later, while I’m hopping on the spot trying keep my nipples from freezing right off, … Continue reading →

Posted in Overlanding, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments