Tag Archives: Overland

Letters Home from Africa: Sudan, December 2009

Posted on February 11, 2015 by laurapattara

I almost can’t believe it. I read and re-read the message posted online, yet after further research, it seems to be true. The car ferry between Sudan and Egypt, crossing Lake Nasser, is no longer. The road is now open. … Continue reading →

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Lao and its dirty, evil, little secret

Posted on December 10, 2014 by laurapattara

We spend leisurely days in Luang Prabang, the reputed tourist hub of Lao and our official gateway to South East Asia. We’ve already been in the country for over a month and are only starting to feel well rested. China … Continue reading →

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OVERLANDING CHINA: SELF-DRIVE AND WITHOUT A GUIDE…IT’S NOW POSSIBLE!

Posted on October 22, 2014 by laurapattara

EDIT March 2015: please refer to the latest blog post about agencies helping overlanders cross through China unguided, after reading this! After our unforgettable and blissfully unguided self-drive traverse of China (and countless requests for more details from fellow travellers) … Continue reading →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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Welcome to Kazakhstan (there’s not a hairy back in sight!)

Posted on May 8, 2014 by laurapattara

As we ride our bikes off the Caspian Sea freighter ship we are immediately greeted by two local Kazakh customs officers. My first impression is one of bewilderment…they look nothing like Borat. To my prejudiced Sydney-raised eyes, I’d say they … Continue reading →

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10 Interesting facts from Central Asia you probably don’t know

Posted on April 27, 2014 by laurapattara

Borat may have done a splendid job of putting Kazakhstan on the international map (I’m sure most locals probably wish he hadn’t) but despite his best efforts it’s fair to say Central Asia is still one of the least known … Continue reading →

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Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan ferry ride: a never ending story

Posted on April 15, 2014 by laurapattara

Scurvy!!! That’s it! I’ve been racking my brain for ten minutes trying to remember what disease one gets when one is stuck at sea for months on end. Finally I remember: it’s scurvy. If I’m not mistaken, scurvy is an … Continue reading →

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