When my hosts in Van told me that there’s a Van cat sanctuary, I knew I had to visit. The Van Cat is a special type of cat that hails from this area around Lake Van in Turkey. They have a white coat and often have one blue eye and one green one. This place is like a sanctuary for these cats, which are quite rare in the world and need extra protection. As I understood it, they’re here for protection and local heritage, not breeding. Back on the Isle of Man, I visited the Manx Society for the PreventionContinue reading
Caucasus + Western Asia
Here you’ll find all the articles and short posts I’ve published about hitchhiking and hospitality in the Caucasus + Western Asia. I traveled in countries such as Georgia, Armenia, Iran, and Turkey mostly in 2014.
- Georgia: my best friend whom I met at university comes from Georgia, so I visited there for the first time for New Year’s in 2012/2013. Then in summer 2014, I hitchhiked from the Netherlands to Tbilisi in five days to attend her wedding. After that, I traveled back and forth to Georgia from Armenia and Abkhazia, living in Tbilisi’s Vake Park with a band of cool people and absolute weirdos.
- Armenia: I visited Armenia twice in 2014. Once with a Polish friend on a short trip, and once on my way to Iran.
- Abkhazia: I visited this disputed territory after getting travel permission in Zugdidi. It was a strange place, but also incredibly beautiful. I had a lot of fun at Stalin’s Dacha and in Gagra.
- Iran: after picking up my visa in Armenia, I hitchhiked around Iran for 28 days in October/November 2014. These were some excellent times!
- Turkey: I’ve been to Turkey four times, of which twice with my family. The last two times I was there speed hitchhiking through to get to that wedding on time. The second time, after Iran, I had more time to explore between Van, Batman, Hatay, Mersin, Northern Cyprus, Ankara, Eskişehir, and İstanbul.
Because of the top-tier hospitality in the Caucasus + Western Asia, I’m longing to return pretty much every day I’m feeling a little uninspired.
100% Islamic Beer
When drinking #dutch beer in #Iran that is a solid 0.0% alcohol. (at Jangal Sisangan)
Directions to Mecca
Every mosaferkhaneh (cheap sketchy hotel) in Iran gave you directions to #Mecca. (at Iran Urmiye)
Iranian Textbook
English study book for #Farsi speakers in #Zanjan #Iran.
Modest Swimming in the Caspian Sea
#CaspianSea! #Mazandaran
A Desperate Bus Ride
So this asshole took a bus a couple of days ago to get from #Tehran to #Kashan. First time I took a long distance bus since #Mexico City. I feel bad about it because I should. #hitchhiking #not #lame #staytrue (at مسجد جمكران)
US Embassy in Tehran
At the former US embassy in #Tehran #Iran (at Tehran, Iran)
Tea Time in Kashan, Iran
at Kashan | کاشان
Farsi Signs
Ready for #Iran as much as anyone can be. #hitchhiking #Teheran #Farsi (at Agarak Town)