It feels genuinely wonderful to be in a new country, and one I’ve wanted to visit for a very long time. Ever since I heard about Transylvania , I’ve had this desire to explore this mysterious and fascinating land called Romania. With the utmost respect to the Balkan countries, I’m thrilled to be back amongst …
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Timișoara
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Hitchhike to India leg 17: Novi Sad to Timisoara
Save the ridiculously easy journey from Belgrade to Novi Sad, hitching of late has become something of a difficulty; and it will certainly continue to be so for the foreseeable future. This appears due to a number of factors, the primary one being no real direct roads anywhere. I fully anticipate requiring several rides to …
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Hitchhike to India leg 16: Belgrade to Novi Sad and military wankers
I’m sitting nervously on a bone shaking tram for ten stops before I realise I’m going in the wrong direction and I’ve forgotten my kilt knife. Serbians glower strange looks as they see a bag laden angry dude curse his way back into town. I hate losing time on hitch days, and especially missing the …
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Beaten in Belgrade
Belgrade is ruining me. I’ve forgotten what sunlight looks like, my bed sheets need industrial fumigation and I’m a beer pong champion. I’m on first name terms with a load of night-club bouncers, and my daily food intake consists of four boiled eggs and/or a hamburger. My head, heart and emotional well-being are all crying …
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New Years Eve with crime lords
I can’t honestly remember the last time I had a decent New Years Eve. The onus and pressure we put on ourselves to find the best situation possible for ten seconds is astounding. I think it’s getting worse as we get older, and much like Christmas, it’s really one for the kids. It was more …
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Down in the dumps AKA: miserable bastard
I’m lying in a bed that hasn’t been made. Literally there isn’t a sheet on it. (It’s probably my fault). Someone has just dropped a foul stench from the tiny bathroom which is opposite my head. Extremely loud Balkan-folk/rock music is blaring in the bar below, so much so if you want a conversation in …
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Chain wielding taxi drivers, underground Serbian Turbo Folk sing-a-longs and Belgrade at Christmas
Good heavens above it’s Christmas Eve! How on Earth did that happen?! Where have I been?! Oh yes – in a Christian Orthodox country that doesn’t celebrate anything until January 7th. So this is a little weird. Consequently I’ve not heard one carol, not one rendition of Fairy Tale in New York and I’ve not …
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Hitchhike to India leg 15: Sarajevo to Belgrade
I’m awake and up at 5am. I can’t actually remember the last time I stood at the side of a road and stuck my thumb out; and it’s terrifying me. I feel I’ve regressed. A summer of debauchery has fattened my lethargy. It’s almost like I’m back to square one and I’ve no idea how …
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Return to Mostar
The wind whips into a frenzy as our little band huddles against the elements during a war tour of Mostar. It is certainly a far cry from the summer time madness back in August when, if you may recall, my friend Mike jumped off the famous bridge here. The water is a lot higher and …
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Waiting for test results
After putting the full stop to your final exam in school and handing the paper over, there is little you can do to effect the outcome. Maybe you can ask friends what they put for some sort of reassurance. Perhaps you can go back to a text-book and confirm a particular answer. There is little …
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