Ahhhh January you little devil you.  Colder than a witches tit, and getting colder.  But the first few weeks fly by because you’re coming down from the parties good ol’ December was throwing you, and you’re still in a daze of booze blankets, mistletoe mishaps and regret.  And then just around the corner sneaks in that …

As ever during the festive period I’m a little behind, so maybe it’s time (as I know many bloggers do) to employ a skivvy.  Honestly some of these entries takes hours and at the end of it I’m expected to try and promote the damn thing?  You’re all just going to have to wait.  Anyway this …

It’s cold.  The skies are drab and grey, and the wind is whipping through empty streets.  Streets that are thrust into darkness come half past four, presumably to save money on the leccy bill.  Uzbekistan feels like someone forgot to turn on the lights.  I’m sure in summer the sweeping silk road sunsets capture the …

I had been living in a palace compared to my crack den in Ashgabat, and all for $15 a night.  Private room, brand new en suite bathroom with an amazing shower, and the bed was one of the most comfortable in a hostel I’ve ever had since traveling.  Seriously I graded it in the top …

I can relax a little.  I’ve made it into Uzbekistan, and with that comes a thirty-day visa, clean(er), cheap hostels, friendly people and less suspicion.  I’ve been told I still need to be wary of the authorities as police can be pretty corrupt across all the ‘stans’, but for now I’m just ecstatic to be …