Everyone is watching Iran right now. The headlines track missiles, negotiations, proxies, and the nuclear programme. The cameras point at Tehran, at the northwest border with Iraq, at the Revolutionary Guard. The world has decided what Iran looks like and the image it has chosen is entirely political. Nobody is watching Sistan-Baluchestan. In January 2017… Continue reading Where NASA Studies Mars — I Got There by Bus
Category: Asia
Exploring Earth’s Tectonic Wonders: Djibouti & Qeshm Island
First, I embarked on an epic three-country trip to Djibouti, Somaliland, and Ethiopia, and one of the highlights of my journey was visiting the breathtaking Grand Canyon of Djibouti. Located near the Afar Triple Junction, where three tectonic plates are pulling away from each other, this natural wonder is a must-see for any geology enthusiast… Continue reading Exploring Earth’s Tectonic Wonders: Djibouti & Qeshm Island
Architectural Wonders of the Imam Reza Shrine
The Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, Iran, is a site of immense historical and political significance, reflecting the complex interplay of power, religion, and culture in the region. I was fortunate enough to visit the revered Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, Iran, a site that holds deep significance for millions of Shia Muslims worldwide. As… Continue reading Architectural Wonders of the Imam Reza Shrine
Conquering the Snowy Slopes of Rishiri’s Volcano
Rishiri Mountain rises proudly out of the Sea of Japan to a height of 1,721m. The hike can be challenging as it involves some very steep parts on its two trails. Partway up the mountain from the dock, there is a campsite, and just below the summit, there is an unmanned shelter. There is also… Continue reading Conquering the Snowy Slopes of Rishiri’s Volcano
Tokashiki Suicide Site, Okinawa
Takashiki hides a darker part of the history of the Battle of Okinawa when the American forces landed on the island on March the 27th, 1945. The next day, on March the 28th, 394 inhabitants of Tokashiki, mostly from farming families, at the command of Japanese soldiers, committed a mass suicide using grenades, practice known… Continue reading Tokashiki Suicide Site, Okinawa
Atomic Dome, Hiroshima, Japan
This used to be the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall until the 6th of August 1945 when the atomic bomb exploded 600 metres above, 160 metres southeast. The blast exerted 35 tons of pressure per square metre and created a powerful wind speed at 440 metres per second. The building absorbed the powerful explosion and… Continue reading Atomic Dome, Hiroshima, Japan
The beauty of Jade Mountain, Taiwan
This was the centre of my whole travel to Taiwan - Yushan, also known as Mount Jade, Jade Mountain, or Mount Yu, and known as Mount Niitaka during Japanese rule, the highest mountain on Taiwan at 3,952 m (12,966 ft) above sea level, giving Taiwan the 4th-highest maximum elevation of any island in the world. It is the highest point in the western Pacific region outside of the Kamchatka… Continue reading The beauty of Jade Mountain, Taiwan
North Korean Architecture
Across the country, the standard of dwellings varies. The conditions on who is allocated where are based on something that is only known to the authorities. All visitors and outsiders rely on information that is officially accessible here and in the mass media. I formed my own opinion based on what I actually witnessed and… Continue reading North Korean Architecture
Pyongyang Metro Station, North Korea
The Pyongyang Metro is one of the deepest metros in the world. Its track is supposedly approximately 110 metres deep underground and serves as a bomb shelter. It consists of two lines with 17 stations: the Chollima line and the Hyoksin line. The two lines intersect at Chonu Station. Construction of the metro network started… Continue reading Pyongyang Metro Station, North Korea
DMZ, South/North Korea
For those keen on Korean War history I highly recommend a visit to Demilitarized Zone dividing the South and the North. My intention was stand at each side of the border and feel the impact of armistice. First it was the South Korean side and only one week later I was standing at the viewing… Continue reading DMZ, South/North Korea
Facing Heights: Experience Huashan Mountain’s Dangerous Plank Walk
Part of the attractions you get while hiking Huashan Mountain is undoubtedly the dangerous plank walk which draws in all sorts of daredevil visitors. It has been 'conquered' hundreds times by Chinese visitors, (actually all families) and overseas travellers, old and young trying to face the fear of heights. The organisation is a bit chaotic… Continue reading Facing Heights: Experience Huashan Mountain’s Dangerous Plank Walk
Great Wall of North Korea and China
Hushan or Tiger Mountain Great Wall, (Chinese: 虎山 hǔ shān /hoo-shan/) begins fifteen km northeast of Dandong, close to the North Korea - China border. It was built by the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) in a strategic spot overlooking the Yalu River, an important natural land barrier.Its fortifications were built in 1469, and it was called the Border Wall in ancient… Continue reading Great Wall of North Korea and China
Frog on the border 