Azerbaijan Travel Blogs

All of my possessions, which at one time were spread throughout the bedroom, the bathroom, the living room, the kitchen and the hallway, are now neatly tucked away in three suitcases.  They are waiting me for me to drag them down three flights of stairs, load them into a taxi and check them in…

It was about last year at this time when I came across Lemon Barf Laundry Detergent at Tema Supermarket in Naxcivan, Azerbaijan.  First, I was amazed that science has progressed so far that what was once a pain to get out of clothes is now being used to cleaned it.  Second, I was disappoi…

People I met here who contributed to, and improved my trip: Julia (Russia)   Approaching Astara we got our first look at the Caspian Sea, as the bus trundled through the morning gloom. On the opposite side of the road were small mountains covered in trees, with the peaks shrouded in mist. Th…

Notice how I didn’t say that we entered Saray.  I still don’t know where Saray is.  However, the huge sign on the highway said that we were entering Novxani. I bet you (the reader) are thinking “wait, you’ve already been in Novxani!  You took a picture of a road, and the Cas…

Baku the CityBaku’s Hyder Ali Airport (everything is named after this dude and his son who is the present ruler) is situated about 45 minutes from the city.  I was picked up by a taxi arranged by my hosts and a taxi driver who spoke no English and had it not been for five words of Azeri…

Please, please, please, please, PLEASE, DO NOT tell me you are sorry to hear about he having this illness.  There is a difference between being disabled and living with a disability.I have Crohn's Disease.  There, I said it.  Do not worry it; I cannot give you Crohn's.  I have t…

My friend Sarah recently gave me a sock puppet thingy as I travel alone a lot.  I do not know what exactly it is.  It has a blue tongue kind of like a blue tongue skink from Australian, it likes to drink vodka (actually too much vodka), and, unlike me, likes Hollywood blockbusters.  …

The one thing that I can say about almost every international trip I have taken is that my health has not always been in top form.  My first trip to Asia, I came down with a deep lower respiratory infection.  I was practically downing a bottle of cough syrup before taking off to make sure…

I awoke at 6am, which is not really a bad thing as long as you did not drink a little too much and go to bed at 3am.  I still had things that I needed to pack and I guess my brain was thinking about that and decided to wake me at that time even though my alarm was set for 7.  I stumbled a…

Baku, Azerbaijan - 2008

Here are some thoughts and a bunch of photos from my time in Baku, Azerbaijan.

I get very nervous in lines, or queues, in Azerbaijan.  Well, to be fair, the concept of a line doesn’t exist there.  It turns into a battle of wills every time I need to get money from the ATM in my town, or to even buy food in one of the nicer stores, as I attempt to force my way to t…

I was chosen to compete in the 'Caucasian Challenge'; a motor rally that traveled from the Balkans (Budapest, Hungary) to the Caucas Nations (Yerevan, Armenia), and many places and backroads in between. My team was sponsored by virtualtourist.com! It was truly a great adventure!!

2007 was a great year. Set off from London in July in a Nissan Micra for Mongolia. Got there 35 days later, left the Micra in Mongolia for chairty and then had to try and find my way home. Went via Trans-sib to Moscow, had to get out contry asap due to visa. Failed - got detained. Got back 2 weeks late for work and 55 days after London. Completely eyeopening and rewarding experience, if not quite tiring. Lost my camera in Mongolia so lots of friends photos other than my phone :(

I was in Ganca for a little more than two weeks in the beginning of June, teaching a class on journalism.