10 Days in Afghanistan Under the Taliban as an American Tourist Visiting the Minaret of Jam and the Southern Pashtun Heartland

by Matthew Allison | Aug 27, 2022 | Asia

Return to Afghanistan: Chasing a Once-Impossible Dream The Minaret of Jam and a New Chapter in a Beloved Land August 2022 — After decades of war and turmoil, Afghanistan had unexpectedly opened its doors. The Taliban insurgents I once evaded were now in power,...

North Ossetia-Visiting Beslan School, the Location of Russia’s 9-11

by Matthew Allison | Sep 17, 2019 | Asia, Europe

Crossing Into North Ossetia: From the Mountains to Soccer Mayhem September 2019: After visiting the independent but Russia-aligned South Ossetia, we made our way north, crossing over the stunning, snow-covered Caucasus Mountains into Russia’s North Ossetia. Despite...

A Week in the Break-Away Republic of the Caucasus Mountains-South Ossetia with the Sports Minister-Ex-Rebel Commander- as Our Guide

by Matthew Allison | Sep 5, 2019 | Asia

Break-Away Republics South Ossetia: A Breakaway Republic in a Geopolitical Tug-of-War September 2019: South Ossetia is an independent country in name, but in reality, it is best described as a breakaway republic—a land that has declared independence from its former...

Venturing into the Northern Jungles of Htamanthi Reserve, Myanmar as One of the First Tourists to Obtain a Permit to Visit the Region

by Matthew Allison | Mar 28, 2019 | Asia

March 2019: As part of a larger 10-day trip that involved visiting Afghanistan, I also visited Myanmar for 4 days, a country that couldn’t be any different on the cultural spectrum.  This was my 3rd visit to Myanmar, one of my favorite countries in the...

Trip to Bamiyan, Afghanistan in Winter Two Years Before the Taliban Takeover

by Matthew Allison | Feb 26, 2019 | Asia

A Return to Afghanistan: February 2019 This trip was part of a 10-day round-the-world journey, departing from Los Angeles and traveling through Myanmar, Thailand, and Afghanistan, before flying home across the Atlantic—a full loop around the world. After my first...

Entering the Kingdom as One of the First Foreigners to be Issued a Tourist Visa to Explore Desert Caves Only Known to Local Bedouin, Saudi Arabia

by Matthew Allison | Dec 30, 2018 | Asia, Middle East

Saudi Arabia: The Once-Impossible Journey December 2018: For years, Saudi Arabia topped my list of must-visit destinations, but as a country closed off to tourists, it remained an impossible dream. The birthplace of Islam, home to Mecca, and ruled by the powerful Saud...