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...
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...
by Matthew Allison | Nov 10, 2018 | Africa, Asia, Middle East
November 2018: As part of a larger North Africa trip, my friend Richard and I visited Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula. The Sinai is technically in Asia, even though it is part of Egypt, which is in North Africa. The Sinai is a vast mountainous desert where the Bible...
by Matthew Allison | Sep 23, 2018 | Asia, Europe
A Week of Adventure in Russia’s Version of Alaska September 2018: For years I wanted to visit Russia’s answer to Alaska, Kamchatka but the price was just to cost prohibitive. Finally, I was tired of watching documentaries about the wildlife and volcanoes...
by Matthew Allison | Sep 23, 2018 | Asia
September 2018: Hiking China’s Wild Great Wall The Great Wall of China—a staggering ancient structure built by emperors and warriors, stretching thousands of miles across deserts, mountains, and valleys until finally reaching the sea—is unquestionably one of the...
by Matthew Allison | Jul 15, 2018 | Asia
Istanbul: A City That Never Loses Its Magic I’ve visited Istanbul multiple times over the years, and no matter how often I return, the city never ceases to fascinate me. It has become one of my favorite cities in the world, a place where history feels alive in every...
