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...

Coral Reefs and Biblical Deserts-Camping on the Red Sea in the Desert Paradise of Ras Mahammad National Park

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...

River Rafting Among Grizzly Bears, Chasing Killer Whales and Volcano Hopping in a Soviet Era Military Helicopter  

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...