
Karlovy Vary - a name that is associated with class and luxury, James Bond, Becherovka, wafer and thermal springs.

The slow train to Thazi as some websites called it – was on the top of my list of things to experience in Myanmar. And I did.

I had barely made it over twenty ill-designed steps when the rank stink of monkey-pee assaulted my nose. It was worse than stepping around (or into) poo that kept appearing faster than it was being cleaned up by hapless Burmese men and women with long handled brooms.

I loved Yangon for reasons directly relating to food and affordable living, followed by its amazing sights and sounds.

Whispers die quietly. The only sound is that of a heavy bolt falling in place. Someone has been admitted into the holding cell.

I am happy to be on Rwandan soil. But I pick up the cold trail of romance that somehow got buried under the stress of being in Goma, DR Congo.

Amid all the excitement of preparing for a road trip, one very important factor often gets overlooked: your car.

Kazbegi is the kind of place that shakes your prejudices and goads the mind and body into action. It makes you look for things to do - and not just give you a list you can tick off.

Mingun, for some reason had not featured on my list, despite the fact that on every map, I saw the wave-like white Pagoda and admired it immensely.