A review of the world famous Hotel Circus in Gomel, Belarus. It hasn't changed much since it was built in Soviet 1974, but that just adds to it's many charms.
Is there a cheaper country in Europe than Belarus? Where else can you get a delicious meal and a bottle of vodka for under $5?? Watch this video and tell me what you think and if you know a cheaper place then let me know.
You might not believe me but I am testament to the fact that if you want to learn Russian, throw away the grammar books and you'll make massive progress very quickly.
Oh the provinces of Russia. Here I am in the romantic southern city of Kyzyl, home of throat singing and violent murders, and...the infamous Hotel Mongoluk.
Situated in Siberia, Kyzyl-Mazhalik is a Russian town where the average wage is just 100 Euros a month. I travelled there to take a look around and see how life is in Russia's poorest town.
Everyone told me not to go to Ak-Dovurak in Russia's Tuvan Republic. Being officially Russia's most dangerous town they said I was guaranteed to be beaten up, or worse. Well that sounded like an adventure I could not refuse.
Down in Tuva I was lucky enough to spend some time in the town of Ak-Dovurak and checked into a stunning old Soviet hotel without a name. At $5 a night it was the bargain of Siberia.
In preperation for my visit to Russia's most dangerous town I set out in search of a shaman in Kyzyl, the capitol of Tuva to receive blessings and protection. Here is what happened.
I recently visited a small town in western Tuva in the south of Siberia and was fortunate enough to spend time listening to a master of Tuvan throat singing, also known as Khoomei. Enjoy the sounds of Tuva.
So I finally was leaving Kyzyl, the capital of Tuva in southern Siberia and heading to Russia's most dangerous town, Ak-Dovurak. On board there were all kinds of characters, mostly drunk and including one who decided to teach me Khoomei.
A story of how I was lost in a Siberian town in Russia and then somehow found - Thanks to Matvei, his friends and family for their warmth and generosity.
Well it's not every day you get a chance to stand in the geographical centre of a continent. So when I had the chance to head to the centre of Asia I took it. But it wasn't easy.
Next weekend Khabib and Conor will fight for the UFC lightweight title and I thought why not go down to Dagestan and watch the fight there. The only problem is it seems like an easy place to die.
Inspired by a Ted talk on throat singing I recently made a journey across Russia to the small republic of Tuva to hear the native style of singing called 'Khoomei'. This is the story of that journey.
This series is about my journey along the north Caucasus towards Dagestan to watch Khabib fight in UFC 229. First stop the apparently dangerous Ingushetia.
So I left Nazran and Ingushetia behind and headed to the bus station to find a ride heading east into Chechnya where new adventures awaited and possible dangers.
The final installment of my UFC Caucasus journey where I see the man I came to watch on tv, Khabib Nurmagomedov in Dagestan and much closer than I ever expected.
