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THE BEST BITS OF GEORGIA

HOW TO PACK FOR YOUR GAP YEAR

Why you should visit Georgia - the country

18-year-old adventurers pay attention

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p. 10

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MAY 2022 VOLUME 8 ISSUE 11

YOURSELF Editor's Note Hi there!

Thanks for joining us. In this month's volume, we will explore the Caucus mountains and everything else that Georgia has to offer.

We have also collated some super useful tips for packing, especially suited to those about to go off on their first travel adventure.

Stay safe and keep exploring

KAT VON BEHR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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on Don't forget to follow us for daily Instagram @worldpursuit MAY 2022 travel posts and polls!

THE MOUNTAINS ARE CALLING AND I MUST GO

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BEST BITS OF GEORGIA WHY GEORGIA IS THE MOST UNDERRATED EUROPEAN TRAVEL DESTINATION

By Kat von Behr Photographs by Kat von Behr

Getting there came with its own set of problems.

PCR tests and declaration forms circled our minds as we boarded the 10-hour train from Yerevan, Armenia, to the Georgian capital. The scenic views, reasonably comfortable compartments and Georgian liquor made up for the stress of border control. Soon enough, with the translation assistance of a very kind and slightly tipsy train conductor, we had successfully arrived in Tbilisi.

TBILISI Where does a group of 6 slightly immature university students stay in Tbilisi? The Fabrika hostel, a converted soviet sewing factory located in the old historic part of the city, had hundreds of enthusiastic reviews, all of which turned out to be true. Cheap and buzzing with people from all varieties of countries and backgrounds, with a

Let's go back to the summer of 2021... Covid was

trendy lounge area and sizeable outside courtyard

still very much a part of our daily lives. I, like many

containing independent artist studios, cafes and

others, was itching to get as far from my family

bars. We had found our home for the next 3 days. 3

home as possible. My friends and I knew we

days might not seem like enough time to see

wanted to travel, but the whereabouts were still

everything Tbilisi has to offer, but we still

anybody's guess - that is, until we came across

managed to explore the diverse architecture,

Georgia.

colourful nightlife and hidden gems of the

Given the country's minimal popularity among

cobblestoned old town. While I wouldn't advise

British tourists, we figured it was the safest way to

against a longer stay, you can certainly experience

get around the dreaded traffic light travel bans.

many of the best tourist and local spots with only a short timeframe to play around with.

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MAY 2022

TOP 6 THINGS TO DO IN TBILISI: 1. WALK AROUND

4. MUSEUMS & LANDMARKS

Tbilisi is on the small side, so

For those looking to soak in as

walking is a great (and free) way to

much culture as possible, there are

get around! Stroll along the Kura

plenty of museums, churches and

river and through the various flea

landmarks that you can visit. A few

markets, or rent one of the many

recommendations include

electric scooters you'll find at pretty

Freedom Square, the National

much every street corner. If you

History Museum, the Bridge of

struggle on foot, you can easily

Peace and the Anchiskhati Basilica

order a Bolt taxi to take you

(the oldest church in the city).

wherever you need.

5. FOOD 2. OLD TOWN

As painful as it is to admit, I must

The old town is probably the most

have gained a kilo by the time I left

worthwhile tourist spot to visit,

Georgia - the food is too good to

filled with picturesque streets and

decline. Georgian bread is worthy

preserved residential houses. Get

of a special mention, specifically

lost in a labyrinth of beautiful

the cheese-filled khachapuri

alleyways and stumble upon one of

offered at almost every restaurant

the many hidden restaurants and

and kiosk in Tbilisi. Other dishes to

cafes. Take advantage of the aerial

try are khinkali (Georgian

tramway for panoramic views of

dumplings), lobio (kidney bean

the whole city as you make your

stew) and shkmeruli (chicken in a

way up to the top of the hill, where

garlic milk sauce). There are plenty

you will find the Mother of Georgia

of options for vegetarians, too.

monument, the Narikala fortress and the botanical gardens. For the more adventurous travellers, you

6. NIGHTLIFE

can fly the longest zip line in the

Tbilisi is currently undergoing a

Caucuses to the bottom of the hill!

revival of techno music, so if that's

tipsy train conductor, we had

your scene, I would definitely

successfully arrived in Tbilisi.

recommend going to any number of nightclubs. Sector 26 was our

3. MARIONETTE THEATRE

precautions were still in place.

Marionette Theatre was closed

Looking for a quieter, more chilled

while we were in Tbilisi, but it was

vibe? Turn down almost any Tbilisi

recommended to us several times

street and find a selection of

by locals and tourists alike. Even if

outdoor bars and approachable

you don't get the chance to attend

servers to help you choose.

view to behold with its fairytale clock tower and hand-painted tiles. | 05

considering coronavirus

Unfortunately, the Rezo Gabriadze

a performance, the building is a

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The next day, our hostel owner organised a driver to take us all the way up the mountain. We felt particularly lazy when we were greeted by hikers at the summit. Still, I would argue that our car ride was far more chaotic and nightmare-inducing than their walk.

We were rewarded with beautiful views of the Greater

MESTIA & USHGULI Following what turned out to be some rather heavy drinking in the capital, it was somewhat of a relief to escape to the mountains. Due to Covid, we were unable to make use of the trains and buses that will usually take you to the Svaneti region, so we relied on taxis. Probably not the most environmentallyconscious method of travel, nor the quickest, but we got the chance to befriend our drivers, who told us all about the areas we were driving through and gave some very welcomed life advice.

The drive to Mestia took at least 10 hours. Luckily, we had managed to find a charming hostel with a lovely local owner who waited for us despite our atrociously late arrival time.

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Caucus mountains. We then made the hazardous drive back to the town, where we were treated to a viewing of the award-winning local film, 'Dede'.

While in Mestia, we also made the drive to Ushguli, a small village and one of the highest settlements in Europe. Many of the buildings have been there since the 10th century, preserved by the sheer inaccessibility from the surrounding regions. This isolated spot is well worth the trip. You can enjoy the views of the Enguri gorge on horseback - guided by a group of incredibly confident 13year-old boys.

The final and tastiest thing to do in the Svaneti region is wine tasting. Enough said

aged to find a an m d ha e w , ly ki “Luc h a lovely local charming hostel wit r us despite our owner who waited fo val time.” atrociously late arri

MAY 2022

BATUMI

The hot weather and dynamic nightlife made for a great send-off as we prepared to leave Georgia

We spent the final days of our trip in Batumi,

and its welcoming people.

located on the coast of the Black Sea and packed with Eastern European tourists. While there wasn't

The locals are really what makes Georgia...

much in the way of culture to explore, the resortstyle city was just the thing we needed before

If you only speak English, you might struggle in

heading home. Batumi is home to all the usual

the more remote regions, but between 3

beach holiday activities but still offers a

bilinguals, we almost always found a language in

continuation of the Georgian atmosphere, a mix

common. They also have a tendency to offer you

between Europe and Southwest Asia evidenced in

lots of chacha, an intense Georgian spirit - fair

the markets and cuisine.

warning, it doesn't take a lot of chacha to make you see sideways. The food is just as incredible, and I would highly recommend taking the time to learn about the history and culture of the Georgian people. Gaumarjos!

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HOW TO PACK FOR YOUR

GAP YEAR TRAVELS Finished with school and off for a trip to Australia? Here’s what to bring…

By Kat von Behr Photographs by Kat von Behr WORLD PURSUIT

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@worldpursuit

in your late teens or early twenties is a beyond Travelling exciting, life-altering and eye-opening privilege. Not everyone gets the chance, and it isn’t something to take for granted. But that’s not to say that it comes without struggles, the first of which is usually the inevitable stress of packing. Follow this guide to get started.

Packing lists

...

Leaving the packing of your rucksack/suitcase/duffel bag until the last minute definitely isn’t the smart choice. It also isn’t the end of the world - as long as you have a thorough list to work from. Writing a packing list can be an incredibly lacklustre experience, but it is helpful to jot down at least an outline of what you think you’ll need. A list will also help you keep track of your belonging when you’re on the move.

Toiletries and travel accessories are the items you should prioritise. It is best to write a list of these items at least a week before you leave, so you have time to buy anything you don’t already own. Top examples include travel towels, bug spray, sunscreen, a head torch, sanitary products, dry shampoo, notebooks, nail clippers, adaptors, etc.

At the end of the day, you can almost always buy the odd forgotten item once you get to your destination.

However, writing a list in advance will save you unnecessary stress and money. N O M A D I C | 2 4

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...

...

Packing cubes

Travel-size products are they worth it?

You’ve most likely heard at least one travel-obsessed person in your life rave about the brilliance of packing cubes. If you brushed their recommendation aside, you might want to reconsider.

In short – no, they aren’t. The occasional mini won’t break the bank, but it is so much cheaper (not to mention more environmentally conscious) to get some reusable travel-friendly containers and fill them up with products you already own.

Packing cubes or bags are pretty easy to come by nowadays; you can find them for as little as a couple quid online or in high street shops like Tiger. Don’t feel like going out of your way to purchase them? You can use regular plastic bags to separate your clothes by category - it makes living out of your suitcase that much easier. Remember to roll your clothes rather than folding them to save even more space, and wrap any fragile items in your socks.

Speaking of clothes, don’t fall into the trap of overpacking!

Seasoned travellers will agree that you almost always end up with more than you need, and unworn items take up precious room in your backpack. Bring what you think is the minimum to last you between laundry days.

You will also need to make sure you pack a good variety of clothing items. Although it is important to pack light, you should still be wary of the unpredictability of weather conditions in most destinations. ‘Australia’ doesn’t automatically correlate to ‘rain-free’.

Suppose you’re not worried about cabin liquid allowance.

You might want to skip the minis altogether – if you are travelling with friends, you can share regular-sized products.

...

ESSENTIAL ITEMS Here are a couple more suggestions for items you might not have thought of…

1. Beach bag - keeps sand out of your backpack and can be repurposed as a laundry bag when needed 2. Flip flops/shower shoes hostel bathroom floors aren’t worth the risk 3. Canvas shopping bags - great for day trips, food shops and laundry day 4. First aid kit 5. Kindle - dragging a pile of books around with you is less than ideal, and you can get the most basic version of the Kindle for under £40 6. Raincoat - even if you think it won’t rain 7. Travel wash/refresh spray

...

So get to packing...

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Write down your lists, roll your clothes up into their allocated packing cubes and forget the travel-size sunscreen. The best part is yet to come, and the sooner you get the boring stuff over and done with, the quicker you can get on with seeing the MAY 2022 world.

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