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Climbing Mount Vodno, North Macedonia
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Although North Macedonia’s capital Skopje has a population of over 600,000, you can still find some peace and quiet close to the city.
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The Statues of Skopje, North Macedonia
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Whoever was in charge of Skopje’s Statue Department clearly took the ‘more is more’ approach to their portfolio. The Macedonian capital has a lot of statues. And when I sat a lot, I mean heaps. Literally hundreds.
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North Macedonian Cuisine
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I’ve always liked getting my head in the trough, and discovering new cuisine has been one of the joys of my Odyssey. When I reached Skopje in North Macedonia I was in good hands, with a friend – a local resident and foodie – there to guide me.
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Vodici Ceremony, North Macedonia
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When I checked in to my apartment in the North Macedonian capital of Skopje, the landlord mentioned that the following day was a public holiday. He explained that a ceremony, involving hardy souls plunging into the freezing Vardar River, would be taking place in the city, and that it’s something…
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The Kindness of Strangers III, Ukraine
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Although we didn’t seek recognition for our work in Ukraine, we were grateful and humbled to receive the kindness of strangers.
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Midnight Run, Ukraine
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A night run of medical aid into a Ukrainian front-line city gave us an insight into the sharp end of Putin’s war.
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The Sound of Lake Ngototo, New Zealand
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Hearing kids nearby singing along to Chris Cornell had me reminiscing about seeing live music in the 1990s
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The Storks of Poland
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Apparently 25% of the world’s white storks nest in Poland, and therefore ‘every fourth white stork is a Pole’.
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Strange Meeting, Poland
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After seeing the main areas of Birkenau Concentration Camp, Poland, and learning of the horrors that had occurred there, it was a relief to find a tranquil patch of nature. Whilst enjoying the quiet and the late afternoon sun, I had a strange meeting.
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Into Ukraine
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Apart from my short trips across the border from Medyka, it was my first time back into Ukraine since the full scale invasion began. It turned out to be a long day.