Friday, February 26, 2016

Meet the daredevil Brit Andy McGinlay who is addicted to holidaying in warzones

  • Intrepid adventurer Andy McGinlay is on a one-man mission to holiday in the world’s most dangerous countries
  • The teacher, that lives in Saudi Arabia, has actually ‘holidayed’ in brutal regimes such as Afghanistan, Syria, Iran and Iraq 
  • In 2010, the Scotsman took a break in Syria yet was arrested on suspicion of spying and interrogated at a military HQ

Becky Pemberton For Mailonline

 

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Intrepid adventurer Andy McGinlay believes he is the world’s most fearless traveller. 

While most of us are content along with a package vacation or a relaxing beach break, the 34-year-old is on a one-man mission to holiday in the world’s most dangerous countries. 

The teacher, that currently lives in Saudi Arabia, is addicted to extreme backpacking and has actually ‘holidayed’ in brutal regimes including North Korea, Syria, Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan. 

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Daredevil adventurer Andy McGinlay believes he is the world's most fearless traveller and is addicted to holidaying in dangerous areas. Here he is pictured in Bangkok in the middle of the political uprisings in the Thai capital on May, 2010

Daredevil adventurer Andy McGinlay believes he is the world’s most fearless traveller and is addicted to holidaying in dangerous areas. Here he is pictured in Bangkok in the middle of the political uprisings in the Thai capital on May, 2010

Intrepid explorer: Here in Sudan, Andy is pictured enjoying a warm evening in the Sudanese desert on April 2010

Intrepid explorer: Here in Sudan, Andy is pictured enjoying a warm evening in the Sudanese desert on April 2010

While most of us are content with a package vacation or a relaxing beach break, the 34-year-old is on a one-man mission to holiday in the world's most dangerous countries, including Bangkok in May 2010

While most of us are content along with a package vacation or a relaxing beach break, the 34-year-old is on a one-man mission to holiday in the world’s most dangerous countries, including Bangkok in Might 2010

Andy, from Glasgow, said: ‘I never feel a lot more alive compared to I do once I step off the plane in to some far-flung war zone or despotic country. 

‘It’s a dangerous cocktail of adrenaline and the sense that I’m going somewhere nobody else has actually the balls to – I live for this feeling. 

‘After former President George W. Bush gained his infamous axis of evil speech I knew right then I had to visit every one of those countries – Iran, Iraq and North Korea – and I did.’ 

In 2010, the British daredevil took a much called for break in Syria yet was arrested on suspicion of spying and was interrogated inside the military intelligence HQ.

And once he was enjoying the sights and sounds of vibrant brand-new Delhi, the then 20-year-old was kidnapped and transported to Kashmir where he was held for 10 days and forced to smoke opium. 

Andy got his first taste of danger travelling when he visited Fiji during a military coup during 2000

Andy got his very first taste of danger travelling once he visited Fiji throughout a military coup throughout 2000

Andy taking a selfie in Maidan Square in Kiev, Ukraine. He said there are memorials of fallen protesters on every corner

Andy taking a selfie in Maidan Square in Kiev, Ukraine. He said there are memorials of fallen protesters on every corner

The teacher, who currently lives in Saudi Arabia, is addicted to extreme backpacking and has 'holidayed' in brutal regimes including North Korea, Syria, Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan. Here pictured in the white desert on 2010 in western Egypt

The teacher, that currently lives in Saudi Arabia, is addicted to extreme backpacking and has actually ‘holidayed’ in brutal regimes including North Korea, Syria, Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan. Here pictured in the white desert on 2010 in western Egypt

The adventurous Scotsman stumbled in to the middle of a political uprising in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2010, where he filmed gunfire and explosions.

He additionally recorded a man saying he was going to loot and burn down a shopping mall which was then set on fire – Andy was subsequently questioned by the police that used the footage as evidence. 

In sun-drenched Afghanistan, Andy drove past Osama Bin Laden’s old home and filmed American Blackhawk helicopters being shot at while he climbed Kabul’s beautiful mountains. 

In 2012, he vacationed in Iran – which he says was a lot more difficult to enter compared to North Korea – and wandered across the border in to war-torn Iraq. 

In sun-drenched Afghanistan, Andy drove past Osama Bin Laden's old house and filmed American Blackhawk helicopters being shot at while he climbed Kabul's beautiful mountains. Here he addresses the camera in Kabul

In sun-drenched Afghanistan, Andy drove past Osama Bin Laden’s old home and filmed American Blackhawk helicopters being shot at while he climbed Kabul’s beautiful mountains. Here he addresses the camera in Kabul

The traveller says Iran was the hardest country to get a visa for but the people were welcoming and highly educated on October, 2012 in Tabriz

The traveller says Iran was the hardest country to grab a visa for yet the individuals were welcoming and highly educated on October, 2012 in Tabriz

Fearless Andy standing in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on October 2012. The Brit said many of these maligned states do not live up to their infamous reputations

Fearless Andy standing in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on October 2012. The Brit said lots of of these maligned states do not live up to their infamous reputations

The adrenaline junkie pictured having a shave in the desert near the Meroe pyramids - this is before the country split in two on April 2010 in Sudan

The adrenaline junkie pictured having a shave in the desert near the Meroe pyramids – this is prior to the country split in two on April 2010 in Sudan

The Scot pictured in the East African Eritrea on April 2006. He insists that many of these so-called dangerous countries do in fact turn out to be quite friendly

The Scot pictured in the East African Eritrea on April 2006. He insists that lots of of these so-called dangerous countries do in naked truth turn out to be fairly friendly

However, the travelling enthusiast accepted that lots of of these maligned states do not live up to their infamous reputations. 

He said: ‘lots of of these so-called dangerous countries do in naked truth turn out to be fairly friendly and almost the opposite of our perception from Western media. 

‘They receive so few visitors from the outside world, the tourists that do venture there are gained to feel extra welcome.’ 

The Scotsman filmed gunfire and explosions in Thailand during the uprising in 2010 and also recorded a man saying he was going to loot and burn down a shopping mall which was then set on fire – Andy was subsequently questioned by the police who used the footage as evidence

The Scotsman filmed gunfire and explosions in Thailand throughout the uprising in 2010 and additionally recorded a man saying he was going to loot and burn down a shopping mall which was then set on fire – Andy was subsequently questioned by the police that used the footage as evidence

Andy found himself in the middle of the political uprisings in the Thai capital - here pictured with Alistair Leithhead the BBC journalist on May, 2010 in Bangkok

Andy found themselves in the middle of the political uprisings in the Thai capital – here pictured along with Alistair Leithhead the BBC journalist on May, 2010 in Bangkok

Andy standing in the India controlled part of Kashmir against the backdrop of the Himalayan mountains on February, 2002 in Kashmir

Andy standing in the India controlled portion of Kashmir versus the backdrop of the Himalayan mountains on February, 2002 in Kashmir

The seasoned traveller was arrested on suspicion of spying and was interrogated inside the military intelligence HQ in Damascus, Syria by military police on April, 2010

The seasoned traveller was arrested on suspicion of spying and was interrogated inside the military intelligence HQ in Damascus, Syria by military police on April, 2010

And while most air travellers live in fear of extreme turbulence, the frequent flyer says it gives your man a thrill – describing it as ‘enjoy being on a roller-coaster’.

Andy has actually already visited 91 countries and says he has actually no plans to provide up his hazardous pastime and settle down in one place anytime soon.

He said: ‘After getting hooked on the buzz of travelling to these abandoned, war-torn or tyrannical outposts, I gained it my target in life to visit 100 countries which I am pretty nearly finished doing.

‘I’ve invested so much of my life in to travelling and there’s nothing else I would certainly fairly be doing, so I expect to keep on my quest long after the big 100 and well in to the future.’ 

Not your usual package holiday: After being arrested by military police in Syria he enjoyed a beer in Damascus 

Not your usual package holiday: After being arrested by military police in Syria he enjoyed a beer in Damascus 

The traveller sat on a camel near the Meroe pyramids on 2010 in Sudan. He said that some of the countries receive so few visitors from the outside world, the tourists who do venture there are made to feel extra welcome

The traveller sat on a camel near the Meroe pyramids on 2010 in Sudan. He said that a few of the countries receive so few visitors from the outside world, the tourists that do venture there are gained to feel extra welcome

Yemen was the kidnap capital of the world when Andy visited on May 2006 in Yemen. So far Andy has already visited 91 countries and says he has no plans to give up his hazardous hobby

Yemen was the kidnap capital of the globe once Andy visited on Might 2006 in Yemen. So far Andy has actually already visited 91 countries and says he has actually no plans to provide up his hazardous hobby

Andy covered in silt and enjoying the sunshine in a remote paradise on 2008 in Palau, Micronesia. The traveller expects to continue his journey long after the big 100 and well into the future

Andy covered in silt and enjoying the sunshine in a remote paradise on 2008 in Palau, Micronesia. The traveller expects to keep on his quest long after the big 100 and well in to the future

Andy, from Glasgow, said he never feels more alive than when he steps off a plane into some far-flung war zone or despotic country. Here pictured in Fiji during a military coup on 2000

Andy, from Glasgow, said he never feels a lot more alive compared to once he steps off a plane in to some far-flung war zone or despotic country. Here pictured in Fiji throughout a military coup on 2000

Andy taking a selfie with BBC journalist Sahzed Jillani, in Kabul on April 2015 in Kabul, Afghanistan

Andy taking a selfie along with BBC journalist Sahzed Jillani, in Kabul on April 2015 in Kabul, Afghanistan

 

 

 



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