Day 1 involved some 35,000 steps and with a little bit of greed and some FOMO, we had managed to cover most of the major attractions in the city, save two. For me, the day started with a walk to St. Sophia’s Cathedral – one of the landmark sights of Kiev. Just a short walk from the reconstructed St Michael’s Golden Domed Monastery is this … Continue reading Kiev – The Finishing Touches (day 2)
A city that has survived nearly a century of soviet rule which involved a systematic plunder of its cultural roots. Since the breakup of USSR the culture is evolving again, some of the structures are being rebuilt and the markets are getting more cosmopolitan and the city is trying to find an identity of its own. The motherland statue towers over the city – majestic, … Continue reading Kiev – A City of Churches (day 1)
Chernobyl remains one of the largest nuclear disasters in history with hundreds of thousand people impacted and about 4500 sq. km of land laid waste for a few thousand years. Included in this area are several villages and the Soviet model city of Pripyat which was created to showcase how man could fight against nature and win. It was a well planned propaganda for the … Continue reading Chernobyl – Nature strikes back!
For a tiny country as it is, it packs a lot of punch in terms of things to do. Though all of it is focused in largely two cities and a few towns around them. Transportation though is expensive and complex in its own way. Food is not too cheap, either but its usually of excellent quality. Hotels are a bit of a mixed bag … Continue reading Israel – Eat, Stay, Move!
The second largest island in Seychelles is small enough that you could drive around the circumference in about 30 minutes. There is actually nowhere else to drive, most of the roads skirt the beach and there is only one connection that cuts through the Island. Most of the island’s coastline is full of stellar beaches, you just have to pick what meets your taste. During … Continue reading Praslin – White sand and solitude
A short drive from Jerusalem is the poorly named lake that probably just missed the natural wonder of the world tag. There are not many natural bodies that can boast of as many superlatives. It is the lowest point on dry Earth, its is the saltiest waterbody and is probably the craziest floating experience you can get. The mud and salts of this place make … Continue reading Dead Sea – The lake experience
Ten km by road can never be so far or so close. Far as the beginning and the end lie in two countries that are at war. The war is a war of existence and hence not something that is getting resolved anytime soon. Close because they define the beginning and end of the story of one of the most famous person ever to have … Continue reading Bethlehem – The Origin of the Origin
Everything in Jerusalem has at least a story – at times historical, sometimes political, often religious and almost always more than just one. Nearly every day would end up with a couple of hours on Wikipedia reading up all the stories, the controversies and the conspiracy theories on all I had visited that day. Culturally there was a sea of things to see, obviously highlighted … Continue reading Jerusalem – The story of the Origins
When I started planning my trip for Israel, the question I was most frequently asked was, why Israel? And then a few would follow it up with, is it safe? The seed for the trip to Israel was sowed 18 months ago during a cruise in Ha Long bay when I started a casual conversation with a couple who like me were watching for a … Continue reading Israel – Planning for the Holy Land
It is hard to believe that a tiny island of less than 100,000 people and about 150 sq km can have so much diversity around it. Let’s start with the beaches – there are several – and with far more variety than you would expect to see on a single small island including a few that have been rated among the best in the world.There … Continue reading Mahe (Seychelles) – Beaches Beaches Everywhere!
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