There are some cultural experiences so core to Turkey that anywhere else you will only find poor mimicries. A Turkish Hammam is one of them. Most of the hammams are not designed for tourists, they are used by the locals and are still as traditional as used to be. They are gender-segregated in the strictest of fashions with most of them having separate entrances. You … Continue reading Istanbul – 2 Continents and a Riot – Part 2
There is no end to the amount of intrigue and awe this city generates. From the vibrant and flourishing Constantinople of pre-medieval times to the cosmopolitan Istanbul of today where Daniel Craig can be visualized driving a motorbike across rooftops chasing some supervillain, this city has it all. The amalgamations of cultures, architecture, and even politics is like nowhere else. Blue Mosque a highly revered … Continue reading Istanbul – 2 Continents and a Riot – Part 1
The Shinkansen, better known as the Bullet train, got into the Kyoto station right on time – to the minute. Then started the usual hunt for the right platform to take the metro train to the hotel. It was already dark and there were a lot of local rails passes to choose from. I picked a tourist card which turned out to be the most … Continue reading Kyoto – A city of wonders…
It has been a while since I spent this amazing week in Turkey and a lot has changed since then, mostly politically, in the country. A long period of riots and a near coup have come and gone but none of that has impacted its stunning architecture and mind-blowing natural phenomenon. They did impact my trip though as the first major riot on Taksim square … Continue reading Turkey – The Amalgamation of Cultures and Continents
Usually, I would not write a full post about just a day trip, but this one day just stands out in every possible way. It was a mix of very different experiences, some fabulous and others just mind-boggling and two worth writing home about. There was also some delicious food at a most unexpected cafe and then a bizarre ride on a ship with a … Continue reading Hakone – A full day on the move…
Tokyo is more a city to experience than to see. Where there is no dearth of modern buildings with flashy lights, there are quiet trails with wide roads and greenery all around. The residential areas have several small coffee shops that serve fantastic coffee with cookies and snacks. The train stations are like cities by themselves and are very easy to get lost in and … Continue reading Tokyo – Shinto when Happy, Buddhist when Sad!
Japan had been high on the wish-list for a while. It has pretty much everything I look for in a destination – beautiful nature, a vibrant and unique culture, delicious cuisine and the most modern architecture of them all. It is not the cheapest place to visit, especially because of the cost of hotels, but the cheap flights from India make up for some of … Continue reading Japan – So many choices!!!
In winters the most depressing city in the world but the summers one of the most charming and vibrant – such is the diversity of StP. It boasts of so much to do, that 4 days were a little short. The city doesn’t even have a clear city centre because there are so many different places you can can call commercial centres. We stayed in … Continue reading St. Petersburg – Europe on Steroids
This was in some ways the land of the unknown. Moscow carried in part an image of a city run by the mafia, with dark alleys, high crime, language problems, and major safety issues. What we discovered was something totally opposite – beautiful colorful city, happy-looking facades, actually helpful people and an amusingly easy to read language. We walked around most of the time and … Continue reading Moscow – An unexpected journey
I have been in and out of the city for the last 15 years. At times spending several weeks or months at a time and on some occasions making multiple week long trips a year. Over years I have found my favorites places to eat and drink. Then on every trip I would discover a few new places, some fantastic and others just meh. This … Continue reading New York – A nostalgic guide to food and drink !
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