There aren’t that many warm-weather options to travel from India in December/ January, especially if you aren’t looking for a long trip. Goa is too crowded, southeast Asia is done and dusted, and Australia and South America are too far for a week of travel. That leaves some islands like the Maldives and a lot of Africa. I had done Egypt last winter – the … Continue reading Philippines – a watery heaven with tough choices
Going to Shymbulak was a heavily debated decision. In winter Shymbulak is a top attraction – a fabulous ski resort. In summer it mostly offers a great view. However, taking 3 cable car rides after a 40-minute drive was too much for just a great view. In addition, the third cable car was likely to be closed during the off-season. The first two cable cars … Continue reading Day 6 – Finding snow in Shymbulak
There is so much to do in Almaty, especially if you love the outdoors and nature. Maybe also if you like to party, but we didn’t explore that side. We had landed on Saturday evening and barely had enough time to grab dinner at a local buffet – one where you pay for what you pick from a pre-cooked display and freshly made doners. Then … Continue reading Days 4,5 – Culture and Nature around Almaty
Even in a simple trip, there are some complexities. I wanted to get done with them earlier and then relax in Almaty. Three of the most recommended destinations were a bit of a drive away and in the same direction. It was strongly recommended that we make it into an overnight trip, and we did. A friend with a local contact got in touch with … Continue reading Day 2,3 – Glamping trip to Kolsai, Kaindy and Charyn
I had planned and even booked trips to Kazakhstan a few times before. Those trips never happened for many different reasons – visa was a pain in the a**, flights got canceled due to Pakistan airspace closure, etc. This time the stars aligned a lot better. The flights are operating normally and new flights are starting on the route. The complicated visa process has been … Continue reading Kazakhstan – A planners delight!
I always knew I would write a blog on this one, before the end of my Egypt series. It has taken longer than planned but the various scams of this amazing country are still fresh in my mind. On some days it felt that everyone around was out to get you – some with a smile, some others with anger and most just making good … Continue reading Egypt – The art of ‘thuggery’
It was getting a little tiring – several long road trips, loads of eating and walking, and even more passive smoking. In addition, some incredible history – stories, paintings, sculptures, and monuments just blow your mind. They take you back a few thousand years and put you in awe of how it all could have been built and then how it all survived. There was … Continue reading Day 9, 10: Saving the best for last – Saqqara and the Museum
There was finally a much-needed slow day on the trip. We had a late morning flight to Cairo and the morning, after a stroll outside, was spent packing and getting to the airport. The airport was a much better experience than the one in Cairo – there was a departure area with food and water. It was a short flight and soon we were haggling … Continue reading Day 7-8: Cairo and a road trip to Alexandria
The hotel was just by the Nile and after not liking the first room I was given, I was moved to a spectacular room with a wonderful river view. Luxor as a modern city is a massive upgrade over Aswan. The Steigenberger Hotel had multiple restaurants and a fully stocked bar. The city had many restaurants and places to eat outside the hotel – we … Continue reading Day 5,6: Luxor – an open-air museum!
The drive to Luxor was slower than expected, though it did include some amazing history. Our driver from the trip to Abu Simbel had agreed to drive us to Luxor while stopping at most of the historic sites in Aswan on the way. He had also promised to include a meal in my fixed price. Little did I know that he would want to include … Continue reading Day 4: The drive to Luxor!
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