The drive from Yala to Galle was short and smooth. Traffic picked up as we got closer to Galle, and there were many restaurants and shops along the road. I didn’t know what to expect from the city, but I realized that the main city is fully inside the old Portuguese fort. Right at the entrance was a beautiful cricket ground with a small stadium … Continue reading Days 3, 4: The quaintest small town of Galle
This was not my first trip to Sri Lanka. I had spent a few days in Bentota 14 years prior but mostly spent time inside a resort and hardly got a feel of the country. This trip wasn’t much longer, but I intended to get a flavor of the country and be on the move as much as possible. There was no way I could … Continue reading Sri Lanka – Sun, sea, wildlife, and some great food – Part 1
Cebu International Airport is by no means a small airport and Cebu is too large itself to be a beach town. It is lined with high-rise buildings and there aren’t many beaches in the main city. Even the drive from the airport to our hotel felt like going to the outskirts of a big city and not a beach town. Reef Island Resort wasn’t really … Continue reading Days 6-8: Cebu, a big city with some stunning nature
Landing on an island at 1 am where everything shuts down at 9 pm is no mean feat. If someone had not booked an airport pickup from the hotel, they were spending the night at the airport. Fortunately, I had booked a cab despite it costing more than a bomb. It was probably a 20-minute ride and I paid an amount that could have taken … Continue reading Day 3: Rustic Natural beauty of El Nido, Palawan
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
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 got out of the tiny airport and walked straight to the rental car counter. My car was ready in no time and while it wasn’t fancy, it was spacious and from a brand that I hadn’t heard off. A simple inquiry on the car return process got me an amusing response – the guy calmly said he would meet me on the driveway, “don’t … Continue reading Langkawi – A Small beach town with a twist
Most people I know haven’t heard the name of this city and hardly anyone has ever been able to associate it with Laos. I didn’t know much of what to expect when we drove in a little after dark. We had a room blocked off in a villa that was rated in the high nines on most 10 point ratings. It boasted of a Mekong … Continue reading Luang Prabang- A stunning small town
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