Asia

A Trek to Mount Genyen – Eastern Tibet

Tibet has always been a dream for many travelers. Its giant snowy mountains, endless grasslands, lakes, rivers, as well as its unique local culture make this place like a magnet. It was a magnet for me too. Basically, I always try to travel to new places, to not...

My Experience Teaching in Kathmandu

It was the spring of 2017. Having spent 6 months in New Zealand with a Working Holiday Visa before entering my university, I knew that I should be doing something abroad instead of sulking at home. But then, I had zero ideas on what to do, so I opened up and talked to...

Moved by the Majesty of Isfahan:
A Pearl in the Persian Empire

Imam Square The city of Isfahan is fondly referred to by Iranians as "half the world," for it has as many beauties as in half of the whole world. Situated on the Zayanderud River, it is an ancient city, at one time the capital of the Persian Empire. In my trip to...

Witnessing Cherry Blossom Season
in the Hunza Valley – Pakistan

I am a Pakistani by nationality but I have barely spent any time of my life in the country. Earlier this year, I got this sudden urge to ditch all my other travel plans and explore my lesser-visited homeland, which is striving hard to make a place on the world tourism...

A White Christmas in North Korea

I had first visited the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) in October 2016 as a day trip from Dandong in China. I’ve always liked to explore places where few others dare to go, so I was very excited about my first trip (not to mention a little...

Ranong Thailand’s Koh Chang –
A Small Island That’s Bigger Than Mass Tourism

‘Bang! – Bang! – Bang!’ After an interval of 5 seconds, I caught it again – the brief and strange metal banging noise that sounded like two pieces of sheet metal hitting each other. I could hear nothing else than that. It was peacefully quiet and hot like in the...

China: Fiery Foot Massage!

Scorching the Tootsies in China! A Different Kind of Massage I once associated massage with relaxation – the smell of sandalwood incense; meditative sitar music; healing hands kneading tension away. However like most things I encountered during my time in China, my...

Slow Boat to Bagan, Myanmar

I always enjoy using different modes of transportation when exploring new places. Today I was taking a riverboat, leaving Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma) and heading southward to Bagan. Most travelers make this journey by bus, but I chose to take the MGRG Boat instead....

A Shooting Star Over Baghdad

Tonight's flight to Doha is a bit different than last night’s flight to Istanbul from Toronto. Nine out of ten passengers are men over the age of 50 and I’m one of five women. There is a lot of snoring happening compared to this morning's cries of small children. The...

Stargazing in the Philippines –
A bittersweet visit to a complex nation full of wonder & woe

Calamansi is a small, round citrus fruit with an aromatic, sour bite. It is served on the side of Philippine meals as a condiment; in a tiny bowl along with small chilies. You squeeze the diminutive green fruit over the chilies, crushing them and adding vinegar or soy...

Inspiring Istanbul

A chill breeze makes me shudder as I sit atop a cruise boat sailing down the Bosporus River towards the Black Sea. The difference in architecture between the buildings on my left side and the buildings on my right side are truly remarkable. This is mainly due to the...

Florentime in a Tel Aviv Neighborhood

Florentine, the Neighborhood The rooftop where I currently reside is of a shop that I walk past nearly every day, a woodwork shop which, like all of Florentine’s numerous manufacturing outlets, is small, covered in graffiti, and open for viewing of these artisans...