Asia

The Hidden Cave of Thakhek, Laos

A Hidden Cave, Thakhek, Laos Near Thakhek, Loas The area around Thakhek, Laos, is notorious for it's limestone karst mountains and beautiful caves. There is the Buddha Cave; a small cave halfway up a cliff face that was full of more than 200 Buddha statues when it...

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...

Safari Adventure in Dubai

Dune Bashing On a fairly pleasant winter morning (living in the tropics all my life, winters for me are blissful!), what began as a laid-back start in a cozy hotel room, turned out to be one of the most thrilling evenings of my holidays in Dubai. Accompanied by two of...

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...

Postcards on the Dashashwamedh Ghat

"Henna?" The banks of the Ganga were lined with woven umbrellas. There was a festival that day - I never found out exactly what. But it was the reason I came down to Dashashwamedh Ghat again, even though I had already come the previous day. India was abundant in holy...

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...

The Heart of Erbil: Ancient Citadel, Grand Bazaar and Animal Market

A few weeks after moving into my new home of Erbil, the capital of Kurdistan, I discovered that it was designed in concentric circles, focused around a central point which happens to be an ancient citadel with the grand bazaar (a marketplace) around it. All the Ring...

Mrauk U: Lost Time and Forgotten Treasures

The medieval ruins are so remote that time nearly left them behind. Mystical fortresses crafted with jaw-dropping architectural panache, towering over rice paddies and rural villages as the petrified remains of a long-lost empire. This is Mrauk U, the enchanting...

The Experience of Walking Beside Laotian Monks

One Buddhist morning with the Laotian Monks. The colour of the air is infused with orange and pomegranate. And still, it is before dawn. Nothing can be heard except for the quiet barefoot steps of two dozen monks dressed in deep orange robes. And the morning song ( a...

Constantinople, not Istanbul

Today's Istanbul is a vibrant and modern city built on top an ancient past. What's the past beneath, you ask? Maybe you remember these lyrics from the early days of rock'n'roll: Take me back to Constantinople No, you can't go back to Constantinople Now it's Istanbul,...

Cox’s Bazar – Sea Foam and Salt Grains

For as long as I can remember, Cox’s Bazar with its endless sandy beach and azure crashing waves almost blending with the horizon, has been a second home to me. Annually, my family goes there to disconnect from the busy life of the capital and spend time mingling with...

Stargazing in the Philippines

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...