Stories from the other side.
“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” ― Paulo Coelho I started this year on a positive note. We had spent Christmas in Uzbekistan and the change of scenery had done wonders for me. January, the coldest winter month, wasn’t over; but I had found ways to beat…
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Chuseok is the long Korean Thanksgiving Holiday that prompts mass migrations across the country. We were lucky to get two bus tickets for Sokcho (from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal) last September. We spent the first two days at Seoraksan National Park and hiked to the peak of Ulsanbawi. We moved back to Sokcho City after…
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Namsan is our favourite mountain in Seoul. It’s reasonably small (can be confused for a hill) and is easily accessible from Myeongdong Station (opposite UNIQLO). The mountain has multiple access points (Itaewon, Noksapyeong, & Hannam) and trails. We’ve walked along most of them, but there could be many routes that we’ve not explored. Namsan (NSeoul…
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Over the past couple of years, our blog has meant many things. There were times when the blog meant everything to me. I’d spend hours writing posts, getting likes, chasing followers, participating in challenges, and leaving random comments on the blogosphere. The highs and lows weren’t always easy to deal with. I was destined for…
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Last November, Basil coaxed me to join him on a work trip to Jeju. I usually prefer to stay back in Seoul and stick with my routine. But I’d also just come back to Korea — after an annual monthlong trip of visiting family and friends. I was glum and Seoul’s dipping temperatures weren’t doing…
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Driving in Jeju Jeju is South Korea’s paradise island and is perfect for a weekend getaway from Seoul. Travelling around Jeju can be quite a task with its crawling transport system — often making distances appear farther away. We had tried tourist transport, local buses, and taxis on our earlier trips. Last June, Basil finally…
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It was Christmas morning (2019) and the weather was unusually warm for winter. Our second road trip, in Uzbekistan, would take us from Bukhara to Samarkand. Most tours skip Shakrisabz — cutting down the travel time by a couple of hours. Shakrisabz is a hidden gem and definitely worth a visit. Chor Minor Madrassah We…
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Travel helps me escape lines. I can be who I am — without having to conform — to the lines that people draw around me. I can be the story I want to write. I can live the picture that I photograph. I can find acceptance in random acts of kindness. I can draw parallels…
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It was the fifth morning of our trip around Uzbekistan. T, our driver, was waiting outside our hotel in Bukhara’s Old Quarter. It was freezing outside and I was thankful for the heating inside the car. We waited patiently for A, our guide, to join us. “Schwarza–anegger,” T remarked as A walked slowly towards the…
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Taipei is a bustling city with a heady mix of natural beauty, spiritualism, and national monuments. The local gastronomy is diverse and famous for its unique ‘Q’ texture. It’s the best entry point to start any trip in Taiwan and proves to be a good base for day trips. We visited Taiwan in the month…
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