Stories from the other side.
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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Goodbye Khiva It was the fourth day of our guided tour of Uzbekistan. We had explored Itchan Kala on the earlier day and had spent the night within the fortress walls. A, our guide, gave us a couple of minutes to walk around and soak in the sights of the old city — before we…
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Getting In We took the early morning flight from Tashkent Domestic Airport to Urgench International Airport. Many international travellers choose Urgench (instead of Tashkent) to begin their multi-city tour of Uzbekistan. After surviving snow flurries and sub-zero temperatures before boarding, we saw the sun rise and bathe the arid land (below) with golden light. It…
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Practical Information Ever since Uzbekistan opened its borders to international tourism, it’s much easier to get a tourist e-visa. The site is relatively easy to figure, even if it has a few problems with speed and functionality. Our middle names didn’t show up on our e-visa, but that didn’t create any problems. However, the Uzbekistan…
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I don’t believe in making New Year’s resolutions. However, last year, a friend and I decided to make 2019 our year. I can’t find that exact moment when things didn’t seem like they were going to go my way. Probably, that’s what happens when you’re chasing happiness and perfection rather than contentment and peace. One…
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