Asia

23-Hour Layover in Beijing

Beijing Being capital of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing is the nation’s political, economic, and cultural center. Located in north China, close to the port city of Tianjin and partially surrounded by Hebei Province, it also serves as the most important transportation hub and port of entry. It is now known as one of the…

Top 10 Things To Do in Hakuba for the Most Epic Winter Trip

Maybe you are the proud owner of an Epic Pass, or Hakuba has just been on your list for a while now. Either way, you’re excited to meet face to face with the breathtakingly beautiful Northern Japanese Alps and eat Japow for breakfast and traditional foods at night.  Surely, Hakuba stands out as one of…

Finding Ground Above Clouds

“Drink chhaang, nectar of the Gods. Then eat shutki”. I didn’t know which one made me more reluctant: the pungent smell of the fermented millet drink travelling to my nostrils, or the sundried little fishes, their round eyes fixed on me morbidly. As I directed their heads towards my mouth, my bitter face anticipated the bad circus about…

A Sri Lankan Holiday

After a breakfast with unlimited Carlsberg in a 45min plane ride to Colombo, we arrived to our final destination. ”Welcome to Sri Lanka” smiles the immigration agent while stamping our free Visa in our passport. ”Have a great stay”. Colombo is the capital of the country. The day before our arrival, 400mm of rain flooded…

The End of the Road

  There I stood, feet soaking in the confluence of 3 seas, at the land’s end of the country, at the tip of my indian journey. Kanyakumari is a small simple village located at the South tip of India. It is situated at the junction of the Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. They say…

Under a Keralan Sun

  It is peaceful, calm and relaxing. Cruising down the backwaters of Kerala is a soft treat deserved while travelling through India. Onboard a traditional houseboat designed like a rice barge, we step in the tender moments of serenity and quietness. The backwaters of Kerala are a very popular attraction in India. With its 900km…

A Goan Retreat

Our 15 hour train ride from Mumbai to Goa was great, but then it was late. We arrived to our destination very late at night, tired and looking desperately for a place to sleep. I open my travel Bible (Lonely Planet) and spot a place on the beach for pretty cheap. A rickshaw gives us…

The Growling City of Mumbai

Gates of India After a 26 hour train ride crossing India East to West, we arrive in Mumbai. the largest city of the country with its 16 million residents. Here, be ready for some action: with its 40 000 taxis in downtown and its 120 000 tuk-tuks in the suburbs, Mumbai growls day and night…

Varanasi: Holy City

Pinch me to wake me up. This must be a dream or I’m on a special effect movie set: corpses floating in the river, fires burning deceased bodies, people bathing in and drinking a disturbingly filthy water that they call divine… But the smell makes it real and brings me to reality. A shocking meeting…

Head Above Clouds in Tibet

  Here I am, in a fascinating country that is China. I would like to call it Tibet, but I am afraid to speak up and then be put in jail. That is right, Tibet in China is a sad reality lead by their communism. A shocking history where justice and freedom have been buried.…

At the Foothills of the Himalayas: Nepal

  One day when I was a child, my brother came back from a long journey to Asia and paid me a visit. He brought me that ring said to be from Nepal. There was a prayer on it. He told me it was a prayer used by the bouddhists: Om ma ni padme hum.…

A Wild Ride

We left Agra (home of the beautiful Taj Mahal) at 10pm for a 15 hours train ride to Gorakpur. A long journey with the indian railways, we were glad we chose the 3rd class instead of the sleeper class. Arrived in Gorakpur, we transfer to a local bus (budget option) to make our way to the…

Holy Cow: India!

I have been travelling the Indian roads for now a week, and I have to tell you: it is something totally unreal! India is different, very different. As interesting as it is to discover, things could be at times hard to swallow. Think of anything, it’s India: constant honking in the streets, absolutely insane and…