It is not a spelling error – the island of Chiloe does exist and it is in Chile. Although its name is strikingly close to that of its country, its culture, cuisine and architecture is actually quite different. Despite the fact that Chile is a long, long country, its culture and food is pretty much […]
Tag: buildings
The two faces of Diyarbakir: life after civil war
While we were busy working, cooking meals and trying to live through the day, there are people fighting for their lives, running away from gunfire and living in fear. You have heard of the civil war in Syria and the bloodshed in Yemen, but have you heard of the civil war in Diyarbakir? There is […]
This is the mystical city of Mardin: 7 things to do
The southeast part of Turkey is a gem, and one of the shiny ones has got to be the ancient city of Mardin. Some of you might think that it is dangerous and unsafe due to its proximity to Syria, but it is actually an extremely safe city. Mardin is home to a million nice […]
Visiting the ruins of Ani
The ruins of Ani have always been on my bucket list and I wanted to see them for myself. While I was studying in Istanbul a few years ago, I booked a flight to Kars, the closest city to Ani. However, in a cruel twist of fate, I missed my flight and the opportunity to […]
5 things to do in Armenia
Armenia is a small country yet has enough things to see that warrants more than just a hurried visit. Travelling around Armenia is easy and convenient. From the capital city of Yerevan, you can reach pretty much everywhere in just a few hours. That means no terrible night buses or whole days spent travelling, and […]
Your guide to Armenia: The church edition
A trip to Armenia is not complete without visiting at least one of its beautiful monasteries. In fact, it is hard to avoid them since they are built in some of the most amazing landscapes in Armenia. Armenia is the oldest surviving Christian country in the world and that speaks volume of the richness of […]
David Gareja Monastery: Why this should be on your bucket-list
Georgia is full of beautiful monasteries, hidden within stunning landscapes and perched high up on towering mountains. After visiting a few of them though, everything starts to blur out and look the same. However, one particular monastery stood out, and left an unforgettable mark in my entire trip around Georgia. If there is only just […]
This is Sheki: Food, art, history and life
Azerbaijan is full of hidden gems, and Sheki is one of them. You seldom find a small town with enough activities to pique your interest for more than a few days. Sheki was small, yet it had so much to offer that I stayed there for almost a week. The Sheki we know of today […]
9 things to do in Baku, Azerbaijan
If there was a city that surprised me, it has to be Baku. I did not expect to find a modern, aesthetically pleasing and cosmopolitan city in this part of the world. As I entered the city from another sleepy town in Azerbaijan, I could not help but gasp at what I saw. Baku was […]
Qilian, a hidden gem waiting for you to discover!
Known as the Switzerland of the East in books, Qilian is a picturesque town that you would not expect in Asia. Yet ask a Chinese tourist where Qilian is and you will probably expect a confused look. Despite how journalists describe Qilian, it never became a famous place. Moreover, its remote location deters tourists from […]
