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To Braid or Not to Braid?
Traveling isn’t only about visiting the most wonderful sites in the world or meeting new people, it is also about trying new things for yourself. The story I am about to tell you today, begins in Jerusalem, Israel. About 3 months into our one-year World Trip, I met this very nice Canadian girl, who convinced me of the value and convenience of having braided hair while traveling. Not having to style your hair everyday because it would already be neat and tidy sounded very pleasing to me. I had made up my mind, and at the first opportunity I would braid my hair. About 5 months later, while I was…
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Climbing the Great Wall of China One Step at a Time
The Great Wall of China is a collection of walls that served to protect the Chinese Empire and were used for border control purposes. In Beijing, the “Badaling” section of the Great Wall is one of the most gorgeous and well preserved parts. Thus, despite it being very touristy, we decided to climb this very scenic section of the Great Wall. Many tourists opted to ride the cable car to the most popular area of the “Badaling” section. However, we wanted to experience what it would be like to hike up the Great Wall. It takes a lot of strength and endurance to climb the Great Wall. I have to…
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Taking a Risk at Australia’s Whitsunday Islands
Situated off the central coast of Queensland, Australia lie the pristine Whitsunday Islands. These 74 islands make a stunning archipelago at the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. However, all year around, within these gorgeous waters lie numerous deadly jellyfish. The two main stingers found within this area are the Box Jellyfish and the Irukandji Jellyfish. The Box Jellyfish produces potent venom and is one of the most deadly creatures in the world. Its sting causes immediate severe pain and sometimes even death. The Irukandji jellyfish, whose body is transparent, has been known to cause serious illnesses to humans. Although an encounter with these jellyfish may be rare, it is…
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How I Became a Geisha in Kyoto, Japan
While we were strolling the streets of Gion, the most famous Geisha district in Kyoto, we luckily came across a Geisha parade. All the Geishas were dressed in beautifully ornate kimonos, and were walking gracefully in their high wooden sandals. Later that day we watched an entertaining show in which Geishas performed tea ceremonies, flower arrangements, and played musical instruments while singing. A Geisha, is a woman who is well-rehearsed in the arts of conversation, dance, and music. They are artisans who serve to entertain men. It takes a lot of training, hard work, and patience in order to learn and develop the skills required for becoming a Geisha. Before…
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The Shadows of Indian Society
The train pulls out of the Chennai’s station and into the early morning sunlight. I am exhausted, it has been a long night. With my heavy backpack on my shoulders, I sit uncomfortably on a second class seat. There are Indians everywhere on the train; some are fast asleep while others are gazing quietly out the windows. I close my eyes. I desperately need rest. Soon however, I am awakened by a horrid smell. The stench is so unbearably awful. I open my eyes. As the train, continues to roar down the tracks, I stare with disgust at the fields of waste. There is filth everywhere. It seems like a…
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A Sacred Site for Sikhs: The Golden Temple
This is Harmandir Sahib, better known as the “Golden Temple” in Amritsar, India. It has become a holy place of worship for Sikhs. And, it is remarkably beautiful. I absolutely had a lovely experience visiting this sacred site. The moment I stepped inside the temple area, I was overcome by a sense of serenity and happiness. Aside from the mellow sounds of prayer, the water and massive space surrounding the temple created a very soothing atmosphere. It was a haven away from the hectic narrow and chaotic streets of Amritsar. Dedicated Sikh worshipers line up in an orderly fashion to have the chance to enter and pray inside the Golden…
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Spain’s Cruel Bullfighting
This is Madrid’s famous bullfighting arena, Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas. It is regarded as the home of bullfighting in Spain. Typically between April and September, bullfighting events are held every Sunday throughout Spain. During special festivals like San Isidro and San Fermin for example, bullfighting events are held daily. It is interesting to note, the price of the ticket depends on whether you choose to sit in the sun or shade. The higher prices are for the shaded seats. As I entered my first bullfighting event in Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, I really didn’t know how I would feel about this experience. Usually the bullfighting lasts…
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Partying at Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany
When we were organizing the itinerary for our one year World Trip, we planned it so we would end up in Munich, Germany during Oktoberfest. But, what we didn’t plan for were our accommodations. When traveling, we usually never booked our accommodations in advance because we figured we will somehow find a place, which we always did. However, when we arrived to Munich, it was next to impossible to find accommodations. We should have known better. After all, thousands of people from all over the globe were flocking to Munich for one of the world’s largest drinking parties. Luckily we did manage to find a campsite, and put up a…
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Kerala’s Backwaters in Alleppey, India
These are the serene and pristine backwaters of Alleppey, India. Upon entering the backwaters, it felt like time had slowed down. The weather was gorgeous. The vegetation was plentiful and luscious. It was a beautiful place in time for me. We shared our kettuvallam (a houseboat) with a lovely Australian couple, while we enjoyed our two day and one night tour of the backwaters. Together, we reveled in the beautiful scenic views of nature, good conversation, and chess games. As a treat, we were offered a plateful of fried bananas as snacks. It was the first time we had ever eaten fried bananas and they were absolutely delicious. Eating fried…
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A Slice of Paradise: Malaysia’s Perhentian Islands
The Perhentian Islands near Malaysia’s northeast coast are a slice of heavenly paradise. These are photos of long beach on Perhentian Kecil, the smaller of the two Perhentian islands. Long beach was mostly popular among the backpacking crowd due to the cheap accommodations and nightlife. The sand was soft, and the water was turquoise blue with excellent visibility. The water was perfect for swimming. This is the bungalow we rented during our stay at the beach. Although the accommodations were not luxurious, the location was excellent. We were literally on the beach. During our stay here, we encountered this monitor lizard that occasionally would crawl under our bungalow. As of…
