Posts/Entries
All posts/entries, for now, from over two decades of global travel. And a few colourful tags, too.
Hohhot, China, to Ulan Bator, Mongolia (2012) || Riding The Rails
It was deja vu all over again. Just like seven years ago, I eventually made it out of China and after two nights of riding the rails in a well-worn Mongolian train carriage I arrived earlier today, October 31 2012, in the Mongolian capital of Ulan Bator. It's good to...
Beijing, China (2012)
Beijing is the mammoth capital of China, the world’s most populous country, & has been, for much of the past eight centuries, the political, educational, and cultural centre of the country. The city is renowned for its opulent palaces, temples, gardens, tombs,...
Shanghai To Beijing, China || Riding The Rails
The last time I travelled the 1,200+ kilometre distance between Shanghai & Beijing, China, was back in 2004 & I did so by the fastest possible train connection available at the time – a 15-hour overnight sleeper train. Now one can make the trip in 5 hours 30...
Shanghai, China (2012)
It might surprise a few to know that Shanghai is actually the largest city in China. It might also be fair to say that not a lot of people know a lot about the city - it’s one of those under-the-radar destinations, one that travellers don’t seem to give much credence...
Hong Kong, China (2012)
Hong Kong, designated a SAR, or Special Administrative Region of China, is home to one of the world’s greatest & most photogenic cityscapes. I was looking forward to getting reacquainted with the world-famous HK light show & so a few nights ago - on my first...
Kolkata (Calcutta), West Bengal, India
The centre of India’s 3rd most populous urban area, a likeable city teeming with people & boasting some of India’s best British-era colonial architecture.
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India (2012)
When I decided to return this year to India, I did so with the city of Varanasi in mind. Yes, it’s as manic and overbearing as any Indian city, an unbridled mess that is one, if not the dirtiest city in India (and it has some pretty steep competition). All that said,...
Taj Mahal, Agra, India (2012)
It´s still 750 rupees (€10) to visit the Taj Mahal, just like it was when I was here in 2008 & in 2002 (incidentally that is 37.5 times the 20 rupees Indians have to pay, but who’s calculating). That’s a lot of money in India but given the number of foreigners...
Amritsar, Punjab, India
I'm on the 8-hour train back to Delhi having spent the last two nights in the north-western Indian city of Amritsar, the capital of the Indian state of Punjab. The reason most travellers who venture up here, me included, is to lay eyes on the city's glittering Golden...
India-Pakistan Border Closing Ceremony
Border Bravado. The Monty Python-esque Border Closing Ceremony Between Two Nuclear Armed Neighbours Wagah India-Pakistan border crossing, October 9, 2012 The Wagah border crossing between India & Pakistan, the only road border between the two countries, is 32...
Delhi, India (2012)
Delhi, also known as the National Capital Territory (NCT) of India, is the metropolitan region that includes the national capital city, New Delhi. With a population of 22 million in 2011, it is one of the world's most populous metropolitan areas & the largest in...
Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
Jodhpur, a.k.a. The Blue City, is the last stop on my 3-stop itinerary of the Indian state of Rajasthan, the dusty, crumbling, ancient Land of Kings, home of the Rajputs, strong Hindu warrior caste clans with a passionate belief in the dictates of chivalry who...
Pushkar, Rajasthan, India
Pushkar is the second stop on my 3-stop itinerary of the Indian state of Rajasthan, the dusty, crumbling, ancient Land of Kings & home of the Rajputs, strong Hindu warrior caste clans with a passionate belief in the dictates of chivalry who controlled this part of...
Bundi, Rajasthan, India
One wouldn't need to spend the three weeks I've just spent in southern India in order to fully appreciate the differences between it and the northwestern state of Rajasthan, where I arrived yesterday. A few days would suffice. Rajasthan, the Land of Kings, home of the...