Did you know that Iranian taxi drivers listen to K-pop too? On our long drive from Kashan to Tehran, our taxi was filled with the sounds of Gangnam Style, Gentleman and other trending K-pop songs. As much as I enjoy the genre, it can be a bit too much for my sensibilities, particularly when I was trying to nap. :p

Tehran is the capital of Iran, and ( Read more... )

Experiences shape how memorable a trip can be. And some of my favourite times in Iran was spent with Fatemeh, a guide we were introduced to on our day tour of Abyaneh. I highly recommend dropping her a mail if you're looking for some help to plan a visit in Iran. I wish I'd known about them earlier so I could engage them for my entire itinerary - ( Read more... )

Our next stop was Isfahan, and we dropped by Meybod, Chak Chak and Na'in enroute from Yazd.

One of the more unusual sights I saw in Iran was in Meybod - a 200 year old pigeon tower. Designed to house thousands of pigeons, these towers were used by farmers to collect droppings as fertiliser. How ingenious is that? What was more impressive was the ( Read more... )

I don't consider myself a traveller, but I have travelled probably more than the average for work, and leisure. Here are some of my tips for a comfortable trip (or some may say, weird quirks).

• Research, research, research. I usually check out Tripadvisor to shortlist accommodation or tours based on the reviews. I also like to google for itineraries ( Read more... )

After Shiraz, our plan was to spend a night in Farvardinn on our way to Yazd. It sounded charming staying in a desert inn, and had arranged for them to take us from Pasargarde to the hotel. It was a long drive over several hours, more dramatic than I envisioned it to be - through fog, snowfall, frozen roads, and starry skies. I'm sure it would have ( Read more... )

Our introduction to Iran began with Shiraz, one of the oldest cities of ancient Persia and not to be missed. The flight from Dubai to Shiraz, though short, had a fascinating view of the desert which I enjoyed tremendously.

For our 3 day visit, we stayed at Niayesh Hotel, which was simple but comfortable. Conveniently located in walking distance of ( Read more... )

Reminiscing about Iran, the trip felt like a lifetime ago. Y was the one who suggested the destination. I said yes without really knowing anything about the country, except that it was somewhere I haven't been, and it would be cool to experience something totally new.

Best (snap) decision I ever made.

Now this was some 5 years ago, and things may ( Read more... )

My first free and easy visit to Korea was with the girls back in Spring 2012. It was so enjoyable, I came back with the intention of going back every year, and even took up Korean classes. Alas, life got in the way and it took 3 years before I managed to return.

This time, not only did I revisit old favourites, I got to pick up some new ones too. ( Read more... )

After an amazing Patagonia experience, it was time to head back to the city. It's impossible to visit Argentina without spending some time in Buenos Aires, the capital city and one of the best cities in South America

Some of my recommendations:

• Be introduced to the city with Buenos Aires Free Walking Tours. Our guides Laura and Mariano (yeah we went ( Read more... )

I never quite imagined that I would one day visit Uruguay. But given that it made for a day trip, only an hour away by fast ferry from Buenos Aires (a regular one takes 3 hours), why not?

Colonial del Sacramento is one of the oldest towns in Uruguay. Originally founded by the Portuguese in the 1600s, it was occupied by the Spanish as well. Melding ( Read more... )