Why you should talk to strangers when you’re abroad
When I was growing up, my mother used to tell me that life is like a train: it runs its course, it makes many stops, and while some people hop in and out, others stay for the ride. I fondly think of this tale while I am travelling. In the...
How to fall in love with humanity again
We find ourselves at a time where there are a lot of atrocities taking place. As the influence of technology and social media over our lives exponentially grows, it’s becoming virtually impossible to tune into the media without reading about yet another attack, shooting, or act of utter disrespect toward...
Romania: A country rediscovering its identity
I found myself in Romania by pure serendipity. As I was looking for people to host me in Europe for my couchsurfing trip around the world, it just so happened that quite a few offered me hospitality in Romania. Out of convenience more than desire, I decided to see what...
A Ramadan welcome in Eastern Turkey
Come in, come in! A young lady called us from her doorstep. I didn’t understand her language, but I could see her hands, pointing towards the gate, furling and unfurling with the international gesture for ‘Come in, join us, you’re welcome here.’ We had been warned not to linger outdoors...
A taste of Persian hospitality at Ramadan
I was so hungry, but I was determined to persevere. It was the first days of Ramadan and I was working in Iran for a few weeks. The timing didn’t seem ideal, but when a trip to Iran comes up, one does not refuse. At the time, I was a...
Ramadan celebrations in Istanbul
In honour of Ramadan, we asked our guides around the globe how they celebrate the holy month in their home. Here’s what Jen, our guide on the ground in Istanbul, told us about Ramadan in her city. Having grown up in the “bush,” I honestly don’t think I knew what...
Do your memories of a trip change over time?
The more I travel, the more I get asked where’s my favourite destination. I usually say that I don’t know, that choosing would be like picking your favourite child — each place (or kid) too different to compare. However, there are some people who keep on pressing. “There must be...
9 reasons why solo travel is awesome
Solo travel is awesome. It’s terrifying. It’s refreshing. It’s exhilarating. It’s the best thing you can do for yourself. The great thing about solo travel is that it doesn’t have to mean taking off on an epic round-the-world journey to 30 countries. It can be as low-key as taking an overnight...
Dear Delhi: A photographer’s love letter
Dear Delhi, We want to see you through the eyes of a local. We want to discover the people who make your city what it is, explore the corners that most travellers miss, and get a taste for life in a city that’s often misunderstood. To help us out, travel...
How do you say? 16 untranslatable words from other languages
English is a wonderful language. In its nearly one million words there are endless subtle gradations of meaning, folded up tight like origami. Surprising synapses fire between leftover Latin suffixes, ancient Greek verbs, and odd detritus from French, German, and even Arabic. And we add to it all the time,...
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