9 minute read
Scandinavia
Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark
Our ongoing love affair with Europe made us return yet again. This time, however, we visited the Scandinavian countries and Russia. We went to Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark to witness the northern lights we desperately wanted to see. Being the nature lovers we are, we were also excited to hike through the woodlands and temperate forests.
Advertisement
The beautiful weather and lush greenery were enough to make us want to live there for good. Sadly, all great trips must come to an end, and so did this one.
This trip lasted all of two magical weeks, and as always, we came back with souvenirs, keepsakes, beautiful memories, and the promise to return.
St. Petersburg, Russia
A lot of people credit Moscow with being the best city in Russia. No one can negate the fact that Moscow is a sprawling metropolis, but St. Petersburg is the cultural hub of the country. Those wanting to visit Russia should definitely make plans to pass through this city as well in order to walk away with a more well-rounded experience.
We kicked off our trip by being quintessential tourists. We headed over to the Hermitage to view some amazing art. For those who don’t know, the Hermitage is one of the most gorgeous art museums in the whole world. We had traveled all the way to Russia and there was no way we were going to head back without visiting this site.
The city itself is the land of white nights - called so seeing as the sun never goes down during the summer months. St. Petersburg is truly a beauty to behold; contemporary and modern with tradition running through its veins.
When we got there, we could see why the museum is revered so. Because it so huge, it’s not possible to go through all of it in a single day. Even so, we covered as much as was physically possible. We were careful not to get so engrossed that our three-day stay in the city was spent entirely within the walls of the Hermitage! Regarding the scale and size of the museum, here’s an interesting fact. The Hermitage is the second-largest museum in the world, with the Louvre being the largest. It houses over 3 million beautiful works of art.
We also walked along the city’s main street, otherwise known as Nevsky Avenue. Upon running a quick online search on the street, we found that if we were to start walking from one end to the other, it would take us roughly an hour to traverse the length. We followed this tip, and lucky for us, it turned out to be a great piece of advice. Not only did we enjoy a leisurely walk, we managed to take memorable photos and look at all the restaurants and buildings that run alongside. We weren’t the only ones to do so, however, because the street was teeming with tourists like us.
St. Petersburg is a treat for everyone who loves walking around cities, taking it all in at a leisurely pace. The city is just as vibrant at night as it is during the day. In fact, I imagine walking along Nevsky Avenue at dusk would be an entirely different experience altogether. It is a city packed with personality and character, and I recommend all first-time visitors to begin getting to know the city by walking in my literal footsteps along the avenue. They should pick up a few souvenirs while they’re at it!
We also made our way to the Alexander Column in Palace Square. It is a truly entrancing sight. The city’s square is expansive and a huge open space. The Alexander Column was constructed in the 1830s from red granite. It is 47 meters in height, and was built on the orders of Alexander I as homage to the triumph they enjoyed over Napoleon.
We also visited the Eliseyev Emporium. In the early 1900s, it was considered one of the most opulent structures. While its luxury has faded over the years, art history lovers will fall head over heels for this structure. The stained-glass windows alone did it for me. The building also features painted patterns on the walls. At present, the Eliseyev Emporium is primarily a culinary attraction. One of the highlights about the building was a quaint little shop selling wooden figures of characters from traditional folktales. And yes, they were all carved by hand.
All in all, our trip to St. Petersburg was one that kept delivering wonderful little surprises, and catching us off guard in the loveliest of ways. It was almost as though the city kept opening up for us and welcoming us with open arms. I would love to visit again someday. Next time around, though, I will make it a point to first visit the Peterhof Palace Complex. This trip lasted all of two magical weeks, and as always, we came back with souvenirs, keepsakes, beautiful memories, and the promise to return.
Cambodia
On December 16, 2018, we left for a trip to the Orient.
Vietnam and Cambodia had been on our list for quite some time. We had to do everything we could in the fifteen days we had set aside for this trip. Apart from visiting the amazing twelfthcentury temples of Angkor, without which a trip to Cambodia is nowhere near complete.
It is a well-known fact that Cambodia is among the poorest nations in Southeast Asia. Partly to blame is the Khmer Rouge and their genocide attacks in the region. One of the reasons why we wanted to visit Cambodia was to witness the resilience of its people first-hand. Before we embarked on our journey, we had heard numerous accounts of how friendly and hospitable the locals were. Given the amazing time we spent there, we couldn’t have agreed more. We witnessed this same resilience when we visited the Phare Cambodian Circus. If you’re planning a trip, you must make sure not to miss it. The group was formed in 1994 and features awe-inspiring performances by Cambodian youth. The circus relays traditional folk stories through a beautiful mélange of theatre, acrobatics, and music. The Phare’s vibrant and enthusiastic storytelling leaves everyone wanting for more. The best part is that all participants are youth who are at risk, and so money that is earned through these shows goes towards education programs.
We also visited the Mondulkiri Project, which is an elephant sanctuary that prides itself on protecting livelihoods and forests.
Vietnam
We started our trip from Ho Chi Minh City. As is the case with all cities, Ho Chi Minh City is abuzz with energy. There are cars and bikes everywhere, with great food to sample and multiple avenues for shopaholics to frequent.
We made sure to stop by at Dong Khoi. It is a central district, boasting many sights. We first headed towards the grand Notre Dame Cathedral.
Next, we ventured on to visit the Jade Emperor Pagoda to take in the signs and symbols rooted in Taoism and Buddhism. History buffs that we are, we also visited the history museum to see ancient relics and archeological finds.
We definitely wanted to visit Hue, which is a historic town along the Perfume River. The town contains artifacts that once belonged to Nguyen emperors. We went to the Thai Hao palace as we had heard so much about the beautiful interior.
We also opted to take a cruise to see the pagodas and royal tombs. Of course, we weren’t able to see everything, but we did make it a point to visit the Tomb of Tu Doc.
We paid a visit to the Phung Nha-Ke Bang National Park. It is a world heritage site, and when we got there, we could see why. There were some truly magnificent stalagmites and stalactites to see.
Last but not the least, we went to My Son. It is a temple city that features ruins from the Cham era. The city flourished in the 4th century, and used to be a Hindu center for all sorts of religious activities. Interestingly enough, it was active up until the 10th century. It was only until the 13th century that it was completely abandoned.
We saw rice fields and terrace farming, and took in the uneven yet mesmerizing silhouettes of surrounding peaks. And on that very soothing note, our trip to the Orient came to a beautiful close.
Caribbean Cruise
In January 2016, we embarked on a cruise across the bright blue Caribbean. Thankfully, the 6-day adventure didn’t make anyone in the family seasick.
Most people who haven’t been on a cruise don’t realize how strange it feels. You have all the amenities you need: from comfortable beds to fine dining. The strangest part about it is that you feel like you’re in a normal hotel, but it feels different.
The ocean ebbs and flows, bouncing the vessel around gently. It is truly a peculiar feeling, but you adapt to it in a fairly short time. Modern luxury cruises offer so much more than you expect! We had a beautiful view of the Caribbean that stays etched in my mind to this day, along with the delectable fresh seafood; it’s almost heavenly. I believe that this cruise was one of the most interesting trips of my life.
My family and I ate more than our fill of seafood, and truly, there’s nothing better than a fresh catch! And don’t even get me started about the drinks at the restaurant! They were some of the most interesting flavors I have tasted, and some of them used such unique ingredients that I haven’t found them elsewhere.
One of the things I enjoyed the most was swimming while being on the ship. For some reason, the idea of being in a pool of water on a ship that is in the ocean seemed almost comical at the time. I was delighted to be in a controlled environment where the angry ocean couldn’t drag me away, yet I could feel the ship bobbing up and down with the waves beneath it.
Overall, it was a marvelous feeling, and I am glad that it was another moment I had the fortune to enjoy with my loved ones.
Canada
In April 2016, we opted to go for a holiday that wouldn’t involve a long flight. We traveled to Canada for some much-needed downtime.
This particular trip did not involve a lot of walking or sightseeing. We ended up staying in the city and shopping a bit. It was a treat, however, to visit Niagara Falls. This had to be done given the fact that Niagara Falls is famously known to be more beautiful on the Canadian side. We have all seen the Niagara Falls in pictures and movies. However, I assure you that no representation of this wondrous natural site does its justice.
The trip was mostly an escape from our busy lives than a sightseeing extravaganza, so we didn’t tire ourselves out much. There was the occasional shopping trip, but that was about it.
However, our visit to the Niagara Falls was nothing less than magical and makes the trip memorable for me. There are three major waterfalls in this system: the Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls that make this sight one of the most wondrous in the world. When we reached the site, the sound of crashing water greeted us. It was surprisingly pleasant, considering the sheer volume of sound. As we approach the Niagara Falls, we felt small as they towered over us. I felt a strange sense of elation and excitement that took over my body.
The water was a gorgeous blue-green color, mixed in with a bit of brown due to erosion of the clay surrounding the Falls. Hanging over the water is an unending mist that fills the air, often refracting light at just the right angles to form rainbows.
Truly, seeing the Niagara Falls up close was an ethereal experience that I feel privileged to have enjoyed. While there are many beautiful man-made structures in this world, there’s nothing that can beat the beauty that nature has created.
South Africa and Zimbabwe
South Africa and Zimbabwe
In May 28, 2014, we took another trip. This time around, we visited South Africa and Zimbabwe. Our holiday spanned 16 days, and it was truly a memorable one. Everyone in the family is a nature lover, and so this holiday was a treat for the senses.
In May 28, 2014, we took another trip. This time around, we visited South Africa and Zimbabwe. Our holiday spanned 16 days, and it was truly a memorable one. Everyone in the family is a nature lover, and so this holiday was a treat for the senses.
We visited the ruins of Great Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls, Gonarezhou National Park, Zambezi National Park, Harare, Bulawayo, Lake Kariba, and the Chinhoyi Caves. It was amazing to see nature in all its glory.
We visited the ruins of Great Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls, Gonarezhou National Park, Zambezi National Park, Harare, Bulawayo, Lake Kariba, and the Chinhoyi Caves. It was amazing to see nature in all its glory.
Nepal – Kathmandu
In January 2014, we ventured to Kathmandu in Nepal. This particular trip was only five days long, but it was quality time spent as a family. More often than not, it is close to impossible to spend time with loved ones, but like I always say, something is better than nothing.
