Croatia & Slovenia

I was really excited to go on this trip, hoping to change my perspective with which I looked at less famous countries of Eastern Europe. These two hidden gems of Europe were a part of Yugoslavian Europe, which gained independence in 1991. With beautiful and well laid cities, this region houses scenic nature and lots of history. The climate is pleasant and the people are the friendliest. We went to Croatia and Slovenia in the summer of 2017 with my entire family.

Our Air India flight landed in Frankfurt at 7:30pm and we had to catch our connecting flight to Ljubljana, Slovenia at 9:20pm. We were waiting at the baggage claim and the luggage was not coming only. We eventually missed our flight and were stranded in Frankfurt for that night. We went to the airline counter and they gave us a complementary night stay in one of their hotels, with taxi and meals. This airport was 50 kms away but my first experience of the German autobahn drive saw us zoom to our hotel in 20 minutes!

Early next morning, we boarded our flight and crossed the border over to the land of sands, spring and snow. As we landed, we took a cab to our hotel Grand Union Palace in the heart of Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. The hotel was a luxury hotel with nice big rooms overlooking the canals. Ljubljana, with its historic churches, charming plazas, medieval bridges, contemporary museums, packed nightclubs, restaurants and street cafés offers you the best of Europe at half the cost. The Ljubljanica River meanders through the picturesque bridges, which is overlooked by a hilltop castle.

We were starving after our journey, so we chose Cantina Mexicana which was a small Mexican café. The food was delicious and the drinks were authentic and fresh. After a hearty lunch, we picked up our jackets and left for Postojna Caves. At Postojna, temperatures drop about 15 degrees inside the cave, so a jacket is compulsory. Postojna Caves is a network of 20 kilometers of underground passages, galleries and chambers with calcite formations, stalactites and stalagmites abounding in a variety of shapes and colors. I was very enthusiastic during the tour, so I became termed as ‘the inquisitive person of the group’. The formations inside were great and beautiful; the history behind it was equally fascinating. 45 minutes into the tour, we boarded a tunnel train which is built to give us a deeper insight into the caves in a short span of time. The overall experience was very intriguing.

After returning to the city, we explored the downtown area. We visited the square and wandered through the charming lanes through boutique shops and small pop-up cafes. The city has its own charm, which cannot be defined in any way. For dinner, we decided to dine in the best restaurant in all of Ljubljana, which is the one on the hilltop castle, called Gostlina Na Gradu. It served authentic Slovenian Yugoslavian dishes with a modern twist. The restaurant was beautiful, the food was superb and the views were to die for.

Next morning, we had booked a private van for a full-day of sightseeing. After a 45 minute ride, we reached our first spot which was the Vintgar Gorge; it is a highly recommended tourist destination of the region. The gorge is carved by the Radovna River. The gorge is filled with Instagram worthy picture spots! The trail is short and quite fun to do, so we thoroughly enjoyed it. Closeby within a 4km ride from Vintar Gorge was Lake Bled. The fairytale alpine town of Bled on the shore of a glacial lake with crystal blue-green water is Slovenia’s second-most popular destination after Postojna Caves. As we reached, we took a stroll around the circumference of the lake and settled at a nice lunch spot overlooking the lake. After lunch, we took a boat ride to the island in the center of the lake, home to a church and a bell tower. We also did a toboggan ride which is a must do if you visit Lake Bled. It was so good that I did it twice! Following Lake Bled, we headed towards Mt. Vogel which is 1,922m high peak located in the Julian ranges. Taking the cable car to the top to witness the panoramic view from Mt. Vogel should be a must on every traveller’s list. As expected, there was a nice café on the top and the desserts at the café were pretty decent. There was also a beautiful park there which we enjoyed exploring. After our descend, we headed back to Ljubljana. For dinner, we stumbled upon Da Bu Da which is an Asian fusion restaurant & bar. The restaurant had many vegetarian options and super friendly staff.

Here I wish to add that Slovenia is also famous for its all natural honey, which is produced in local apiaries. One out of 10 people in Slovenia own an apiary and as a result they produce the best quality and most choicest of honeys.

We had planned our trip ahead by road, so we set off for the small town of Split in the heart of Croatia in our rented van. On route, we stopped at Plitivice Lakes, probably one of the most famous waterfall bodies in the whole of Europe. It is known for its chain of 16 terraced lakes joined by waterfalls, which extend into a limestone canyon. Walkways and hiking trails are spread all over the park and an electric boat ride is available as well. The boat ride was awesome as it gave us a wider perspective of the waterfalls. The trails are filled with numerous view spots to capture all the sights and sounds of the waterfall.

After visiting Plitvice Lakes, we proceeded for Split which is the second largest city of Croatia; it lies on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. The city is divided into two parts, the old town and the new town. We decided to stay in the old town as it is closer to the sea, and has a unique history. What was unique about our stay was that we stayed inside a palace, called the Diocletian’s palace. Actually, this palace turned into a small town (known as old split). The palace is filled with shops, restaurant, apartments, hotels and bars. We arrived in Split at 5:30pm tired and exhausted, thus we decided to relax and just roam around the square that day. For dinner, we stumbled upon Zinfandel food & wine bar. Split is famous for its wine & cheese bars, serving just wine and cheese. This was also a new experience for us!

Next morning, we woke up early and went to Split ferry port as we had planned island hopping that day. All of us bought a few hats and hopped onto our private boat which we had booked for the entire day. My grandpa’s hat flew off minutes after the boat started sail! Our first stop was Golden Horn (Zlatini Rat) located on Brac Island. Zlatini Rat is a white-pebbled beach and is V-shaped; it is a
beautiful beach and has stunning views of the Adriatic Sea. We took a quick swim and headed on for our next stop, Hvar Island. Highlights of the port town Hvar include its 13th-century walls, a hilltop fortress and a main square anchored by the Renaissance-era Hvar Cathedral. It is filled with secluded beaches, lush lavender fields and a lot of bars. We had lunch in a nice pizza place and visited the Spanish fortress, St. Stephen Cathedral and Bell tower. The city of Hvar has a nice charm and aura to it, it is also known as the party & nightlife capital of Croatia. As the sun started to set, we had to leave for Split. We visited Paradox wine & cheese bar that day, serving a range of charcuterie boards and authentic Croatian wine.

Early morning, we went to one of the small cafes serving breakfasts, where I had crosoiants and hot chocolate, after which the men of the group did a walking tour, while the women went for shopping. We meandered through the small lanes of old town Split, learning about the rich history of the ancient medieval castle. We also came to know that a Croatian man from that very castle invented the necktie! After the walking tour, we seated ourselves for a show in the castle, which demonstrated the procession of the kings in the olden days. It was so realistic and interesting! The narrow lanes of the old castle of Split are filled with gelato shops everywhere. From chocolate to lemon to strawberry to pistachio, every flavor is available. My go to flavors are always the exotic ones! That night, we dined at Bokeria which was a famous Italian restaurant.

We had to leave for Dubrovnik the next day. On route from Split to Dubrovnik, we had the opportunity to cross the border of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is also a part of the erstwhile Yugoslavian country. Our first stop in Bosnia was the Kravice waterfalls. It was beautiful and the café next to it provided the best views of the waterfall with local Bosnian food. After a quick visit to Kravice waterfalls, we decided to explore Mostar.

Mostar is a city in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina, straddling the Neretva River. It’s known for the iconic Stari Most (Old Bridge), a reconstructed medieval arched bridge. The alleys are full of shops and little cafes overlooking Stari Most. We chose to have lunch in a café which had awesome views of the bridge, but unfortunately terrible food! We explored the city and bought a few souvenirs. After a long wait, we chanced to see a person jump from Stari Most Bridge, which is at a height of 20m. It was incredible! We finally reached Dubrovnik and checked into our magnificent hotel, Grand Dubrovnik Palace, a beautiful hotel on the edge of the cliff with spectacular views of the sea. It had 2 pools and the rooms were very large and nice. It was actually the best hotel in the city. We decided to enjoy the hotel that day and had dinner in the hotel itself.

Dubrovnik is best known for its distinctive old town, encircled with massive stonewalls completed in the 16th century, and better know for the series ‘Game Of Thrones’.

Next morning, we went down for breakfast at 9am. The breakfast area had a magnificent spread with awesome views. Immediately after breakfast, we dived in the pool and relaxed while gazing at the amazing views. Following our swim, we booked ourselves for a Segway ride which showed us around the hidden bays and promenades of Dubrovnik. The ride was for 50 Euros and it was for about 90 minutes, and every penny worth the experience! We made our way to the promenade, a lovely street filled with bars and restaurants situated in bay Lapad. From there, we ventured along the sea through a forest rode to camp Solidoto and Copacabana coral beach where we broke the journey and had a few drinks. The last part of the tour took us back to the promenade through a beautiful walking trail just next to the sea with little bays. The Segway tour was awesome and a must do at Dubrovnik. The guide was very good as well. After our tour, we went to the old town of Dubrovnik via shuttle provided by the hotel. As we reached, we were greeted by the majestic doors to the entrance of the most well preserved and UNESCO declared world heritage site. As we entered the old town, we took a walk on the Dubrovnik city walls. There is no better way to see Dubrovnik than from its city walls. After our tour of the medieval walls, we wandered the streets of old town Dubrovnik. The main part of old town is compact and easy to walk, but there is a lot of walking if one chooses to do. The narrow streets are filled with restaurants and small shops, perfect places for pit stops on a leisurely stroll through the city. After 8 days of exotic cuisines, we were craving for some Indian food, so we settled upon Incredible India. The food reminded us of home and was an energy boost for that day. After our meal, we explored the squares, lanes and shops of old town Dubrovnik. It was a beautiful feeling to roam around the old town. We also visited the fort of Lovrijenac, which is the old castle from where we caught stunning views of Dubrovnik. We also witnessed a Croatian wedding which was amazing, as we got to delve deep into the local culture of their ceremonies. We took the last shuttle from old town and went back to our hotel.

Next morning, we had our day trip to Montenegro, a country in the Baltic. En route to Kotor in Montevideo, we stopped at a viewpoint to see a panoramic view of the city of Dubrovnik. It was a picture perfect moment! Kotor is a fortified town of Montenegro’s Adriatic coast. As we reached Kotor, we explored the old town on foot. It was wonderful, with churches and museums spread all over. We also visited the Kotor cathedral, the most famous place to visit in Kotor. After lunch in a small café, we went to the farmer’s market to get our hand at some local produce. We also took a ferry ride in the bay of Montenegro, which is the winding bay of the Adriatic Sea. It was now time for us to leave back for Dubrovnik. Upon return, we were once again starving, so we went to Bota which served Japanese cuisine. It was high end and a perfect last meal for us to say goodbye to Dubrovnik the next day, and head back home.

SLOVENIA AND CROATIA WAS MY FIRST EXPERIENCE OF EASTERN EUROPE AND I AM SURE THE REST OF THIS SIDE OF THE WORLD WILL BE AS INTRIGUING AN EXPERIENCE AS THIS ONE HAS BEEN FOR ME!

Kenya & Tanzania

INTRODUCTION

My trip to Kenya and Tanzania was taken in the October of 2016 with my parents. The trip was of 10 days with 5 destinations. I had heard and read a lot about the Great Migration of Masai Mara & Serengeti that happens every year between August and October and this was my opportunity to experience it first hand.

Before I begin, I want to recommend a few necessary items to pack based on the basis of my experiences from this trip.

Powerful Binoculars
Camera with good lens
The days are warm and the evenings are pleasant; so you should carry shorts, t-shirts, hats and sunglasses for the day and a light jacket and full trousers for the evenings.
A pair or costume is an absolute MUST every trip :).
Some preferred snacks to munch on during game drives.

MASAI MARA

We took a midnight flight from Mumbai to Nairobi with Kenya Airways. We arrived in Nairobi early morning. From here onwards, we were in-charge of our tour company for our various wildlife experiences. They had pre-booked a car for us with a detailed itinerary for reference. We cleared immigration (they check for yellow fever and polio vaccination) and drove to Wilson airport, which was an hour drive from the international airport. The driver also gave us food packets to snack on during this drive. From there, we boarded our flight to Masai Mara, which was just a 12-seater flight. When we were about to land, we were told to fasten our seat belts: but to my surprise, I could not see any airport below! We literally landed on an airstrip (Olkiombo airstrip), which is just a long clear gravel path. No security, no baggage claim, nothing. It was my first time in this continent, and I got surprised at every step.

We chose to stay at Mara Explorer Camp, which is a luxury camp hotel. Right next to our hotel was the famous Intrepids hotel (a sister hotel of Mara Explorer Camp), but our camp was much better which I shall explain later in my narrative. Firstly, this was an unfenced property in the middle of the wilderness. We were told that we should not move around freely everywhere and need to be accompanied by armed escorts. Secondly, we were given tent no. 4 which was awesome and unique! It was the only tent situated on the bend of the river with awesome views of hippos coming out every noon to sunbathe. Finally, there was no television, no AC and the best part was that there was no telephone connection either. We were given walkie-talkies to interact with the staff. The tent also had an open-air bathtub overlooking the river. Staying in this hotel is another experience in itself; it feels like you are in midst of natural wildlife.

The two game drives (safaris) in our itinerary every day were a part of our package. As soon as we reached, we went for our first safari. We left in an open jeep with our fantastic driver. We spotted a giraffe in the first 5 minutes of the safari feeding on tall trees. We also spotted hippos in a small pond and elephants making noises with their trunk. Just after a few minutes, a spectacular sight was seen; we saw a lioness literally giving birth to her 5th cub. I don’t think I have seen something as good as this ever in my life! We also spotted groups of gazelles, deers and buffaloes. We also saw different species of birds habiting the African continent. The experience was surreal. In the evening, we went for our second game drive. After the game drive, we were invited by the staff of our hotel for a Maasai tribal dance (ritual). We seated ourselves next to a fire pit and saw the dance. Actually, a fun thing I learnt was that whichever male jumps the highest in this dance form gets to marry the most beautiful girl of the village!

The next morning, we woke up and went for an early game drive at 7am, which was a special one as we went to see the famous Mara river crossing. As we reached the spot, we saw herds of wildebeests and zebras crossing the river. It was mind-boggling! During the massive stampede, the beasts of the river (mostly Alligators) catch their prey for the day. It is an experience of a lifetime! After this game drive, we went to have a buffet lunch in Intrepids. Following lunch, we roamed around the property, buying a few souvenirs and playing in the park and the hanging bridge. When we finished exploring the property, we immediately went for our second safari of that day where we witnessed an unending queue of wildebeests and zebras migrating to Serengeti, which is an iconic postcard image. Then to my utter surprise, the driver pulled up to a location with just one tree surrounded by acres of savanna. We were told to get off, in the middle of the jungle. It was a surprise sundowner! They had a whole setup with drinks and snacks in the middle of Masai Mara. We sat there taking in the views and being reminded of the experiences we had here. After the second game drive, we dressed up nicely and went for our special bush dinner, which as the name suggests, was a dinner in the bushes. Surrounded by candles and bushes with authentic local flavours, it was a unique experience!

I was a bit low the next day as we had to leave Mara. We ended our stay in Mara by a breakfast on the dunes, which was a farewell to our awesome stay. I feel the experience we got in Mara Explorer Camp and the direct connect with nature cannot be obtained at any closed hotel like Intrepids or rather any other hotel in Masai Mara.

SERENGETI

After breakfast, we went to the Olkiombo airstrip for our flight to the border of Tanzania. At the border, we crossed over by foot, cleared immigration and drove to the Tanzanian airstrip to go to Serengeti. When we landed in Serengeti, we went to our hotel Mbuzi Mawe. This hotel was also a camp with nice big luxury tents. All the electricity in this hotel is solar powered. Unlike Mara, this camp was equipped with a television and a telephone connection. We rested for that day and had dinner in the hotel itself. While having dinner, we were given forms to choose what we wanted in our lunch boxes the next day during our game drive.

We woke up early to witness sunrise with a warm cup of coffee in our hands. Viewing the jungles with the glorious sunrise from the deck of our tent was a magnificent feeling. Immediately after the break of dawn, we left for our full day safari, where we got some really interesting sightings. As we began, we saw a group of giraffes fighting each other with their long beautiful necks. The guide told us it was extremely dangerous to fight that way because if the neck got damaged, the giraffe’s life is useless. (Fun fact: giraffes have a blue tongue). After a while, we spotted the rare and unique view – We saw a leopard sitting on a treetop, a lion at the base of the tree, a small herd of elephants behind that tree drinking water from a pond, and a few wildebeests roaming around here and there. This scene was spectacular – 4 species of wildlife co-existing in a radius of 50 metres! We were hungry so we opened our boxes, which looked delicious and had plenty of food in them. It consisted of an apple, yoghurt, a chocolate bar, a fresh juice, crackers and some cheese. Moving on, we saw another strange thing – a herd of baboons chasing a leopard! The baboons chased the leopard only to decrease their number and make them extinct, not to eat their flesh. It was a lucky day for the leopard as there was a bush right in front of it. He soared into the bush and the group of baboons surrounded it. After hunting around for ten minutes, the baboons eventually left and the leopard came out of the bush. It was dreamlike to see something like this. Another interesting thing we saw was a group of lions eating a wildebeest. It was a kill that had probably happened a few minutes back, which is usually very hard to catch in action as told by our guide. It looked a bit scary, as there was blood all over the lion’s face. It had started getting dark by now, so we turned back and went to the hotel. The main difference between Serengeti and Mara is that we must follow a fixed path in the Serengeti savannah, while we are free to roam around anywhere in Mara in the jeep. This meant that in Mara, we could go as close to wildlife as possible. Both are unique in their own way and different experiences.

NGORONGORO

From Serengeti, we headed for Ngorongoro in our private car. On route and just across a check point, we went for a short trail walk which promised amazing views of the sprawling African savannah from the top. Just to mention, there were a lot of creepy crawlies like lizards in the trail walk, but we enjoyed it nonetheless; more so because we hardly got any opportunity to walk around anywhere till now. The uniqueness of Ngorongoro is that it is a National park reserve inside a crater with all sorts of wildlife inside it. The density of wildlife inside this crater is very high due to smaller area and huge source of water in the peak season when the lakes are full. Our choice of hotel over there was Serena Safari Lodge. The hotel was carved with rocks on the top edge of the crater overlooking the lake, which made it more interesting. That day, we checked in and went to the observation deck to take in the sight, sound and smell of Ngorongoro. At night, we went to their hall-cum-bar where there was a small display of African talent. The show began with an authentic tribal dance. After the dance, there was a stunt show where a group of 5 men performed high intensity acrobats. The grand show followed by the huge spread of buffet dinner was fantastic, and we got to sample some Indian food also after a long time.

Ngorongoro is believed to have formed 2.5 million years ago when a large active volcano in the rift valley of northern Tanzania erupted whose cone collapsed inward after a major eruption. Today was our day to explore the crater! A half an hour descend had us inside the crater. The good thing about Ngorongoro is that not many creatures can move in and out of this area, so there is similar wildlife all year round inside it. In a matter of seconds, we spotted a group of hyenas sipping water by the lake. Hyenas are the most dangerous animals of them all as they eat the animals alive before killing them fully. We also saw wildebeests, zebras, lions, cheetahs, buffaloes and leopards on the way. Another interesting thing we saw was a rhino. After seeing it, we had finally spotted the big 5 as they call it (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo), which are the main animals of Kenya and Tanzania. We had our lunchboxes as usual and after few more hours of exploring, we ascended back to our hotel.

We left Ngorongoro early the next morning to head towards Tarangire National Park via lake Manyara National Park. It was going to be a long drive and all our wildlife game drives were expected to happen on way. Upon reaching Lake Manyara, we decided to have a short safari. We spotted an ostrich (flightless bird) shaking its head vigorously to scratch its body. Drinking water by the river, we saw hundreds or maybe thousands of birds. As we proceeded with our safari, we saw a family of 5 leopards next to a pack of wildebeests and zebras. We were eager and enthusiastic as our guide told us that there was a very good possibility for a kill. We saw the leopards inching slowly towards the herd of wildebeests with the father leopard leading and the mother following closely with the 3 children. After about 2 hours of slow pursuit, we saw no attack happening as the leopards were not in striking distance. It is necessary for the predator to come at a distance close to about 100m to its prey before going for the kill, as they generally have less stamina than the victim and have to outrun them in the chase. Since we had waited enough and had to reach Tarangire before sunset, we abandoned our desire to catch a kill in action and moved ahead for Tarangire (I’m sure the kill must have happened as the leopards were determined!).

TARANGIRE

As we entered Tarangire, we were hailed by a herd of elephants, the animal for which this place is most revered. Our hotel Treetops Elewana was a short drive into the jungle leading through a narrow road drive. They welcomed us with a cold towel and a traditional tribal people who are about 6 to 7 feet tall. Hiring unemployed tribal people was a great initiative by the hotel. The hotel had an infinity pool, and a very nice deck with views of the jungle. We were escorted to our room, which was a large tree house. On way, a huge elephant came by and we had to divert from our route to reach our room! The room was really huge and the amenities were luxuriously outstanding. I immediately changed into my costumes and was in the swimming pool in no time! After about half an hour, I saw an elephant approaching the pool! I got really scared initially, but actually the elephant did not hurt us in any way. It literally started drinking water from the swimming pool. It was a fun and irreplaceable experience. At sunset, I sat in the balcony of our treehouse with a book in my hand, hearing some soft music and sipping a cup of warm tea with my parents. It was the perfect way to unwind after a long day. For dinner, we were invited for a delicious bush dinner at an interesting location in the property itself.

The next morning, our jeep was ready at 7:30am for our safari. We moved on and saw herds and herds of elephants in every corner we looked, bathing in the river, plucking on trees, splashing water from lakes, walking in long trails and so on. Tarangire is simply packed with elephants. We also managed to spot a few other animals like wildebeests, zebras and a variety of birds. At the end of it all and after 7 long days of safari visits, all the experiences and sights I saw were amazing and unreal. We thanked our guide for all the amazing sights he showed us in these past few days and bid him farewell. Finally, it was time to relax and rejuvenate a bit, so we decided to end the trip with a short beachside stay at Zanzibar.

ZANZIBAR

To reach Zanzibar, we drove from Tarangire to Arusha, from where we took an Air Excel flight to Zanzibar. We had a lady pilot for the first time, and we were flying over the ocean to the island of Zanzibar. We picked our luggage and drove to our hotel, White Sands Luxury Resort & Spa. As we checked in, we were told that we were being upgraded to the most premium villa of the property. I could not hide my excitement! The staff was extremely welcoming and the resort was huge. We were taken to our villa and shown around – it had two mini thatched cottages (one was the bedroom, and the other was the living room); the bedroom had a terrace access with a bed set up there as well with direct view of the sea. Our villa also had its private pool, a hammock, an outdoor bath tub and shower, a bar area and a completely private beach with one butler to ourselves! I was astounded when I saw the room. It was the ultimate place I have ever stayed at. We needed one day just to enjoy the villa itself, so we enjoyed a day in the property itself. For dinner, we had a barbecue next to the beach with live music. After 7 days of active safari, witnessing this king of luxury made it seem like bliss.

The next day, we decided to spend exploring the city side of Zanzibar. We first went to the stone town and visited Tippu Tip house, the House of Wonders and the Slave market. The Stone Town was host to one of the world’s last open slave markets, presided over by Arab traders until it was shut down by the British in 1873. We indulged in “Zanzibar pizza” which is more like a savory crepe than a pizza (a Zanzibar pizza begins as a small ball of dough that is thinned and piled with your choice of ingredients, topped with cheese, egg, mayonnaise and chili sauce, which is grilled on a tawa). After some sight seeing and a hearty meal, we shopped at local shops selling handicrafts and traditional stuff. This was the first bit of shopping we did after 8 days! Zanzibar is also famous for its fruits, so make sure to get your hands on some. After a fun filled day, we went back to our hotel and had a nice buffet dinner, listening along the tunes of African instruments. Zanzibar truly has a rich culture, beautiful beaches and superb nature.

Early morning the next day, I had a swim in the beach. The beach was true to its name and had soft white sand. When people think of beaches, they think of Rio, Gold Coast and Miami, but in reality the beaches of Zanzibar are equally good. After a swim, I had mushrooms on toast that was the most unctuous and cheesiest thing I had ever eaten. I bathed in the outdoor bathtub and later rented a bicycle for the day travelling around the entire property. In the evening, we all sat by the beach reminiscing on the most fabulous experiences we all had ever in any of our vacations!

KENYA & TANZANIA IS WILDLIFE AT ITS GLORIOUS BEST. WATCHING THE GREAT MIGRATION IS AN EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME AND SHOULD BE HIGH UP ON EVERYONE’S BUCKET LIST.

Argentina & Chile

This is my second travel Blog, which is on a more recent trip I took with my entire family. We visited Latin America in the month of December 2018. We visited two countries in Latin American, namely Argentina and Chile, and I am sharing my experiences here…

Day 1 : We started off our trip by visiting Argentina’s capital of Buenos Aires. Our stay was at AQ Tailored Suites (www.aqsuites.com), a modern little boutique hotel located in the heart of town. We reached by evening after almost 36 hours of travel, so we retired early for the day.

Day 2 : To begin with, we started exploring Buenos Aires. We first went to Florida Street which is a popular shopping street in downtown, after which we went to Plaza de Mayo, which is a famous square. Over there, we spotted the Pink house. For teatime, we chose Pertutti café, a small quaint café with delicious food. In the evening, we roamed around town seeing the popular opera and the national congress. Finally for dinner, we went to Sarkis that turned out to be an average Mediterranean restaurant.

Day 3 : This was going to be a long day as planned. Early in the morning, we took a flight from Buenos Aires domestic airport to Iguazu. Declared as a UNESCO world heritage site, Iguazu falls is a cluster of cascades and cataracts as far as the eye can see. At Iguazu airport, we headed straight for the falls. At the tour starting point, we took a train to Cataracts station which was the start of the devils throat trails, the most popular trail in Argentina. The trail is beautiful and we could see the water splash up to about 250 feet. We had lunch and signed up for the boat ride. We were given life jackets to wear, and our 30-minute boat ride took us into the meandering waters of the Iguazu falls. Occasionally, we went very close to the gallons of downpour of the smaller falls, which got us drenched. Make sure to carry an extra pair of clothing as you are surely going to get totally wet! They literally take you under many small waterfalls from various angles. The experience was unforgettable!

Day 4 : We planned to visit La Boca and its surroundings that day. La Boca is famous for its colorful houses, street tango dancers and its soccer team. It makes its way on to every traveller’s list. We also visited the famous stadium of La Bombonera, which is the largest in Argentina. We choose to have lunch in La Pecora Nera Grill, which is a nice little casual fine dining place. It serves classic grilled dishes with a nice modern twist. We also visited the flea market in the afternoon to see a fantastic display of local handicrafts and products. Later, we wandered around Puerto Madero, which is a cosmopolitan neighborhood. Don’t miss the chance to visit the Obelisco which is a monument built to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the city of Buenos Aires.

Day 5 : We were to head for our Chilean fjord cruise now. This was a 4 day sail showing us the most exotic sights which one could only see though this cruise, and I was really excited for it! Our flight at 8:25 am took us to Ushuaia, the southernmost inhabitation in the world. As we landed, we took a taxi to the cruise center where we filled up a few forms and dropped our luggage. We had time in hand for lunch and to explore the city, so we strolled around the streets and went to the small shops around there; it is one of the best place to buy camping and trekking gear. We also went to a coffee shop where they gave us a taste of fresh Argentinian coffee. The highlight of Ushuaia is the point that marks the southernmost tip of the habited world, and being there was a truly amazing feeling. We eventually headed towards the harbor as it was time to board our cruise ship named “Ventus Australis.” It had a total capacity of 210 passengers. The cruise had 2 small lounges and 1 main lounge as well as a restaurant. Our rooms were spacious (as compared to all other cruise liners we have been in) and offered beautiful views of the Chilean fjords. At the very onset, we were briefed about the cruise and all the safety measures as well. We were told that breakfast and lunch would be buffets, while the dinner would be a 3 course set menu. Since we were vegetarians, the gourmet chef had planned to customize the menu for us to suit our palette. We were also told that we would have no connection to the outer world, which meant no Internet and no mobile phones. At first, I felt a bit restless, but as time passed by in days to come, I realized it was a blessing in disguise. Nothing would distract us from this amazing experience of a lifetime!

Day 6 : Early morning, we were woken up by the announcement made by the crew and we were briefed on our excursion to Cape horn. Cape Horn is the southernmost point in the world, and we were told that this site can be visited only if weather permits as the water is very choppy around there. We were extremely lucky as the weather was nice and we had an absolutely clear day. Upon reaching, we climbed the hill to visit the iconic monument, and on route we visited the lighthouse and the church. The views were spectacular from the top. Every excursion ended with hot chocolate for the kids, and the same with an added shot of whiskey for the adults! I loved drinking hot chocolate in the cold climate as it gave me the warmth I needed. The same evening, we had another excursion to Wulaia Bay. We were given three choices – easy, intermediate, challenging. Seeing our fitness :), we chose the intermediate one. It was a short trek with stunning views, which ended with a visit to the museum of artifacts of the Darwin people. The day ended with the usual dinner.

Day 7 : We woke up in a hurry as we had our excursion to our first glacier experience, the Pia Glacier. We went to the glacier on zodiac boats (small lifesaving boats). It was the first time ever that I saw such a HUGE glacier and it totally stunned me! We also saw an entire block of ice melting and breaking off the big glacier, falling down making a thundering noise and creating ripples in the water. The scene was spectacular! My dad managed to capture it in his video camera, and it was a wow moment for all of us. Any number of words I use to describe the amazing scene is less. Once back in our cruiseliner, we had lunch and then went on a short visit to the engine room of the cruise. Make sure to wear your ear buds, properly as it is pretty loud in there. In the evening, we had another excursion, this time navigating toward Garibaldi glacier. It is the second largest glacier of South America (I suppose you know the biggest one!) and as tall as the New York skyscrapers. These glaciers in the Chilean fjords are probably the best piece of untouched nature I have ever seen.

Falling glacier

Day 8 : Early morning, we sailed through the Cockburn channel and entered Agostini sound, where the glaciers descend. We disembarked and went for an easy walk around the lagoon, which was formed by the melting of Águlia glacier. The walk was peaceful and this experience was a nice touch to the cruise. The evening excursion was a zodiac excursion to the Condor glacier. Since weather permitted, we were lucky to get as close to the glacier as in about 3 years, as told by our guide. The glacier also had a small waterfall towards its right corner, which made it more unique. The cruise had interesting things going on board too. To pass time, the cruise staff hosts several video screenings and games. The lounges have interesting drinks and snacks being served all day long. This night, the captain gave a toast and the cruise sail flag was put for lottery. Guess what? We won!! The cruise sail map was also put up for auction, which got sold for $900!

Day 9 : At break of dawn, we went ashore Magdalena Island inhabited with an immense colony of Magdalenic penguins. Before each excursion, you are briefed about the history and the do’s and don’t of that place. During the excursion, we also hike up a path that leads us through thousands of penguins to a small museum lodged in a vintage 1902 lighthouse. The experience is surreal. After a last and final short cruise along the strait, we were scheduled for disembarkation at Punta Arenas at 11:30 am. I can’t end the cruise section without giving my acknowledgements to Chris (our fantastic guide for most of our excursions), and to Ian and Julian who I made good friends with. We disembarked at Punta Arenas and we’re now on Chilean land where the celebration for Christmas had already started. After snacking on caramel roasted nuts, we decided to shop for a little bit. After that, we went to the most famous pizza chain over there called La Mesita Grande where the pizzas were outstanding. After lunch we drove to Puerto Natales, a small town in the south of Chile and checked in our hotel “Australis”. The rooms were small and average according to me, but on the positive the view was brilliant. It is a small town with a church and just a couple of restaurants and shops. We chose to dine at el living, which is a vegetarian restaurant with nice and simple food.

Day 10 : Exploring Torres del Paine was the plan for that day. We set off in two cars to the national park, listening to Bollywood songs and taking in the nature. We visited various places inside the park but the main attraction was Lake Grey. We watched the glacier and walked along the beach, but it was the windiest place I had ever been to. It was so windy that my Uncle and papa’s hat blew off. Such was the wind intensity that my sister and I had to run half a mile back to retrieve the cap! At one point, it almost became impossible to walk any further as the wind was blowing us all away. So we decided to turn back. Just to add here, we also had to cross an interesting hanging bridge to reach the beach of Lake Grey.

Day 11 : We went to the famous bear monument of Puerto Natales where we captured a few group pictures. We also went to the famous Fingers monument where we snapped a few shots as well. We were hungry, so had lunch at La Mesita Grande again (remember the pizzas)! We then boarded our bus and crossed the border over to El Calafate, an Argentenian town which has a nice vibe to it. Our hotel Lagos del Calafate was great with spacious rooms. For dinner we went to La Lecuza, which served brick fired oven pizza, probably the best one in a while I have had.

Day 12 : Early morning, we were up and ready for a full day tour of the famous Perito Moreno glacier. It was an hour and a half away from El Calafate. On route, we stopped at a lovely viewpoint to get the first view of this majestic glacier. Upon reaching the final point, we took several catwalks to view the glacier from different perspectives and through different panoramic balconies. Post lunch, we boarded a boat taking us in close proximity to the glacier for more stunning views. The boat ride was fun and a nice touch to enhance the overall experience. We also spotted a small piece of ice block breaking from the massive ice wall. While exiting the place, we had to buy a few souvenirs from here to remind us of this beautiful experience, and fulfil my hobby of collecting a souvenir of every country I have visited. Arriving at our hotel, we all dived into the pool to rejuvenate. Almost everyday, we walked approximately 15,000 steps which was tiring, so this was the most relaxing end to a hectic day of sight-seeing!

Day 13 : Next morning, we packed and headed towards our final destination Bariloche, the heartland of Argentina. The flight was in the afternoon, so we arrived by evening. We chose to stay at Cacique Inacayal, which is an awesome sea facing hotel. It has a pool, a spa and a games room as well as a disco. The choice of hotel was fantastic, and we all lauded my Uncle for booking this one! After unpacking, we headed out for the main city square which is the hotspot of Barioche, a short walk from our hotel. The square leads you to the famous pedestrian street with all the shops and restaurants. Also to mention, it is famous for its unique and mouth watering chocolate stores. Few of the most legendary chocolate shops are Mammushka, Rapanui, Frantom and Del Turista. These stores present you chocolates in every way you could imagine – Chocolate bars, chocolate truffles, chocolate ice-cream, chocolate éclairs, chocolate cookies, chocolates with different cocoa percentages, and the list is just unending! My favorite was RAPANUI because of its fantastic ice-creams, which were the best ice-creams I have tried in my entire life (tiramisu). That night, we had dinner in a Swiss restaurant which was also very authentic.

Day 14 : Next day was our first full day tour. First, we went to Villa la Angostura which a small town on route 40 which is the most famous highway of Argentina. From there, we headed to Vila Traful, a tiny village in the middle of nowhere. We had lunch and a delicious lemon meringue pie and strawberry shortcake. That night, we were craving Mexican food, so we decided upon el Mexicano , which is an underground restaurant with mouth-watering food and drinks. We had our fill and then over-indulged in churros, a classic Mexican desert.

Day 15 : This was our free day, so we woke up lazily and had a nice swim. After that, we went to the main street and to do some shopping. We bought souvenirs, clothes, food and of course a lot of chocolates. After having lunch at a nearby café, we headed in true brioche fashion to Rapanui to have some ice-cream. It is impossible to stay in Bariloche and not over-indulge in chocolate. It is a chocolate haven! After a short afternoon nap and as planned, we changed into our dress code for a photo shoot near the seashore of our hotel. This photo shoot captured the memories of our trip in a more memorable way. After the shoot I was craving sushi, so we went in search of a Japanese restaurant. We finally found one, and closed the evening with a nice and sumptuous dinner.

Day 16 : I was very excited the next morning as it was my father’s birthday. We decided to do the half day tour to discover Bariloche and its surroundings, heading towards Cerro Campanario (1050m) crossing Nahuel Hampi and Bonita beach. On reaching Cerro Campanario, we took a chairlift to the top. The views of the lakes and the mountains were spectacular; one of the best views I have ever had. From there, we headed towards the Llao Llao peninsula, where we had lunch at the famous and grand Llao Llao hotel. This is a luxury 5 star hotel with all the facilities you could imagine. We chose to have the salad buffet which was a gourmet spread of fine salads and a few mains and deserts, enough to fill us to the brim. The food and the service here was exemplary! We were also given a complimentary chocolate tart, to celebrate my father’s birthday. After roaming around Llao Llao for a while, we retracted to our hotel. At night, we went for a final round of the city square for a last walk in Bariloche, to experience our last few hours in Argentina, before finally heading back for home the next morning.

THIS WAS MY FIRST TRIP TO LATIN AMERICA, AND THERE ARE MANY MORE INTERESTING COUNTRIES HERE FOR WHICH I WILL BE COMING BACK SOON!

Turkey

Hi! Let me begin by introducing myself. I’m Mridul Bihani staying in India (Kolkata) and traveling has been my passion since childhood. By the way, I’m 13 years old and wanted to share some of my travel experiences though this blog portal. This is my first attempt in putting up a travel blog. So here it goes….

It took this trip with my parents in May 2018, and we chose upon Turkey as it was a new destination for all of us. The best way to start off a trip in Turkey is to visit Cappadocia. Cappadocia, also known as the hot air ballooning capital of the world is bursting with stunning rock formations resulting in beautiful valleys. If visiting Cappadocia, stay in one of the signature cave hotels. We chose to stay in Chelebi Cave Hotel, which was a quaint yet very cozy and comfortable hotel in the heart of town. This hotel also offers a fantastic spread of Turkish breakfast, which includes marinated olives, fruits, and a selection of Turkish cheeses. Walking around on streets of Cappadocia is a great welcoming into Turkish culture. Boutique shops, little cafes enlighten up the streets. You can also take an ATV tour which shows you valleys like the Love valley and the Bird valley.

At sunrise, the exceptional hot air balloon ride is a MUST. It starts off with a basic breakfast proceeding towards the base of the tour. The team involves all the visitors in helping them to inflate the balloon, which is an amazing experience in itself followed by the spectacular sight once we are air bourn. Once the experience is over, the guide sabered a glass of champagne as it is their tradition. The experience is outstanding.

Cappadocia also offers 3 other interesting day tours (red tour, blue tour and green tour). The green tour is a must costing approximately 100 euros per person, including tickets, lunch and transportation. It starts off with a visit to Selime monastery, which is a monastery in the rocks making it a strange and unique monastery. Next on the green tour is the famous UNESCO Derinkyu underground city and the authentic Turkish jewelry factory and museum. If you have more time, you can enjoy the blue and red tour as well. We did the red tour, which takes you to the famous Goreme open air museum and several other valleys, namely the which we had already seen in the ATV tour. Vegetarian meals are provided in all tours and the tour guides are extremely professional and friendly.

We enjoyed our evenings taking the traditional hammam spa in the truly ancient royal setting. Hammam includes, lying on a flat warm stone followed by scrub and a bubble massage. These are found everywhere and are reasonably priced. I would highly recommend going to one of the local hammams for an unforgettable authentic experience.

From Cappadocia, we took a flight to Izmir. This city is located in west Turkey. Staying at the izmir harbor is recommended as there are amazing cafes with a spectacular view of the Harbour. We stayed at Renaissance hotel. Swissotel is also a good option which is closer to the water front with better views. We walked along the waterfront exploring the city that day. Cafes were lined all along the waterfront; we chose MADO, which is a popular Turkish desert chain, which had amazing food.

The next day, we hired a car as a major chunk of the trip was to be completed on road, and which is why we made Izmir the base. We hopped in our car and drove towards Ephesus. On the way, we stopped to have a look at the house of mother Mary. Finally, we reached Ephesus by noon, the famous ancient roman city. It is a stunning display of the ruins of roman architecture with an amphitheater, a city hall and many houses. It is fabulous and one of the highlights Turkey has to offer. After the tour, we purchased a small souvenir at the gift shop. Then we drove off to Kusadassi for lunch. Kussadasi is a beautiful small waterfront town. Colorful buildings and narrow streets glorify it. Kusadassi has a European feel to it with small shops and amazing bistros for delicious meals and a delightful experience. After lunch, we wandered around town and got back to IZMIR by evening. (Instead of IZMIR, KUSSADASSI can also be you location of stay).

Our next destination was Bodrum. But we wanted to visit Pamukkale on route. We left Izmir early the next morning and reached Pamukkale (a UNESCO world heritage site) by noon, which is a collection of stepped sulphur pools. Do not forget to carry your costumes to enjoy the sulphur pools. Pamukkale is divided into two sections, the Cleopatra pool and the public area. To enter the Cleopatra pool, a small fee is required but it is definitely worth it. The Cleopatra pool is clean and warm, and is indeed an experience not to be missed. A food stall serves salads and slushes and some snacks as well. The public pools on the other hand are a little dirty and have mixed temperatures.

From Pamukkale we went to Bodrum, famous for its castle and beautiful harbor. In Bodrum, we choose to stay at El Vino hotel, its uniqueness being that it is animal friendly and centrally located. There are cats and dogs roaming around the whole property. The hotel offers a swimming pool and a small jacuzzi. I found the hotel to have an average breakfast with good rooms. I recommend visiting the bodrum castle, although we could not visit because it was under renovation. Walking around the streets gives the feeling of a beautiful small town. The shops are unique and the food is exotic. The best way to enjoy meals in Bodrum is to dine out in one of the harbor restaurants. They offer a wide selection of seafood and a spectacular view. You can also shop in the many of the stores on the main street of Bodrum. At night, we decided to explore the party district of Bodrum. There are plenty of places to eat and shop. Rip off stores offer duplicates of luxury clothing brands for a throw away price. I recommend buying the lemon cologne from Turkey, which was one of the best purchases I made in Turkey.

We then head on to Oludeniż the next day with a stop in Dalyan. Dalyan is a province in Turkey known for its famous mud baths. Instead of taking a public boat to travel through the calm waters of Dalyan, we decided to rent a boat for 3 hours. It is a bit costly but definitely worth the experience, steering through narrow water lanes surround by tall grass on both sides, exclusively in your private boat! We took our first stop at the beach. It had a small shack where we munched on some French fries and Turkish coffee. We also spotted a group of turtles swimming near the deck of our boat. We hopped onto our boat and proceeded towards our final destination, the famous mud baths. We were first cleaned with fresh spring water by water hoses and sent for a shower. Then we proceed with the mud bath experience. The mud is filled with minerals and salts necessary for the body. We massaged ourselves for about 10 minutes in the mud bath and went to the sulphur pools to clean up. I recommend keeping some bottles of water and a few nick-nacks to munch upon in the boat ride.

On our way to Oludeniż by car, we again stopped in the town of Fethiye where we took a lunch break. I stumbled upon drinking a Starbucks coffee again while my parents had a lunch in a nearby café in a big mall in Fethiye. Oludeniz is a small beach town only 20 minutes away from Fethiye. You could also spend a night in Fethiye than in Oludeniz as it is a bit more modern and sophisticated than Oludeniz. At Oludeniz we stayed at a lodge, which was not too good. The pool was small and the rooms were very basic. The positive thing was that it was right on the beach. I recommend Beyaz Yunus hotel for a stay in Oludeniż. We found the hotel at an extremely cheap price, which surely did the trick as we barely stayed inside and spent most of our time outside. Immediately after checking in, we left for a stroll and got a nice massage. We were quite hungry by then and wandered around town for a nice dinner place. The town is so small, you can explore it entirely by foot. On our quest for a delicious dinner place, we stumbled upon a paragliding company. Since Oludeniz is known as the paragliding capital of the world, we had to take a shot. We registered for next day at 5:00 am. I was nervous and scared, since this was going to be my first experience. We ate our dinner at a nice Italian place and slept off early that night.

At 5:00 am, sharp we proceeded towards the paragliding center where we were briefed and then drove up on a mountain. It was a half an hour ascend. As we reached the top, our gears were strapped safely on us with our co-rider cum guide. We then ran off a 70-degree slope, with my heart in my mouth! We got stunning views of Oludeniz from mid-air, and we also performed a few stunts like rapid rotation. Within 15 minutes, we landed on the beach, precisely on the spot where this paragliding company had their desk. We then took our pics and video from them on a pen drive, a memory that can never be forgotten. After an enjoyable morning, we departed for Antalya by car.

On route to Antalya, we visited the ancient ruins of Perge and Aspendos. Perge is a small Roman town located just in the outskirts of Antalya, whereas Aspendos hosts a large amphitheatre. Aspendos is amazing and no less than the Colosseum in Rome. It is huge and kept in perfect condition.

We choose to stay in Kaya Palazzo Golf Resorts in Antalya for 3 days straight. The resort was huge and magnificent. A welcome drink and a refreshing towel greeted us, which was of utmost necessity after a long journey. We were also given a band and a map of the whole property, as it was humongous. The band gave us access to free drinks, unlimited food and all services the hotel had to provide. We could enjoy unlimited drinks, food, ice-creams, spas, access the beach area and a mini water park! As we checked in, I decided to explore the property first. The property was huge with over 6 swimming pools, 6 restaurants, a golf course, a water park, a spa and everything I could think of in a good resort. I immediately changed into my costume and jumped right into the main pool. The pool was huge and the water temperature was just perfect. My parents and me ordered for refreshing mocktails as well as some poolside snacks. They tasted unbelievable! We kept ordering food until we were completely full and the biggest fun was that there was no right hand side column on the menu. As I hop-skipped and jumped from one pool to the other, the swim though greatly refreshing was a bit tiring also, so I sat on the pool chairs and sunbathed for a good amount of time. At 4 o’clock, my alarm went off I rushed towards the waterpark. The waterpark consisted of 5 slides, all-unique in their own way; a nice touch to great resorts. I loved the waterpark so much that I did all the rides at least 5 times daily. As the clock struck 6pm, my family changed and sat down facing the beach listening to the soothing voices of the waves with a drink in our hand, reflecting about the beautiful experiences we had in Turkey. At night, we went for our buffet dinner. The spread was so huge that I could not see the entire thing after half an hour also. Whenever I visited a section, a new section came to my eyes. Amazing seafood, beautiful vegetarian food and mind boggling deserts. It was truly an amazing end to a long day. The hotel also offers a midnight buffet for late sleepers which I had a chance to have a look at.

We had decided to take a day tour to a waterfall nearby, but laziness caught the better of us. We decided to spend our time in the hotel itself. We spent 2 days lazing around, and it was finally time to set off for Istanbul, the capital of Turkey.

We took Turkish airlines from Antalya to Istanbul. As we landed in Istanbul, we taxied it to Pera Palace. Pera Palace is a luxury travel hotel in Istanbul based after the famous writer Agatha Christie. The hotel is very regal with large rooms and vintage lifts. Pera Palace is also home to the world’s second oldest lift, after the Eiffel tower. We unpacked and left for the streets of Istanbul. The streets are charming and the alleys are filled with stalls selling local handicrafts. It was our first day in Istanbul and we crossed over Galata Bridge and went to the Egyptian (spice) bazaar. Originally selling medicines and spices, it still continues to function the same way. Wandering around the covered spice bazaar is a sensation to our senses. Sight, smell, taste, touch and sound. Smelling the aromas is absolute bliss. We tasted at least about fifty nuts, sweets and spices. It was one of the best markets I have ever visited in my life. Sunset was about to happen and the beautiful prayers illuminated the city signifying the end of fasting for Ramadan. That day, we choose to have a nice Indian meal and finally located a small recommended place. It gave me a taste of home!

As we woke up the next day, we were greeted by a warm cup of tea with some cookies fresh out of the oven. The breakfast was also delicious. After a hearty meal, we set off for a lengthy day of sight-seeing. Istanbul is a perfect city. It has shopping malls, historic sights, old town, new town and you may also choose to stay in Asia or Europe as Istanbul city is spread across both these continents! We first stopped at Hippodrome, which is one of the hotspots of Istanbul. From there, we went to Basilica cistern built by Justinian the first. It is a series of pathways and waterways. There is also a wish well where you may throw a coin and wish. We then went to the place Istanbul is best known for. The Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. The Hagia Sophia is a remarkable structure with an immense dome. Christian and Islamic art can be viewed at the same time in this beautiful monument. Right across the Hagia Sophia on the opposite side, the Blue Mosque can be seen. It is famous for the beautiful blue tile work ornamenting on its walls and magnificent example of Turkish architecture. The blue mosque has a dress code, you are recommended to know of it before deciding to visit. Right besides the Blue Mosque, you can see vendors selling hot chestnuts; just the perfect snack to energize yourself for the rest of the day.

We then went to Topkapi Palace, which is an Ottoman palace. It is collection of small museum in one entire palace. We were a little tired from sight-seeing by now, so we decided to take a break and shop in the magnificent Grand Bazaar, which is the largest covered bazaar in the world. It has over 3000 shops, each selling different things from carpets to clothing to lamps to food produce. Everything you imagine you can buy is available in the Grand Bazaar, but make sure you bargain, and bargain heavily! After visiting the Grand Bazaar, we headed towards our hotel, where on the way we glanced upon Galata tower. It is one of the city’s most striking landmarks, with a huge cone shaped cylinder that dominates the Galata side of the Golden Horn (the bridge that divides Istanbul).

At the hotel, we freshened up and left for Istiklal Street. Istiklal Street is one of the most vibrant areas in the city with restaurants, bars and shops in the historic part of Beyouglu. We stopped at a small place selling delicious Kumpir, which is a classic street food dish in Turkey after the famous doner kebab. Kumpir is a large baked potato, filled with all sort of toppings. It was one of the best street foods I had ever had. We then wandered around some shops and bought a few pairs of shoes, jeans and leather goods which are famous in Istanbul. We also stopped at Taksim Square which is the heart of modern Istanbul. For dinner, we went to ZUMA, my favourite restaurant which is a Japanese fine dining chain located in many famous cities all throughout the world. The food is outstanding and the ambiance is calm and soothing.

Next morning, we checked out of Pera Palace and checked into Swissotel Bosphorous which is in the Bosphorous side of Istanbul. It was a modern hotel; the room we got was amazing with huge glass windows, giving an awesome 180 degree view of boshphourous bridge and the Dolmabaçhe Palace, which was just below our hotel. The Turkish sultans used the Dolmabaçhe Palace, and it is kept in mint condition. The quick yet precise tour of this palace is a must on a visit to Istanbul. Right next to it is the harbor, where (for approximately 10 liras) you could hop on a boat and go to the Asian side of Istanbul. We completed our boat ride and walked in front of the harbor, taking in the sights and sounds of Turkey. We stopped at Ciragan Palace Kempinski and the Four Seasons hotels; both these hotels are exceptionally good, but demand that kind of price too. We decided to dine on the open deck restaurant of Four Seasons with stunning sunset views. The next morning, we had our last dip into the authentic Turkish breakfast with their usual huge spreads of local and international delicacies. We then packed, checked out and headed out for the airport, to get back to home finally!

THE TRIP OF TURKEY WAS DELIGHTFUL AND FUN AND AN EXPERIENCE I WILL NEVER FORGET IN MY ENITRE LIFE.

The Journey Begins

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton

post