Dreaming and living the wanderlust life at my early 20's, I have always thrived on my long bucket list. Yes a list that counts up to more than 75 odd countries, I have been lucky enough to witness the magic of 20 awe-inspiring countries already and it still keeps me yearning for more.
Wow, Vietnam’s got some islands? Let’s go and check them out! I’m not sure what to expect, but Phu Quoc’s got to have beaches that are surely not much discovered or heard of. I first read about Phu Quoc back in 2022 when I was churning up my Vietnamese itinerary. It sounded like a great place to visit – warm weather, amazing beaches, an unassuming Vietnamese island sitting pretty just off the coast of Cambodia.
It may no longer be Vietnam’s best-kept secret, but I definitely loved this desert-island gem in the sparkling turquoise waters.
Island’s view in a nutshell
Theoretically, Phu Quoc seemed to tick these boxes, especially according to everything we read. The reality was however a little different.
Situated on a white-sand bay, flanked by mountains on all sides, it’s not hard to see why Da Nang was on my top list to visit when in Vietnam. And my love for Da Nang got stronger only to see how this modern city exudes youthful energy combined with nature.
Beginning to explore this beach side city to the mountaintop, on the very first day I decided to soak in the relaxed vibes by the pristine sandy beaches and yes there are plenty to choose from. One of the closest to Da Nang city center is My Khe Beach. Swimming in the clearest waters, enjoying by the shack yes you almost forget the city vibes in a minute.
For me, rural Vietnam is an atmospheric and otherworldly place. All I was looking forward to visit were the jagged karst rocks enrobed in clouds and dripping caves obscured by creeping vines. There’s an ethereal quality to the light and scenery in Vietnam and what better place to experience it other than Ninh Binh.
We took a day tour to discover this beautiful province which also felt so less.
First views of the Old Capital
Starting with Hoa Lu known as the ancient capital of Vietnam for 41 years – being a natural geographic choice because of the limestone mountains keeping the city well-hidden from potential invaders. We were all set to discover the beautiful history of this place.
Vietnam as a country is dotted with centuries-old architecture, beautiful lakes, and tranquil Buddhist pagodas, but I have to say that Hanoi had a lot more to offer being one of the diverse Southeast Asian capitals. A city where motorbikes outnumber the people. For most travellers, this country is synonymous with three things: Frenetic cities, incredible outdoor adventures, and some of the best scenic views on earth.
Hanoi being one of the popular cities in Vietnam, it has a vibe that you either love or hate. Although it is rapidly developing with many shopping malls and luxury hotels, the downtown area is still keeping its traditional culture. It is loud, chaotic, overwhelming and unique in its own way.
Most of the destinations I have checked off the list have been on my mind and list to explore since a while! But whenever it came to the city of Belgium, Brussels had never really been high on my bucket list of places to visit. Brussels for me had always been a transit country. I had always been here several times to change trains between the Eurostaror change flights. But on my most recent visit I wanted to explore Brussels and not keep it merely as a transit city on my list.
An airport where you have seen the most sunsets!
Certain places where you have no high expectations, you would be surprised to find the amount of fun things to see and do in this city. When I traveled to Brussels for a brief 3 days I realized, the compact city of Brussels could easily be explored by foot.
Exploring this cobbled city!
On the very first sight Brussels appeared to me as a fascinating place with stunning architecture and intriguing history packed into every street and alleyway.
Coming across some fun structures across the street
The vibe of the city is hard to put your finger on. Being the administer Centre of the EU, sometimes it seems very industry and bureaucracy focused, but at other times it feels laid back and light weighted filled with humor! Like seriously who thought the most attractive monument of this city would be Manneken Pis.
Manneken Pis Statue!
Yes this highly gabbed statue of Manneken Pis is located in one of the cobbled bylanes and takes a little bit of skill in hunting down, but has stillrisen to fame and is a popular tourist attraction in the city. The name simply translates to “little man pee” and it has been given this name for obvious reasons.
I dint land up spending a huge amount of time at Manneken Pis, a good 5 minutes is enough but it’s worth a visit when you’re in the Grand Place area. It’s one of those spots that’s great to see with so many people flocking at but doesn’t take any time at all.
As you let the city vibes sink in, this multi-layered atmosphere of Brussels offers something for everyone to see.
Intricate designs at the Grand Place
On my very first day I was inspired by sight of Grand Place (The ‘Grote Markt’ in Dutch) located right in the center of Brussels. The square is encircled with a variety of incredible buildings, covered in beautiful detailing.
Marvelling at this beautiful building!The buzzing square!
One such building that took me in awe was the ‘Hotel de Ville’. Spending my evenings here sitting and watching the world go by, it’s easy to see why this Square is on the UNESCO World Heritage list.Dating back almost 300 years, Grand Place is too exquisite to miss in daylight and even at sunset.
Building marvels like these!Replication of The Carillon
Then there was the Carillon, a star-shaped clock where every hour is represented by a painted figurine, and each figurine represents a historical figure in Brussels. You will stumble upon this while exploring the other side of the city on foot.⠀
Another one of the sights worth visiting several times at different times of the day is Notre Dame Du Sablon. This 14thCentury Gothic Cathedral only reveals its splendour after you’ve made your way up one of the several small cobbled alleys. Visiting this spectacular church is like stepping back in time.
Belgium Evenings!The way the structures light up at night!
And then there are some points, which give you some of the best city views too! Rest, sit down, marvel at the city and then get going again!
Next I visited the monumental St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral atop Treurenberg Hill which may have taken 300 years to complete, but her singular beauty now reigns supreme over Brussels’ skyline.
St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral
In the evenings when you have had your heart full of some historic culture, unwinding in one of the parks is a must do in Brussels. With so many gardens in this city, Le Botanique is the most admired. This greenhouse, which dates back to the 19th Century, now regularly plays host to a range of performing arts and makes the place feel like more of a cultural Centre than just a garden.
Le Botanique Garden
Siting here and watching the flowers bloom in full spring was a welcoming change of pace from the city itself.
The Palais Royalis a not so hidden away sight right next to the park.
Arriving at the Royal Palace Belgium
Although the royal family of Belgium now spends their lives at Laeken, the Royal Palace in Brussels remains as their official residence. It’s worth a visit while exploring this beautiful city on foot.
And if you’re not too into museums, then Parc du Cinquantenaire is the place to spend your evenings loafing around in the sun.
Sunshine on mind!
Making most out of the sunny day here having a picnic on the grass whilst absorbing the stunning architecture, Parc Du Cinquantenaire’s grand triumphal arch had its own reason to make a visit.This regal-looking park in all of Brussels is a brainchild of Leopold II.
Parc Du Cinquantenaire
Walking through the city, I also came across Europe’s first covered shopping arcades,the beautiful Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert.
When your shopping place makes you feel happy!
This shopping gallery, covered with glass, is open all year and has some nice seating for a drink or two. They built it with the motto ‘alles voor iedereen’ (‘everything for everyone’), which you can still see engraved at the entrance.
On my very last day I realized you couldn’t visit this city while on a diet.
The famous Belgium Waffle house!
Every street you walk by will have you engulfed in tempting smell of fries, waffles, mussels and beer.I swear, I eat about 2-3 waffles a day when I was here and still have no regrets about it. It truly happened to be one of those cities which is perfect for a long weekend, exploring all the historic sites and scoffing every other waffles you can get your hands on.
Any more waffles!
Enjoying a beer tour has played an important role throughout the history of the city. Beer and Belgium go hand-in-hand, and no wonders by Belgians are so proud of their beer.
The famous Belgium Kwak BeerAnd some more beers!When the only choice you need for the day is between ale and lager!
No beer tour is complete without visiting the massive Delirium bar, which has 2000+ beers on its list and is easily recognized by its pink elephant logo. They brew some of the special edition beers which are a must try too!
Discovering this bar in the bylannes of the cityPouring a fresh brew at Delirium bar!
Being my last day in Brussels I stepped out of the city centre to marvel at the Atomium. Built in the 1950’s, the Atomium is a great spot to see something a little different. Over 100 metres (330ft) tall, this steel construction consists of nine spheres with a diameter of up to 18 meters. It was constructed to welcome a new and atomic age to Belgium.
The molecule atom structure!
The nine balls of steel balancing on a bunch of sticks might seem like a weird monument to have at first, but it is an accurate depiction of an iron molecule except that it is about 165 billion times larger! Located in Heysel Park in the West of the city, it is a must visit. This building-and-sculpture hybrid has become so popular that it’s now a permanent fixture on the capital’s skyline.
So I can definitely say now, I have lived and tasted Belgium life for a few days and will look forward to revisit it on my next transit travel for sure. Even if just for a day or as a base to explore other countries, Belgium will now always remain special.
Cannot Miss:
Indulging in Belgium waffles & more waffles
Take a beer tour
Just get your happy shoes on, to explore the city on foot
Iceland is called the Land of Fire and Ice and now that I’ve visited, I understand why. Iceland has around 45 volcanoes and the Vatnajökull Glacier is the largest icecap in Europe. Driving around this beautiful island there is always either a volcano or glacier in sight… Iceland was definitely topping my list as one of the most impressive places I’ve ever visited each day!
I always wanted a real adventure and I was sure that the undiscovered corners of south coast Iceland would be the perfect setting.
Hitting the south coast road modern life seemed to slip away as we drove across this lunar landscape, where the horizon seemed impossibly distant. Outside the car the temperature had dropped from this morning’s 10C to 3C and the wind whipped the finest particles of snow into my face.
No trip to Iceland is complete without exploring the Golden Circle, and today I was going to discover why. It was an exhilaration filled morning unveiling the fact that the Golden Circleroute takes you through some of the most amazing sights in central Iceland, with scenery ranging from natural sites to historic landscapes. I started on to this 300-kilometer (190 mi) loop making my first stop at the geothermal energy exhibition.
Going to Iceland had been on my wish list for years. I was enticed by the otherworldly landscapes, the rich cultural output, and, of course, the Northern Lights. It had always been one of those out-of-this-world destinations where adventure is found around every corner. And that’s when I realized that I couldn’t spend any more days away from this adventure. I decided the time was finally right.
When I first starting searching about the things to see in Iceland, I was so overwhelmed by the sheer number of things to see in this country. My list of places, list of adventures in Iceland was not built overnight but over the years. The more I discovered about this wonderful country, everyday little new nuances kept on creeping onto my list. And yes to cover them all in 10 days was definitely going to be the most amazing 10 days of my travels so far. I realized that although this volcanic island is small, there is so much natural beauty packed in that you could spend a lifetime exploring its nooks and crevices without seeing it all.
On our 2nd Anniversary everyday reminds me of the beautiful day when we said “I DO”
You knew me since the time I was a part of a totally different world, in fact even if it meant living across the world. Yes you knew what my day and night was made of, you exactly knew how much my little feet kept exploring the globe. I may have already explored 1/10th of the world by myself or with friends or even with some random people, but you need to know that I want all of this with you now.
The moment we decided to take the new plunge of our lives, yes it did drive me a little crazy. Having a steady and stable future doesn’t mean I am ready to let go of my this wanderlust and doesn’t mean any less that I don’t want this settled life with you, but steady for you and me is different.
The definition of home for me is not where you and I are from, but where you are wanted. And there’s nothing much more I want than YOU today.
I’ve lived and seen the life enfold in foreign lands, lived among people from different nationalities and enjoyed drinks of various countries all on one table. But today I look forward for that morning coffee dates with you! (Though wouldn’t mind waking up to a cup of coffee in a different place, city or country everyday thought with you! J)
Let our mornings be like this!
I have always been the kind of girl who’s had Atlas in her hands, adventure in her eyes, and wanderlust in her blood. Travelling has given me a home in a thousand strange places, but also left me feel like a stranger in my own land. At times I wandered aimless simply to be some place ‘elsewhere’. But I want our travels now to be more purposeful and meaningful than ever. I want us to build memories and stories that we can laugh about when we get old, just how I nag you with all my stories from the last 2 decades of travel. These stories are filled with me and lots of random people, but now I want to write new stories, rewrite some old ones all with you being right there. I want you to be the poetry hidden within the binary of my travels.
My never ending stories!
Yes I do have a long list of places, places yet to be explored, places I still haven’t been to or yearning to go so bad! And I want to make all these new adventures with you, exploring the places, exploring the person in you. I also want to take you back to some places which are so close to my heart, to show you how they meant the world to me because after hearing all my stories about it I know you won’t see it as just another place in this world, but see another world inside each of these places I take you to.
To the place I always want to be!
There will be some adventures where I would have to take off on my own and would want you to let me do that in a heartbeat because its only you who understands how it makes my heart beat. And I promise you I’ll be back with abundance of stories and adventures to talk laugh and reminisce about to make up for the lost time with you.
And yes I will take millions of pictures to show you each and every detail of the place because you couldn’t go or make it (though you’ll always be my favorite photographer).
No better way to be clicked than by you!
You know I’d always want you to be by my side, because I know you have seen me get excited about the change of seasons, the sound of the ocean, watching the sunset, the first snow, the smell of rain and starry nights, everything little. Because its only you, who knows they aren’t that little for me.
The very first sight of snow mountains
At times I can also be supper annoying asking you to take 100 (or mebbe 1000’s ) of pictures of me, of us in the same city or even the same street until they are perfectly captured. For the fact I already know you are onto it, and that your photo skills have already leveled up. One of the good things that already happened to you being with me (you can thank me later for this).
Because one good pi is jus not enough
There’s always going to be a morning inside me waiting to burst into light. Waiting to hear new sounds of nature, chat with new people. And you already know it by my crazy bunch of friends across the globe. That’s another thing you should be happy about, having a home far away from home wherever we go. Yes you name a country and with knowing someone there, you are always going to feel locally welcomed by my friends from across the globe. That’s why we are never going to be alone.
Yes I have made some funny, strange and very close friendships across the globe but I still can’t explain what you see in a person that they become so important part of your life. It’s just the way they take you to a place where no one else can, just like you do.
I have worked my career out of so many things and finally found some solace in this little globetrotting thing I do. We may talk about those random thoughts of finding our own path in this world, but for me its always going to be about loosing my way, and finding my soul. Working a 9-5 routine life has had never been my style, although I think I am coping up well with it now.
There are a lot of stories out there waiting for me to live them, and I am afraid they will take may be a lot more time for me now to get to them. Travel may not be my number one thing anymore, but I know it’ll always be there. I’ll still want those “anniversary trips” or “birthday trips” and I wouldn’t mind planning one for you as well.(as far as they just end in trips)
Now wasn’t this the best anniversary gift 🙂
And even if you had to plan a surprise trip, I am sure to surprise you with much more crazier facts and places about that destination. Well you’ll always be the one who’s going to be more surprised. There might be some places we might never make it to, or may be we will. But at least our room will be full of travel boards, places, lists and trips that we would want to make or have made. Our laptop will be full of saved travel links and shows or any related random travel movie. You definitely will have to make a little more space for the Globe that’s been the world to me on your desk.
Your room definitely looks so much better now..
Our desk will be filed with my travel journals, maps, tickets which I have saved as souvenirs, reminding me of the days when my only decision was Window or Aisle.
I know the only topic I would have to talk about with you would be about TRAVEL. But I assure you it won’t bring boredom. In fact between the two us I will never run out of topics, stories to talk. And can spend hours, days may be even weeks, even if we get stranded on a ship somewhere in between the ocean. OK that won’t really happen (However I so wish it does someday, another adventure right?). But at least I’ll be awesome at the geography or travel section of any quiz or family conversations. Don’t worry I will always make you proud. I will always be the exclamation mark in the happiest sentence that you could ever possibly wish or say. You must have read all about the wonders of the world but I will make sure we see all of them in this very lifetime ( 4 down, 3 to go YAYYYY)
Could I qualify for the 8th?
I know you have some phobias about water, about heights, about speed, about adventure, did I miss anything 😛 But I’ll make sure you come over them one by one every year. I guess you made it through one last year, right? Swimming in Pacific Ocean, ring a bell? I know it must have been frightening at first but I too have been as afraid and as excited for every new beginning we might have.
Still wanna take a dip in the ocean?
Some nights I might dream of traveling the world, some nights I might dream of traveling away from it. My inquisitiveness and longing is something you can never get enough of. Yes just before bed you will see me scrolling through my Instagram feeds getting tired of me saying, “OMg! This Place, yes lets go here’ or may be “We should be here right now!” May be you already are. But I am up for other things too. Like you mention something and within minutes I would have a Wikipedia on it. You should know that the same passion I have for travel will be strong enough for other aspects of our lives.
Thought my life consists of traveling and then counting down the hours until I can travel again, there a lot more to it between that too.
There might me decades together when nothing really happens, but I am sure to bring such adventurous filled weeks where you might feel decades have happen. I already am onto it.
Yes I have always cared more about experiences in life and that’s going to be a great benefit to you, because you would not need to gift me luxurious expensive presents. Rather maybe just plan a little weekend date, a ticket to a concert, or a new eatery that opened up to try something new, or just a random long drive in the rains by the mountain side. Of course, I’ll always accept a “trip” as a present! Need not always be a luxury one! (But last night surfing randomly, I saw this amazing infinity pool villa, with see-through roof and a private speedboat parked right next to this stunning villa in Maldives! We should go there too. OK, just saying!)
There are quite less similarities between us when it comes to choices, wants and priorities. But we’ll face them together. We will travel, we will go places together and come back home, and home may still be the same. But something is us, something in you and I will have changed. Our lives will change and with time and with luck our little family will expand, but that won’t change us, it’ll just mean more adventures everyday to come.
So Yes I want to share my life, my passion with you, because it’s in you where I see my home and my adventure all at once!
After visiting the Heavenly Island of Santorini in Greece, making a choice about the next halt on the Aegean islands was rather arduous. With the Aegean Sea offering as many as 6000 different islands Milos isn’t an island that would spring to anyone’s mind when you think of Greece, unless you’re like me. In a way I was much happy to unearth an isle that was far less crowded than Santorini. Then, I read somewhere that Milos is often likened to what Santorini was twenty years ago; all the beauty, but a segment of the crowds. But something tells me this might change in the next few years.
