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.
When you first told me lets tick of your bucket list together I dint know what was to come. A decade of an adventure already?
2016 – Where the story began!
From where we started to where we are, I can’t believe how much life and love we’ve squeezed into just one decade.
It’s amazing how someone supports your travel bug even when they have their own phobias for some. Like the way you encouraged me to cliff dive while in Milos, Greece, plunging into -2°C water in Iceland to touch the tectonic plates of 2 continents or diving into Pacific Ocean with me just to reach an Island beach right in the middle of Ocean; Yes, you’ve had my back for all.
You’ve definitely seen me at my worst and best on all the travels.
People dream about the perfect big wedding and things followed by. But I was glad I found someone who thought just like me and settled for a small close-knit wedding, which definitely was a dream come true and plan the biggest travel of our life instead.
10 years to this! – 5th March 2016
When we started out in 2016 for our longest travel so far we had NO idea that our first trip was going to be the start of our travel life. Never could we have guessed that ten years later, we would have spent one quarter of our marriage on the move, on the road, on the beach, mountains, oceans and everywhere else. Yes building home and memories in all the places we went to!
Who imaged a travel lasting 40 days! Yes thats the longest we have been together like 24/7 literally for so long.
And thats how we walk into our 10th year! 10 years 10 countries and countless memories!
2016 – USA- HAWAII-MEXICO-CRUISE
Exploring the West coast of USA and then flying to dream island of Hawaii.
Getting Married again in Hawaiian style, Visiting Pearl Harbour and meeting their only survior there!
Exploring one of the 7 Wonders of the world and swimming in Pacific Ocean to reach his hidden beach in Mexico!
Embarking on the biggest cruise ship and exploring Bahamas and British Virgin Islands.
2017 – UDAIPUR – GREECE – FRANCE
Celebrating our 1st Anniversary in a royal way!
Continuing the celebration in the bylanes of white streets in Greece.
Ending it in the city of Love – Paris
2018 – Mountains of McLEOD GANJ!
Living in the mountains under the open skies!
2019 – ICELAND
Witnessing the Northern Lights, Diamond Beach, Ice Caves, Blue Lagoon and so much more!
2020 – Our Little MIRACLE!
When the world paused and said Hello!
2021 – NORTH INDIA
Taking mini trips Rishikesh/Mussourie to ease our mini us into our travel bug.
2022 – SOUTH INDIA
And some more to Coorg/Wayanad
2023 – VIETNAM
Visiting the colourful city of lights, love and beach!
2024 – KASOL
Elevating our love story one mountain at a time.
2025 – BAKU & GEORGIA
Fire mountains to snow clad hills!
In Tbilisi’s street, love found a home!
Even after decades of travel, I’ve always wanted to Travel with someone who…
Wakes you up at 4 am to climb a 5300m volcanic mountain with the most surreal moonscapes ( how many alarms did we keep for this one in Hawaii)
Goes to the back of beyond on the way to a World Wonder to find you the tastiest seasoned sweet spicy mangoes ( on the way to Chichen Itza,Mexico remember?)
Encourages you to get into the freezing water at Silfra dive, because life is too short not to. ( Getting into the dive suit was the funniest back story Iceland, Silfra dive)
Plays the crappiest 90s Bollywood music on repeat even while driving the most Hi-Tec Tesla on unending but scenic road journey ( Lake Tahoe drive )
But above all reminds you not to see the world in black and white, because we all have shades of grey, believes me when I say that the money we earn isn’t for luxuries; but spend it on experiences, and making memories.
The best part is we don’t just get to grow old together. We get to grow up together. And that’s the real adventure. I am just glad we got to create a family and continue the adventure with your mini version instead of taking a pause and not giving up on the dreams. It’s all been about raising the family we’ve wanted and not loose ourselves.
10 Years, 2 Hearts… but 1 Promise remains the same… Our adventure! Here’s to a Perfect 10 with you!
Where will we be in another ten years? Can’t wait to find out with you!
Georgia is a place that first captured my heart in 2016’s and has been on my planning list ever since then. And what better than spending a Georgian winter in the Caucasus mountains. A country that offers everything that most European cities do, at a fraction of cost.
I had read about its rugged mountains, ancient towns, and rich culture, but it wasn’t until I stepped off the plane in Tbilisi that I truly understood the magic of this incredible country. Georgia is a place where adventure, history, and nature blend in a way that feels refreshingly different from the typical European experience.
We started our Georgian trip with landing into the city and heading straight to the new and fairly spoken about Kassland. The drive from Tbilisi to Dashbashi Canyon takes about two hours, but the weather made it completely worthwhile.
When your drive looks like this, you can drive for hours right?
Imagine viewing a diamond structure suspended right in middle of the canyon that too with soft snowfall welcoming you!
The famous Diamond Bridge
And then walking on a bridge so transparent it feels like you’re floating in mid-air amongst the snow. That’s exactly the thrill of Georgia’s new Diamond Glass Bridge, a marvel that feels like it’s straight out of a sci-fi movie.
And sipping by hot coffee right in middle of this view is just something you couldn’t ask for more!
After spending an adventures day we headed back straight to the city to call it a night!
Next day we set off for Ananuri Fortress, a beautiful ancient site by the Aragvi River, about 70 km from Tbilisi.
Zhinvali Water Reservoir
On route we first made a stop at picturesque artificial Zhinvali Water Reservoir lake, that was created primarily for hydroelectric power, as well as water supply for Tbilisi and flood control. The color of the water is just unreal and photos don’t do justice!
Then came the fortress which overlooks the reservoir.It was stunning, with its 13th-century architecture and rich history. The best view comes from top of the tower. But climbing up to the top is not for the faint-hearted. The staircase is so steep and narrow that you literally have to crawl all the way to top!
The steep way to the top!
Taking a quick pitstop at the fort, came the most awaited drive to our ultimate snow destination, Gudauri Ski Resort which is set high in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains at 3,000 meters..
If you pick the right week to visit, it is not at all crowded on the slopes. February and March usually have great snow coverage and less people. There were no wait times for any of the lifts when we visited in March.
If you’re a beginner skier or snow lover like me, Gudauri is a fine place to test the waters and experiment. There are plenty of gentle slopes where you can just mess around and have fun, and even some of the intermediate runs are suitable for novices.
If skiing is not on your list, and you still want to soak up Gudauri’s incredible mountain landscapes, then your best bet is to go for a joyride on the ski lifts. But snowmobile ride is something you just cannot miss to explore these mountains.
I set aside the remaining day to try out all the different lifts and gondolas – each one offers a different view and several take you to different ‘levels’ of the resort where you will find restaurants, cafes and bars.
And just like that reaching the top most point at this resort the feeling was magical! Imagine standing at the edge of a vast expanse of snow-covered peaks, where every breath feels crisp and invigorating.
As the day ended, the mountain light softened, casting a golden radiance over the peaks. We returned to our mountain resort, exhausted but happy. The mountains had truly worked their magic – challenging and inspiring us. After such an exciting day, we settled in for the night at the Mountain Resort, dreaming of more adventures to come.
View from our Mountain resort!
Next day was to explore the Gudaurian town. Just like every Georgian city/town/village needs a church – even ski resorts like Gudauri. The main church here is Amaglebis Eklesia or Ascension Church, located in Old Gudauri across the valley from our Hotel Roshe!
I had seen photos of this pretty orange-crested church online, but had no idea where to search for it. Turns out it was right across the valley from our hotel. The walk to this pretty little church itself was like walking a cloud of snow because it had snowed over 3m previous night. Captured some of the best views from here!
Some of these scenes truly looked like paintings! Did we pull over every few minutes? Hell yeah 😍
We also tried our luck to make it to George Trinity church however the closest we could get was to the Russian-Georgian Friendship Monument (or Panorama Gudauri Viewpoint).
A colourful Soviet-era mosaic raised on a platform that commands incredible views of the mountains and valleys around Gudauri. Even this beautiful monument was submerged in thick snow and this is all we could view.
Not being very disappointed since something awaited us to warm our hearts, literally! The Georgian khachapuri – Turns out warm, doughy bread stuffed with high-calorie melted cheese is just the thing you need after a few hours traipsing through the snow! In Gudauri, u’ll craved it.
Gudauri is not just a ski resort; it’s an experience that captures the essence of winter wonder.
Since we headed to the city early and had time on hand we made a quick stop to Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta town. A beautiful little town a much more magnificent church.
Making way to the city, we had to make a detour to view the magnificent Chronicles of Georgia. Once you have made way through the final steps to the top, this humongous construction will leave you in awe.
Work on the Chronicles commenced in 1985 and lasted until 2003. But the monument was never completed. Almost 40 years later, it is finally nearing the end. Most of the scaffolding that previously covered parts of the sculpture has now been removed.
The main part of the Chronicles is the 16 columns that reach 35 metres high. It’s amazing to think that this obscure, unfinished sculpture created during the Soviet era has suddenly skyrocketed to the top of every Instagrammer’s hit list.
After checking in at the city hotel, I was eager to see what the city offered. The city tour felt like observing a beautiful painting, with each street corner telling its story.
A typical walking itinerary begins by taking the aerial tramway from Rike Park to the Narikala Fortress visiting the Mother of Georgia statue atop, and walking the steps down to land in Old Town. There, you can visit the Sulphur Bath Area, go to The Bridge of Love, and admire the old historical buildings with ornate wooden balconies, cross way through the Meidan Bazaar, ending at Freedom Square. The views of this city is just something else.
I loved the quirky, eclectic nature of this city and could have spent the entire trip exploring the historic streets of the Old Town day in and night.
As the day turned into night, Tbilisi came alive. The city lights twinkled, traditional music filled the air, and the delicious aroma of fresh Khachapuri (cheese-filled bread) drifted through the streets and not to miss the Chimney cake rolls for sure.
Our journey started in Tbilisi, a city that felt like walking through a living storybook.
Next day we took an easy drive route to Georgia’s former capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The impressive 6th century Jvari Monastery is located here, whose clifftop setting offers impressive views of the valley, the town of Mtskheta, and the confluence of two rivers: Mtkvari & Aragvi.
Heading straight to Uplistsiche Cave Town city from there. Uplistsikhe is somewhere around four or five thousand years old and carved into the limestone mountainside.
I was kind of expecting something quite primitive, rough-hewn caves that look like they were carved with sledgehammers but even today, but Uplistsikhe is an archaeological marvel that invites visitors to return to ancient times even today. With its labyrinthine streets and intricate rock-cut structures, this cave city is a place where history comes alive, with each cave and tunnel telling stories of past civilizations. At first glance, it may appear as a peculiar moonscape of oddly shaped rocks and rounded openings.
But when Uplistsikhe was founded, it was the big city. This wasn’t remote, this was the heart of civilisation. Half of Uplistsikhe’s history happened before Tbilisi was ever founded. And what more it also had a secret tunnel. Those swirling smooth sides is something you would want to marvel heading downstairs.
Overall this place with its rock-carved architecture and rich history offer a fascinating glimpse into Georgia’s past, set against a backdrop of stunning scenery.
Last day in the city we definitely wanted to experience the so talked about funicular ride to Mtatsminda top. On the highest point of Tbilisi there is a huge amusement park full of fresh air and awesome panoramas over the whole city.
It is located on Mount Mtatsminda and is a fantastic place to spend some free time, have fun, relax, have some nice food and enjoy life. Floating above the city, I could see the mix of artistic buildings, winding streets, and modern life.
But what we enjoyed the best were some surreal structures and constructions.
On the very last day before heading back to the airport with few hours in hand wanted to make the most of a sight which we missed in Azerbaijan due to weather conditions. Yes part of this majestic mountains lie in Georgia too.
The Rainbow Mountains— The landscape unfolded like a canvas painted by the hands of nature itself, with layers of vibrant hues that seemed to dance in the sunlight.
The mountains get their color from different layers of minerals stacked in the soil and are a sight to behold, and the clear skies that morning after a night of light rain made the colors even more resplendent…!
Leaving the Rainbow Mountains behind, we ventured towards the David Gareja Monastery Complex, a site that holds a special place in the heart of Georgia’s spiritual and cultural heritage. Nestled into the cliffs of the semi-desert, the monastery seemed to emerge from the rock itself, a testament to the devotion and resilience of those who built it centuries ago.
Even though I had heard that Georgia was a country full of beauty, nothing prepared me for the bounty that would unfold before my eyes. Georgia is a magical destination that feels like a postcard.
Cannot Miss:
Guduari for snow activities, especially snowmobiling.
Trying the The Georgian khachapuri and Chimney cake
Walking the old streets at night
Visiting the Diamond bridge
Exploring Chronicles of Georgia & Uplistsikhe Cave city
Last but not the least Rainbow mountain range if you missed them in Azerbaijan
I think the best way to describe Baku is that it is the ultimate city of juxtapositions. It’s the city with the ultimate contrast between old and new, one I’ve never seen before. It’s the perfect example of what discovering massive oil wealth can do for a country.
As you walk around Baku, you can’t help but be mesmerised by the fact that this city, which had nothing 100+ years ago, all of a sudden looks like it could be the new Vienna or Rome. It literally went from 0 to 100 in the span of just a few years. It’s massively sold into tourism only in the last few decades but with a much larger emphasis on the traditional European architecture and culture. One minute you’re surrounded by glittering high-rises and luxury hotels, the next you have tiny eateries and colourful carpet shops in a local market.
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.
