There was a crowd of little children at the entrance of the Citadel and I hesitated for a moment before going in. The jet lag was almost cured, but my head was still throbbing a little, as finding peace in Hanoi can be quite a challenge. The children were noisy and errant. The caretakers were … Continue reading Exploring the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long in Hanoi
It is really hard to escape the cacophony of sounds in Hanoi and there is just literally so much stuff pilling everywhere - from mopeds, people, storefronts full of different objects, food - that even your eyes need a break, just something to look at that is simple, uncomplicated. I crave going to place where … Continue reading The mysterious Hoan Kam Lake in Hanoi
It was 6:30am when I landed at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, Vietnam. I had a headache. I had only slept a few hours the night before my flight (travel jitters are a thing), and the flight had been a nightmare, a choir of children crying and shouting, making it impossible for me to … Continue reading Hanoi, Vietnam – Navigating a Chaotic Stream of Sensations
I did very little shopping, or none actually in these areas. Yet these are likely to be on your itinerary if you are visiting Istanbul. The Grand Bazaar because the whole thing is an attraction in itself. The Istiklal avenue because it is a main street hard to miss on the other side of the … Continue reading Shopping in two different Eras in Istanbul – The Grand Bazaar & Istiklal Avenue
When you think of Istanbul the first image that comes to mind is probably that of Hagia Sophia. The Mosque that once was a Church, the Church that became a Mosque, and the Mosque that became a Museum to be turned back into Mosque. Yet I doubt anyone really goes to Hagia Sophia for prayer. … Continue reading Visiting the mosques of Istanbul
The Winged Bone 