The Dolomites (or Dolomiti in Italian) hold a special place in my heart. This vast mountainous region of northern Italy has been my go-to place to satisfy my nature craving. Truly, there is no other place in Western Europe like it. The Dolomites, despite being located next to the Alps, are uniquely different and are well-known for their rocky and limestone formations and mind-blowing jagged mountains. There are hundreds of well-marked hiking trails, climbing routes, and via Feratta’s around theRead more
Our first trip to Scotland was completely ad-hoc. Although we had the return train tickets and car rental booked, we didn’t have a clue where exactly we were heading to and where we were going to stay until a day before we were about to leave for the trip! We only knew one thing: we wanted to conquer the highest mountain in the UK: Ben Nevis. That’s all! Other than that, we were not prepared. To make the matter evenRead more
Our sailing trip around the islands of Komodo is one of our favourite moments in Flores. Not only did we hike, snorkel, swim, and see manta rays and a turtle, but we also managed to relax on the boat! The view of the islands of Komodo was spectacular. The landscape was incredibly unique — I had never seen anything like this in any other places in Indonesia. Read more: Komodo Sailing Trip: Exploring the Breathtaking Komodo Islands in Flores, Indonesia BeforeRead more
When I first decided to go to Torres del Paine, I was surprised by the number of blogs searchable on the Internet. They were plenty of information that I could find, but none of them was the information that I was looking for. First of all, I did not want to hike the famous O/W/Q treks (I definitely want to do it, but due to time and weather constraints we had to drop that plan). Most of the blog posts thatRead more
2017 marks my second year travelling with my husband after we officially got married in 2016. It has been an interesting ride for both of us, as we get more and more used to travelling as a couple. In fact, it feels weird not having him by my side when I explore new places. He’s my best traveling buddy! Compared to the previous years, we only managed to visit/revisit three destinations in 2017. We spent the bulk of our annualRead more
Kerman Province is Iran’s second largest province. Situated in the southeast of Iran, it is home to diverse landscapes from deserts, mountains, historical cities, and ancient citadels. The hottest place on earth, Dasht-e Lut Desert or Kaluts, can be found in Kerman. The region also inherits a long history of human settlements which goes back to the fourth millennium BC. Historically, it was part of the region of the Achaemenid Empire, known as Carmania, with mining (silver, copper, ochre, orpiment, andRead more
I have always been fascinated with the ancient city of Yazd. Situated on the high, desert plateau of the central Iran, the city is widely known for its mud-brick houses decorated with distinct windcatchers and tucked in between small alleyways. Being one of the important stops along the Silk Road, Yazd has a rich history of over 5000 years dating back to the time of the Median empire and is famous for its silk-weaving industry. Even the well-known traveller Marco Polo, whoRead more
Mt Merapi. Here I am, standing at your foot, looking at you in awe. A smoke carefully finds its way out of its chamber, while the sun rises over the horizon overlooking the city of Yogyakarta. Mt Merapi may not be the highest mountain on the island of Java, but it is one of the most active and destructive mountains in Indonesia. It is also an important mountain with its own myths that are still ingrained in a day-to-day lifeRead more
Tehran is a bustling capital city of Iran. It was turned into the official capital city of Persia since 1776 by Agha Mohammad Khan of the Qajar Dynasty after it was moved from Shiraz. The city is beautifully guarded by the Alborz mountain in the north, which can often be seen from certain parts of the city. Read more: Visiting Tochal: A Mountain that Looms over Tehran Being one the world’s fastest growing city, Tehran has seen explosions of its populationRead more
Iran is one of my favourite countries that I have visited. It is home to one of the oldest civilisations in the world. It has varied landscapes, impressive architectures, stunning mosaics, great history, and delicious foods. The people are the nicest and their hospitality often surprised me. That’s why I visited Iran twice: in 2011 during my 1-month backpacking trip in the Middle East, and recently in 2017 with my beloved husband. Will I visit Iran for the third time?Read more
Abyaneh is one of the oldest villages in Iran. It is known to have existed 2,500 years ago. Situated on the north-western slope of Mount Karkas between Kashan and Esfahan, this ancient village is a living museum of Iran, preserved for its cultural heritage, traditions, and unique beauty despite centuries of changing rules, dynasties, and kingdoms in Persia. The oldest building in Abyaneh, Harpak Zoroastrian Fire Temple, was a true testament to the existence, growth, and advancement of the once-isolatedRead more
Yogyakarta or Jogja had been on my bucket list for a long time. It was one of the regions in Indonesia that I would like to visit. Its history, kingdom, culture, arts, and Borobudur are the main reasons why I want to set my foot here. Surprisingly, Jogja has so much to offer! It’s no longer a region of temples anymore. There are so many landscapes and attractions you can choose: from museums, beaches, forests to mountains. This trip wasRead more
I always wondered if Tehran would treat me the same way it treated me when I travelled here 6 years ago. Before I came here for my second visit (and this time, with my husband), I told myself to control my expectations. Societies change. People change. Cultures change. And Iran is no exception. What did I find at the end? Well, to my surprise, by the end of this trip, I have nothing but good memories of Iran. Despite the increasing influx ofRead more
Tehran is a huge city and if you ask an Iranian what their favourite restaurants are, they’d usually ask you back, “Which part of Tehran do you want to go to?” There are simply many choices that you can choose from. So here are the 4 restaurants that were recommended to me by many of my Iranian friends and hosts. You can try other eateries and restaurants, but make sure you don’t miss these! Moslem Restaurant Your visit to TehranRead more
