Travel
-
12 Exotic Destinations to Visit in 2017
For many people January is time for making new year resolutions, but for me it’s time to look over my bucket list and make travel plans for the year ahead. I was recently checking a list of countries I already visited (36 countries so far!) and figuring out where to head next. I have been to some really cool and exotic places, from Bali and Morocco to Iceland and Central Asia. But today, I am sharing my and other travel bloggers’ top picks for exotic places you should put on your 2017 travel list. p.s. all photos belong to contributing bloggers (unless indicated otherwise) 1. KENYA I went to Kenya twice…
-
Cats: World Travels Through the Eyes of Feline Lover
Being a feline lover and amateur photographer means whenever I see a cat, I have to take a picture of it. Throughout my travels I have seen and taken photos of many cats. Some where shy and minded their own business, while others approached me, sometimes in the least expected manner. Like people, each of these felines had its own story to purr. And if you want to learn something about a country and its people, just look at the way they treat their animals (especially homeless cats and dogs). Cambodia If you read my blog on Cambodia, you would already know that I went there twice and absolutely loved the…
-
72-Hour Guide to Norway: Oslo (Part II)
Besides the Christmas walks and fun experiences around London that I have written about earlier, one of my favorite things to do each December before Christmas is visiting Oslo. My husband and I have discovered Oslo first time in 2014 in search of a snowy destination and have been going back every year since then. The city fits the bill for winter holidays for many reasons: there is lots of snow (which we love!), there is plenty to see and do both sporty and culturally, it’s efficient and safe, and it’s very cosy and welcoming. This is Part II of my blog post on Oslo, following earlier Part I. Day…
-
8 Soviet New Year Celebration Traditions I Love
As I have already described here, growing up in the Soviet Union was far from the ordinary. With religion being forbidden and no Christmas celebrations allowed until the 1990s, New Year has become the biggest and most exciting holiday of the year with large-scale celebrations that last for days. Even though the times of the Soviet Union are long gone, many countries that once made USSR still hold on to some of its New Year celebration traditions which I am sharing in this post. 1.New Year Tree The New Year (not Christmas!) tree is the center of New Year’s celebrations at every home. Lovingly decorated with glass baubles, tinsels and…
-
72-Hour Guide to Norway: Oslo (Part I)
Besides the Christmas walks and fun experiences around London that I have written about earlier, one of my favorite things to do each December before Christmas is visiting Oslo. My husband and I have discovered Oslo first time in 2014 in search of a snowy destination and have been going back every year since then. The city fits the bill for winter holidays for many reasons: there is lots of snow (which we love!), there is plenty to see and do both sporty and culturally, it’s efficient and safe, and it’s very cosy and welcoming. As you know, 2016 has been a year of ‘hygge’ – a new word/concept that has…
-
Weekend Getaway: Bath Christmas Market
As I continue the series of Christmas-related posts on what to see and do in London during the festive season, today I wanted to talk about Bath Christmas market. Bath (or more accurately Bath Spa) is a small but very beautiful and cosy town in Somerset and a UNESCO Heritage site, just 1.5 hour away from London. It’s very popular among the Brits and visitors, thanks to its renowned Roman baths, beautiful Georgian architecture, nearby world attractions such as iconic Stonehenge and great options for shopping, entertainment and eating out. I have been to Bath few times, but this trip was special as I ventured out to see Bath Christmas market.…
-
72-Hour Guide to Berlin: Christmas Markets
If you think you have seen amazing Christmas markets, think again! Last December I went to Berlin simply with the purpose of seeing German Christmas markets and I wasn’t disappointed! Germans truly know how to prepare for Christmas. This is not surprising given the fact that tradition of setting up Christmas markets around the main town square originated in this part of the world and dates back as early as 13-14th century. This was my second trip to Berlin the same year (read my detailed 72-Hour Guide to Berlin) but the city was completely transformed with gigantic Christmas trees, light displays, various funfairs and market stalls everywhere. In today’s blog post I pick…
