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Breakfast Mango Oats Porridge
I started 2017 with a promise to myself to eat cleaner (i.e. no processed foods and limit sugar and ‘bad’ carbs), while exercising on a regular basis. One of the ways to nourish body with goodness of healthy and natural ingredients is to have a good breakfast. So I found this super easy yet healthy, filling and yummy breakfast – mango oats porridge. It tastes more like a dessert so no complains here! INGRIDIENTS 4 tsp rolled oats 2 tsp chia seeds 1/2 ripe mango dash of soy or almond milk sprinkle of desiccated coconut METHOD In a small bowl mix oats with chia seeds, and pour boiling water to…
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72-Hour Guide to Cambodia: Phnom Penh and Siem Reap (Part I)
Cambodia is one of those Southeast Asian countries that I have been wanting to visit for a long time and last year I got to go there twice. I rarely mention my work in my blog but my international development career often takes me to various places around the world. For two years I was overseeing a big initiative in Asia and Cambodia, thankfully, was one of the countries in my portfolio. Cambodia is a beautiful combination of spirituality and soulfulness, and is still less touristy and commercialized than neighboring Thailand. But it has lots to offer to international vagabonds such as myself. If you don’t have much free time like me (I was…
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Tuna Stuffed Peppers
It’s a new year and I have been trying really hard to adopt a new habit of eating clean (or as clean as possible!). With a kitchen cupboard full of tuna cans, tuna has become my best friend when it comes to quick and easy healthy recipes. Tuna is a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids and lean protein. So today, I am excited to share a great recipe – tuna stuffed peppers – for lean but filling dinner I made the other day. INGRIDIENTS 3 bell peppers, sliced in half and deseeded 2 cans of tuna (160gr per can) 1/2 can of red beans 2/3 can of sweet corn…
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London Gems: 2017 Magical Lantern Festival
January is such a dreary time, especially in grey and cold London. However, if you want a bit of sparkle in your post-holidays life – head to Chiswick House and Garden for the Magical Lantern Festival. It was my second year in a row and I absolutely loved it. Check out photos and video below to see why. Magical Lantern Festival has been running in London for two years now and marks annual celebrations of Chinese New Year. This year’s theme was the Silk Road, the ancient trade route from China to Europe. Having grown up in Central Asia, I was particularly excited and curious to see how the Silk…
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Salomat Ikat: Fashion With a Conscience
I am always on the look-out for smaller independent brands that offer something different and unique. So, when I heard that a friend of a friend started a fair-trade fashion and accessories brand that uses my favorite Ikat fabrics, I had to check it out! If you read one of my older blog posts on Ikat, you would know that I love this traditional Central Asian pattern weaving that produces beautiful and vibrant fabrics. These were typically used to making traditional clothing in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. But with western designers discovering Ikat and incorporating into their runway collections (just think Oscar de la Renta, Gucci and my beloved Tory Burch), this…
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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…
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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…
