Few countries in the world have the geographic and cultural bipolarity of Vietnam: it’s an elongated country, historically divided between the North and the South, and with a mighty hub city in each part. Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon or simply HCMC is the country’s biggest city and the dominant city of the South. Hanoi,…
Category: Destinations
Destination: Uzbekistan
When mentioning Asia, too many people, especially in North America, automatically mean East Asia – China, Japan, Vietnam, Korea. That’s only a fraction of the whole enormous continent, however. For anyone actually interested in the Asian history, the attention should be inevitable drawn to Central Asia, or the so-called “The ‘Stans” – the 5 former…
My Top 10 San Francisco Sights
There’s no question that San Francisco should be visited by anyone who sets foot in the US. Europeans, in particular, love it: its Victorian buildings and maritime setting reminds them of a few similarly set cities on the continent, plus its liberal traditions are closer to the hearts of many young European travelers. Just like…
Destination: Singapore
Ask any Singaporean about their home country, and the most common answer would be “it’s boring”. I take that with a big grain of salt – the Singaporeans are a practical, skeptical and self-deprecating bunch for the most part, and they aren’t going to toot their own horn much. Besides, they are usually so busy…
Destination: Carrizo Plain
‘Tis the season for California wild flowers again. Photographers and tourists from all around the country flock to a few coveted spots to watch the bloom (superbloom some say), such as Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve, Anza-Borrego State Park and Carrizo Plain National Monument. And that’s the spot I would like to talk about. Approximately equidistant…
Destination: Indonesia
Indonesia is probably the most rewarding country for an adventurous backpacker in the region of Southeast Asia. It’s no surprise: it is by far the biggest country of South East Asia. Home to 3 of the world’s 10 largest islands, it possesses thousands more, most with at least something of interest. I have visited various…
Destination: Canyon de Colca (Peru)
Peru is a fantastic destination for all types of travelers, even the first-timers. The country boasts excellent food, friendly locals, relative safety (for South America at least), world-class nature. And did I mention the man-made monuments such as Machu Picchu, one of the most famous sites anywhere in the world? Millions of visitors flock each…
Phu Quoc versus Phuket – the Battle of the Isles
Anyone who has heard of Thailand has likely heard of Phuket island, and I am sure, most of my readers have actually been there. No surprise – Phuket has been Thailand’s premier and most popular destination for decades. Great beaches, famous Thai hospitality, affordable prices and plentiful entertainment options have deservedly made it the gem…
Destination: Faroe Islands
I am a big fan of island destinations. Not only do I enjoy being on a chunk of land surrounded by water, but islands also have a certain geographic completeness about them. Explorations are usually simpler, as you don’t have to cross borders – well, except a handful of islands anyway. The Faroes fit the…
Destination: Mexico
It’s been a while since I wrote about specific destinations, and today, I would like to write about Mexico, the country that is probably among the most rewarding in the world for any traveler our there. Every backpacker worth his flip-flops should visit Mexico. If you are from the US, it’s easy to overlook the…