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Bilbao, Basque Country / Spain

11/9/2023

 
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Summary

Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals *****
Cost: £££
  • The largest city of northern Spain and the Basque Country, a region known for its unique culture and strong independence movement
  • City has a temperate climate and doesn't get quite so many tourists as other large cities in Spain
  • Didn't see a single Sikh and very few non-Europeans, but no issues travelling through the city with very friendly locals
  • Bilbao has a reasonable cost of living, and there is a lot to see and do
  • Main Sights: Casco Viejo, Guggenheim Museum, Plaza Nueva, Mercado de la Ribera, Basilica de Begona, Artxanda Park, Bilbao Abando, Estadio San Mames, Catedral de Santiago, Iglesia de San Nicolas

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Oviedo, Spain

28/8/2023

 
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Summary

Airport Security *****
Reception of locals ****
​Cost: £££
  • No issues with immigration or airport security when arriving or leaving to Asturias Airport
  • Didn't see a single other Sikh in Oviedo, but people in the city were generally nice (although they stare)
  • Walkable city with a beautiful historical core
  • Quieter than other popular Spanish cities and a lot more cost friendly too
  • Main sights: Catedral de San Salvador de Oviedo, Plaza del Fontan, Casco Antiguo, Monte Naranco, Santa Maria del Naranco, San Miguel de Lillo, San Francisco Park

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5 Gurdwaras to visit: Part 5 North America

14/8/2023

 
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Gurdwaras in North America

For the fifth article in this series, we are moving a little further afield from my home country in the UK and toward an area with a large Sikh population and huge influence in the Panjabi diaspora, North America. There are four large Sikh population centres here (Ontario, British Colombia, New York, and California), although you can find Sikhs across both Canada and the United States. You can read the rest of the series by following these links:

Part 1: Gurdwaras in the Midlands
Part 2: (More) Gurdwaras in the Midlands
Part 3: Gurdwaras in London & the South East
​Part 4: Gurdwaras in Europe​

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Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago

24/7/2023

 
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Summary

Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals *****
Cost: £££
  • Islands off the coast of South America with a strong Afro-South Asian culture
  • Stunning landscapes and natural scenery 
  • City can feel hot and stuffy, but there is plenty to see and do beyond beaches
  • No issues as a Sikh in the city or the airport, but had plenty of reminders to be careful and vigilant
  • Reasonably priced, with local bars and restaurants significantly cheaper than those made for tourists
  • Main Sights: Queen's Park Savannah, Maracas Beach, Caroni Swamp, Fort George, Maracas Lookout, Paramin Lookout, second oldest Gurdwara in the western hemisphere

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Miami & Palm Beach, Florida

10/7/2023

 
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Summary

Update: I originally posted this in 2017 but I've updated in 2023 following another visit
Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals ****
Cost: ££££
  • No issues flying in or out of Miami as a Sikh
  • Palm beach is Trump country but local residents were easy going and welcoming
  • Miami is a party city with a large Latin community
  • Fairly expensive during Spring Break
  • Main Sights: Miami Beach, Wynwood, South Beach, Bayfront Park, Downtown Miami, Mar-a-Lago, Little Havana, Sikh Society of Florida

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Astana, Kazakhstan

12/6/2023

 
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Summary

Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals *****
Cost: ££££
  • A new, planned city that serves as the capital of Kazakhstan
  • Creative architecture that aims to be futuristic but feels like a vision of the future from 20 years ago
  • City feels fake, with little character, and reminds me of a smaller Dubai
  • No issues as a Sikh in the city or the airport and people are friendly
  • More expensive than Almaty but taxis are still super cheap
  • Main Sights: Bayterek Tower, Grand Mosque of Astana, Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, Presidential Park, Future Energy Museum, 

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Almaty, Kazakhstan

22/5/2023

 
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Summary

Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals ****
Cost: £££
  • The largest and most economically important city in Central Asia
  • Beautiful landscapes as the city sits beside the Ile Alatau mountain range
  • Very little English spoken in the city, although greater usage among the younger generation
  • People are relatively friendly, and I had no problems in the city or the airport as a Sikh
  • The city is affordable, although it is expensive to fly to, and the cost of food and accommodation was greater than I expected 
  • Main Sights: Ascension Cathedral, Big Lake Almaty, Shymbulak, Kok-Tobe Hill, Green Bazaar, Panfilov Park, Museum of Folk Music Instruments, Almaty Museum, Abay Opera House, Almaty Central Mosque

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Istanbul, Türkiye

1/5/2023

 
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Summary

Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals ****1/2
Cost: £££
  • Culturally and historically one of the most important cities in human history
  • No problems as a Sikh at the airport or going around the city
  • Incredible variety of landmarks to visit, and a unique cityscape to see
  • From the UK - cheap to get to, and reasonably priced food and accommodation 
  • Main Sights: Hagia Sophia, Suleymaniye Mosque, Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace, Galata Tower, Grand Bazaar, the Bosphorus, Kadikoy, Taksim Square

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Basel, Switzerland

10/4/2023

 
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Summary

Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals *****
Cost: £££££
  • A medieval city located at the confluence of three countries: Switzerland, France, and Germany
  • Widely recognised as the cultural capital of Switzerland
  • No problems as a Sikh at the airport or going around the city
  • Cheap to get to (if you're from the UK), expensive once you arrive
  • Main Sights: The Three City Gates, Basel Minster, Tinguely Fountain, Marktplatz, Town Hall, Old Town

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Kyoto, Japan

20/3/2023

 
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Summary

Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals ****
Cost: £££££
  • Just over two hours from Tokyo in a bullet train
  • Cultural centre of Japan with over 2,000 temples and shrines
  • Large and unique concentration of Japanese pre-war architecture
  • No problems as a Sikh getting around the city
  • Main Sights: Kiyomizu-dera, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Gion District, Yasaka-Jinja, Nishiki Market, Sanjusangendo Temple

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    British Sikh, born in the Midlands, based in London, travelling the world seeing new cultures.

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