2025 through my eyes

2025

This year marks the 10th yearly review that I am writing, and it completes a full decade of this blog. It's wild to think how far I've travelled in these 10 years, especially given that I grew up below the poverty line in a single parent household, but I'm enjoying the ride. I'm also aware that the world is becoming (or seems to be) a less safe place for many groups of people including, including Sikhs. This year saw a lot of global crises, and for us, there were the floods that devastated Panjab (you can read about it here).

My end of year review for 2024 is here
My end of year review for 2023 is here
My end of year review for 2022 is here
My end of year review for 2021 is here
My end of year review for 2020 is here
My end of year review for 2019 is here
My end of year review for 2018 is here
My end of year review for 2017 is here
My end of year review for 2016 is here

This year I travelled across five different geographical regions from Singapore and Vietnam in east Asia to New Orleans in the United States, and many different cities in the middle.

The Subcontinent

I visited both Panjab and India in late 2024 but didn't have a chance to write my articles before the 9th yearly review, so they both get included here. I enjoyed my time in both places.

In Panjab I spent most of my time in Amritsar, although I went as far east as Anandpur Sahib which was beautiful as always. Anandpur Sahib is the home of the Khalsa and hosts one of the most important Gurdwaras in Sikhi, Sri Kesgarh Sahib. Amritsar is home to Sri Harmandir Sahib, popularly known in the west as the "Golden Temple", and without a doubt one of the most beautiful places in the world. Opposite Harmandir Sahib is the Akaal Takht, the political home of Sikhi. During this trip I was lucky enough to do a full recitation of Sukhmani Sahib within the Akaal Takht which was a huge personal highlight.

I spent quite a bit of time in the city was surprised to see just how much redevelopment has happened since my last trip. The city centre was clean, and there were some beautiful museums and remembrances, from the emotionally moving Partition Museum, to the serenity of the Saragarhi Memorial. Some redevelopment has been done at the expense of preserving Panjabi and Sikh heritage and that's always worrying.

I also had a chance to visit Taran Taaran, which is every bit as beautiful as Harmandir Sahib but without the crowds. If I'm honest, it's probably my favourite place in the whole of Panjab. There is a peaceful and authentic beauty here that I think is completely unmatched anywhere else. I loved the peace of the Panjabi countryside, the beauty of its architecture, and the spirituality of its Gurdwareh.

I enjoyed India for completely different reasons, although it's important to add that I only visited one part of India, Mumbai. India is a huge continent made up of many different people, and one day I'd like to explore it a little more. The city is loud, dirty, and overcrowded but it's also a vibe. It has the type of chaos you'd expect from a city that attracts migrants from across India and even further afield looking to make a life for themselves and it was an impressive sight to see. That's not to say Mumbai isn't beautiful, it has some gorgeous architecture, mostly dating back to the British rule, with places like the university, train station, and the famous Taj Hotel all stunning to see in person. 

You can read about my trip to Amritsar here
You can read about my trip to Mumbai here

Europe

I spent a fair bit of the year travelling through central and western Europe.

I started the year in the south of France across the principality of Monaco and the city of Nice as I watched my football team, Aston Villa, have their first season in the Champions League in my lifetime. There is a lot of beauty in both cities, and a lot of extravagance too. They aren't the cheapest but it doesn't cost anything to walk either and you can see a lot from walking in these cities. As a football fan and a Formula 1 fan, it was ideal for me, but even beyond those narrow interests there are beautiful old towns (in both cities), you have the coast, and you have a 20th century glamour that is definitely dated, but that weirdly adds to atmosphere. 

In eastern France I visited both Colmar and Strasbourg. Colmar is a small tourist town bordering Germany and Switzerland. The old town and canal system are beautiful and it was worth a day trip from Basel in order to see it (I didn't do anything new in Basel this trip so I didn't write a new article on it). Strasbourg really surprised me. I had expected a functional city, after all, it serves as one of the political capitals of the European Union. However, what I got was a city that is covered in history. The old town is a decent size, and during Christmas transforms into something quite magical, with markets, lights, and a very nice vibe. There is plenty to see, and Strasbourg Cathedral is one of the most impressive cathedrals that I have ever visited. I also spent some time in Paris and in Brittany, but I have written about them extensively before and so didn't do so this time around.

I returned to Serbia after five years, with a short stop in Belgrade before spending a few days in the north of the country in Subotica and Lake Palic. The city, designed during the heyday of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is filled with interesting architecture and a fascinating history. Given that its eastern Europe, there are definitely a few more people staring, but no one said anything to me and I ended up having a lot of fun.

I finished the year in Germany, visiting the university city of Freiburg im Breisgau. It has a very small (but interesting) old town, and a beautiful hill that provides very nice views of the whole city, but it wasn't the most memorable of places. 

You can read about my trip to Monaco here
You can read about my trip to Nice here
You can read about my trip to Colmar here
You can read about my trip to Strasbourg here
You can read about my trip to Subotica here
You can read about my trip to Freiburg im Breisgau here

The Americas

I spent a little more time in the Americas this year visiting a few new places. Off the coast of the main continent, I visited Dominica, one of the smallest and poorest islands in the Caribbean, but also one of the most beautiful, raw, and untouched places. The majority of the island is still jungle, and a significant proportion of the island is a protected area for one of the few remaining indigenous groups in the area. I really enjoyed my time seeing the unique landscapes, but if you want to go for beaches or for city vibes, this won't be the place for you.

In the United States I had a chance to visit a city that has been on my list for a long time, New Orleans, and it lived up to the hype, sort of. It's the least American city that I've seen in the United States with a strong French and African mix. The architecture is fascinating and there a bunch of very cool museums and restaurants you can visit. However, the city if most famous for its nightlife, and while it does the nightlife thing very well, if that's not your scene, you might want to try someplace else. I was back in New York City, a place I once lived in and have written a lot about so I chose to sit back and enjoy the city on this occasion rather than writing again and covering old ground.

And something completely different is Shenandoah National Park, the first national park that I visited in the United States. It's one thing that the U.S. does better than almost any other country in the world and I can see why. The wide open space, the wild untouched forests, options to hike, and the incomparable Skyline Drive all make it a breathtaking place.

You can read about my trip to Dominica here
You can read about my trip to New Orleans here
You can read about my trip to Shenandoah National Park here

The Middle East

I've visited most of the Gulf countries over the years and while I'm not a huge fan, I really really liked Bahrain. It's one of the smallest countries in the region, but it massively punches above its weight in terms of history and culture. It's not as rich as some of its neighbours and so the local Arabs work closely with immigrants, largely from the subcontinent, something you don't always see in the region. It also means there are several Gurdwareh, including in the capital city. Some of the standouts for me were the Pearling Path, the fort, and the fort's museum. 

I connect quite regularly through Dubai, and while it isn't my favourite city in the world, it's safe, clean, and it's easy to spend a few hours in the city, especially on longer layovers. The main reason I stopped over was to see a new Gurdwara, the Al Aweer Gurdwara which is located closer to the airport than the more famous Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara on the opposite side of the city and is significantly more low-key located in a factory-stye building, but I was very happy to see it. 

You can read about my trip to Bahrain here
​You can read about my trip to Dubai here

East Asia

I've probably visited East Asia more than any other region, and it remains one of my favourite areas in the world.

I visited Vietnam for the fourth time, and while I spent most of my trip in Hanoi once again, I also managed to finally see Ha Long Bay. It's been on my list for over a decade, and it was great to take the relatively short 3-hour bus ride to the coast and then spend some days travelling through the bay, visiting small landmarks and islands along the way. While I found the otherworldly landscapes captivating, I worry about sustainability and the future of the region which is obviously suffering from overtourism (and I get the irony that I have added to it). It raised broader questions for me that I'd like to one day tackle about how travelling can be made more sustainable for future generations and local communities (building on something I wrote a few years ago that you can read here).

I was also back in Singapore for the fourth time, and while it was a quieter trip, I still managed to visit some places I haven't done before, like the national stadium to watch Rugby Sevens, the Asian Civilisations Museum, while also revisiting some of the famous landmarks I've seen a few times before.

I visited Bhutan but it was late in the year, and as I will be returning to Bhutan in 2026, I'll include the write up in the next edition.

You can read about my trip to Ha Long Bay here
​You can read about my trip to Singapore here

Looking Forward

I'll be back in Bhutan in the new year, but I'd like to spend a little more time in the African continent. I'd also like to write a few more articles on Gurdwaras around the World because there are many more that I have seen that I'd like to share in one easy to find place. 

The biggest thing for me this year will be to reflect on 10 years writing this blog. It's been a journey that I didn't imagine would still be going on, but while I still have passion and energy (and health), I'll keep writing. This year I'll write some articles looking back at the first 10 years, but you might also find some changes on this website and my social media.