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Summary

Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals *****
Cost: £££££

No issues travelling as a Sikh, although you won't find too many Sikhs in the city
One of the richest regions in Europe that manages to blend old world charm with new world technological and economic prowess
Cheap to get to from the UK, but an expensive city to be in with a high cost of living
Main Sights: Marienplatz, Frauenkirche, Asamkirche, Hofbräuhaus, English Gardens, Olympiapark, Allianz Arena

Summary

Update: I originally posted this in 2018 but I've updated in 2023 following another visit. Updates in italics
Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals ***1/2
Cost: ££££

It's the capital city of Austria, and a city with an incredibly rich history being located in the centre of Europe.
Austria has had a recent issue with far right nationalism, and although I saw a couple of other Singh's during my time there, and although it was never overtly hostile, there was definitely a feeling of unwelcomness. things felt a little different the second time around although I still got stares it wasn't as bad.
The architecture of the city is very uniform and incredibly beautiful, with few skyscrapers.
The city produced a number of luminaries in the 19th and early 20th century, and the feel of the city almost transports you back to that time - although I felt I was at least 10 years too young to really appreciate the city.
Main Sights: Schonbrunn Palace, St Stephen's Cathedral, Prater, Hofburg, State Opera, Museumsquartier, Hundredwasserhaus, Naschmarkt, Karlskirche

Summary

Airport Rating N/A
Reception of locals ****
Cost: £££

The largest city in Asturias and one of the most underrated cities in Spain
A city with a beach, an old town, and a large shopping district
No Sikh community in Gijon or the surrounding area
Reasonably priced, although some of the seaside towns nearby are more expensive
Main Sights: San Lorenzo beach, Laboral Ciudad de la Cultura, Cimadevilla, Estadio Molinon

Summary

Airport Rating N/A
Reception of locals ****
Cost: £££

The capital city of Cantabria that gives its name to the popular high street bank in the UK
A port city with direct ferry connections to the UK (but it isn't cheap)
Don't expect to see many Sikhs or Panjabis, or even other non-European tourists
The city itself has amenities that are reasonably priced, although they get more expensive during the summer holidays
Main Sights: Catedral de Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion, Peninsula of Magdalena, Playa Primera de El Sardinero, Puerto Chico, Mercado del Este, Centro Botin, Llanes, Ribadesella

Bilbao, Basque Country / Spain

11/9/2023

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

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

5 Gurdwaras to visit: Part 5 North America

14/8/2023

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

Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago

24/7/2023

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

Miami & Palm Beach, Florida

10/7/2023

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

Astana, Kazakhstan

12/6/2023

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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Your Journey starts here

Munich, Germany

Summary

Vienna, Austria

Summary

Gijon, Spain

Summary

Santander, Spain

Summary

Bilbao, Basque Country / Spain

Summary

Oviedo, Spain

Summary

5 Gurdwaras to visit: Part 5 North America

Gurdwaras in North America

Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago

Summary

Miami & Palm Beach, Florida

Summary

Astana, Kazakhstan

Summary

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THE TRAVELLING SINGH