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Mauritius

16/1/2023

 
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Summary

Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals *****
Cost: ££££
  • No issues at the airport or on the island as a Sikh
  • An island paradise with idyllic beaches, beautiful landscapes and a diverse mix of residents 
  • Mauritius is expensive to get to, and expensive in resorts, but gets cheaper in the cities and villages
  • Main Sights: Chamarel Waterfall, Le Morne Brabant, Seven Coloured Earth Geopark, Flic en Flac Beach, Pereybere Beach, Le Pouce

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Return to Dubai, United Arab Emirates

2/1/2023

 
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Summary

Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals *****
Cost: ££££
  • No issues at the airport and no issues in a very diverse and cosmopolitan city
  • City still feels a little fake with a focus on style over substance, 7 years after my first trip
  • Dubai continues to grow and expand and there are a lot more activities to do, especially with families
  • Main Sights: Burj Khalifa, Dubai Marina, Dubai Mall, Museum of the Future, Gold Souk, Global Village, Dubai Frame, 

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Athens, Greece

26/12/2022

 
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Summary

Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals ***
Cost: £££
  • No issues at the airport as a Sikh but a few strong stares in the city 
  • A city that feels like an open-air museum with history all around
  • Excellent night-life near the city centre, and a lot to see and do during the day
  • Relatively cheap for a European city
  • Main Sights: Acropolis, Parthenon, Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, Hadrian's Library, Plaka, Temple of Hephaestus, Panathenaic Stadium, Panagia Kapnikarea, Metropolis Cathedral of Athens

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Kuwait City, Kuwait

19/12/2022

 
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Summary

Airport Rating ****
Reception of locals *****
Cost: £££££
  • Small-dated airport, but no issues travelling through as a Sikh
  • A relatively strict city-state, especially when compared to some of the other countries on the Gulf coast
  • Not too much to do, main sights are shopping centres, but the locals are friendly
  • City is quite dull, but there are areas of beauty, particularly along the coast
  • Not as expensive as the UAE, but certainly not a cheap destination
  • Main Sights: Kuwait Towers, The Avenues, Souk Al-Mubarakiya, Coastal Walk

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Return to Bangkok, Thailand

5/12/2022

 
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Summary

Airport Rating **
Reception of locals *****
Cost: £££
  • Airport loses another two stars since last review with another questionable experience
  • Bangkok is still sensory overload, in good ways and bad
  • Public transport is relatively extensive, cheap and easy to use
  • Things have become slightly more expensive since my last visit, but cost of living in the city remains manageable for those on holiday
  • Main Sights (this time): Wat Saket, Khlong Bang Luang Floating Market, Terminal 21, Ong Ang Canal, Khao San Road, Sikh Gurdwaras, 

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Luang Prabang, Lao

21/11/2022

 
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Summary

Airport Rating •••••
Reception of locals *****
Cost: ££
  • Comfortably one of the most beautiful cities that I have visited
  • Stunning landscapes mixed with gorgeous historical buildings
  • I can imagine it must get rammed during the busy season with tourists
  • More expensive than Vientiane but still very affordable
  • No issues travelling as a Sikh, although no local Sikh community
  • Main Sights: Phousi Mountain, Wat Xiengthong, Kuang Si waterfalls, Luang Prabang Night Market, Morning Market

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Vientiane, Lao

7/11/2022

 
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Summary

Airport Rating ••••
Reception of locals *****
Cost: £
  • Not easily connected from the UK, requiring connecting flights from larger neighbouring countries
  • No issues as a Sikh in the airport, or walking around the city (in fact, I got a lot of positive attention)
  • Expensive to fly there, but very cheap when you arrive
  • Lacks the x-factor that some other capital cities in neighbouring countries have
  • Main Sights: Wat Si Saket, Patuxai, That Dam, Vientiane Night Market

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San Francisco, California

10/10/2022

 
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Summary

Update: I originally posted this in 2017 but I've updated in 2022 following another visit
Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals *****
Cost: £££££
  • San Francisco is the financial and cultural centre of northern California, known for its natural beauty and temperate climate
  • A large Panjabi population lives in the wider Bay Area, and a historical connection to Mexico means that the city is culturally diverse
  • No major issues at airport security, or getting around the city
  • It's an expensive city, more so than NYC and perhaps London too
  • Main Sights: Golden Gate Bridge, Ferry Building, Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf, Lombard Street, Chinatown, Cable cars, Mission district, Dolores Park, Crissy Field
There are four parts of the world that every Sikh has family friends or relatives; Panjab, England, Canada and California. I'd heard (and read) a lot about the west coast of the United States, and I was excited when I was given the chance to give a talk in San Francisco. I decided to extend my stay for a few extra days and ended up spending almost a week in the city.

Its the tech capital of the world and in terms of western cities, it's definitely one of the strangest I have ever visited. Areas of ridiculous money are often a short walk from areas of abject poverty. The natural beauty of the Bay Area is contrasted by the dirty, run down and drug infested streets away from the coast. It's a city of extremes, but it's one that has left a strong impression on me.

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New York City, United States

12/9/2022

 
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Summary

Airport Security *****
Reception of locals ****
  • No problems at any of the New York City airports as a Sikh, and generally very few problems in Manhattan. However, there have been high-profile attacks on Sikhs in other boroughs of the city
  • A city full of creativity and youthful energy - there is always something to see or do 
  • There are innumerable famous landmarks, beautiful public parks, and excellent museums 
  • The food scene is incredible
  • To experience all New York has to offer, you need a lot of money and there is a sizeable gap between the wealthy and everyone else
  • No universal health care means there are a lot of mentally challenged people, and while crime rates have dropped, they remain higher than cities in the UK
  • Main sites: too many to name!

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First impressions of Washington DC

22/8/2022

 
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Summary

Airport Security *****
Reception of locals *****
  • No issues with immigration or airport security when arriving or leaving from the three DC-area airports
  • It's a relatively small city full of government workers and lobbyists 
  • The swamp isn't just a nickname, it is hot and humid
  • While the city is expensive, there are a lot of free things to do
  • There are Gurdwaras and a small but vibrant Sikh community
  • Infrastructure is poor, but it's a walkable city

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

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