The Travelling Singh
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • The World
  • ...and everything in it
  • Sikhs
  • Know your rights
  • Charity
  • Shop
UK
europe
North America

Your Journey starts here

Asia
Africa
South America

Amritsar, Panjab

3/2/2025

 
Picture

Summary

Airport Rating ****
Reception of locals ****
Cost: ££
  • One of the holiest cities of the Sikh people and a commercial hub of Panjab
  • Expensive to fly to, but cost effective when you get there
  • A lot to see and do from both Panjabi and Sikh perspectives
  • Main Sights: Sri Harimandir Sahib, Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Saragarhi Memorial, Jallianwala Bagh, Partition Museum

Read More

Mumbai, India

20/1/2025

 
Picture

Summary

​Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals ****
Cost: £££
  • The capital of Maharashtra and the commercial hub of India
  • A very busy city with grand Victorian architecture but significant income inequality and high levels of pollution
  • No big issues as a Sikh at the airport or city 
  • Main Sights: Elephanta Caves, Taj Hotel, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Marine Drive, Gateway of India, Colaba Market

Read More

Hanoi, Vietnam: Part II

8/7/2024

 
Picture

Summary

Airport Rating ****
Reception of locals *****
Cost: £££
  • My second trip to Hanoi and the surrounding area
  • The city has gotten a lot busier and a little more expensive but feels safe and the prices are reasonable
  • An intense experience with a lot of energy concentrated in the city centre
  • Main Sights: Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Temple of Literature, Train Street, Tran Quoc Pagoda, Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, French Quarter

Read More

Ho Chi Minh City: Part II

24/6/2024

 
Picture

Summary

Airport Rating ***
Reception of locals *****
Cost: £££
  • My second trip to Ho Chi Minh City, almost nine years after my first
  • The city feels a lot busier than my last visit, but that's not necessarily a bad thing
  • No issues as a Sikh in airports or in the city
  • Main Sights: Cu Chi Tunnels, Independence Palace, Ben Thanh Market, Central Post Office, Ba Thien Hau Temple, Book Street, Landmark 81, Tan Dinh Church, Cafe Apartments, Bui Vien Walking Street

Read More

Singapore: Part III

13/5/2024

 
Picture

Summary

Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals *****
Cost: £££££
  • My third trip to Singapore, almost 6 years after my second, and a decade after my first
  • There has been a little bit of change in the city, but it largely feels the same and remains expensive - but safe
  • This trip I focused on the Sikh history in the country
  • Main Sights: Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, Chinatown, Little India, Raffles, Little Korea, Haji Lane, Jewel

Read More

Shanghai (and a little Hangzhou), China

11/3/2024

 
Picture

Summary

Airport Rating n/a
Reception of locals *****
Cost: ££££
  • Largest city in China and a true global city with a relatively large (for China) immigrant population of Asians and Europeans
  • Shanghai is expensive, perhaps the most costly of Chinese cities that I have visited
  • Like the rest of China, local payment applications and a smartphone are essential to navigate life in the city
  • Main Sights: Shanghai World Financial Center, Oriental Pearl Tower, Bund, Former French Concession, Yuyuan Garden, Chenghuang Miao, Nanjing Road

Read More

Beijing, China

26/2/2024

 
Picture

Summary​

Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals ***
Cost: ££££
  • The most populous capital city in the world, and the second largest city in China
  • Largely functional and political city (similar to DC) without much the buzz or atmosphere
  • People are generally friendly and I had no issues at the airport
  • English is not widely spoken, and local payment applications and a smartphone are essential to navigate life in the city
  • Main Sights: Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Hohai, Beihai Park, Wangfujing Street, 

Read More

Hong Kong

12/2/2024

 
Picture

Summary

Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals *****
Cost: ££££
Update:
 I originally posted this in 2019 but I've updated in 2024 following another visit. Updates in italics
  • An assault on the senses; Hong Kong is a lot to take in
  • No issues at the airport, and no issues with locals
  • A city of extremes, with luxury high rise apartments, next to small box rooms in very old buildings
  • Main sights: Victoria Harbour, The Peak, Kowloon night markets, Tian Tan Buddha, La Kwai Fong, Central-Mid level escalators, Kowloon Walled City Park, Hong Kong trams, Aqualuna, Man Mo Temple

Read More

Abu Dhabi, UAE

8/1/2024

 
Picture

Summary

Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals *****
Cost: £££££
  • A more laid-back and less intense version of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates
  • One of the more expensive cities in this part of the world
  • No issues as a Sikh in either the airport or the city
  • Main Sights: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Qasr al Watan, The Corniche, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Marina Mall, Abrahamic Family House

Read More

Doha, Qatar

31/12/2023

 
Picture

Summary

Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals *
Cost: £££££
  • One of the best airports in the world, and with a large South Asian expat population, no issues as a Sikh either in the airport or the city although a year after my visit, the city closed down all Sikh Gurdwaras
  • City built on servitude and near slave labour, but advertises itself as an Arab success story
  • Much like Dubai, the city feels a little fake, a little like the Truman Show, but less of a tourist trap
  • It's pretty expensive
  • Main Sights: Souk Waqif, National Museum of Qatar, The Corniche, Villaggio, Pearl Island, Aspire Park 

Read More
<<Previous

    Author

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

    Picture

      Sign up for blog updates

    Subscribe to Newsletter

    Categories

    All
    Activities
    Africa
    Airlines
    Asia
    Austria
    Beaches
    Belgium
    Bolivia
    Brazil
    Cambodia
    Capital Cities
    Caribbean
    Chile
    China
    Czech Republic
    Europe
    Featured Articles
    Fitness
    Food
    France
    Germany
    Greece
    Guatemala
    Gurdwaras
    Hiking & Trekking
    Historical Sights
    India
    Ireland
    Italy
    Japan
    Kazakhstan
    Kenya
    Kuwait
    Lao
    Lists
    Luxembourg
    Malaysia
    Mauritius
    Middle East
    Money
    Netherlands
    Nigeria
    North America
    Panama
    Peru
    Photos
    Portugal
    Qatar
    SE Asia V South America
    Serbia
    Sikh
    Singapore
    South America
    South East Asia
    South Korea
    Spain
    Sport
    Studying
    Switzerland
    Thailand
    Trinidad & Tobago
    Türkiye
    Uae
    UK
    USA
    Vatican City
    Vietnam
    Views
    Visa
    Wonders Of The World
    Yearly Reviews

    RSS Feed

THE TRAVELLING SINGH

About
The World
Sikhs
© COPYRIGHT 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Photos from Rob.Bertholf, wwward0, jasleen_kaur, tc_manasan, blacklerphotos, miguel_discart_photos, Vallausa, fabrizio-russo, free pictures of money, miguel_discart_photos, thedescrier, falco500, François Lacroix, falco500, frankieleon, Rareclass
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • The World
  • ...and everything in it
  • Sikhs
  • Know your rights
  • Charity
  • Shop