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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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Tokyo, Japan

6/3/2023

 
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Summary

Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals ****
Cost: £££££
  • No issues at the airport as a Sikh
  • People are generally friendly and polite, but have a distrust of foreigners 
  • Relatively expensive city, and surprising still heavily cash based
  • Incredible metropolis that stretches for miles, with an endless things to see and do
  • Main Sights: Asakusa, Akihabara, Ikekeburo, Shinjuku, Harajuku, Ginza, Senso-Ji, Meiji Jingu Shrine, Shibuya Sky and Crossing, teamLAB planets, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observation Deck, Yoyogi Park, Zojo-Ji, Imperial Palace, Roppongi, Omoide Yokocho, Atago Jinja 

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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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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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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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Dublin, Ireland

11/7/2022

 
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Summary

Airport Rating ••••
Reception of locals *****
Cost: ££££ 
  • A flight that takes less than an hour and costs less than £20 from Birmingham
  • No issues as a Sikh in the airport, or walking around the city (bonus, there is also a Gurdwara nearby)
  • Walkable city centre with plenty to do over a short weekend
  • A lot of similarities with British cities outside of London in terms of architecture, but a definite Irish vibe to the place
  • Main Sights: Little Museum of Dublin, Trinity College, Book of Kells, Guinness Storehouse, Temple Bar area, St. Stephen's Green

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Rome, Italy

30/5/2022

 
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Summary

Update: I originally posted this in 2018 but I've updated in 2022 following another visit
Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals *****
Cost: ££££
  • No issues with airport security when landing or leaving Rome Fiumicino airport on two different occasions
  • Saw only one other Singh during my 4 days in the city, but locals are welcoming and although not as multicultural as London or New York, it is still an open, cosmopolitan city
  • Capital and largest city in Italy with a history stretching back 3,000 years including being the foundation of the Roman Empire
  • Main Sights: Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Pantheon, Villa Borghese, Trevi Fountain, Spanish steps, Aventine Hill, Via dei Coronari, Trastevere
Known as the Eternal City, the Capital of the World and the first ever large metropolis, Rome as a city is almost unparalleled in terms of its history and impact on the western world.

I decided to spend a few days discovering the history and story of the city with tips from locals born and raised in the city and found Rome to be one of my favourite cities that I have visited - both as a general traveller, and as a Sikh.

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Amsterdam, Netherlands

23/5/2022

 
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Summary

Update: I originally posted this in 2018, but have updated in 2022 following another visit
Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals *****
Cost: ££££
  • One of the strangest cities in Europe, with an eclectic mix of history, culture, beauty, art and seediness.
  • No issues at all with airport security, and Schiphol Airport has modern scanners so you don't remove liquids or laptops either.
  • Not the cheapest city to visit, but better value than cities such as Zurich.
  • In the spring time, full of UK stag parties clustered around the Red Light District, but locals are fine, although there is a growing nationalist movement.
  • Main Sights: Westerkerk, Anne Frank House, the many museums, two Gurdwaras, canals, Amsterdam Arena, Vondelpark, Red Light District

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

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