Since the fall of the Iron Curtain, Prague has become an increasingly popular tourist destination, especially amongst stag do's and it was for this reason that I went to the Czech capital with about 20 other brown guys. Whilst Prague is used to bachelor parties, turns out, it isn't so used to brown people. Not that I had any trouble out there, but it was a weekend full of curious looks.
Unlike most other large cities on the European mainland, Prague escaped much of the fighting that destroyed other cities during the two world wars, and therefore it retains a lot of its historic architecture. Beautiful buildings from different periods in different styles that tell the story of the growth of this city, from a small settlement into the large metropolis that it is today. There's a lot to love about this city, and here are my 5 favourite things about Prague. I don't usually visit the same place twice, but three trips later, I would still happily go back to Barcelona.
I love absolutely every part of this amazing mediterranean city; from the crowded streets of the Gothic Quarter, to the open spaces of Park Guell. I love the fiercely independent catalan culture that reminds me so much of Panjab and the welcoming nature of the locals. In fact, it was a visit to a local Gurdwara where the Giani (Priest) told me the local community was very supportive of Sikhs within Barcelona. I had a couple of short trips that were stag parties for my friends and a longer more extended stay where I attended a summer school at the Barcelona Graduate School of Economics. Each trip allowed me to see a different side to the city. Out of all the places I have been to, this was perhaps the most difficult to whittle down to just 5 things I loved, but here are my 5 favourite things in Barcelona. Spain is the number one destination for British tourists, and its not hard to see why. Sun, sea, sand, lively nightlife, a rich cultural history and cheap flights mean this country has a little something for everyone.
I have been to Spain a number of times over the past few years including trips to Madrid, Ibiza, Menorca, Valencia (x2) and Barcelona (x3). I have even spent a little time studying in the country and every time I go I experience something new and something different. Although, the one thing I have never experienced over there is rain. It's difficult to condense my experiences into a small list, but here are the 10 things I loved most about Spain,. When it comes to Thailand, I can't limit myself to my usual 5 favourite experiences as this country has so much to offer.
I have been to Thailand twice in the past 3 years, covering the entire country from the ancient cities in the north to the beaches and islands of the south and everything in between and I loved absolutely everything about it. From cycling in the beautiful countryside of Lampang to enjoying beach parties in Ko Phangan, here are the 10 things I loved about Thailand. Peru is one of those few countries that seem to have mastered being modern and traditional at the same time. The majority of the population is Amerindian, with Quechua and Aymara people still speaking the same language as they did during the times of the Inca. There is also a sizeable population of European descent who have brought with them Spanish culture. Unlike other areas of South America, however, the Spanish culture didn't completely replace the culture of the Amerindians, instead it seems to melt into it. When you add minorities from Africa and the Far East, you truly have one of South America's most multi-ethnic countries.
From the cuisine to the sights, Peru has a lot to offer. Whether its modern Lima with its Skyscrapers in Downtown or the bars and restaurants in Miraflores, or Ollantaytambo with its beautiful snowcapped mountains and preserved Incan culture, Peru certainly has a little something for everybody. I didn't get to explore the northern part of the country and I heard amazing stories about Arequipa, however, here are my 5 favourite things about Peru. Live and learnThere are a few things I wish I knew before I went travelling. Somethings are quite obvious, others I learnt the hard way.
The good thing about going on an adventure is what you learn along the way: things about you, things about your location and things about life more generally. However, there are times when I'm out somewhere in a random country and I think to myself, I wish I knew this before I set off. So here are a list of 7 things that I wish I knew before travelling. If you have any hints/tips or things you found out the hard way, feel free to leave a message in the comments section or Tweet me @travellingsingh. In terms of tragedy, not many countries have the recent history that Cambodia does. Up to three million people (about 25% of the population) were killed in the Cambodian genocide carried out by the ruling Khmer Rouge party in the late 70's and their continued resistance into the 90's. There is hardly a family in the country that wasn't in some way affected by this mass genocide.
However, the Cambodia that I saw was a young, confident nation that had come out of the worst of its adversity and lived to tell the tale. It was a nation that paid tribute to its past but also looked confidently to its future. There's not much to dislike about Cambodia, but here are the 5 things I absolutely loved. Between the FIFA World Cup and the Summer Olympics, Rio is somewhat of a buzzword these days with the focus of the world's media on the sixth largest city in the Americas.
A booming economy in the early 2000's has catapulted Brazil onto the world stage, and where Brasilia is the brains, Sao Paulo the hard working heart, Rio is undoubtedly the soul of this great country. I stayed here for just under a week during my trip to South America and I felt like I had barely scratched the surface. The city retains a portion of its Portuguese heritage and combines it with West African and indigenous culture to create the distinct Brazilian feel that has given the world Carnival and Samba. The Maracana was closed on my arrival but here are my top 5 favourite things about Rio. The 20th century saw large scale decolonisation throughout the world. Whilst some transfers happened relatively peacefully (Hong Kong, Macau) others happened more violently. One of the most violent struggles for freedom occurred in Vietnam. After fighting the Japanese, French and Americans, Vietnam entered the second half of the 20th century scarred by fighting and Saigon was a byword for destruction.
However, Vietnam is finally emerging from its tragic recent history by projecting an image of hope and beauty. Vietnam is no longer associated with just a war, its now associated with adventure and fun. From the communist feel of North Vietnam, to a more capitalist feel in South Vietnam, the country still has strong footprints of a tragic conflict, however it also adds to an already rich culture and history. I didn't have time to visit the famous Ha Long Bay, and I'll be sure to make a return trip to visit the famous area, however, here are my top 5 favourite things about Vietnam. |
AuthorBritish Sikh, born in the Midlands, based in London, travelling the world seeing new cultures. Categories
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