Four Countries in 2 Weeks: Turkey, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and India India Day 2 – Touring Varanasi with a boat ride down the Ganges, witnessing bodies burning in funeral ceremonies, then catching a flight to Mumbai. Varanasi Having been continuously inhabited since ~1,200 BC, Varanasi is one of the oldest cities in the world. In terms … Continue reading Varanasi The Holy City of India
Four Countries in 2 Weeks: Turkey, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and India India Day 1 – Leaving Bhutan and arriving in Calcutta, India. Country 57 complete! Dealing with Indian airport bureaucracy, visiting Dakhineswar Kali Temple, and catching a flight to Varanasi. Thimphu to Paro Airport The metallic ring of my smartphone reminded me we had a plane … Continue reading Route to India: Paro to Calcutta and Varanasi
Four Countries in 2 Weeks: Turkey, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and India Day 5 – A tour of the monasteries of Wangdue Phodrang Dzong, Punakha Dzong, and Chimi Lhakhang then ending the day in Thimphu to see Takins at the reserve, stopping by the Thimphu Dzong, doing some shopping, having a Bhutanese home cooked meal and a … Continue reading A Dzong Day in Wangdue, Punakha, Lobesa, and Thimphu
Four Countries in 2 Weeks: Turkey, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and India Day 4 – Going from Paro to Thimphu to Wangdue with stops at Rinpung Dzong, Iron Chain Bridge, Three Stupas, Dochula Pass, Buddha Dordenma, Memorial Chorten, the National Post Office, and an archery competition. Then checking out the nightlife of Bhutan! Waking up at 5 … Continue reading Paro to Thimphu to Wangdue Bhutan
Four Countries in 2 Weeks: Turkey, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and India Day 3 – Arriving in Bhutan, country 56. Meeting our guides, passing through Paro and hiking to the incredible Tiger’s Nest! Arrival An hour or so on the Drukair flight from Dhaka, beautiful mountain peaks appeared outside our window. The Airbus A319 weaved through the … Continue reading Bhutan’s Incredible Tiger’s Nest Monastery
Four Countries in 2 Weeks: Turkey, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and India Day 2: Arriving in Bangladesh, country 55, and spending a peaceful day at the Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel during the political unrest in Dhaka! Arrival Arriving in Bangladesh we walked through the very basic airport towards our first experience in the country. As we … Continue reading Spending a Peaceful Day in Dhaka as Riots Rage Outside the Hotel
Four Countries in 2 Weeks: Turkey, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and India Exploring Istanbul in a day to see the main sights including the Byzantine Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkitpa Palace, the Basilica Cistern and a Bosphorous Cruise. Checking off Turkey, country 54, on the tour! There is a reason why Istanbul is the second … Continue reading Istanbul in a Day
Preview of an upcoming trip to Turkey, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and India ticking off four new countries to bring the country count to 57! Neel, my enthusiastic Indian friend, told me a month ago that he was planning a trip back to the motherland. This was great news, as I always wanted to visit India. Immediately … Continue reading Four Countries in 2 Weeks: Turkey, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and India
Stepping into the shoes of a tuna fisherman for a weekend of hardcore fishing in Cape Cod Bay! One day I got a call from Garth, a good friend with a unique proposition. It went something like this. Have you ever seen the show “Wicked Tuna”? – No, why? Do you wanna go tuna fishing? … Continue reading Wicked Tuna in Cape Cod
Burmese Days and Indo Nights – Indonesia and Myanmar Summary of our trip with highlights, take aways, statistics and an itinerary through Myanmar and Indonesia. A trip through Indonesia and Myanmar was exciting and eventful, but not without surprises and challenges. As I took off for my flight home and stared out the small oval … Continue reading An Eye-Opening Itinerary Through Myanmar and Indonesia