When I shared it with Bart, that I was going to travel around the world, I knew that his calling was to join me along the way. It was just a crazy idea, but it stuck with him. His approach was as simple as that – ‘when a great adventure is offered, you simply don’t...
Because sometimes ‘less’ means ‘more’, I’ll just say… go on those trips you’ve always wanted to take.
From ‘Around the world in 72 days’ by Nellie Bly… ‘(…) This idea came to me on Sunday. I had spent a greater part of the day and half of the night vainly trying to fasten on some idea for a newspaper article. It was my custom to think up ideas on Sunday and lay...
In most parts of the world, China is seen as an overpopulated country. But you have to experience it before you truly understand it. Heading to Shanghai’s Old Town to glimpse ‘traditional’ China was an interesting experience. ‘Surreal’ is the only word I have to describe what was going on the streets of Nanshi on...
The sense of places like Hong Kong, the intensity of views, the sheer physical sensation of being taken somewhere else was powerful. But my around trip wasn’t just about all these things. It was about the effort, about the joy of creating something, about the excitement of embracing on a project, about self-discovery that happens...
Travelling the way that I did – exploring seas by boats, jumping on trains, visiting London, Mumbai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo or New York, and diving into a few other places – offered me everything I was looking for. All I can tell from that experience is that, if you ever find yourself with...
Have you ever found yourself in a conversation that felt so engaging that you simply didn’t want it to end? Since my soul is always happy to connect, my visit in the cigar club of ‘The Connoisseur Divan’ was an undisputed highlight of my stay in Singapore. And, I couldn’t have found better companions than...
As I wandered planet Earth, I learned lessons of hospitality and generosity that exceeded all my expectations. I was deeply touched by the warmth of Rana – the owner of the Hostel Kolkata – who not only didn’t charge me for my stay, but he invited me to his own home and introduced to his...
A dark, small huts with knobbles doors, mess, stench, the garbage-strewn tapered pathways, poverty and dirtiness. Our species had gotten off our planet and landed in a new world – on the moon. But when you arrive to Dharavi, the first questions which come to mind is how come places like this still exist in...
The beauty of my around the world trip was in the movement. There was so much time for reflection, which is a rare thing in these days of modern living. It was wonderful to share food and conversation with others. It made the trip so special. Having a sense that I can go anywhere in...