Paro, Bhutan

Thimpu - Punakha - Paro - Tiger’s Nest

Our trip from Punakha to Paro was eventless. A coffee break at Dachula Pass and a halt for identification at a check point were the only stops before we entered the Paro valley. Our driver who turned out to be an expert guide as well, took a detour and brought us at a viewpoint from where the entire airport was visible. It was a beautiful view and scary as well. Hills rise quickly around Paro airport which makes it extremely difficult to take off or land a large plane. Our guide took this moment to sell his skills and we were quickly convinced.

Paro Airport from veiwpoint

Punakha, Bhutan

Thimpu - Punakha - Paro - Tiger’s Nest

The road from Thimphu to Punakha goes through a high point called Dochula Pass. It means that within a span of two hours you will face a gradual fall of temperature from 20 to 15 degrees and then again rise to 22 degrees when you reach the river base. Yes, rivers are omnipresent in Bhutan. The pass itself is a major tourist attraction thaks to a fantastic view of the valley and a construction of 108 towers at the roundabout representing fogotten martyrs.

Dochula Pass Memorial

Thimphu, Bhutan

Thimpu - Punakha - Paro - Tiger’s Nest

Imagine an untouched beauty. She wouldn't know how to respond to a touch - at best her response will be ambivalent. Bhutan is like that - a country that vehemently protects its proud & rich tradition although it heavily depends on tourism and a bunch of countries for funds and technology. We entered the royal country of Bhutan through Jaigaon on a rainy day. Next morning was spent in the immigration office to receive permit before we were told the road to Thimphu is blocked due to landslides.

View of Thimphu from Buddha Point

Macau

Macau is a party place. Gambling, consorts and shopping would be the top three activities that one would go to Macau for. Then there is leisure and tourism but those are lower in the list. An hour on speed boat from Hong Kong, Macau is invariably paired with the big brother HK for people coming from far and depending upon the activity, one spends time in each of these SARs. We were in HK for 3.5 days before we decided to take a Cotai Jet to Macau on a sunny afternoon.

Ruins of St. Paul’s

Disneyland, Hong Kong

What draws us to Disneyland is the exhuberance and excitement that’s created by both children and their parents while they enjoy and entertain. Hong Kong Disneyland is no different and yet different from other Disneyland’s as they go. There are unique rides and few new ones like the one we saw in the Iron Man Experience. It has been added after the acquisition of Marvel Universe by Disney.

Disneyland, Hong Kong

Cheung Chau, Hong Kong

Cheung Chau is a vacation within Hong Kong. The small island with polite residents and sandy beaches has an air of relaxation of Goa level. Only one hour from the busy Victoria Harbour, the island is an independent ecosystem and well commercialized. Ferries at regular interval from Pier 5 take you Cheung Chau - there are fast and slow ferries and option for first and second class.

Tung Wan Beach, Cheung Chau

Hong Kong

Trip: Hong Kong & Macau

Hong Kong - the city of malls - has everything one seeks for. The so called financial capital of the world attracts all and sundry that money can attract. Hong Kong is not cheap. Yet the city of concrete is not all skyscrapers. To begin with, there is Victoria Peak at top of which you truly understand the geography of this city. Then there are islands far and wide, all part of Hong Kong SAR, yet so pristine that you will think twice if they are actually part of the bustling centre.

A view from Victoria Peak

Moscow

Soumenlinna - Helsinki - Tallinn - St Petersburg - Moscow

• Try to learn Russian in bits, its not very different from English. Keep a map of metro lines with you as it is a lifeline in Moscow.
• Most of the attractions are concentrated around Red Square. Kremlin's armoury show is most sought after and you should reach early to buy tickets there.
• Dont forget to try the river cruise and the Russian way of drinking vodka - that is quick shots in succession.

Moscow was convenient and exhausting at the same time. The capital of Russia is grand in every possible way and yet broken into clusters that stand by themselves. Moscow is a city of cities just like any major capital in the world. It has couple of jewels, just like any major town, that fall in many a traveller's bucket list. It has a river flowing right across it. Add to that the football fever that was peaking when we reached with the host city inaugurating the FIFA world cup in a week time. We were at the right place before time.

Arbat Street

Saint Petersberg

Soumenlinna - Helsinki - Tallinn - St Petersburg - Moscow

• Take a hotel as close to Winter Palace as possible. Not only most of the attractions are around this but also the buzz on the street with various kind of artists performing is truly engrossing.
• Book the ticket for Hermitage in advance online. It is bit costlier but will save you lots of time as the entry queue for online tickets is separate.
• Cathedrals are closed on different dates of week so plan ahead if you want to cover a particular one. River cruises are a great way to cover some of them.

Russia is as foreign as I have been to a country. There is almost nothing written in English and almost nobody speaks English. You depend on google to do most of your navigational work and Uber to take you around. We reached Saint Petersberg on a windy midday and immediately felt the handicap of not knowing Russian.

View from Hotel Terrace

Tallinn

Soumenlinna - Helsinki - Tallinn - St Petersburg - Moscow

• Have a good breakfast and carry a bottle of water all the time. Tallinn demands a lots of walk up and down the old town which at times can be tiring.
• Buy a sim when you reach Estonia. Most of the international networks either don't work here or are super costly. Carry an umbrella if you are going in rainy season.
• Take St. Olaf's entry ticket to the top. It costed us €3. There are few views in Tallinn that can beat what you can see from up there. Most of the other entries in Tallinn are free.

The Old Town of Tallinn is a magical place or so it seems. In a space of few square miles, you will come across a hill, a sky high cathedral, few viewpoints and an old way of life. Within the walls of the old town, life takes a backseat. You wish to fill your eyes with the beautiful structures that makes you hungry. There are rows of restaurants within the gullies of Tallinn in case you do not prefer the Town Hall Square that hosts the open restaurants.

Inside the Old Town

Helsinki

Soumenlinna - Helsinki - Tallinn - St Petersburg - Moscow

• Helsinki is for walkers. Be ready for the regular jaunts and start with a good breakfast. While the Pohjoisesplanadi is the heart road, there are several excursion specially the ones towards Sibelius Park and Rock Church that will beg a long walk.
• Soumenlinna and Valsaari are islands accessible by frequent ferries. In summer they are open till late and hence one can plan them even in the second half of a day.
• Most happening place is the Helsinki Cathedral and nearby market. City park is not far where you can see approaching and leaving giant cruises.

Helsinki had the typical Scandinavian air - crisp and cold - when we came out of the Helsinki airport. A regular Finnair bus service took us to the city centre. It took us some time to figure out direction to our hostel and then some. It was a long journey from India hence we settled for a short nap. When we woke up it was still bright day and we were ready to explore the city.

Helsinki Cathedral

Soumenlinna, Finland

Soumenlinna - Helsinki - Tallinn - St Petersburg - Moscow

• Soumenlinna from one end to another would be at least a mile long and given detours, one need to travel at least 3-4 miles to cover the basics. Be ready for these long walks.
• There are beautifully placed restaurants and cafes within the fort walls that tempt you to just settle after a long walk. Do that.
• The periphery throws great views of the sea and parts of fort island. Make sure you walk along the edges to cover that.

Soumenlinaa & Vallisaari are two islands south of Helsinki in the Baltic Sea. It takes €4 and half hour to reach the islands - cheap for the rustic life one witnesses here. It was the same day we reached Helsinki that we ventured for these islands and loved what we saw. Clearly the brightest gem of tourist spots in Helsinki, that were a perfect start to our visit to Scandinavia.

Fortress of Soumenlinna

Colombo, Sri Lanka

• Stay closer to Galle Green Face if you are staying in Colombo. Other option is a beach resort in Negombo which is an hour away.
• The Fort area which has the old market and railway station, is one of the busiest places in Colombo and also host the famous restaurants. Do visit.
• There are a number of sea facing rooftop restaurants and bar that are a great pastime to spend and evening with friends. Also visit the Laksala shops that are government run souvenir shops.

We returned to Colombo from Sigiriya on a warm afternoon. The drive was pleasant and our hotel was in the middle of the busiest district of Colombo. Hence it was in no time that we were on the road moving towards the famous Gangaramaya Temple. It was one of the three places we had finalized to visit on our short stay in Sri Lankan capital.

Gangaramaya Temple 2

Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

• Start early with balanced breakfast. The uphill climb takes 2 hours including breaks so by the time it is noon you would be climbing down in heat with the most clear view when you were up there.
• Don't miss the frescoes painted on the cavern of western wall of Sigiriya. They are some of the most exquisitely painted frescoes that are still preserved probably due to the cave.
• Enjoy the different views that elevation throws at different levels. Explore the top of Sigirya a little. People tend to just hit the top and come back.  

Sigiriya Lion Rock is not just a tourist attraction. History says it was seat of the most powerful king who ever ruled the island nation. Add to that the buddhist monastery in the caves of the gigantic monolith and a view to behold from the top. The result is an unmatchable structure that may very well have cake-walked into the Unesco World Heritage Site list. While the front view of Sigiriya is intimidating, the trek and the experience is equally exhilarating.

View from middle, Sigiriya Lion Rock

Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

• Bring couple of umbrellas and your passport. Foreign tourists get a healthy discount on a pricey entry fee to this city of ruins.
• You will need a dedicated vehicle for a full day (or two if you are of an archeologistic bend of mind) to nail this one. It is so huge.
• Sleeping Buddha is the star attraction although for me the Pabalu Vehera was the one appreciated the most. We found a spot here where our voice was echoing in open.

The ruins of Polonnaruwa are famous. The fact that an entire city dedicated to the worship of Lord Buddha in Sri Lanka was astonishing for us coming from India. It was this curiosity and the fame that drew us to the ruined city on the very first day of our stay in the central province. The one hour drive from Sigiriya was pleasant and scenic. We came across a massive Buddha statue beside a lake on the way which set the tone for the city.

Parakramaabahu Palace Complex, Polonnaruwa

Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka

• Swim, surf, snorkel and scuba with the fishes. Hikkaduwa may well have the bravest of fishes in the shallowest of beaches. Add the warm sun to it and you have a perfect picnic spot.
• Enjoy the lunch at nearby eateries including a Pizza Hut and several hotel restaurants. Its a typical beach town with a long beachline.
• Shower is a problem as the facilities are dirty even if paid. Arrange for shower with the same shop which provided scuba gear.

We started early morning for Hikkaduwa. We had enquired for scuba diving at Unawatuna the previous day but I had read somewhere that Hikkaduwa is better. We immediately hit a scuba centre and negotiated a good rate. It was time to learn the first steps of breathing and releasing water from nostrils. We failed miserably and hence were told we cannot continue into deep waters. While it was disappointing, an inviting beach was in front of us under the warm sun.

Sunset @ Hikkaduwa

Unawatuna, Sri Lanka

• Stay at Unawatuna rather Galle as most buzz is around the beach specially in the evening and later. This will also help in watching the sunrise from shore with a short walk.
• Evenings in Unawatuna get wilder. Torches come up and restaurants extend their seating to closer to beach. Make sure you get one of those front benches to enjoy the ambience.
• Scuba and snorkels are available although the water is not ideal for these activities. Still it is worth a go. Weligama is half hour drive and is perfect for surfing activities.

Unawatuna is a quintessential beach. It has an independent personality and proximity to Galle is just a coincidence. It has the buzz of Calangute and the serenity of Kovalam. It has a long beach line and yet the curve ensures everything is within eyesight. When we first visited it, our hearts were won over and over again, so much that we had to come again just to say goodbye.

Surfing @ Weligama

Mirissa, Sri Lanka

• Mirissa is more famous for whale watching as the ferries start from here for the middle of the sea. The activity is for the elderlies and is getting costlier every year. 
• The beach is one of the most beautiful you will come across. If you want to go for the secluded and cosy one, this is it.
• Weligama is equal distance from here and Unawatuna. There is a Marriott not very far in case you want to go for a luxury hotel.

Our first morning in Sri Lanka was going to be a hectic one. Our driver had suggested a whale watching tour early morning and we decided to go for it. Hence at 5 in the morning we were racing towards a beach called Mirissa. By the time we reached the sun was about to rise. It was glorious. Early morning beach view is generally amazing - the small sandy beach of Mirissa takes it to the next level.

Sunrise @ Mirissa Beach

Galle, Sri Lanka

• Galle is essentially a beach fort town. Do not expect more. There are well located restaurants within the fort with a beautiful sea view and authentic Sri Lankan cuisine that you should try.
• Fort is the place to explore within Galle. The lighthouse and area around it is spectacular shares during sunset with fort on one side and the infinite sea on another.
• Galle beach is another attraction although nothing compared to so many beaches in Sri Lanka. Beachside restaurants are a good option for breakfast.

Galle (pronounced Gaulle) is a seaport in southern Sri Lanka. We chose it as our base because of its equal distance from Weligama and Hikkaduwa. The fact that Unawatuna beach was a mile away was a bonus. The plan was more or less a success as we were able to easily nevigate through major beaches in southern province. However a better approach would have been to stay at Unawatuna itself, watching the sunrise and enjoying the buzz of the commercial beach.

Lighthouse, Galle Fort

Himeji Castle

• Go all the way to the top. You will appreciate the thick wooden pillars and beams on which this massive palace is built from ground up.
• The armoury on the third floor is amazing with a collection of Japanese Katana Swords from Samurai era.
• Try to walk around the castle. The beauty from inside is architectural, from outside Himeji Castle is a giant work of art.

We covered Himeji Castle on our penultimate day in Japan. It would have been big miss had we not decided to go for it. The architecture, construction and accessibility is unparalleled even by the open standards of Japan. Given that it is in opposite direction to Tokyo from Osaka, we took some effort and it paid off handsomely. While the castle is visible from railway station itself, it hardly justifies what's inside.

Himeji Castle, Himeji