Guarding Banteay Srei: A Paradox
I’m not proud of saying this but I got closer to the sculptures at Banteay Srei than I should have. And I had help… from a local guard. This is the first time since it happened that I’m sharing it openly.
UNESCO
100 Hours: My Ultimate Istanbul Itinerary
They said my Istanbul itinerary wasn’t going to be worth it. With just 100 hours between arriving and flying off, how was I going to enjoy everything Turkey had to offer? I would miss out the fairy chimneys and other things to do in Cappadocia, the travertine terraces of Pamukkale, the ruins of Ephesus (Efes) […]
Tallinn: Exploring Treasures Within and Beyond the Walls
Growing up with Estonian friends, I was fascinated with their folktales, their history, the countryside and their futuristic ways. They’ve made e-citizenship and voting for politicians online work – how could I not see a place where history and the future co-exist? I ended up going to Estonia twice and I found enough things to […]
Tam Coc: The Alternative to Halong Bay for Tight Schedules
Had I more than one day to explore Northern Vietnam after my work engagements in Hanoi, I would’ve joined the masses in Halong Bay. No matter how beautiful the World Heritage Site was, however, taking an eight-hour round trip to spend four hours on a ship didn’t seem like a good use of my time. […]
5 Tips for Catching an Angkor Wat Sunrise Like a Pro
‘Tuk-tuk, sir? Tomorrow you go see Angkor Wat sunrise?‘ That’s the call of tuk-tuk drivers waiting for business in the temple town of Siem Reap. It’s also one of the most popular and spectacular things to do. Getting the most out of the DIY experience requires planning, however. Forgoing it will only result in stumbling, scuffles with […]
A Tour of the World’s Only De Stijl House
For years the Rietveld Schröder House seemed like a myth to me. It was like that relative you’d constantly hear about at family gatherings – no one has met him, yet they’re certain that he still walks this earth. Similarly, the house, a highlight of the Dutch De Stijl movement, is still considered radical even today. It’s important enough […]