r/travel

We took the ferry from Kos for a day trip, not really knowing what to expect and it ended up being one of the absolute highlights of our time in Greece.

The most surreal part was visiting the volcanic crater and actually walking down into it. Standing inside an active volcanic system, surrounded by this almost otherworldly landscape, with steam rising from the ground and the smell of sulfur in the air, was an experience I won’t forget anytime soon.

But Nisyros is so much more than its volcano.

We explored Mandraki with its whitewashed houses, narrow streets and beautiful seaside atmosphere, and then headed up to Nikia a tiny mountain village overlooking the caldera.

The views from up there are absolutely insane, and the little main square might be one of the prettiest I’ve seen on a Greek island.

And then there’s the mythology behind the island, which makes the whole place even cooler: according to Greek mythology, during the battle between the gods and the Giants, Poseidon tore off a piece of Kos and threw it at the giant Polybotes, trapping him underneath it. That piece of land became Nisyros and the volcano’s eruptions were said to be the movements of the defeated giant beneath the island. 🌋⚡

Volcanic landscapes, Greek mythology, beautiful villages and hardly any of the mass-tourism feeling you get on some of the bigger islands.

We only had one day here, but Nisyros genuinely stayed with me. One of those places you visit without huge expectations and leave thinking: “How did I not know about this island before?”

Definitely one of my favourite discoveries in the Dodecanese. ❤️

Wish we stayed longer. 🥲

Picture Order:

1 to 9: Mandraki

10 to 11: Volcano Crater

12 to 19: Nikia

We were off to a great start after boarding an A380 to Qatar that was empty enough for everyone on board to have had three or four seats each. Even better was the fact that the flight to Kathmandu was overbooked, and so we were asked if it would be acceptable to place us in business class. It seemed churlish to say no, so we risked it up front.

Kathmandu! The stuff of legend and a mental image of mysterious monasteries surrounded by misty mountains. The reality was a city of a million people, and a sharp divide between the tourist areas and the other 99% or so. There were plenty of mountains at least.

If you’re going be adventurous in Nepal and your life will depend on the quality of your equipment, then make sure you buy it from a shop with windows and a door. There are any number of open-air shops selling rugged-looking clothes with rugged-sounding names, but suspiciously cheap, sometimes misspelled, and insulated with something akin to shredded newspaper. The real deal may cost a lot more, but you’ll die a lot less.

We boarded a bus for the seven-hour journey to Pokhara, on a highway that would have benefited from some serious repair. Large rocks were used to warn drivers of potholes, and the surface was rough enough that by the time we arrived, my watch had registered 11,000 steps. The town was scenic, peaceful after the chaos of Kathmandu, and popular with paragliders who drifted by the dozen in the skies around the nearby hills.

The mountain Machapuchare, also known as The Fish’s Tail, has never officially been climbed to the top. In 1957, the Nepalese king granted permission for a British team to make the ascent on the proviso that they not set foot on the summit. The team complied and stopped 50 metres short, but there are reports that a New Zealand climber successfully and illegally completed the climb in the early 1980s.

Next up was Chitwan National Park, which was reputedly home to a lot of wildlife. A rhinoceros wandered by us seconds after getting off the bus, so full marks to the tour documentation. She was something of a local celebrity, judging by the local visitors taking selfies with her, although I used a zoom lens and kept my distance. I like a rhino, but I don’t like to take liberties. 

Our accommodation for the night made a decent attempt at Western-style food, but we requested local cuisine for the next day, and it was fantastic. The chef was duly summoned and given a standing ovation. It’s always worth trying the local specialties in any country you happen to visit.

Nepal is dusty, bumpy, occasionally chaotic, and highly recommended.

1 - A view over the Pokhara Valley.

2 - Kathmandu seen from Swayambhunath, aka The Monkey Temple.

3 - A very chill Rhino in Chitwan National Park.

4 - The Local kids were always keen to have their photo taken.

5 - Machapuchare has possibly been summited once, but probably never.

6 - A colourful local in Kathmandu.

7 - A menacing local in Chitwan.

8 - The tourist area of Kathmandu, identified by English signs and dodgy Goretex.

9 - An elephant calf being roused from sleep by its mother.

10 - Incense sticks and candles are a major business in Nepal.

11 - The Monkey Temple was aptly named.

12 - Prayer flags at the 14th century Boudha Stupa. 

9/14-9/18

Had an incredible trip to visit the North Cascades which I’ve been hoping to do for a few years. There is always the risk of fires/smoke this time of year and while there was a bit of smoke on certain days and in certain areas, I lucked out in general. Flew into Seattle then made my way to SR-20 which becomes the North Cascades Hwy at some point and which is just an incredibly beautiful drive with quite a bit to see with many hikes and views conveniently right off of the highway. I stayed in Winthrop for 4 nights which was a very small “western” town on the eastern side and not exactly nice, but it was quiet and peaceful and gave the opportunity to drive the highway several times to see it in all kinds of light and conditions. I was a bit worried about rain/cloudiness/fog since it is all about the big Mountain Views out here, but I found the clouds provided some beautiful atmosphere and the bit of rain made everything lush and I saved the hikes with big views for the sunny days I was lucky to get.

Here are the photo locations and these were just a fraction of the good ones. Pretty much everything is right off the North Cascades Highway.

1. Ann Lake from Heather-Maple Pass

2. Blue Lake

3. Diablo Lake

4. Skagit River

5. Cutthroat Lake

6. Washington Pass overlook

7. North Cascades Hwy

8. Maple Pass view

9. Maple Pass view

10. Rainy Lake

11. View from Washington Pass overlook in the fog

12. Ross Dam

13. North Cascades Hwy

Our first trip ever to Egypt, and my first time bringing my Fujifilm camera overseas. The view was truly incredible as it woke up the kid inside me who was obsessed with Ancient Egyptian history. Seeing these magnificent structures and tombs in person was like seeing a place you always knew for a long time come to life.

First half from the Great Pyramids of Giza to King Tut’s legendary mask in Egypt’s Grand Museum (largest museum in the world) was in Cairo.

Second half starting from the Nile River view was in Luxor where we visited Valley of the Kings, Karnak Temple, and even Hatshepsut’s Temple.

I had a layover in Istanbul and three days to explore the city. I was overwhelmed by its sheer size. Even though I only saw a very small part of it, I was amazed by all the impressions and experiences. I especially enjoyed taking the ferry across the Bosphorus.

After visiting Sarajevo and Kotor the family headed to Makarska. We have been before and we were captivated by it's beaches and the pamorama. It's a relatively small city, with not a lot of historical or cultural sights, but it is really pretty and it's worth it for the nature. The city itself is old, like all cities in that area, and if I remember correctly it was named by Punnic merchants.

We spent there only one night and mostly at the beach and just walking around, but it was a very nice time for sure. The prices are kinda high in the restaurants, but for the accomodation it was pretty reasonable. Also there are many hiking spots around the city and next to the beaches, so it's more for the people who like natural beauties.

Later we headed to Brela to check out a famous beach with a nice rock formation.

Geological formation located in County Antrim, consisting of roughly 40,000 interlocking, predominantly hexagonal basalt columns. Formed around 50 to 60 million years ago by intense volcanic activity and subsequent cooling of lava. Seeing its sheer scale and surreal geometric precision in person is an entirely awe-inspiring experience.

We started in Ulaanbaatar and were able to find a driver who could take us around for 10 days. We happened to be in Mongolia during the Naadam festival so, we started by heading south to Dalanzadgad to watch their games. The ceremonies and events were free to attend here unlike the ones in Ulaanbaatar. The most wild part was watching the 5 year old jockeys during the horse racing.

After this, we headed to the Gobi where we saw dunes, canyons, and lots of camels. We then headed back to central Monolia where we horse packed for 3 days seeing waterfalls and gorgeous green hills.

We stayed in lots of Gers, drank plenty of yak's milk, and met many wonderful people along the way.

The best part was befriending our driver, Behee, over the course of the trip. The language barrier was tough at the beginning, but nothing kind gestures and a few beers can't break through. He even took us on a detour to visit his family's home and goat herd.

Wonderful trip :)

I’m American and I’ve been to London four times in the past year for work, and it’s probably the city I’ve enjoyed returning to the most.

I think a lot of visitors only really see the tourist corridor around Westminster, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben and Buckingham Palace and assume that’s London. Because I’ve had a lot of free time here, I’ve been able to experience the city much more slowly with my colleagues and gf.

Some activities and sights I’d recommend would be to bike in Regents, Battersea or Hyde park. Id recommend going to the British museum for sure especially if you’re into history. The Victoria and Albert museum is also amazing with a beautiful cafe inside. The National Gallery also has some of the world’s most famous paintings and worth a shout if you’re into art. The british library and design museum are also really cool but I wouldn’t recommend making your trips just about museums when London has a lot more to offer.

I also enjoyed window shopping for things I can’t afford at places like Harrods, Selfridges, Burlington arcade or bond street just because these places seemed beautiful. I’d also highly recommend skygarden which is a free rooftop view of London with a great ambience. For nightlife Shoreditch is where I’d recommend for a more youthful energy. Personally I preferred to stick to pubs in SoHo for after work drinks. I’d highly recommend spending half a day in Richmond to enjoy the riverside and Richmond hill as well as spotting deer in Richmond park.

The food has probably surprised me the most. I genuinely think London has one of the best food scenes in the world, and even the coffee shops, bakeries and casual places are consistently excellent. The food market culture is great and the Indian food is the best in the western world(saying this as an Indian American )

Four trips in and I still feel like there’s a ton I haven’t seen. London really is a city that rewards repeat visits. I also love the pub culture of standing outside with a pint when the weathers good and making conversation with strangers. Despite being a visitor I’m so fond of it and accustomed to it it feels like home away from home. Feel free to ask for recommendations.

Pics in order: Millennium Bridge, Neal’s Yard, Richmond Hill, Hay’s Galleria, Tower Bridge, Mercato Mayfair, Harrods, St Paul’s, Greenwich Park, Borough Market, Leadenhall Market, Piccadilly Circus, somewhere in Mayfair, Big Ben, Camden Market.