After nearly a month of touring around Northern and Central India, my time in the country has finally come to an end. I’ve passed through majestic mountain-top forts, narrowly survived the chaotic flow of traffic from my vantage point inside a speeding tuk-tuk, marveled at the vast array of colors and aromas that characterize the marketplaces, navigated the […]
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Masalas, Naan, Thalis, and Lassi : Eating In and Around Northern India
Much like the country itself, eating in India is an adventure in strong, forceful flavors, of pungent smells that aren’t necessarily always appetizing, of stepping out on a ledge and sampling the whirlpool of unknown ingredients, and of the blending of any influence that is readily at hand. Additionally, given this is the region of the world where […]
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Camel Safaris and Sand Dunes in Jaisalmer
Whether it is weaving through a sea of white-knuckle traffic on the back of a motorbike, harking back to the memory of a bygone era in the back of a human-pulled rickshaw, cruising the rural countryside on the back of an ATV, watching islands and beaches slowly drift by from the deck of a touring boat, or […]
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Overlooking the Cities of Pink and Blue: Jaipur and Jodhpur
To the West of the Indian capital of Delhi, and stretching all the way to the border with Pakistan, lies the storied and oft-visited state of Rajasthan, a land of deserts and camels, of clustered cities teeming with life, of medieval walls encircling historic old towns, and of majestic forts perched atop hillsides. Originally the home to […]
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A Day Well Spent in Agra
Whenever planning one’s first trip to India, there are normally a few usual suspects that top this list as far as potential places to visit: Delhi as a port of entry, Varanasi for the spiritual bath in the Ganges, Rajasthan for the forts and temples, Mumbai for the modern city vibe, Goa for laid back […]
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A Fort, a Mosque, a Pillar, and a Tomb in New Delhi
After finding my seat on the airplane, I looked up to watch the remaining passengers board and began the game of mental Russian Roulette as to which person walking down the aisle will be the lucky one who has the seat next to me. Shortly thereafter, a short man with a silly smile on his face that I had seen sitting at the […]
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Rainy Day, Dim Sum, and Casinos in Hong Kong and Macau
Hong Kong: Off the Southeast coast of China lies the small island of Hong Kong, a place where the cacophonous din of clinking dishes echoes out of Dim Sum houses to gingerly mix with the loud boasts of red-faced British expats looking to one-up each other’s tall tales, where the hawk-like eyes of the female shop owners […]
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Stinky Tofu, Bubble Tea, and the Legendary Night Markets of Taiwan
The act of traveling is a unique experiences that transcends all cultures and classes, an activity that can be enjoyed regardless of one’s race or religion, and is a common daydream shared by folks from of all walks of life. As such, the variety of travelers you’ll meet upon setting off on your own journey is equally staggering and […]
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The Perfect Blend of Asian Characteristics in Taipei
When traveling the world and visiting any number of varied countries, far-flung destinations, and unique cultures, one can’t help but evaluate each destination on its own intrinsic value, balancing this against the effect of any negatives or difficulties present, and ultimately (even if it is only subconsciously) forming an answer to the question that they […]
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A City of Skyscrapers and Difficulties with Dumplings in Shanghai
There exists the ancient, historical China of years past, the elaborate and extensive China we think with our mind’s eye, the rustic and rural China we expect to see when we first visit, and the modern and mechanized China we actually experience; and then there is Shanghai — so different from the rest of China that it can scarcely be said […]
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