Also called the Sultan Ahmet mosque and built across from the Hagia Sofia, the exquisite Blue Mosque in Istanbul is the only mosque other than the Masjid al Haram in Mecca that has six minarets. Most visitors enter from the North. But if you take the west entrance you will be rewarded by the sight […]
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The scaffolding covered structure that towered over us was underwhelming. Not that I had expected much else. As mentioned before, I had never been a Gaudi fan. But again, delving into the symbolism inherent in every stone and more importantly, the principles of construction, the designer in me could not help but be drawn into the […]
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I had always thought Antoni Gaudi’s buildings were…well gaudy. My minimalist aesthetics were offended by all that ornamentation and I never really paid much attention to his work. But as soon as I stepped inside this iconic building in Barcelona, I knew I had been so mistaken. About Gaudi and about modernist architecture. One of […]
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Going to Cappadocia, Turky? A breathtaking balloon ride over the surreal landscape and its fairy chimneys is a must do.
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I have always been captivated by images of this marvelous, triple roofed, vibrantly painted building. Supposedly built entirely of wood without using a single nail, ‘The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests’ is considered one of the best examples of traditional Chinese architecture. Imagine my surprise then, to discover that this building is not actually a […]
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The cable car whisked us up through the lush green hills to tower 14 of the Wall snaking deep into the hazy horizon. According to legend the Great Wall was built along the tracks of a ‘friendly’ dragon that helped trace its course. The meandering ramparts interspersed with beautiful watchtowers, did seem to lend credence […]
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Our first sight of the Forbidden City from the panoramic vantage point of Jingshan hill (above) was a great introduction to its immense scale! This place is huge…..I mean HUGE! Considered the world’s largest palace complex, consisting of nearly 8704 rooms across 980 buildings spread over more than 72 hectares of land!! Did I mention huge? […]
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Complete guide to the Abu Simbel Egypt Temples with tips on how to get there, facts, history and travel tips to help you plan your visit.
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Excavations of grand tombs and mausoleums around the globe are witness to the ancient world’s preoccupation with death and the afterlife. But the grandest excavation by far, has to be that of the terracotta army of Emperor Qin in Xian. The on site museum is concealed under an unsightly hangar like building. The sheer scale of […]
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A visit to Suzhuo Museum: I M Pei’s masterful fusion of contemporary design with his hometown’s vernacular aesthetic. A must do when in Suzhou, China.
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…By the name of Singui [Suzhou]is to be understood ‘the city of the earth’,as by that of Kinsai [Hangzhou],‘the city of heaven’ ~ The “Travels Of Marco Polo” At first glance Suzhou seems soulless. It is one of the largest manufacturing hubs in China with smoke belching chimneys and traffic choked streets. Its GDP growth […]
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To any one wondering why I have been switching countries: My posts are chronicles of my past journeys and I took a conscious decision to not stick to any particular order, to make for some variety. Posts (when I have written enough to overflow my front page :-)) can be viewed by destination from the drop down “Destinations” […]
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The Urge To Wander 