The main square of Sibiu was my favorite destination on walks through the old city. It was cobblestoned, with small streets and alleys branching out of it. A fountain in the middle was the main attraction for children escaping the heat while their parents sat in surrounding cafes, each establishment out-advertising the other with huge … Continued
Walking Rome Alone For me, Rome began with rain and tears. I arrived at the airport in the morning, and wanted to take public transport to my hostel to save money. A bus to Termini station, a train to the Colosseum, and a 40 minute walk left to go. It was cold and raining. … Continued
The Long Road Towards the Inevitable Tomorrow you’ll wake up realising that all your hopes and promises of happiness are not there. The comfort of a house, a pair of loving arms and the job are gone. As well as the emotional balance and self-esteem. Everything vanished a month ago when your now ex-husband shut … Continued
Dear Halong Bay, I don’t know if its appropriate to ‘thank’ a place. But to me, like many of my loved ones, you hold a special place in my heart and your memories make me a better person. I met you a year ago, when I was lost and hurting from a relationship gone terribly, … Continued
It was a very tired office week. I felt that I have no energy left to face another day. Out of the sudden, a friend from my college called and asked me to go to Mt. Bromo with him and another friend. I instantly agreed because of one reason. I’d never been to Bromo, period. … Continued
Grateful for the Journey It started with a dream in June 2012, shortly after my cat Hamish, the last of my animals, died. In that alternate landscape, I was climbing polished wooden stairs as large bay windows revealed the dark night sky on either side of the staircase. I tried to make out the stars … Continued
In the heart of France’s Midi-Pyrenees lies a secret gem, a tiny town, a fairy tale. Ambialet. Here, on a September evening, the sunlight’s rays are Midas’ fingers, transforming the mountainside into a tiara that puts the Crown Jewels to shame. Leaves of emerald, topaz, and ruby adorn gilded branches; at the mountain’s summit, an eleventh-century … Continued
Just hours before I took my flight to India, a friend told me a story of a woman who’d been abducted in Delhi. She’d gone to use the bathroom in a restaurant, her friends had waited for her to return, but she never did. This was my friend’s way of warning me. I was … Continued
I could still taste the scent of dewdrops coming alive with the early morning. I could still hear the moonlight radiant in the young night sky. I could still smell the bliss of a seemingly carefree walk from the rooms to the cafeteria through the growing grass and then the fresh gravel. I could still … Continued
An automatic smile highlights my face every time I’m at Saburo’s Sushi in Portland, Oregon. Going to the restaurant used to be a treat only for birthdays, and maybe once every few years, since there’s almost always a line at the door. In more recent times, I’ve been going there quite frequently and have established myself as a … Continued