One of the most iconic sights in Kuala Lumpur is the Petronas Twin Towers. The 88-story buildings are located right in the heart of the city. They were once the tallest in the world, but now only retain their title as the tallest twin towers. At night, the brightly illuminated skyscrapers stand out in the vast city like two beacons of light.
On our first day in Singapore, we ventured over to Little India to visit Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple. It is one of the oldest Hindu temples in the city, built by the early Indian laborers and dedicated to Kali, the goddess and destroyer of all evil. On the outside is an explosion of colorful deities adorning the entrance tower.
We were fortunate to visit the temple during the daily puja (prayer) session lead by the priest. It started with a bathing ceremony and and ended with a sacred flame offering while rousing music is played. It was the first time I’ve every been inside a Hindu temple and witnessed a prayer session. Hopefully, I am blessed with a good rest of the trip.
Our Asia trip is finally underway, after much anticipation. First stop is a night in Tokyo. For some reason, we’ve only ever been to the land of the rising sun for a few days at a time. This probably needs to be rectified in the near future, but for now, we will make do with our short time in this lovely city. We decided to spend the morning strolling through the tranquil Japanese gardens in Shinjuku Gyoen National Park. There were not many people around, which made the experience even more peaceful. It was a relaxing morning until we had to make a mad dash back to the airport, but that’s another story for another time.
Portugal is a small country nestled between Spain and the Atlantic Ocean at the westernmost point of continental Europe. It was once a powerful seafaring kingdom that controlled many of the routes to Africa, South America, and Asia. The home of world famous football player, Cristiano Ronaldo, is filled with lush landscapes and striking scenery. Though not as well known as some of its neighbors, it is a country rich with culture, interesting architecture, and fairytale castles. The laid-back vibe combined with great food and cheap wine makes this a must-visit destination. Here is the cost breakdown of our trip to Portugal to help you plan yours:
If you’ve been following along with our blog you’ll know that we usually try to maximize our travel days and minimize our costs. This usually happens when we find a good flight deal with availability around the holidays. This system has allowed us to travel more frequently to many amazing places around the world. Admittedly, this did not happen on this trip. A series of mistakes cost us time, energy, and money in the form of unused hotel rooms and additional flights – read about our mishaps here. Even with all the disasters, our trip was very memorable for all the right reasons.
There are a variety of things to do and see in Portugal, whatever your interests and tastes may be. Visit the northern city of Porto and sample the famous port wine. Zip over to Belem and indulge in the egg tarts. Wander through picturesque castles hidden in the rolling hills of Sintra and feel like you’ve stepped into a Disney movie. See the busy city from the rickety tram, and fall in love with the architecture of Lisbon. Eat and drink until you are completely sated without breaking the bank. To read more about our trip to Portugal, click on the links below:
Porto
Lisbon
Sintra
Check back next to read about our trip to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
Dresden, Germany
Last year, on our whirlwind trip around Eastern Europe, we visited Dresden, a small town in Germany with an interesting history. It used to be the capital of Saxony before getting completely destroyed by bombers during WWII. Most of the historic center has been reconstructed over the years to bring it back to its former glory.
One of my favorite places is the Zwinger palace, the most beautiful structure you’ll see in Dresden or perhaps even Germany. The buildings are connected by a series of walkways that are lined with an interesting mix of Rococo sculptures and statues. This particular path passes right over the Crown Gate, the well-known entrance into the interior courtyard.
Every Monday of each week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home. Most of my photos have little or no post processing. If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.
AirBnB is not new, in fact it’s been around since 2008. We know people who have used the service and had glowing reviews; and others who did not fare as well (there are some horror stories). In the past, we’ve always opted to stay at a Starwood hotel because our status gave us upgrades and other perks. This year, however, that status has expired which was the perfect opportunity for us to venture out of our bubble and try something new. Continue reading
New York, New York
My sister came to visit this past week, which gave me the perfect excuse to play tourist in my own city. One of the places that I’ve always wanted to go to, but never been is Top of the Rock. From the observation deck, you can see all the way downtown with the Empire State Building front and center. The pricey ticket of $32 per person will get you access to the top floors, or you can skip all of that and just go to Bar 65 for a drink. The restaurant is only 2 stories down, with essentially the same view and no admission cost. You can use the money you would have paid and get yourself a nice cocktail instead. Sipping a spatini while you admire the New York skyline at sunset is probably not a bad thing to do.
Every Monday of each week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home. Most of my photos have little or no post processing. If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.
In the modern age, technology and innovation has made it easy for the casual traveler to easily explore the four corners of the world. It also means that there are very few places left undiscovered. Even though it’s the status quo now, it was not always the case a few hundred years ago. It’s hard for people to imagine a world other than the one they were born into. Before the Age of Discovery, people would look out from the cliffs into the boundless ocean and believe that it was the end of the world. The famous Portuguese explorers changed that preconception, venturing out to Asia and Africa, leading the way for discoveries of a whole different world.
Istanbul, Turkey
Recently, Turkey has been dominating the news cycle for all the wrong reasons. People have started to associate the country with turmoil and military coups, but the Turkey I fell in love with all those years ago was a country rich in culture and history. It’s Euro-Asian location offers unique blend of Eastern and Western influences that makes Istanbul one-of-a-kind. One of the most interesting things I learned is that there are hundreds of ancient cisterns hidden beneath the city, used to store and supply water to the residents. Pictured above is the Basilica Cistern, the largest of its kind, located right in the heart of the city. At first glance, the tall striking columns and the somber lighting make the space look more like a sacred temple than a water reservoir.
Every Monday of each week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home. Most of my photos have little or no post processing. If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.
Growing up watching Disney movies, I’ve always dreamt of walking through a fairy tale landscape. Sintra, a small picturesque Portuguese town set amidst pine covered hills, is a fairytale come true, complete with turreted palaces. It is an extraordinary place with a rich history, ornate palaces, and ancient ruins – all of which are protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After visiting in 1809, the famous British poet and traveler Lord Byron declared that the town is “perhaps in every respect the most delightful in Europe,” and calling it a “glorious Eden” in his epic poem Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage. Continue reading
life after 9to5 