Travel

I love traveling to exotic locations along with meeting new people and exploring various cultures and cuisines. Below are the travel posts I have written till date.

N for Nizwa Fort in Oman

Forts are the heart and soul around which a lot of history revolves around in Oman. Nizwa Fort located in the city of Nizwa about 160km from Muscat, Oman’s capital is one of the most visited national monuments in the country.

It was built by Imam Sultan Bin Saif Al Ya’rubi sometime around the 1650s. He is known as the one who played a key role in removing the Portugese from Oman.

To read more log on to – http://transitionofthoughts.com/2017/04/17/n-nizwa-fort-oman/

M for Mount Faber in Singapore

Singapore is a tourist haven with a variety of hotspots like the Sentosa Island, Singapore Flyer, Universal Studios, the shopping districts of Orchard Road, Marina Bay Sands and more.

The common thread among all these is the fact that they are man – made attractions. These attractions are the ones which are advertised the most.

L for Lycabettus Hill in Athens

Lycabettus Hill is a 300m tall hillock from the top of which one can get some fantastic birds eye views of Athens. You can reach the top on foot, through the Lycabettus funicular or by a car.

K for Kuwait

For most people, the country Kuwait generally evokes phrases like oil rich nation, hot weather etc. But it’s a country of numerous beaches as well. And what if I tell you that in this country you can take a nice long walk along the beautiful beaches for many months of the year?

To read more log on to – http://transitionofthoughts.com/2017/04/13/k-for-kuwait/

J for Jabrin Fort in Oman

Situated in Nizwa city about 160km from Muscat, the capital of Sultanate of Oman, the Jabrin Fort is one of the numerous forts which dot the Omani landscape.

Oman as a nation has always believe in preserving its culture and history through its numerous museums, forts and more. And Jabrin Fort is a true example of that.

I for India (Goa)

When you think of Goa, you think of booze, good looking men & women, beaches, the sun & sands, churches and so on.

But there’s a natural side to all this as well. There is miles and miles of greenery as far as the eyes can see. During my visit, the sun regularly played hide and seek with the clouds and the partly cloudy skies provided an excellent contrast to the green surroundings.

To read more log on to – http://transitionofthoughts.com/2017/04/11/i-for-india-goa/

H for Helgeandsholmen in Stockholm

Helgeandsholmen is one of Stockholm’s numerous islands. It includes the Riksdag (Parliament Building), Stockholm Palace, Gamla stan and the Museum of Medieval Stockholm.

The views in and around Norrström, (the part which connects Lake Malaren with the Baltic Sea) are splendid to say the least.

G for Gamla stan

Gamla stan is the old medieval town of Stockholm. It’s full of some fantastic attractions like a host of churches, palaces, souvenir and handicrafts shops and more. I bought a couple of souvenirs, bookmarks and candies.

When I entered one of the shops, the shopkeeper excitedly asked “Aur bhaisaab kya haal hai? (How are you in Hindi)”. On asking, I came to know that the guy was from Afghanistan.

To read more log on to – http://transitionofthoughts.com/2017/04/08/g-gamla-stan/

F for Free Moscow Tour

The Moscow Free Tour covers areas in and around the Red Square and starts off with the Kremlin which is the official residence of the President of Russia. The Lenin’s Mausoleum, the resting place of the revolutionary Vladmir Lenin is located right outside the Kremlin Complex.

While near the Kremlin, we also got a chance to see the changing of guards ceremony. It was about -8 degrees or so and I was just left wondering on how those guards would be managing the bone-chilling cold. In Moscow it can get upto -40 degrees.

E for Eleftherios Venizelos Airport

The ‘Eleftherios Venizelos’ Airport also known as the Athens International Airport is the main international gateway to the historical city of Athens.

Though the Greek economy has plummeted quite dramatically over the last few years, the increase in the number of passengers at the airport (~20 million) has coincided with more than 25 million tourists visiting Greece in 2016. This makes it one of them most visited destinations in Europe.

D for Dubai International Airport

Dubai is something of a maximum city. With the tallest buildings, the longest bridges and tunnels, the highest restaurants, the glitziest malls and more, it has created quite a name for itself across the planet.

And so how can its airport stay behind? The world’s 3rd business by passenger traffic, 6th busiest by cargo traffic and the busiest operating both wide-body jets courtesy the flagship Emirates airline (B777s & A380s), Dubai International Airport is bursting at its seams.

C for Coastal Highway from Sur to Muscat

Sur, a city of about 120,000 people is located around 150km from Muscat, the capital of Sultanate of Oman. Sur is the capital of the Sharqiya region in this Jewel of Arabia.

While Oman is famous for some of the best road trips on the planet, this coastal highway from Sur to Muscat is up there to rival the best.

B for Beaches

Beaches are places where you can relax and unwind.

Beaches are places where you can rewind your thoughts and give meaning to them.

Beaches are places where the sound of the sea waves hitting the sea shore provides a sense of tranquility far away from the big bad world out there.

To read more log on to – http://transitionofthoughts.com/2017/04/03/b-for-beaches/

A for Acropolis & Agora

Acropolis is one of the great symbols of Greece across the world. This complex with its more than 20 odd monuments is located on the top of a hill overlooking the historical city of Athens.

It’s amazing when you think that these monuments were constructed sometime in 5th century BC. They would have been architectural marvels during those days constructed by some of the best architects one could think of.

Guest Post: 5 Interesting Things To Do In Delhi

Know the time when you are so overwhelmed with your work, that you slip up on keeping tabs on the holiday calendar? Well, I recently had a first-hand experience of the same when I realised that work was almost finished, and I had a long unplanned weekend ahead.

Stockholm Diaries: Landing at Arlanda Airport

The Nordics (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Denmark) have been in my bucket list since the time I can remember. The quality of life, the natural beauty, the helpful people have for long attracted millions of tourists as well as immigrants for years.

New Year 2014 in Singapore

Singapore is regarded as one of the most dynamic cities on the planet. It is at the crossroads between Asia and Europe. Despite its small size, Singapore has for long been a strong business and tourist hub. And so when I got a chance to experience the feeling of ringing in the New Year 2014 in Singapore with a lot of fireworks and celebrations, I was quite excited.

Ayodhya Day Trip

Ayodhya is regarded one of the holiest towns for Hindus. It is the birthplace of Lord Rama and the epic Ramayana was also based here. Though I had visited the town more than 20 years back, I didn’t really remember much And so, when another chance for a day trip to Ayodhya came along, I was quite excited.

To read more log on to – http://transitionofthoughts.com/2017/01/20/ayodhya-day-trip/

Guest Post: A visit to the Bhangarh Fort

My whole body has been shaking for an hour now. It’s as if all my body parts have been jumbled up aching every bit every inch. My car can’t find a patch to smooth the tyres and give my bones some relaxation.

Guest Post: Botswana – Safari trip of a lifetime

2016 is a big year for Botswana because it celebrates 50 years of independence. There are lots of incredible destinations adventure seekers must check out while in Botswana. Located in the heart of southern Africa, the country prides itself with some of the most striking and fascinating landscapes and points of interest in Africa.

Top 10 things to do in Greenland

With an area of more than 2 million sq km’s, Greenland is considered as the largest island in the world. But just about 20% of this area is ice-free where the 56000 residents of the country reside. To give some perspective, there are only 0.03 people per square kilometer making Greenland the least densely populated country in the world.

Guest post: Top 10 enthralling locations in Jamaica

Jamaica, the most sought-after destination in the Caribbean, is flocked by tourists every year. The tropical weather and the warm golden beaches make it the most relaxing place for a variety of fun-filled activities.

Oman Diaries: Royal Opera House Muscat

Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) is Oman’s premier center of music, art, culture and more. It can seat upto 1100 people for a show.

Since it’s opening in 2011, ROHM has conducted numerous shows featuring artistes from across the planet.

Moscow Diaries: A visit to the legendary Eliseevsky grocery store

Are you wondering what’s special in a grocery store that am writing a blog post about it? Eliseevsky store at 14, Tverskaya Street in Moscow is one of the oldest stores in the city. It was built as part of a historical building and opened to the public in 1901. It’s actually named “Gastronomia Eliseevsky“.

Singapore Diaries: Christmas in Singapore

Christmas in Singapore is celebrated with much fanfare and is particularly reflected in the elaborate lighting for the various malls across Orchard Street and the rest of the city.

Oman Diaries: Lunch at The Cave restaurant

The Cave is a group of about 8 restaurants in the heart of Muscat serving cuisines from across the world since 2014.

Situated at the top of a hill, the restaurant offers lovely views of the city and beyond.

Kerala Diaries: An early morning at Kovalam Beach

Kovalam Beach is considered one of the famous beaches in India. It is located about 15kms from the center of Trivandrum.

While the beach is quite commercialized in terms of restaurants, boat operators and the likes, it was fairly tranquil and peaceful during my visit.

Moscow Diaries: Christmas nights in Moscow

Christmas in Russia and about 15 other countries is celebrated every year on January 7th rather than December 25th. The Russians start their year with around 10 vacation days which begin with the New Year celebrations and culminate in the Christmas festivities.

Singapore Diaries: An evening at Gardens by the Bay

Gardens by the Bay is one of the iconic landmarks of Singapore situated right next to the Marina Bay Sands in about 100 hectares of reclaimed land.

It consists of the Flower Dome which spans an area of around 1.2 hectares and is regarded as the world’s largest glass greenhouse consisting of flowers and plants found in regions as varied as the Mediterranean, South America, Australia, South Africa and more.

Oman Diaries: The roads of Oman..

Oman is up there in the top 10 countries with the best quality roads in the world. And why am I not surprised?

Being born and brought up in Oman, I have had the pleasure of being driven on smoothest of highways.

Indonesia Diaries: A weekend at Batam

Batam and Bintan – two small islands part of the Riau archipelago in Indonesia are both famous weekend getaways for individuals and other tourists from Singapore. Since both of them are less than 200km away, they are easily accessible from mainland Singapore by a short ferry ride.

Singapore Diaries: A visit to the Macritchie Reservoir

I have always heard people crib about the fact that Singapore doesn’t have anything natural to offer when it comes to tourism. Ironically, as of 2005, Singapore has about 2000 hectares of park area which is equal to about 70 km.

Dubai Diaries: An evening at the world’s highest restaurant

Most people who go to Burj Khalifa end up at either of the observation decks – Floor 124 or Floor 148. I instead decided to visit the At.mosphere restaurant which at a height of 1450 feet is regarded as the world’s highest restaurant.

Guest post: 55 Popular Weekend Getaways From Mumbai

Mumbai, the city that never sleeps may seem like any other overcrowded metro in India. But it has a lot more to offer than shopping malls and awesome street food. It is blessed with numerous historical sites, religious places and architectural wonders that will leave you spellbound by its simplicity.

Dubai Diaries: A day at Downtown Dubai

Downtown Dubai is another of a long list of prime locations in Dubai full of residential and commercial skyscrapers. Some of the most iconic buildings include the Burj Khalifa – the world’s tallest skyscraper which includes the Giorgio Armani Hotel, Dubai Mall – the world’s largest mall by area and the Address Downtown Dubai among others.

Dubai Diaries: A visit to the JBR & Dubai Marina

Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) is one of the prime localities in Dubai having a variety of residential blocks, hotels and restaurants. The ‘JBR Walk’ which runs across the stretch of the Jumeirah Beach has shopping and eating hotspots on one side and tourists sun – bathing on the other.

Guest Post: From Cape Town to Havana – Exciting nightlife

Most people travel because they want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities. However, there’s a small percentage – mostly youngsters in their 30s – that are actually chasing the hustle and bustle. They enjoy the agglomeration, the noise, the music, and the fun part of night activities.

Moscow Diaries: An evening at the Red Square

Red Square is considered as one of the most important landmarks in Moscow as it includes a varied set of monuments including Kremlin (the official residence of the Russian president), St. Basil’s Cathedral, Lenin’s Mausoleum, Kazan Cathedral, Gum Store and the State Historical Museum among others.

Dubai Diaries – A trip to the Miracle Garden

Spread over 72000 sq m and with over 45 million flowers, Miracle Garden is the world’s largest natural flower garden. In a country where temperatures can easily cross 50 degrees in the summer, this is quite a spectacular achievement which points to the vision of the authorities to create varied tourist experiences for the avid traveler.

Dubai diaries: The different moods of Burj Khalifa

Standing tall at a height of about 829m, Burj Khalifa is the tallest man-made structure in the world. With observation decks on the 124th and 148th floors, the Armani hotel and the world’s highest restaurant (At.mosphere) at the 122nd floor, this is one of the biggest tourist attractions on Dubai’s tourism map.

Moscow Diaries: A walk at the Gorky park

Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure (Центральный парк культуры и отдыха имени Горького) is one of Moscow’s Central parks located next to the Moskva river and spans an area of about 300 acres. It’s the perfect place to see the way Russians spend their free time. The park gets its name from the famous Soviet writer, Maxim Gorky.

Singapore Diaries: A visit to Pulau Ubin

Pulau Ubin is a small island having an area of about 10 sq.km and is located around 10 minutes from the Singapore mainland. This island is a nice but simple getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life in Singapore. With its coconut palm trees, mangroves, wildlife like octopuses, cuttlefishes, sea hares and the likes, the island is quite a natural reserve.

Kuwait diaries: A walk at the Marina Beach

The winter months in Kuwait are the best time for taking a stroll at the numerous beaches. The maximum temperatures at about 12-15 degrees are way cooler than the 50+ degrees it rises to during the summer months.

Moscow Diaries: A trip to the Moscow Metro

The Moscow Metro (Московский метрополитен) is the 6th largest metro system in the world and also one of the most busiest. It has 198 stations and has a route length of about 330 km making it one of the most ambitious projects in Russia. Along with having some of the deepest stations in the world like Park Pobedy at 243 feet and many lines and stations under construction, the Moscow Metro is a constantly evolving architectural marvel.

Moscow Diaries: Ice-cream at -10 degrees

Are you a winter kid who would love to go out for a walk when it’s bone-chilling cold?

It was around -10 degrees in the evening when I was out for one of the City Tours in Moscow.

Moscow diaries: The walk to the office..

As someone had rightly said, the best way to experience any city is by walking through the streets and taking in the sights and sounds all around. While on the first morning, I had asked my colleague to pick me up from the hotel, I decided that from the evening onwards, I would make the 20 minute journey on foot between Правды ул (Pravdy Street) and Лесная ул (Lesnaya street) where my hotel was located.

Moscow Diaries: The beginning..

привет из Москвы

During school, we have all studied about the Tundra region characterized with shrubs, mosses, pine trees along with dark and gloomy winters full of snow. I had always seen snowfall in movies but as I stepped out of the Domodedovo Airport at the outskirts of Moscow in late November, I immediately got my first experience of how snowfall felt.

Oman Diaries: Foodie times at Kargeen Cafe!

In Arabic, Kargeen refers to a quaint wooden cottage. First established in 1997 in the posh locality of Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos, Kargeen Cafe has come a long way with many more outlets having sprung up around Muscat in the years hence.

Oman Diaries: A visit to the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque

While I was a resident in Muscat, I wasn’t able to visit the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque as something or the other always came up. But I finally got my chance when I came in as a tourist courtesy Ministry of Tourism, Oman & Indiblogger.

Guest Post: Spiti Valley – A Land of Mystical Experiences

Beautifully situated in the serene Himalayan mountains in the north-eastern part of Himachal Pradesh, the name Spiti means the Middle Land. It is the land between Tibet and India. The Valley lies almost 12,500 ft above the sea level. Just like a maze, the roads in and out of this valley are quite confusing.

Guest Post: Experience Sydney like a local

Everyone who ever visited Sydney realized that it’s a mixture of flawless seaside and cultural beauty, where amazing tropical climate, imposing architecture and laid-back lifestyle create its uniqueness. As a person who lives in Sydney for years, I just adore every part of it.

To read more log on to – http://transitionofthoughts.com/2015/06/27/guest-post-experience-sydney-like-a-local/
The Kidzania Kuwait Experience!

I had read a lot about Kidzania before visiting their outlet in Kuwait. Started in 1999 in Mexico City, Kidzania has expanded to 16 cities and more across the world in the space of a few years since they started a franchise model to expand their properties. With more than 31 million guests having visited Kidzania since its opening, it is one of the fastest growing edutainment brands on the planet.

Oman Diaries – Sunset, Sunrise & the Mysteries of Wahiba Sands

In a continuation to my previous post on Wahiba Sands, I also wanted to mention about one of the mysteries I came across during my stay as well as watching the beautiful sunset and sunrise.

Oman Diaries: Exploring the vastness of Wahiba Sands

Wahiba Sands (now known as Sharqiya Sands) is a desert area around 250kms away from Muscat and about 120 kms from the city of Sur in the Sultanate of Oman. It’s size is around 12,500 square kilometers. The vastness of the desert hits you in the face as you enter it.

There are dunes of varying heights in all directions. Some tower well above the others. There is sand visible everywhere as far as the eyes can see.

Oman Diaries: The journey to Jebel Shams

Rugged mountains, smooth winding roads, chilly breeze and a Land Cruiser Prado to boot – The ride to Jebel Shams was an adventure in every way. Located about 2-3 hours by road from Muscat – the capital of Sultanate of Oman and an hour away from the town of Nizwa, Jebel Shams (Sun Mountain) is the tallest point in the Hajar Mountains and at a height of more than 3000m, it is regarded as the tallest point in eastern Arabia. The beautiful village of Al Hamra stands at the base of this mountain peak.

Istanbul: Skyscanner helps live a dream!

From spectacular natural beauty to historical legacy, Turkey has so much to offer for any tourist. And Istanbul with its strategic location in the Bosphorus straddling Europe on one hand and Asia on the other, keeps its place as one of the world’s most beautiful cities.

Oman: Beauty has an address!

If one would ask ten different tourists as to what they look for before traveling to a particular country, there may be ten different answers. While some would say they love anything to do with greenery and parks, others would prefer the tranquility of beaches. There would be some who would prefer adventure of any kind while others would love shopping from the top brands on the planet. What if a place provides all this and more?

Guest Post – Paris in the Spring: Things to See and Do

Experience springtime in Paris during the optimal season for blooming gardens, scenic views and fragrant café terraces.

The City of Lights, Paris, is beautiful at any time of the year, but spring is when she is most alluring to visitors. While there are certainly many popular attractions and tourist hotspots, Paris is best seen in spring through the eyes of locals.

My bucket-list for a trip to Malaysia!

Malaysia has always been marketed as “Truly Asia” by their Ministry of Tourism from as long as I can remember. With its unspoilt beaches, fantastic shopping destinations and scenic locales, Malaysia has been a destination of choice for many an avid traveler. Add to that the relatively cheaper cost of travel compared to many parts of the world like US, Australasia and Europe, and you have the destination of a lifetime in front of you.

Singapore Diaries: 4 months & counting!

When I had landed at Changi, I had expected that I would be in this country for just about 45 days. But after multiple extensions, things have moved past 4 months and still counting. The best part about such extensions is that you get to know about the country, the people and the culture even better over an extended period of time. This would be way more than a tourist would know.

Singapore Diaries: My experience at Singapore Grand Prix

Honestly, am not a fan of Formula 1 at all. I haven’t ever watched a complete race and neither do I know the name of all the drivers. Yes I know the famous ones like Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso and the likes. But as you would have understood, I am not one who keenly follows who wins the Championship and stuff.

Singapore Diaries: A place where everything seems so perfect!

It’s been a week since I have touched down in Singapore and I am already in love with the place. Yes, I have seen many places around the world. But being a tourist is a world of difference from staying in a foreign country and working there. Everything seems so orderly, neat and clean (Yes, maybe except Little India :P). Whether its people not jumping queues or them not generally rushing into the public transport (buses or trains), everyone really seems to follow all the rules to the T. I assume this is normally the case in many countries of the world. But having been exposed to too much of disorderliness for many years, this is a welcome and refreshing change.

Transition of Thoughts

Weaving thoughts into words

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