"street markets"

  I have put this in its own section as you could spend an entire day exploring the street markets or just an evening. There is a lot of opportunity for shopping, eating, and photography. One could also spill out the market exploration over multiple days as something to unwind in the evenings.  For a three-day itinerary, I recommend covering the markets in one day or over two evenings. We made a walking tour of this and…

When you live in your quiet corner in a massive, sprawling metropolitan area of Los Angeles, it’s easy to get comfortable in your own neighborhood with your favorite restaurants and stores in a 5-mile radius. To escape our corner, we then take transatlantic flights to explore the world. Everyone in a while, when we are on those vacations, jet lagged and bleary-eyed, exploring a boutique store or enjoying a culinary experience, we wonder, surely something…

I have wanted to visit Hong Kong, ever since I fell in love with its skyline on a postcard calendar someone gifted me in high school. I don’t know what it was about tall buildings on the waterfront with shimmering neon signs, but it spoke to me.And just before the pandemic hit the world, we finally made a trip to Hong Kong, a place one needs to experience to experience to even begin to understand.…

This July, I fell in love with Hong Kong. It was quick and unexpected and on short three- day stopover trip en route to Los Angeles. With temperatures in the 90s and typhoon season humidity, those few days are a sweaty blur in my mind. But I remember the feeling of being in a giant mass of humanity, of a place of some importance. As I boarded my flight back home, I carried specific images…

Love wine-tasting but have kids? Don’t worry, Napa Valley is still the place for you. We have made several trips to Napa wine country with our preschooler and had tonnes of fun. Here’s how we did it! Wine Tasting With The Kids! Yes, it’s possible. While you may not be able to enjoy the boutique, exclusive wineries that dot Napa Valley, there are some pretty big names out there that make it possible for you…

Starting the day with a bus ride to Chora Museum On our third day, we had to get across town to the Chora Museum, one of the last standing churches of the Byzantium Empire. The Chora museum is famous for its large collection of gold mosaic work. As we boarded a packed bus at Galata Bridge, I was a little nervous because crowds and new places do that to me. We also had no clue…

Istanbul is one of the most visually stunning cities that we have ever visited. A mix of the ancient and the new, every corner is bustling with life, color, and unexpected experiences. It’s one of those places in the world that should be experienced at a slow pace with lots of aimless meandering thrown in. Day 1: Leisurely visit to the Hagia Sophia Take an easy first day and try to get over your jet…