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A traveller’s guide to visiting Santa Ponsa
When visiting the Balearic island of Majorca, there are so many beautiful spots to explore. We’ll excuse you for being instantly drawn to the enchanting capital of Palma if you’re visiting with family, or perhaps the heady haunts of Magaluf if late nights and cheap bites are on the agenda. But for somewhere that has a little something for everyone, consider a trip to the coastal town of Santa Ponsa. Tucked away on the Southwestern coast, this alluring destination combines all the features you’d want and expect from a sunny seaside resort. From spotless beaches, to an eclectic mix of dining options, you will find beauty and effortless charm in…
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The Foodie’s Guide: What to Eat in Seoul
It can be overwhelming trying to decide what to eat in Seoul because there are so many amazing options! Apart from all the chimaek and BBQ that we see on our favourite K-dramas, there’s actually a good variety of Korean dishes that one can find in the city’s bustling capital. If you’re overwhelmed with options, this list covers the best restaurants we ate at when we visited in December 2021. Enjoy! Jinjujip Bibimguksu (진주집) Hidden at the basement of an unobtrusive office building, your only hint at having found a local haunt would be the snaking lines that form outside this restaurant every lunch hour. We were introduced to Jinjujip…
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Our Experience on a Dual Narrative Tour in Jerusalem
We spent an exciting morning on MEJDI's Dual Narrative Tour in Jerusalem learning about the tensions between Israel and Palestine and exploring the many perspectives regarding this conflict.
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How we loved – and lost – our child while travelling in South America
Trigger warning: Pregnancy loss Antarctica I first had an inkling that I might be pregnant while on board our cruise to Antarctica. I’ve always had a pretty regular period and was expecting to get it on the cruise, so when days passed and it didn’t come, the mounting excitement at seeing penguins was paralleled with that of the reality of having our own little cutie. When it was time to do the polar plunge, I hesitated. My gut feeling was that I was pregnant, but there was no way to verify this on the cruise without a pregnancy test kit, so I had to resist the urge to do the…
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The Ultimate Adventure in Madagascar
You may think we’re insane for suggesting a trip to such a remote place, and maybe we are. That being said, if you have the time and resources, why wouldn’t you want to visit one of the most isolated and bio-diverse places on the planet? Most people know of Madagascar from the animated film featuring singing and dancing wildlife. But as fun as the idea of dancing and singing wildlife is, this island nation has so much more to offer in the real world! So pack your hiking gear and bug net, and prepare yourself for the journey of a lifetime – an adventure in Madagascar! Explore Antananarivo Regardless of where…
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5 Essential Tips for Your First Visit to Amsterdam
Amsterdam is, without question, one of Europe’s great cities for tourists. If you’ve never visited before, you’re definitely in for a real treat! Question is: where do you begin? The free-spirited Dutch capital is a delightful blend of whirring bicycles, magical museums, colourful markets and legendary nightlife. Here are five top tips if you are visiting Amsterdam for the very first time: Arrive by train Amsterdam Central Station, as the name suggests, is right at the heart of this beautiful city. You can catch a double-decker train from Schiphol Airport, from nearby Rotterdam and even arrive by Eurostar from London. Arriving by train allows you to get an immediate sense of the…
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Authentic Istanbul: Understanding the Syrian Crisis over earrings and potatoes
We all have heard of Syria, and yet know so little about the country and its challenges. Politics in the Mediterranean region is not usually the topic of choice during dinner conversations in my country, but ever since I have embarked on my travels in this part of the world, there is this increasing need to rid myself of this wilful ignorance in order to better understand this region better. Which begs the question: why am I writing about Syria when I am visiting Turkey? Amidst the culinary experiences and historical landmark tours focusing on Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, we were interested in experiences that would offer insights into authentic…
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Our best experience in St Petersburg: Dinner with the Prokopenkos
What do you look for when you travel? The must-visit, to-do listicles usually include UNESCO sites, significant points of attraction and to-die-for dishes, and I know this because I’ve written so many of these articles. But increasingly, I’m beginning to realise that the most meaningful moments of travel happen in the ordinary. They exist in moments of human connection, in empathy, in the recognition that we are all not that different. We were fortunate to experience that on the Home Cooked St Petersburg and Market Tour with St Petersburg Urban Adventures. Sampling local food at Sennaya Market Our experience began with a visit to Sennaya market. While I was initially…
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Total Moscow Tour: Experience the best of Moscow in 1 day | Review
When we planned our itinerary for Russia, the general feedback we got was that it was three days too many in Moscow. Our friends told us that Saint Petersburg was the one that we should focus more on, and that Russia’s political capital would appear lackadaisical and boring when compared to its cousin to the West. Yet despite the waves of well-meaning advice from our friends, we decided to make Moscow the first stop of our round-the-world trip. As lifelong history nerds, the opportunity to delve into the heart of the old Soviet Union was something that we found impossible to pass up. Given our inability to distinguish Cyrillic alphabets from…
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The Big Trip
It’s happening. It’s actually finally happening. These past few weeks I’ve been walking around with a ball of knots in my stomach. It’s like the growing excitement and apprehension you feel as you’re in line for a rollercoaster ride – there’s so much excitement but also anxiety, fear, and the constant desire for courage to do this and stay the course. We’ve been talking about this trip since before we got married, but there have been so many compromises and negotiations, false starts and obstacles that I had honestly stopped hoping or expecting that it would happen. Yet somehow, thanks to the blessings of our families and bosses, we have…