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Sitting on a swan in Copenhagen!

In Copenhagen, there is one small transportation experience you must take: a whole swan paddle boat. I found this one in Peblinge Lake, which is part of the three artificial reservoirs created along the city center. Although I first noticed this region for its affinity for walkers and joggers, the shallow waters themselves are home to a few ducks, swans, and grebes. This humble boat can mimic the inhabitants just as well, allowing you to confidently paddle around them. I found it quite pleasant to leisurely sway along with the water while appreciating the landscape in the Nørrebro neighborhood. The tall and wide buildings, set apart from one another by design and color, invite your eyes to sit and appreciate each one for itself. I even took some time to read a book while drifting along with the wind, until I found myself too close to a swan nest, and then I retreated to safer waters, wisely. And in just about an hour, I was ready for my next adventure, so if you've got time to kill...
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House boating in Alleppey, Keralam : )

 When we were first making our way towards the houseboat in Alleppey, we had only a vague idea of how the backwaters look in Kerala, the aquatic plant life and village communities that live around them. So when we were introduced to our captain, Jaydas, for a trip of 2 nights, we were simply not ready for the adventure ahead of us.  Our houseboat is essentially composed of a wide deck and an upper floor that coughs up a panoramic view of the life outside. The hallway acts as the main artery connecting all living spaces, so we made sure not to clutter that region. Our boat had the capacity to switch on an air conditioner in the evening time so we could relax without fear of humidity or mosquitoes after a big day of sightseeing. We, of course, had ample opportunity to take a walk outside when the boat was at port along the journey. Our first big surprise, apart from the glittery waters and eager flocks of birds, was the lunch menu itself. When we saw the lavish spread, we honest...
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Spice garden tour in Spring valley, Keralam!

  There are multiple spice gardens along the Spring Valley region in Kerala, and they more or less follow the same blueprint: a family-owned estate with an optional tour of the medicinal herbs, followed by a detailed exhibition of the products extracted from the garden. These can range from raw products such as cardamom pods to more refined oils for skincare or back pain relief, which their in-house pharmacy would be happy to prescribe. During this garden tour, we enjoyed discovering just how many varieties of the same plant exist in the wild. In the case of peppers and bananas especially, we realized how differently these plants fruit compared to the versions we are used to seeing on commercial farms. It is admittedly quite an interactive and engaging experience, so as long as you can avoid purchasing medicines you do not really need, this informative tour is definitely a must-do for nature enthusiasts!
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Belgium's grandest railway station in Antwerp!

 If I don't go and explain it, you might take one look at this majestic architecture and mistake it for a church — and who could blame you? Even the local Dutch nickname, “Spoorwegkathedraal,” recognizes the church-like features of Antwerpen-Centraal railway station. When I first arrived here, I had to take three escalators just to reach mean sea level. Above, a bright naturally lit roof guides your eyes toward the higher levels of the building, and justifiably so, because there is so much detail to unravel. From a purely architectural standpoint, these design elements cannot be defined by a single word, but rather by a blend of Neo-Renaissance and Neo-Baroque styles. These are characterized by striking angular facades, ornate symmetry, and rounded arches. Even within these visuals alone, you can grasp the lavishness and grandeur that this building boasts. It is as admirable as it is unfortunate that much of its financing was tied to the colonial exploitation of the 19th-century Co...
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Flora & Fauna Eco Park of Munnar, Keralam!

Truthfully, we began this day with a long car ride around Kerala, but soon enough I fell carsick and needed a reason to take a breather between these scenic mountain roads. Perhaps a word of caution as well: if you plan to catch a glimpse of a few waterfalls along the way, definitely do not come during the early months of the year like we did, because we only got to see dry stones and sticks instead — albeit with a bit of greenery. But during the monsoon season after June, you could witness something amazing like this.  We were lucky enough to catch a view of Valara Waterfalls, which, even though distant from our viewpoint, showed just how majestic and eventful these hills can be. And so we arrived at this eco park with no idea what to expect, simply eager to take a walk. We were first greeted by these emu birds, which honestly deserve their own emu-ji considering how expressive they are! Right after feeding one, we were captivated by the birds around us, so I even tried whistling ...
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Staycation in Gingelom, Belgium!

  Look, I started this trip with a rainy morning, so I will make sure you relive it again with me. Sure, I had a couple of cakes and coffee to pump up my spirits when the joyful cloud of grey decided to accompany me on this vacation. And where else would I be headed to, but Gingelom, the most eventful of all municipalities in Belgium. I am being slightly sarcastic, but I actually had a great time—so why was I there in the first place? Let me take you back one month, talking with my friends about how nice it would be to enjoy the summer of Belgium in a relaxing BnB somewhere we have never visited before. And in that research, we discovered Gingelom. The official webpage for Gingelom describes it as a landscape of sunken lanes, orchards, rolling fields, authentic monuments, and much tranquility. That was the bait, and we were hooked. Right, back to the bus we come—fortunately rather empty and peaceful towards this side of town in Limburg—and to be at complete liberty switching seats ...
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Never bored with cheese boards!

  One of the many good things in life is cheese of many kinds, and I bring you an experience that I was myself introduced to quite late in life: pairing and consuming cheese. The first one I tried here is a goat cheese with a skin of black ash which, on its own, is rather tangy and acidic, but when you have a fuller bite with the white creamy cheese, it blends in with the fattiness of the goat milk smoothly and deliciously. In terms of pairing, we generally take a small fruit like grape or olive to enhance the chew. At the risk of sounding too pretentious, I should mention that I knew nothing about cheese a couple of months ago but have taken keenly to experimenting with them lately. If you could bite into this block of Saint-Marcellin, you'd know what I mean—it is soft and creamy on top of this crisp biscuit, so every angle of your bite prepares an immersive sour experience. Many times it is difficult to predict what the first and last notes of a cheese can be, especially with som...
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