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Budapest: The City That Guides and Speaks 🇭🇺

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Sitting on a Danube cruise, the city lights of Budapest glowing around me, I felt the bittersweet tug of a solo trip drawing to a close. The cool breeze caressed my skin and I was lost in the beauty of the sight. The Buda Castle and Matthias Church, to my left in the “Buda” district, and the Hungarian Parliament, to my right in the “Pest” district, were all dressed up for my send-off evening. Under the night sky, their reflections danced on the water — golden and alive. I was snapped back to reality when two passengers sneaked into the captain’s room, only to be scolded by the cruise captain in rapid Hungarian. As I sipped my ginger lemon soda (don’t laugh) and watched the city drift by, I realized Budapest had quietly begun to speak to me in ways I hadn’t expected. Budapest is a great communicator, but she takes time to start the conversation. Night views of the Hungarian Parliament and Buda Castle I hadn’t really planned to fall for this city. I only knew I wanted to explore somewher...
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A Day Through Baarle (🇳🇱 🇧🇪) and Antwerp (🇧🇪)

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Many people who visited the Antwerp railway station had unanimously agreed that it is one of the most beautiful railway stations, if not the most beautiful in Europe. Although I agree with them, it was not the best memory of Antwerp. Yes, I did go to Antwerp, because it was the closest “foreign” city from where I live. In Antwerp, I came across an elderly man standing alone at a crossroads, holding a physical map in his hand. The sight of him — so lost and isolated — disturbed me. In that moment, I felt empathy for him, but I quickly moved on. His situation made me think of the fears of getting old and lost — the fear I presume most of us have. Perhaps, he was searching for something (literally and metaphorically). It was a fleeting thought, but one that lingered in my mind as I continued on my journey. Antwerp Central Station But hold on, perhaps I jumped ahead a by a few hours. My journey didn’t actually begin here. Earlier in the day, I started my trip from Delft, intending to vis...
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Location: Delft, Netherlands
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Exploring Japan: Cities, Attractions and Unforgettable Moments

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  It was drizzling, and the Kyoto skies were overcast. I stood in awe, observing a humble young woman selling postcards of the infamous Kiyomizudera Temple. She didn’t have a shop; her only shelter was a large umbrella, big enough for three people, under which she sold her postcards. Back in 2003, during my visits to New Delhi and Agra, I remember vendors selling postcards featuring attractions like the Qutub Minar and the Taj Mahal. The idea was to share the beauty of the places you visited with your loved ones. But now, in 2024, people prefer capturing images on their phones or even making video calls to share their experiences. It seems so simple. So, what left me in awe? Despite the rain, and the apparent disinterest from passersby, this young woman’s energy never faded. She continued to smile and enthusiastically invited people to buy her postcards. Ideally, this shouldn't have surprised me, as it was my fourth day in Japan, and I had already encountered many amazing individua...
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Location: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
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