travel diaries

3 days in taxco – The ultimate guide

February 4, 2023 By Asha Shivakumar

3 days in Taxco, Guerrero was like a magical fairytale. I can honestly say it was the most mesmerizing and the most beautiful place in Mexico that I’ve visited. From taking the cable car, to riding in a sturdy VW Beetle, to the Cristo Monument, to getting lost in the cobblestone streets, eating churros and learning about Taxco’s past as a silver mining town – I fell totally in love with this city which is 3 hours south of Mexico City.

Taxco will surprise you. Taxco will take your breath away. Welcome to the the most Magical Pueblo Mágico of all of the Pueblo Mágicos- Taxco, Guerrero! Located just a couple of hours from Mexico City, Taxco is built upon a beautiful mountainside. It truly looks like something out of a dream! When you are walking the streets of Taxco you feel like you have stepped back in time! White with red tiled roof buildings, the streets are cobblestone, and the taxis look like VW Bugs from the 1950’s. There are surprises awaiting you around every corner and callejon!

In the early morning with the rising sun, the apricot-peach colored stone of the church of Santa Prisca and San Sebastián in Taxco, Guerrero, Mexico, seems to radiate with light. On a hill towering above the city around it, the church’s tall bell towers beckon people to enter its doors. The elaborate carvings on the façade and towers also seem to writhe with life. As shadows pass over the surface throughout the day, you could swear the building was moving. Imagine how striking it is to then enter the church and be completely overwhelmed with walls that vibrate with gold….

3 Days in Hampi – A forgotten Empire

July 23, 2022 By Nikhil Shivakumar

Once a colorful Vijayanagara Kingdom, Hampi is now in ruins, beautiful ruins, a forgotten Empire. An empire that has stories to tell. Hampi, the UNESCO World Heritage Site that was once the richest city in India, will be all you need for an educational and beautiful getaway. Imagining the splendor in the once thriving kingdom as you walk through the ruins is an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Read on to learn more about one of the gems of Karnataka.

Once the capital of the ancient Vijayanagara Dynasty, Hampi is a hidden gem in India. It was once, after Beijing, the second largest medieval city in the world, with its ruins currently spreading over 4,100 hectares. It was even in the Ramayana! Hampi was probably the site described where the heroes Ram and Lakshman met Hanuman the monkey god, and Sugriva. With its rich history, it feels magical to know that you are stepping on the same ground that kings and queens did, and that there were once lively marketplaces where there are now ruins. It’s truly a mind-blowing experience. And, as a cherry on top, there are dozens of Gray langur monkeys in many of the locations :). …

3 days in New York City – Ultimate Travel guide

March 8, 2022 By Asha Shivakumar

Here’s a 3 days in New York travel guide, the only guide you need. The Urban Jungle, Big Apple, the city that never sleeps, the capital of the world – No matter how you’ve heard it called, there’s no denying that New York City is one of the most vibrant and fascinating cities on the planet.

Known as the urban jungle, BIG APPLE, the city that never sleep, New York City is the most populous city in the USA. New York City can feel like an overwhelming city to visit. New York was such an exciting city to visit and if you like fast-paced urban adventures then we think you will have a great time here. There are so many attractions, historical locations, pop culture landmarks and delicious foods that it may seem hard to cram everything in just one visit, so I hope this post will help you.

New York City needs at least a week to just scratch the surface. I’ve been to NYC four times now and I still feel, there so much to do and see. In this post I have covered it all, best places to eat, to see and things to do. Whether you stay for 3 days or a week, I have you covered.…

7 days in Egypt -Ultimate travel guide

January 4, 2022 By Asha Shivakumar

Here’s a 7 days in Egypt travel guide. Welcome to Mysterious Egypt. Rich history, killer desserts, jaw-dropping monuments. THE PYRAMIDS, Egypt has it all. Egypt is one of the most fascinating countries I’ve ever visited in my life. Here’s a glimpse of our epic trip and hope it helps you when you plan yours.

This was a thrilling and out of body experience. 7 days in Egypt will blow your mind away. What can I say…this country is simply magical filled with so much history, culture and mystery. I, like most people, have seen images of the pyramids since I was a child. They’re not just a part of Egypt’s heritage, they are a part of global heritage. You think you know them just because you always have. It’s not until you’re here and you start to hear the stories of these amazing monuments that you realize there is so much more to learn. The sheer size and massiveness is magnificent. I might have shed a tear when I touched the Pyramid for the first time.

Fresh off the plane, I’m ready to dive into my full Egypt itinerary. We were in Siwa for 4 days which was the relaxing part of our trip. The salt water lakes, the small town vibes was pure perfection. But, This post is mainly focused on Cairo and Luxor. The week we spent there allowed me to connect to my past. This post will break down our journey through the main two cities, the tours, places to see day by day and give you some hot tips on the best photo locations!…

5 days in Mexico City – The Ultimate Guide

September 5, 2021 By Asha Shivakumar

5 days in Mexico City. Mexico City is simply amazing! I found it bubbling with art, culture, history, and charm. Between the art galleries, boutiques, and snazzy coffee bars, Mexico City offers as much culture and charm as any large European city.

Mexico City is an amazing assault on the senses. Bustling, beautiful and bold, the Mexican capital is well endowed with sights to see and things to do. Boasting everything from Aztec ruins and opulent 19th-century palaces to a whole galaxy of tasty street food to try out! The city center of the Mexican capital is an amazing UNESCO World Heritage Site, complete with a cathedral, palace and the largest square in the Americas – the Zocalo….

3 days in New Orleans

June 5, 2021 By Asha Shivakumar

New Orleans. NOLA. NAWLINS. All you need is 3 days in New Orleans to get the feel of the most colorful city. Many names but everything leads to jazz, food, fun and music. It is true : “You can live in any city in America, but New Orleans is the only city that lives in you.” – Chris Rose

3 days in New Orleans #neworleans #neworleanstrip

New Orleans is world-renowned for its distinct music. The birthplace of Jazz and the home of Mardi Gras makes New Orleans one of the most fun cities to visit in the USA. Creole cuisine, unique dialects, and its annual celebrations and festivals, most notably Mardi Gras. The historic heart of the city is the French Quarter, known for its French and Spanish Creole architecture and vibrant nightlife along Bourbon Street.

Essentially an island between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain, New Orleans is a city defined and shaped by waterways. Nicknamed the Crescent City because of its quarter-moon shape, New Orleans was isolated from the mainland for close to 250 years.

Many adjectives for Nola: shabby and charming, swift and popular, young and cool, important and powerful, outside, large and small, your, shabby, dank, swift, old, young, large, important. You need 3 days in New Orleans to get the feel of the place and see everything that’s important.…

3 Days in SanFrancisco – Food and Travel Guide

August 2, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

“San Francisco has only one drawback. T’is hard to leave.” – Rudyard Kipling. 3 days in San Francisco is all you need to see everything and you’ll never leave.

The coldest winter I saw is summer in San Francisco, is a popular quote and it is right. San Francisco can get very cold and windy. So plan on wearing layers and comfortable shoes to walk in. The streets are all zig zag, just vertically:-). I am proud to call this my city and I’ve traveled quite a lot, and San Francisco remains one of my favorite cities in the world. For a place that has less than one million people, San Francisco has definitely pushed above its weight in terms of contributions to the world….