Urgut Market – the best place for Suzani shopping in Uzbekistan?

Urgut Market – the best place for Suzani shopping in Uzbekistan?

Oh, the fabled Urgut Market. For years, I read internet forums and  guide books, wishing to visit this bazaar south of Samarkand. This time, I was going to visit Urgut Market, and please, if you are interested in textiles, let me share my Sunday shopping 

My lovely Koyasan Trip

My lovely Koyasan Trip

On my third trip to Japan, I was in a pensive state of mind. Koyasan would be just the right place to visit. Freshly dumped, having a difficult time at work. For a week, I just wanted to see temples, shrines and enjoy some quiet 

Diving in Aqaba, Jordan as new diver

Diving in Aqaba, Jordan as new diver

A few weeks ago, I returned from a repeat trip to Aqaba in Jordan, and this time, I was diving in Aqaba.  I highly recommend it as a friendly, affordable diving destination. What makes Aqaba great for diving? Aqaba is essentially a small port city 

Learning to dive as an Older Diver is cool!

Learning to dive as an Older Diver is cool!

Why I was waiting until I was an “older diver”?  I love the water, love to snorkel.  But I  have never had the guts to learn to scuba dive. I was  thinking it is for the fit, for those with regular access to tropical waters 

My 2023 Travel Plans: Inspiring, Ambitious or Pie in the Sky?

My 2023 Travel Plans: Inspiring, Ambitious or Pie in the Sky?

Hot on the heels of my 2022 travel year comes the 2023 travel plans, or intentions, as the hip ones like to say now. If my speed of writing this blog is anything to go by, I might have finished it in a week or 

Its Alright: My 2022 Travel Year

Its Alright: My 2022 Travel Year

And so here goes nothing, with about 138 drafts on file, my heads full of plans. Not a great year for travel blogging here, my 2022 travel year but a good year otherwise. Mainly dominated by work. Work first, or what… But that’s okay, because 

Holiday Golightly’s Gift Guide 2022 or: give the gift of travel!

Holiday Golightly’s Gift Guide 2022 or: give the gift of travel!

Here it comes, the season to… shop and shop, and the publication of endless gift guides on the internets. And, with just a tiny bit of delay, but ready for the (s)hopping madness here in Europe comes Holiday Golightly’s Gift Guide 2022. In 2019, I 

Eastern German Christmas Markets – the best and most underrated Christmas Markets of Germany

Eastern German Christmas Markets – the best and most underrated Christmas Markets of Germany

Hallo! Proud Eastern German here, and now the festive time is nearing, let’s take a look at Eastern German Christmas Markets.  Time to do a post about the most common travel reason to Germany in the cold ‘n dark season: Christmas Markets! Indeed, hardly anyone 

Afternoon Strolls: a lovely Berlin Reuterkiez walk

Afternoon Strolls: a lovely Berlin Reuterkiez walk

I spent my summer working and strolling Berlin’s lovely streets. So, my Berlin Reuterkiez walk is all I have to offer in terms of “fresh” travel right now. In response to the fuel shortages in 2022, the German government issued a public transport ticket for 

Bauhaus Dessau – the best place to visit for Bauhaus Architecture

Bauhaus Dessau – the best place to visit for Bauhaus Architecture

Inspired by a recent visit to Weimar… and the Bauhaus 1.0, I thought I can drag out some local wisdom and and write a Bauhaus Dessau guide on visiting Bauhaus sites in Dessau, of which there are plenty! Dessau, and sadly the sites of the 

Great travel on a budget in economic uncertainty

Great travel on a budget in economic uncertainty

Here in Central Europe, we are good at doom and gloom after nearly three years of pandemic and nearly a year of war at our doorstep.  Not to mention other conflicts not so far from us – Israel-Palestine, various environmental disasters, and now… if media 

Classic and Modern Weimar in 24 Hours

Classic and Modern Weimar in 24 Hours

Weimar in 24 hours is brought to you courtesy of my middle-of-summer Germany stay-cation. This summer, I volunteered to work at a festival which is taking place in Weimar. Great, I thought, Weimar, a place literally close to my heart, great for history, Germany culture, 

How to buy superb Turkish bath accessories in Turkey

How to buy superb Turkish bath accessories in Turkey

If you would ask what are some top Turkish souvenirs, textiles and especially the famous Turkish towels and Turkish bath accessories  come top of my list. Of course, the bazaars and souvenir shops have tons and tons of souvenirs, from sweets, jewellery, lamps, ceramics and 

Awesome Aqaba: a relaxed Red Sea Resort in Jordan

Awesome Aqaba: a relaxed Red Sea Resort in Jordan

In the cold winter months during lockdown, I wondered when it might be possible to return to Jordan. I promised myself that soon as travel to Jordan is safe again, I will be back in a flash! Now that I take  a professional interest in 

Conques Abbey: Romanesque, Romantic and Starkly Modern

Conques Abbey: Romanesque, Romantic and Starkly Modern

Summer 2020… we went on a somewhat different holiday. Conques Abbey was a station of our little road trips to get to know Occitaine  a little better. We had not seen my in-laws for nearly a year, and as soon as travelling rules were relaxed