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Photo: Abu Dhabi Sunset
Connected (How to maintain long-distance friendships?)
In the past few months I was present online very sporadically. I spent a lot of time in enjoying personal interactions with my friends and family and it has been quite energising.
African cuisine – Ethiopian food
My first experience with African food came surprisingly in Abu Dhabi where I tried dished from Mali, Zimbabwe, Sudan and Ethiopia. Ethiopian food is simple but very tasty. You will literally lick your fingers as you will eat your food with them.
Photo: Monet’s garden in Giverny, France
I have visited Giverny in April 2011. It is a small village approximately one hour driving from Paris. There is an older house with a beautiful garden where french impressionist painter Claude Monet lived.
Seychelles not only for ultra-rich
Seychelles are well known as a veeery expensive holiday for the ultra rich, but not need to be.
Photo: Oslo’s Opera House
I made a short roundtrip to Oslo recently and did not have an opportunity to take any pictures so I browsed my photo library. This is Oslo’s Opera House at sunset in October 2011.
Photo: Papavers blooming near a country road, Modrovka, Slovakia
Turkey: What to do during a weekend break in Istanbul
Istanbul seems to be an ideal destination for a longer weekend. It is the largest city in Turkey, spreading on both shores of the Bosporus, on two continents – Europe and Asia. Actually almost everything in Istanbul, from architecture, culture, religion to cuisine, is a mix between european and arabic origin. There are catholic churches, orthodox basilicas and islamic mosques close to each other. The largest of them, Hagia Sophia, served as an orthodox basilica, catholic church and an islamic mosque. Of course, each in a different time period.
Nepal: Kathmandu (from October 2014)
I have visited Nepal in October 2014 on a trip which was my birthday present. After the earthquake in April 2015, most of the sights I have visited are likely destroyed and it might take long until the country recovers. This post sums up my impressions and experiences from Kathmandu during the October 2014 trip. Before and after pictures and more info on Nepal can be found in this older post.
Nepal: Remembering Nepal before the April 2015 eathquake
I have visited Nepal in October 2014. This fast paced 9-day trip was actually a surprising birthday present from my fantastic friends and colleagues in Abu Dhabi (huge thanks to all those involved!). And the time there was no less fantastic and I cherish a lot of great memories. So felt really sorry when I heard about the 7.9 magnitude earthquake that struck the country in late April.
Seychelles: Picture Perfect
Gallery of the pictures taken in Seychelles. Mahe: Beau Vallon beach in the north of the island just after showers Mahe: Beau Vallon beach Mahe: Intendance beach Mahe: Sunset on the Intendance beach Mahe: Somewhere in the capital Victoria Mahe: In the Botanical garden Mahe: Western part of the island Mahe: Waterfall Mahe: Beach at Port Launay Mahe: Marine park near Port Launay La Digue: Grande Anse Beach La Digue: Sunset at Anse Reunion La Digue: View of neighbouring Praslin Praslin: Anse Lazio
Seychelles: La Digue
La Digue is a relatively small island in comparison with Mahe. And it is the third largest in Seychelles. The trip from Mahe lasted less than two hours. First with a bigger catamaran to the neighbouring Praslin, then with a smaller catamaran a 15 min trip to La Digue.
Seychelles: Grande Anse
This amazing beach is in the north of La Digue island. It is around 1km far from the settlements on the other side of the island. To get there, I have rented a bike. From there you can then walk across the stones to the neighbouring beaches Petit Anse on the left or Anse Marron on the right. When I arrived there first time, I only sat in the shade and watched. The waves just started to get higher and soon the place became surfer’s paradise. Many locals jumped on the opportunity. 🙂 Note: After checking almost all beaches of the La Digue island, this one was the best. 🙂…
Seychelles: The paradise?
Many consider Seychelles, a grouping of some 100 islands at the equator off the East Africa, a paradise on earth. After experiencing sunshine most of the day, temperatures of around 32 degrees in shade, pristine almost empty beaches, azure sea, great spots for snorkeling, dense green rainforest hills, beautiful waterfalls, breathtaking views, delicious food and smiling and helpful people, I would say they are not quite off, but I would add Maldives as a strong contender.
Delicatesses Seychellois
Two Seychellois dishes stand out in the local restaurants. One is grilled fish with creole sauce – this red snapper was really delicious. The Creole sauce is made from tomatoes and onion, though mine was prepared on demand without. 🙂
Seychelles: Beau Vallon
Beau Vallon is a small city in the Beau Vallon bay on the northwestern side of the main island Mahe. The magnificient beach is lined up by restaurants, resorts and houses. The beach is several kilometers long and accessible to public (most of the beaches on Mahe are for public).
Seychelles: Sunset at Anse Intendance
Anse Intendance is certainly one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve seen on Mahe. Its is relatively remote, located in the south of the island, with Banyan Tree Resort spreading on the right side. White sandy beach, azure sea (Indian ocean, actually) and splendid sunset views – just amazing. The waves were quite high and the currents seemed strong, but the sunset was magical. What do you think?
UAE: High in the SKY
During my numerous visits to Dubai, I often looked out to the 828 m tall Burj Khalifa, which is the highest building in the world. Although I often went shopping to the adjacent Dubai Mall, I did not feel the urge to got up the tower only until it was clear I will be leaving the UAE.
UAE: Weekend in Abu Dhabi
Most recent ultra short visit from a friend inspired me to write this short post summarising what to expect from Abu Dhabi. Not only Dubai has some breath-taking views.
UAE: Sandstorm
Sunday 17 August was one of the hottest days of the summer in the Emirates with temperature reaching 48°C. There even was a storm in the afternoon – a proper sandstorm.
Jordan: Around Wadi Rum
If asked to rank the places seen during the Jordan road trip, I would award Wadi Rum desert the second place right after the ancient city of Petra and before the Dead Sea, Karak Castle, Mt Nebo and Aqaba.