• Chicken machboos at the cultural lunch at SMCCU
    Dubai,  Travel,  United Arab Emirates

    Dubai Creekside, Al Fahidi and a cultural lunch at SMCCU

    Despite Dubai’s changing landscape, the historic district of Al Shidagha, the traditional Textile Souq along the Bur Dubai side of the creek, the continuing Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood (formerly Bastakiya), the Spice Souq and Gold Souq across the creek in the Deira side… all these places have managed to retained their original charm and sanctity. Bukhoor or Bakhoor, scented bricks soaked in fragrant oils Today’s post is in celebration of my brother’s birthday. A designer by profession, he’s an artist, a creative soul and capable of capturing the eclectic in things that others would find most ordinary and random. This is a creative and a foodie day out in my…

  • Birgu, also known as Città Vittoriosa
    Malta,  Travel,  UNESCO Heritage

    Malta | Smitten by the medieval Birgu

    Birgu comprised of the last part of my Malta itinerary and I was already smitten by yellow limestone forts, grand harbours and azure blue waters that characterised the Maltese landscape. Birgu, also known by its title Città Vittoriosa, is an old fortified city on the south side of the Grand Harbour in the South Eastern Region of Malta. It served as the capital city of Malta between 1530 and 1571, until Valletta was built. The city still retained its medieval flavour with cobbled alleys, stepped lanes, converted townhouses (available for rents!), elegantly renovated art and curio boutiques. The Birgu waterfront was lined with modern cafes and restaurants and buzzed with…

  • Island of Gozo in Malta
    Malta,  Travel,  UNESCO Heritage

    Malta | Sailing into the beautiful island of Gozo

    The beautiful island of Gozo awaited our arrival and we sailed amidst the scenic blue Mediterranean with the cool sea breeze sweeping across my cheeks. The third day of our Malta itinerary (here’s my first Malta post on the fortified cities Valletta and Mdina) comprised of a day trip to Gozo, the second largest island after the main island of Malta. Unlike its sister island Comino, which has officially three residents only, Gozo is relatively large with a population of around thirty-seven thousand people. We boarded a minivan from Sliema to reach Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal on the northern tip of Malta Island via a scenic drive along the Coast Road.…

  • Traffic in Valletta
    Malta,  Travel,  UNESCO Heritage

    Malta | Exploring the fortified cities of Mdina and Valletta

    The island basked in more than 7,000 years of history, abundant sunshine, dollops of warm sea breeze and vitamin sea all around.  Fortified cities, picturesque coastlines, pretty harbours in an azure Mediterranean surrounding thronged by fishing and leisure boats alike, Malta is regal and stunning. There’s more to this tiny island-archipelago than just picturesque locales in movies like Gladiator, Troy, Angelina Jolie-Brad Pitt’s film ‘By the Sea’ or the legendary series of Game of Thrones. The country checks all the plausible boxes for an exotic travel destination – delicious food, gorgeous landscapes, archaeological relicts, architectural marvels and of course, the allure of history. Malta is the world’s tenth smallest country…

  • Khinkali, the Georgian dumpling
    Georgia,  Travel

    Kavtaradzes’ Khinkali in Pasanauri | Our best food memories in Georgia until now

    When we stopped for lunch by the roadside family style restaurant Kavtaradzes' Khinkali in Pasanauri, we were half way through our family vacation in Georgia. I hadn't planned this particular day to kickstart my Georgian sojourn in my blog. But there wasn't any other way - as this lunch was the most memorable and inspiring meal amongst all our meals in Georgia - and trust me, each meal in this trip had been a supremely memorable one!