7 things about Iceland

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1. We have Norwegian explorers to thank for discovering and inhabiting this beautiful island called Iceland. By 930 AD they even established some form of government starting with an outdoor assembly at Pingvellir (now part of a national park). This assembly evolved as Althing which claims to be one of the oldest parliaments in the world.

2. Iceland tends to rank highly along with its Nordic counterparts in the World Happiness Report. Nationalized high quality healthcare, state funded education and a strong economy are likely major reasons for it. Most notably, Iceland has consistently ranked first in the gender equality index. It is said to have eliminated gender pay gap completely. But the downside is everything is expensive – gas, groceries, alcohol.

3. Iceland is nature at its best. It is so raw and formidable that humanity and its problems start to feel insignificant. It is best seen by road tripping through the ring road which encircles the island. There is an abundance of awe inspiring things along the route from waterfalls to geysers to glaciers to volcanoes. It is hard to take a bad picture with so much going on. Most folks start or end their journey at the capital, which has a great small town feel to it. The viewpoint from the top of Hallgrímskirkja Church provides panoramic views of the city.

Reykjavik View Iceland.JPG

4. The waterfalls in Iceland are otherworldly. In summer amidst the lush green setting, they are breathtaking. Skogasfoss is a dreamy waterfall but no mistake it is powerful, the showers can even be felt at a safe distance. It is also adventurous to walk all the way to the top to get a glimpse of the waterfalls from the back. The Seljalandsfoss is taller but can be seen seen right from the highway. The adjoining trails provide access to other smaller waterfalls. Gullfoss is a massive waterfalls that originates from a glacier and falls into a gorge in two tiers. It is jaw dropping.There are many more falls like Godafoss, Svartifoss that are totally worth exploring.

Skogasfoss Iceland

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Gullfoss Iceland

5. The Geysir is easily the funnest natural phenomenon that I have ever seen. You kind of know what to expect but you still cheer every time it blows up. I even did a self guided glacier hike at Solehimajakull since the tours filled up and went to a black sand beach at Reynisfara right after. Such dramatic changes in geography is what makes Iceland truly special. Vik is a great stop to explore Dyrhólaey peninsula and is on way to Jokulsarlon, home to the glacier lagoon.

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Glacier Iceland

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6. I experienced Midnight Sun for the first time ever. It was cool to see daylight barely dim even around midnight. Most homes in Iceland seem to have blackout curtains to help keep their sleep cycles manageable even during summer. In Winter, I guess the curtains never shut.

Midnight Sun Iceland.png

7. Icelandic food is fresh and unfussy but also hearty and flavorful. There are few if any avant-garde restaurants and I was told that most icelanders prefer to cook and eat simple meals at home. Perhaps, why bother when the produce especially the seafood is amazing.Eating out is very expensive too. Icelandic butter Smjor much like the Irish version is yellow in color showing its purity. Skyr is Icelandic strained yogurt, it makes for a nutritious breakfast or a snack. Skyr Cheesecake was drop dead delicious. I fell in love with the cinnamon rolls at Brod in Reykjavik, so much so that we went there every morning. This ain’t close to anything that is available in America and they definitely don’t douse it in sweet icing. While Rye bread is a staple across Scandinavia, At Cafe Loki it is a family recipe where the bread is dense but moist and they even make an ice cream with it.

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Icelandic Food Iceland

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Rye Bread Iceland

7 things about Iceland

10 things about London, UK

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1. London is as cosmopolitan as it gets. Due to the its colonial past and liberal economic policies, it has attracted people from all over the world in search of a better life. There are large neighborhoods that have evolved to cater to specific communities from certain Commonwealth countries. Southall is home to the largest Sikh community in London, Ealing is the hub of the Polish community, Brixton is the home to the Caribbean community and so on.

2. There is history around every corner. I stumbled upon a quaint church – All Hallows by the Tower near the financial district and found that it had a connection to John QuincyAdams, one of founders of United States of America. Then they are the museums. British Museum is an incredible repository of world history. I could easily spend days unpacking each exhibition although I couldn’t shake off the feeling that a majority of exhibits were misappropriated from their homeland. The National Gallery is another gem. Victoria and Albert Museum’s Asian artifact and ceramic collection is among the best. Even the Museum of London was very educational. I learned that the Romans established Londonium as a port town on River Thames. It is hardly surprising since they were everywhere. Ruins of that city’s original defense walls are found near the Tower Hill station.

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3. The greenery is unparalleled for any big city. Hampstead Heath, Primrose Hill, Hyde Park, St James Park, Greenwich Park, Kensington Gardens, Kew Gardens are all amazing and accessible. The drizzly weather probably makes it slightly easier to maintain the lushness of the gardens but the attention to detail to its upkeep is very admirable.

St James Park London

Greenery London

4. There is simply no other place outside India where Indian food is considered a staple. But I was pleasantly surprised by the elevated Indian food scene – Dishoom, Gymkhana, Trishna, Quilon, Veerasamy, Gunpowder, Benares, Zaika and the list goes on. While Dishoom pays homage to Irani cafes in Mumbai, Gymkhana was about showcasing hits from various cuisines of India.Gymkhana London.jpg

5. British food never had this reputation of being sophisticated or diverse although I think they deserve more credit. However, the sheer variety and quality of baked goods blew my mind. Be it the simple custard, the rich treacle tart or the imported Friand, they were all scrumptious.

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Pastries2 London

6. Cricket is very much part of the popular culture in Britain. Walking into the stadium at Lords was a special experience for an ardent cricket fan like me. Even more so was walking down the hallowed long room which has witnessed some of the key moments in the history of cricket.

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Ashes Lords London

7. One of the unique characteristics of London is the co-existence of the old and new – buildings/monuments that are centuries old along with ones that were built in 2000s. There is no “old town” like most cities in Europe.

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8. While every major city in the world now has food halls and indoor markets, the outdoor markets in London are rather popular. Unlike the farmer’s markets in America, the ones in London are more than just food and groceries. I saw books, vintage clothes, artisanal products literally anything that be sold. The Old Spitafields Market seemed to be popular with the African Diaspora with its fashionable ethnic wear – dashikis, kitenge and boubou’s.

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9. The London Black Cab is charming. The process of becoming a cabbie is notorious for its rigorousness. In the age of Uber, it is one of those anachronisms that I hope would not disappear. Also, I had one of most intellectual conversations about US foreign policy towards EU with a cabbie. So, I might be biased.

Black Cab London

10. London’s theatre scene is huge probably only rivaled by NYC’s Broadway. The area surrounding Leicester Square has all the popular shows at various venues.The Shakespeare’s Globe is both native and unique to London. The theatre itself is a reconstruction of an Elizabethan era playhouse for which Shakespeare wrote his plays. Although I couldn’t make it to a play, I thought that the rustic set up was very charming. The interiors of the Royal Opera House are breathtaking. The architecture tour is another way to access the Opera House without spending $$$.

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10 things about London, UK

5 things about Jordan

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1.Petra is actually the Greek name for Raqmu, home of Nabateans. The Nabateans were one of the few nomadic Bedouin tribes who prospered with trade and even established their own kingdom between 2nd and 4th century BC. They co-operated with the Romans and grew their kingdom, roman theatre and all impressive facades are estimated to have been built during that period.The treasury facade is carved on the pink sandstone rocks and is a sight to behold. Hundreds, if not thousands of tombs are also carved into the rocky cliffs. Like most civilizations, they just seem to have vanished but left us with these beautiful monuments to wonder at.

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Petra 2 Jordan

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2. Dead Sea was surreal. I simply couldn’t imagine floating in water although science explains how. But to experience it was another thing. It is one of the most memorable experiences of my life. I simply couldn’t get enough of it.I was able to access both at a private property and public beach. The dead sea mud rub is part of the experience and is known to have skin healing properties. Almost all resorts or tour packages offer this complimentary .The public beach was equally fun but then again be open to large crowds and fewer facilities. It is a sad that the dead sea is drying up due to local and macro factors like global warning.

Dead Sea Jordan

Dead Sea2 Jordan.JPG

3. Wadi Rum is Martian looking. In fact, it was used to film parts of many space movies like The Martian, The Last Day on Mars and Red Planet. The desert has a magical silence to it that we don’t experience in our daily lives anymore. Also, sleeping under the stars never loses its charm. There are tons of tours that offer overnight tent stays including cultural experience like presentations from local musicians and bedouin food. Bedouins own access to the Wadi just like Native Americans manage access to canyons on their reservations.

Wadi Rum1 Jordan

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Wadi Rum 3 Jordan

4. Amman was my first city experience in the Arab World. It has interesting geographical texture – hills and winding streets. The Roman Amphitheater still stands and is testament to the might and reach of the Roman empire. It was no less impressive than other similar monuments in Italy. I kept wishing for more time in Amman. Jerash is another popular day trip option from Amman known for its Roman ruins.

5. I had the best Kunefe ever in Amman – there is absolutely nothing to complain about hot gooey cheese drizzled with sugar syrup. It was soul warming. The store like a melting pot where class barriers didn’t seem to matter. This was followed by Arabic cardamon coffee, the aroma of which still lingers in my memory. Maklouba (meaning upside down in Arabic) is an one pot dish native to the region. Meat, rice, vegetable and spices are cooked in shallow pot and flipped on to a serving plate to form a rice tower.  Although the vegetarian friendly version was tasty enough, it was akin to a meatless biriyani. The maghmour also referred to as Moussakal is a dish wherein eggplant, tomatoes, spice are cooked to a creamy consistency. It makes for a great dip for the pita alongside the ubiquitous hummus and ful.

Amman Kunefe Jordan.jpg

Food Jordan

5 things about Jordan

5 things about Dublin,Ireland

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1.The city of Dublin is divided into two by the Liffey river – Northside and Southside. Hence, there are a series of small bridges across the river.The most famous of them, Ha’Penny bridge has an interesting history. It was commissioned as a compromise to replace the ferries that were used by Dubliners to cross the Liffey river. The ferry owner chose to build a toll bridge instead of replacing his aging ferry fleet. At one point, the toll fee was penny-ha’penny (11/2 pence)and that became the identity of the bridge itself.

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Ha Penny Bridge Dublin

2. I was never much of a beer person but I absolutely fell in love with Guinness upon  sampling it at the Guinness Storehouse. The entrance is pricey and the museum itself can feel like an informercial but they have made a genuine effort to present the science behind beer making in an engaging way. The original Guinness brewery at James Gate was established by Arthur Guiness in 1759 and apparently was chosen due to its excellent water supply.During its first 18 years, the brewery didn’t even sell porter but has only brewed porter beer since 1797.

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3. Trinity college was found as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth by Queen Elizabeth I to be in the same league as colleges in Oxford and Cambridge but it never grew beyond that one college. Today, it is now the most prestigious educational institution in Ireland with an illustrious alumni list and known to tourists as the home of book of Kells.The book of Kells is very significant in Christian history as it contains the four gospels in Latin and has survived since 348AD. I was awestruck by the long room despite the crowds. It was like stepping back in time. About 2,00,000 of the Library’s oldest books displayed with busts of famous philosophers laid out along the edges of the room with antique wooden panels, I was ready to make it my future workplace.

Book of Kells Dublin

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4. Ireland seemed unusually green to my eyes. For a leisure day, Phoenix park is a great bet. It is Dublin’s answer to big city parks like Central Park, Golden Gate Park, Hyde Park. As we hopped on the bus to Irish countryside, the quaint manor houses always caught the eye.

Quaint house Countryside Dublin

5. Irish cuisine is known to be hearty but they certainly have elevated the humble porridge.  Brother Hubbard’s version was outstanding, one of the best porridges that I had ever had. Porridge is an Irish staple along with soda bread. Soda bread uses baking soda as a leavening agent instead of yeast. The low gluten “soft wheat” that grows in Ireland is typically used to make this bread. I thought it had a bit of funny after taste but with a dollop of bright yellow Irish butter it didn’t seem to matter as much. The yellow color is an indication of the quality of Irish butter. Thanks to the abundance of green grass and consequently happy cows.

Porridge Dublin

Irish Bread and Butter Dublin.jpg

5 things about Dublin,Ireland

7 things about Cairo, Egypt

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1.Visiting the Pyramids was so surreal. It just stood there in all its glory surviving thousand of years. The Giza complex houses three main pyramids – Pyramid of Khufu, Pyramid of Khafre and Pyramid of Manekure. Of which, the Pyramid of Khufu is the largest and highest in world and is also known as the great pyramid of Giza. Pyramids are made entirely of blocks of sandstone. Although the pyramids have lost their original shine, certain parts do give us some idea of what it would have looked like. I can only imagine the kind of awe an imposing and glowing monument would have elicited in its hey day. It is a back breaking process to make these stones shine and it probably only added to the complexity of the entire operation.They are also four other small but dilapidated pyramids in the larger complex area.The great sphinx of Giza was much smaller than I imagined it to be but it is still photogenic.

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2. Saqqara and Dahshur are other pyramid destinations that are within driving distance of Giza. Saqqara is a necropolis area for the ancient city of Memphis. The hieroglyphics in the Tomb of Idut were absolutely fascinating. I had to pinch myself time and again to convince myself that I wasn’t dreaming. Saqqara is also home to the Step Pyramid. The statue of Rameses nearby in Memphis is also worth a stop. Dashur is home to the red pyramid and the bent pyramid. The bent pyramid has an angle change midway. There are many theories as to how it ended up that way but our guide casually admitted that it was most likely an experiment gone wrong.

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3. I wish I had time for Coptic Cairo but the security situation was very fluid during our visit. So, we chose to end our day earlier and sweltering heat in September didn’t help either. Sadly, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization was also closed for renovation during our visit. We also gave the Mohammed Ali Mosque (Ottoman style mosque) a miss since we had been been in Istanbul only a few weeks ago.

4. Cairo is a sprawling metropolis with a population of 9 million at the core of the Greater Cairo region which is home to about 20 million people. Not sure if it is a protective hack against dust but brownish hues seemed to dominate the city’s color palette. Also, rows of unfinished houses are the norm in Cairo. Apparently, there are tax implications if the construction looks “complete”. Hence, the citizens of Cairo seemed to embrace this strategy.

Egypt Cairo City1

Egypt Cairo City

 

5. Life is hard for average Egyptians. The infrastructure is dilapidated, post revolution politics led way to a different form of autocracy and opportunities for survival leave alone advancement are scarce. So, don’t scorn the hustlers looking to offer you a camel ride or sell you a postcard but get good at saying firm nos. Bakshish (bribes) are expected pretty much everywhere even at the archaeological sites administered by the Ministry of Antiquities.

6. The Nile is a source of pride and a lifeline for Egypt. Although the glory seems long lost, the lifeline thing is still very true. About 90% of Egypt’s 100 million population live along the Nile. There is an old tussle between Egypt and Ethiopia on sharing Nile resources.Taking a Felucca ride is a good way to experience the Nile but it is more about the story. There are probably better places elsewhere in the world for a boat cruise.

7. Ful and falafel(tameeya) sandwiches are breakfast staples. They are tasty, nourishing and cheap. Koshary is Egypt’s national kitchen sink dish. It is a weird mix of rice, macaroni and lentils topped with spicy tomato sauce, chickpeas and fried onions. Although the tomato sauce contributes to 90% of the flavor, the dish surprisingly works.

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Egypt Food sandwich

7 things about Cairo, Egypt

5 things about Siem Reap, Cambodia

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1. Khmer is the largest ethnic group in Cambodia. Informally, people of Cambodia are called Khmer.  The official language is also called Khmer and so is the cuisine. The Khmer were both polite and friendly. Apparently, the Cambodian government while keen on growing the tourist economy is also serious about keeping the flesh trade outside their border.

2. The Temple of Angkor Wat is very important to the Khmers. So much so that it is also on the national flag.They take immense pride in their cultural roots. The temple is grand and imposing. It captures the waxing and waning of religious orders in Cambodia. The first Khmer empire – Angkor started out as Hindu Shaivite Kingdom established by Jayavarman ll in the 9th century. Suryavarman ll built the Angkor Wat as a Vishnu Temple as a break from their Shaivite tradition in early 12th century. In the latter half of 12th century under Jayavarman Vll became a Mahayana Buddhist kingdom. The Vishnu Temple Angkor Wat was converted to a Buddhist temple. After a short tryst again with Shaivite Hinduism, Khmer empire transitioned into the popular Theravada Buddhism in the 13th century. The Angkor complex has several other monuments but the Bayon temple is surreal. The Ta Prohm temple got its fame thanks to Tomb Raider. Among the smaller temple, Ta Keo, Mebon, Pre Rup are all worth visiting. They all have the hallmarks of the Angkor architecture – central sanctuary, prangs, enclosures and gopuras.

AngkorWat Siem Reap

Angkor Wat#2 Siem Reap

Angkor Wat Siem Reap

AngkorWat #5 Siem Reap

Ta Prohm Siem Reap

East Mebon Siem Reap

3. The word ‘Angkor’ means the Capital City. It is said to have been derived from the Sanskrit word ‘nagara’. The founder of Angkor empire even crowned himself ‘Chakravarthin’ meaning lord of the universe, also borrowed from Sanskrit. The Hindu roots are visible even more at Bantaey Srei( 20 km from Siem Reap) which resembles an ancient temple in South India depicting scenes from Hindu Mythology. It is also unique that it wasn’t ordered by a King but a courtier in Rajendravaraman’s court. Kbal Spean archaeological site is home to stone carvings of myriads of lingams (Symbol of Lord Shiva) as well as other Hindu gods. The Khmers are proud of their mixed heritage (Hindu and Buddhist).

Banteay Srei Siem Reap

4. The city of Siem Reap is actually a living city. It is fully equipped with super markets, pharmacies and even some popular brand stores. The pub street is tourist central for eating out and shopping. Prices for tourists listed in USD can be a bit jarring. Things aren’t as cheap as one might think but still goes a long way. There is an official local currency but even ATMs spit out US dollars.

City Siem Reap

Pub Street Siem Reap

5. Amok is a classic Khmer Dish. It is kind of custardy steamed fish in a coconut milk curry. Although very similar to a Thai curry preparation(coconut milk, chilly, kaffir lime,galangal,lemongrass, fish sauce), the key difference is the generous addition of noni leaves. The noni leaves have a bitter aftertaste but is known to have a slew of health benefits including its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties.

Amok#1 Siem Reap

Amok#2 Siem Reap

5 things about Siem Reap, Cambodia

7 things about Bangkok, Thailand

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1. Although Thailand transitioned from an absolute monarchy almost 90 years ago, the king wields  considerable influence over the civil society. The most visible aspects of this influence are the little shrines embedded in Thai buildings with pictures of the King and Queen. This is despite the King’s rather bizarre lifestyle. So, I can’t piece together if this influence was earned or forced. It is likely a bit of both given that the previous king, Bhumibol was one of the longest serving monarchs in the world and Thailand also has one of the harshest lese majeste laws in the world.

Reverance King Bangkok

2. Bangkok is a sprawling metropolis with pockets of posh high rises and abject poverty at the other end. The hotel districts in Sukhumwit, Silom and Khao San Road are safe and well maintained but beware of petty theft and bar bullies which are not uncommon in other parts of world.

City of Bangkok

3. There is lot said about Thai street food. Almost every bit is true. It is a way of life here. Every vendor has their own twist or speciality and the set up on the sidewalks is well thought through. We tried our hand at Thai cooking in a class and the curries turned out to be great. The secret ingredient is fish sauce but the fresh ground Thai Chili paste is essential. Also, Pad Thai is truly a kitchen sink dish, you can put almost anything and get way with it. I absolutely loved the mango sticky rice and wasn’t disappointed by any version of it.

Street Food Bangkok

Thai Curry Bangkok

Sticky Rice Bangkok

4. The Thai temples are truly stunning. I was equally impressed with the Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Pho.The former has such ornate architecture and latter with its beautiful pagodas and triads of buddha statues.The marquee attractions at emerald buddha(Wat Phra Kaew) and reclining buddha (Wat Pho) are always overcrowded but are also overhyped. Wat Arun is another popular temple across the river known for its great views of sunrise/sunset.

Emerald Buddha Bangkok

Wat Pho Bangkok

Wat Pho Pagoda Bangkok

5. The paintings at Wat Phra Kaew  highlighted the strong Hindu influences on Thai Culture. The epic Ramayana known as Ramekien is a source of national pride for Thailand. When a number of written versions of epic were lost when Ayuuthaya fell to the Burmese in 1767, then king Rama I ( founder of the ruling Chakri Dynasty) commissioned that Ramekien be rewritten for posterity. Although the main plot is identical to the Indian version, there are plenty of Thai influences sprinkled in.

Ramakien Bangkok

6. Sex tourism is in your face no matter where you go in the city. Seeing odd ball couples (white senior with a young Thai woman) will leave you with varying degrees of unpleasantness. But it is just business for those vulnerable Thai women trying to making a living when the opportunities for subsistence are limited. I heard that flesh trade is lucrative relative to most semi-skilled professions. Although not entirely surprising but a sad reality.

Sex Tourism Bangkok

7. For better or worse,Thailand is now known for its massages. Although they have developed a seedy reputation over time, it is said to have roots in healing practices practiced in ancient Thailand. It is now regulated by Thai department of public health and certified practitioners need to have significant training in order to be licensed. I am not even a massage person but I enjoyed the experience at Asia Herb Association, a mini chain in Bangkok.

7 things about Bangkok, Thailand

7 things about Stockholm, Sweden

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1. The city itself is beautiful and is actually composed of 14 islands. Söderströmriver flows through central Stockholm connecting Lake Mälaren with the Baltic Sea. I loved walking along the river banks from Normalm(commercial centre) to Gamla Stan(Old Town) and Djurgården (Museum Island).

city-of-stockholm

2.The Vikings were first and foremost raiders. They pretty stole anything they could. This was all possible because of their superior long ships. Light and fast, they were equally at home both in open sea and on rivers inland. The Kings of medieval France and England paid off Vikings and even ceded territory at times to avoid constant pillaging. The Swedish History Museum has a separate section on the Vikings. 

viking-mueseum-stockholm3. The Vasa museum is built around a ship that wasn’t even sea worthy but they have done a amazing job of preserving and maintaining the ship for centuries now. Try the tour and learn more the rich naval history of the Nordics and the hidden details about what ultimately led the Vasa to be chained to the harbor.

vasa-stockholm

4. The Stockholm City Hall is worth a visit just for the Golden Room. It is Swedish opulence at its finest. Also, the Nobel Prize dinners are hosted here. So, you can claim to have walked the same corridors some of the brightest minds in the world have passed through.

city-hall-stockholm

5. Stockholm was surprisingly vegetarian friendly among all the countries in Scandinavia. Even McDonalds had not one but three solid veggie options – Veggie burger, Vegan burger and Falafel nuggets. There are a tons of falafel and Shawarma shops all over Stockholm thanks to recent to the middle eastern diaspora. Maxos Falafel was my favorite. Helmed by Nidal Kersch, it aims to showcase his Arabic heritage to the Swedes  by bringing food from Jerusalem.

mcd-stockholm

6. The viennoiseries and cakes in Sweden are second to none. It seems under rated compared to French or even Italian recipes. We remained steadfast to the Fika tradition every single day of our stay alternating between buns and princess cakes. I absolutely loved the Cardamon buns and pretty much anything from Vete-Ketten.

cardamom-bun-stockholm

princess-cake-stockholm

7. Stockholm seems to be most cosmopolitan of all the Scandinavian capitals I have visited. It helps that Stockholm is the tech hub of Scandinavia thanks to massive recent successes of Spotify and Klarna. Sweden it also home to Ericsson, Assa Abloy, Electrolux, Volvo, Skanska and IKEA.  

 

7 things about Stockholm, Sweden

5 things about Copenhagen, Denmark

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1. Danes obsession with bicycles is well known but it was not until I saw the rush hour traffic in Copenhagen that I understood the relevance of it. The cycling lane was packed, much more than car lanes in certain place. The true reason for the adoption is that cycling lane is actually functional and thoughtfully designed to maximize safe usage. It also helps that Copenhagen is flat and compact. I really enjoyed biking across various neighborhoods, my favorite was biking from Nyhavn to Freetown Christinia. 

2. Smörrebröd is a Danish staple and it is versatile enough that it can eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We tried at the trendy Hallernes Smorrebrod. Although the portions look small, it was very filling and rich thanks to the generous use of butter and mayo. Danish Rye bread with Lurpak® butter can be a nutritious and tasty meal on its own. I also picked up some unconspicous ice cream from the super market and it turned out the creamiest ice cream ever. I didn’t dare to read the nutrition facts. 

3. Carlsberg beer was founded and is still headquartered in Copenhagen. The founder of Carlsberg, Jacobsen even set up a lab dedicated to science of brewing. In fact, this lab helped identified the year species that is used to make pale lager. A century and a half later, hobby brewers Bjergsø and Keller founded the Mikkeller brewing company to produce craft brews that are now sold across the globe. Mikkeler bars in Cophengen are super laid back and the beer is unique.

4. Denmark is usually rated as one of the happiest countries in the world. Like most western European countries, Denmark is welfare state, high taxes are put to good use in terms of universal free healthcare and education. The term Hygge is part of Danish culture, it refers to feelings of cosiness, comfort and contentment. It is also used as verb – hyggelig to describe things that create hygge. Candles, Fireplace, Blankets, Comfort food are on top of the list. I experienced my share of Hygge by cosying up in cafes to escape some unwelcome summer downpours.

5. Danish design aesthetic is well respected. I knew about Bang and Olufsen but it was interesting gazing at the boutique stores downtown specially the ones selling furniture. The designs felt timeless but hefty prices though. 

5 things about Copenhagen, Denmark

5 things about Tallinn, Estonia

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1. Estonia has long been a leader in delivering services online to its citizens. Everything from voting in elections, paying taxes and this was done much before major developed economies embraced it. No wonder Skype and Transferwise were founded by Estonians.They famously offer an e-residency that is particularly useful for nomadic business owners.

2. The name Tallinn apparently is derived from Taani linna (Danish town or castle) according to one urban legend .The more popular legend is that Dannebrog, the Danish national flag was born at the Battle of Lindanise against the Estonians, falling from the sky during an important moment in the fight and helping the Danes win.The date of the battle (June 15th) is even celebrated as national flag day in Denmark.

3. The Old Town is certainly charming but certain parts were devoid of locals. There is a lot of renovation happening to provide those picturesque backdrops that tourists are looking for. As we explored parts of Toompea hill, things felt more alive. The Linna museum is alright but the views from outside the museum are among the best. The Nevsky Cathedral was my favorite piece of architecture in town. It is a Russian Orthodox church that was built to last and project grandeur.

Tallinn Old Town

Tallinn Nevsky Church

4. The towers in Old Town are most preserved among medieval old towns in Europe. They are mostly horseshoe shaped, some four sided ones and bartizans.

Tallinn Towers

5. Rataskeavu 16 and its sister restaurant Väike Rataskaevu single handily saved the day with great food and friendly service to match. Everything that we ordered was amazing. I had sampled Kvass in the past but I totally fell in love with one here. It was so refreshing after a long day on foot around town. I made a quick stop over at a supermarket to sample some local delicacies where I discovered Kalev Marzipan bars. Made with Vana Tallinn liqueur, it was boozy chocolatey delight.

Tallinn Food

Tallinn Kalev

5 things about Tallinn, Estonia