It makes u culture sensitive,seasoned back packer, human calculator regarding the currency exchange rates and so on...
My sojourn was in two diametrically opposite cities which enabled me to experience different cultures, time zones and fun!
Let me begin with the first stop at the historically enriched city of Rome, known locally as Roma :)
You are spell bound by the huge monolithic structures and sculptures which inspire a sense of awe and how-is-it-possible-without-technology feeling. Even the creases on the clothing of the structures were carved immaculately. It projected a very realistic feeling!
The food street of rome lets you to restaurant hop, make international friends, watch random perfomances happening in the centre of the piazza, get sloshed, eat tiramisu and yum margherita pizzas :)
Must try are the gelatos (they are impossible to finish), pizzas and tiramisu.. walk down any street, park yourself on the outside seating of the small bistros/restaurants and sit aimlessly chatting and hogging! The world seems to have slowed down in the alleys of rome... An experience in itself!
Noteworthy monuments/places of visit include the Colosseum, Vatican city, Trevi fountain and pantheon.
Colosseum : This monument has seen
a lot of blood bath ! this amphitheatre styled building was an arena for the gladiator fights, wherein either the beast finishes the swordsman or vice versa..! it can supposedly seat 50,000 people at once.
Vatican City : The seat of Christianity ! need i say more? It is a walled enclave in the city of rome which is recognised as an independent country and the smallest in the world...
The city houses the Museum Vaticano, Sistine chapel, St.Peters Basilica etc.
Photography is prohibited only in the Sistine Chapel. There are long gallerias lined with amazingly carved sculptures, beautiful mosaics on the floor, tapestries, frescoes etc!
Iconic fountain!
throw a coin and make a wish.. u really need to jostle with people to get a single picture with the fountain.It is lit beautifully at night.
Just sit on the sides and admire the sheer brilliance of the fountain!
Overall, I would just say, visit rome to forget yourself in the realms of time.. admire art and its artists, walk hand in hand with your loved one on the streets, eat to your hearts content and make merry :)
My next destination was the jaw dropping city of DUBAI !
After a 6 and half hour flight, i reached the global melting pot of Dubai..
my eyes popped out at the glimpse of the massive and cute elevators, duty free shopping and the trains connecting terminals of the dubai airport.
We were staying at the royal ascot hotel in the heart of bur dubai, which is predominantly an asian area. You will feel instantly at home in india.
Pakistanis and Indians co-exist harmoniously along with the arabs in the beautifully technologically advanced city of dubai.
Every cuisine is available in this city, although i was craving for some masala dosas which was happily hogged at saravana bhavana.
The tour operators are meticulous and courteous while showing you around and patiently waiting in the lobby in case you are running late.
I have traveled a lot internationally, but never fallen in love with any place as i did with dubai. The sheer incredulity of finding of the best fruits, the best waterpark, the best flower garden, the best building structures, the best malls, the best shopping, the best aquariums, the best people floored me over completely.
if rome seeped u in time, then dubai propelled u in the future..
Burj Khalifa is an fantastic structure which enabled mankind to mark his space till sky! The tallest building in the world took almost 12 years to build and numbs your mind when u step on the observation desk @ 124th floor.
You can view the entire city..then the neighboring city, then the desert, then the sea from the deck.
The tickets are sold months in advance and have specific timings to visit as mentioned in the ticket. Plan your trip accordingly!
Desert Safari is an absolute MUST!
The drivers deflate the tyres and then drive u around on sand dunes. The speciality being, u cant see where the dune will end, will it soar more upwards or plunge downwards. It advisable not to eat much before the safari begins..You are driven around in a land cruiser, hummer etc.. You are then taken to the desert camp, wherein you can click pics in abaya (burqa), smoke shisha (hookah), watch belly dancing and indulge in local cuisine.Marina Walk gives u a huge option of restaurants and cafes which are open late till wee hours.. watch the yachts anchored, smoke a shisha, have coffee, admire the fountains etc...
Gold souk will dazzle your senses with the wide array of splendid gold sets,diamonds etc.. The purity and price difference with indian rates will tempt u to buy buy buy.. only hitch being transporting the same to india. I would suggest buy something which u can wear during the flight and evade customs.. :P :P
Dubai Miracle Gardens provide the perfect backdrop for your photographs. Finding interesting arrangements of flowers in a desert, is enough to go photo crazy... must visit! kindly check the timings of open season before planning the trip.
There is much more to dubai like finding peacocks near sheikh's residence.. the awesome bump-free highways, the mind blowing flyovers, the vastness of the city and the most amazing cars to be found on mother earth!!
Atlantis Palm Dubai will make your stay and money worthwhile.. i stayed there for a night and was feeling like alice in wonderland.. the waterpark situated in the hotel has a conveyor belt to transport people sitting on tubes for the next rides... its a perfect family destination resort which gives romantic atmosphere, kids entertainment, Huge aquariums with all size,colour and shape of fishes, innumerable restaurnts and bars to party/dine, see well dressed people, white pristine beaches and the landscape of dubai at your eye-sight!
Let me end this blog here, let you explore more of the cities i mentioned, whenever you plan a visit.