Category: Destinations

Borgund Stave Church: a Beautiful Medieval Marvel

I didn’t want to visit Norway without seeing a stave church, and Borgund Stave Church is accessible from Bergen and also the best preserved. I’m so glad I got to see it because it is so beautiful and a remarkable emblem of Norway’s history.

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What is a “stave church”?

To understand Borgund Stave Church, it helps to know what a stave church actually is. In short, it’s the architectural style of church used in post-Viking Scandinavia.

At the end of the Viking age, in 12th-13th century Scandinavia, Christian churches were built from wood all around the area. I’m really … Continue reading

Bergen, Gateway to the Fjords: Things to Do & Travel Guide

Bergen is one of Norway’s most visited cities, and with its proximity to the fjords, it was a definite stop on my first trip to Norway. I did a lot more in the city than I feel a lot of other travellers do, so what did I think of it?

The History of Bergen

Bergen was founded just at the end of the Viking age in the 11th century, just like Norway’s other big city, Oslo. Due to its location, it very quickly grew to be a large trading port city which also hosted royal residences and coronations by the … Continue reading

Exploring Oslo, Norway’s Fabulous Capital: Things to Do & Travel Guide

Would any trip to Norway be complete without seeing Oslo? I admit, before going, some people said they didn’t like it much but I was keen on visiting its museums. I’ll explain more in detail, but even though I didn’t like it much the first day myself, I began to really like it after exploring the city more in depth. Here’s what I thought of it:

The History of Oslo

The city as we know it was actually established after the Viking age ended in the 11th century, but was shortly made capital in the late 13th or early 14th … Continue reading

5 Cute Towns in Maryland to Visit

Being from the “Old Line State,” I’ve seen a lot of different towns in Maryland. When the pandemic hit, I decided to get to know this place a bit better and explore different areas that I hadn’t seen before. I’ve been to many, many places here, and these are the ones that stuck out the most to me.

Unlike my other posts, this list is in order of population size. Some of these places are technically cities but have a small-town feel, and don’t have many residences in their downtown/old town areas – so I thought it was still suitable … Continue reading

“The” Day Trip to Chiang Rai: an Honest Review

There’s a lot to do & see in Chiang Rai, but since I was short on time, I decided to take *the* day trip from Chiang Mai. This itinerary is typical and includes the famous White Temple, Blue Temple, and Black House – and you’ll probably see it a lot as an organised tour. It’s done in a day so you start early to take the 4 hour drive to Chiang Rai.

Chiang Rai is constantly on lists of the best places in Thailand so going there was a no-brainer. But as the title might suggest, I was a bit … Continue reading

14 Nice & Affordable Antique Stores in Maryland

I love antiques, so it’s lucky there are so many great antique stores in Maryland. A lot of my weekends and time travelling around the state is spent looking in antique stores so I decided to compile a list of some of my favorite antique stores in Maryland.

As there are lots of – no, tons of – antique stores in the state, I felt a list of all of them would be too overwhelming and wouldn’t help you narrow down where to go. Some things I look for in a good antique store are:

• Size: big stores means more

A Quick Stop in Montalcino, a Charming Tuscan Town

When I went on a tour of the Val D’Orca we only got a few hours in Montalcino, but I fell in love. It’s a small town so you can cover a lot in a few hours anyway. Here’s what I thought of my short time in Montalcino.

The History of Montalcino

Montalcino is a hilltop town that dates to the Etruscan times but was more modernly established during the medieval era. It was its own independent commune but eventually became part of Siena and subsequently Florence. In the medieval era, it was known for leather and tanneries but now … Continue reading

9 Lively Ways to Celebrate Spring in Maryland (2024)

I have to say that spring in Maryland is probably the most variable times of year in terms of weather. You could be huddled inside with a blanket or trying to stay cool in the bay. Since we often push things to June, when the weather is more predictable, there aren’t as many spring events as in summer, autumn or winter.

But there are still great ways to spend the season of rebirth! I’ve compiled a list of 9 great – and a lot of them, iconic – ways to spend spring in Maryland.

Celebrate Maryland Day (March 25)

Maryland … Continue reading

Visiting Ayutthaya, an Important Thai UNESCO World Heritage Site

Having once been the capital of southern Thailand, Ayutthaya today makes a popular day trip from Bangkok. Even though there are many ways to get to Ayutthaya, including bus and train, I opted to take an organised day tour so I’d have transportation and a tour guide. It was a nice time but the park was also a bit different from what I had expected.

A Brief History of Ayutthaya

After a smallpox outbreak in the first capital of Lopburi (another historic site to visit), Ayutthaya became the capital of Siam (southern Thailand) in the 14th century. You can also … Continue reading

A Short Guide to Avila, Spain: Things to Do in Saint Teresa’s Hometown

When I visited Madrid, it was so hard picking which day trips to go on. As a medieval enthusiast, I easily decided on Avila. The town is known as a medieval town with pristine walls, and also the home of St. Teresa de Jesus. I ventured there to step back in time several hundred years.

Some of Avila’s History

Avila existed since before the Roman era but it’s known today for its developments during the medieval period. Though it retains a Roman city structure, the incredible Avila walls were constructed in 1090, and landmarks such as the cathedral were built … Continue reading