Travel

Taking the Waters: Soaking in Hot Springs around the World

A dip in the mineral-rich waters of hot springs has long been regarded as the ultimate source of relaxation. Here are five of my favourite hot spring soaks from around the globe.

Staring into the Sacred: Temples of Angkor

As I stumbled my way up the cobbled stones, jostling through the crush of touts and tourists, I felt awed by their hypnotic gaze. I was spellbound by this confluence of architecture, engineering and artistic triumph. Climbing up onto what was perhaps once a stone window ledge, I reached for my sketchbook. As I tried to capture this wonder in ink, the din from the crowds below melted away, the scorching midday sun was forgotten, and – once again – I was in my own little world. It was a spiritual awakening.

What Bourdain Taught Me

I pen this while seated under the shadow of a deserted lighthouse in a quaint Uruguayan coastal town, a meaty chivito clutched in one hand, its juices dripping down my arm. You would’ve approved. As I ruminate on your teachings I promise myself, and you this: I will continue to savour my meals, in whatever circumstances and locations they may be in, and write about them, with no reservations.

A Foodie’s Guide to Japan

My trip to Japan was as much a culinary awakening as a cultural rousing. Here are some budget-friendly suggestions for eating your way around the country.

Cerro Santa Lucia, Chile, Santiago

Sleepless in Santiago

In the first installment for my fortnightly travel column for The Daily Star,”South of the Equator,” I come to grips with the reality of backpacking with a toddler. Jetlagged, we discover the nocturnal side of Santiago.

12 Travel Tips for Flying with a Baby

Some ideas to make life in the air easier for you and your baby.

Auschwitz: Reflections & Realisations

I look back on my visit to the concentration camps in Auschwitz, trying to untangle the confusing and conflicting emotions it evoked.

Gourmet Gifts from Bangladesh

I explore a range of locally produced gastronomic delights, perfect as gifts, and bound to put Bangladesh on the foodie traveller’s map.

Fishing boat Dublar Char Bangladesh Fishermen Fishing Sunderbans

The Fishermen’s Island

Dublar Char (Dubla’s Island) is a remote fishing island perched on the very edge of the Sunderbans, at the mouth of the Ganges delta where several mighty rivers empty into the Bay of Bengal. The island, though difficult to reach, is a renowned fishing hub and famous for hosting the annual Rash Mela (Rash Festival), attracting thousands of Hindu pilgrims to its shores.

Rabindranath Tagore Shilaidaha Kuthibari

Travel Destinations for Bengali Litterateurs

February in Bangladesh – the month that resonates with the blood-tinged crusade for the recognition of Bengali as a state language; the month that dedicates itself to the celebration of Bengali language and literature. With the Ekushey Boi Mela (book fair) in full swing to commemorate the language movement of 1952, it is a time to reflect on the literati whose poems and prose have opened a world of wonder to generations of Bengalis, rendering many of us lifelong fans, seeking out every opportunity to learn more about the literary greats. In reading my favourite Bengali writers, I’ve come across several destinations patronised by them. Some of them may be in rather unlikely places, but they are definitely worth visiting.