Rakhee Ghelani

Tag: Backpack

  • Monkeying Around in Gibraltar

    Monkeying Around in Gibraltar

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    Gibraltar is one of those odd little principalities that I visited more out of curiousity than anything else. It is a British Territory located in the Iberian Peninsula bordered by the south of Spain. It has quirky appeal, with British Pubs, driving on the left side of the road and of course the huge rock…

  • Things to Do In Germany

    Things to Do In Germany

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    Whilst I have visited Germany briefly, this is one country that is still remains on my bucket list, as there is so many places in Germany that I am yet to see. My only trip to Germany was a very brief one just after university. I was backpacking across Europe on this rather restrictive bus…

  • Picking up the Travel Bug: French Polynesia and Vanuatu

    Picking up the Travel Bug: French Polynesia and Vanuatu

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    I was fortunate enough to have a private education in Melbourne, which meant that we had access to a range of different activities; one of my favourite ones was school camp. It was an opportunity to explore a new environment and hang out with your friends for days on end. At the beginning of each…

  • Eating Paris

    Eating Paris

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    Ah Paris! There really is no need to say anything else about what really is the most beautiful city in the world. I have visited Paris several times, at last count I think it was 5 times. Whilst there are a zillion things to do in Paris, for me this city is all about the…

  • The Most Beautiful Place on Earth: The Galapagos Islands

    The Most Beautiful Place on Earth: The Galapagos Islands

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    It is a big statement to make, but for me the most beautiful place I have ever been is the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. Nowhere else in the world has ever come close. It isn’t just a beautiful place to see though, the Galapagos Islands are also one of the most relaxing places to travel…

  • Climate Change: From Mumbai to Melbourne

    Climate Change: From Mumbai to Melbourne

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    Through Mumbai’s sweltering, suffocating Summer, I have spent many a day fantasising about rolling around in ice cold snow or being rugged up in layers of winter woolies. I have literally had dreams about it. So I was very excited about the prospect of escaping the sauna that is a Mumbai monsoon and spending some…

  • How to Blend in With The Locals: The Czech Republic

    How to Blend in With The Locals: The Czech Republic

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    Blending in with the locals is something that I strive to achieve when I travel, but I think I generally do a pretty bad job of it.  So why do I want to blend in? Well, I can only speak for myself, but I like to think that I experience somewhere differently if I don’t…

  • The Tackiest Place on Earth: Niagara Falls

    The Tackiest Place on Earth: Niagara Falls

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    Yes it is true. If I had to pick the tackiest place on earth (at least that I have ever seen) then Niagara Falls would win hands down. I was visiting family in Canada and had always dreamed of seeing this natural wonder, so was really excited when we decided to make a day trip…

  • Cambodia: Spending Time in The Beauty of Angkor

    Cambodia: Spending Time in The Beauty of Angkor

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    Siem Reap in Cambodia is one my top 5 travel destinations in the world.  For anyone who has been there or seen images of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and the surrounding region I am sure it is not hard to understand why. The historic sites of Cambodia are simply stunning. I am a temple junkie,…

  • Bolivia: Walking on the Moon and Cycling Through Death

    Bolivia: Walking on the Moon and Cycling Through Death

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    Bolivia is famous for its cocaine trade and altitude. Whilst this may seem a little daunting for some, I actually found Bolivia quite safe even though I was travelling solo. Mind you this was about 7 years ago, but I never felt scared or threatened.  Quite the contrary, I loved Bolivia for its spectacular landscape…

  • Theft on Indian Railways

    Theft on Indian Railways

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    Yes, as you can tell by the title, theft on Indian Railways really does happen unfortunately.  I travelled Indian Railways through most of my backpacking journeys across India, and in 9 months never had anything stolen nor felt unsafe.  That is until a recent trip, which has now left me with a rather bad taste…

  • Wild Ass and The Little Rann of Kutch

    Wild Ass and The Little Rann of Kutch

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    I visited the Little Rann of Kutch recently for the first time.  I wasn’t quite sure what to expect there, I had heard so much about the Great Rann but not so much about its smaller cousin. Going somewhere without any expectations, definitely means it has less of chance to let you down. Our visit…

  • Trekking in the Sham Valley: Ladakh

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    I was only able to take a short trip to Ladakh, but I really wanted to fit in a trek of some description.  Luckily I managed to find a 5 day trek that would let me explore some villages without having to go to high in altitude.  Whilst I have trekked in high altitude before…

  • The Doors of Ladakh

    The Doors of Ladakh

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    Soma Gompa Temisgang Monastery        

  • The Joy and Curse of Solo-Travel

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    I love traveling on my own, I have been a solo-traveler for about 14 years now and thrive on the freedom and exhilaration of it.  I guess you could say I have a strong independent streak and am comfortable in my own company, after all I have lived alone for 13 years. I have now…

  • The Call of the Ocean: Varkala

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    For 105 days I have been completely land-locked. Locked between the mountains, rivers and the dust of north India. Whilst I have visited some beautiful places, I found myself desperately longing for the sound and smell of the ocean. I am a Cancerian, a quintessential water baby. Whilst I was born in-land, I have never…

  • Pictorial Post: Orchha

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    Orchha is a lovely little town in Madhya Pradesh.  It is tiny, with the main drag comprising only a few shops at a cross-road. At one corner of the town is the Betwa river with crystal clear water flowing alongside centuries old Chhatris (cenotaphs), the opposite corner has a dusty road leading to Jhansi (in…

  • My own personal yoga ashram

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    I have been in Rishikesh for 11 days now. For someone who is used to the buzz of backpacking and exploring a new place every few days, 11 days is a long time to stay somewhere, and I still have another 5 days before I plan on leaving. Rishikesh is on the banks of the…

  • Riding the Buses in India

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    The mere thought of taking a long bus journey in India now brings a shiver up my spine. It has taken only three bus journeys to bring me to this point. As I now sit here and plan out the next few weeks of my travels, I am deliberately choosing routes that allow for train…

  • India and Pakistan: Not ordinary enemies

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    Before I start this post, I must clarify that I am NOT writing this based on a deep and studied understanding of the politics of the relationship between India and Pakistan. This post is based entirely on my observations of the Wagha Border Closing Ceremony that I attended yesterday. The Wagha border refers to the…