So I had a short trip to Karachi a few days ago, and this is what I’d suggest to anyone traveling there.
SPA
I absolutely love pampering myself and taking time for a slow, relaxing self care day, whether it’s a soothing massage, a fresh manicure and pedicure, or a good blow dry. I recently had an amazing scalp and shoulder massage at SOHO Salon in Karachi that lasted about 15 to 20 minutes, and they really knew the right pressure points, finishing with hot stones and a warm towel, which was so relaxing I nearly fell asleep. My mani pedi was just as good, with a great range of nail colors and properly sterilized tools opened in front of me. The blow dry was average since the curls didn’t last long, possibly due to Karachi’s humidity, and overall salon services here are noticeably more expensive than in Lahore.
CHAAYE CULTURE
When I say Karachi has the best chaaye spots, I truly mean it. I love my tea and I know exactly how it should taste, and Chaye Wala in Bukhari is hands down the best I’ve ever had. Just get it in a disposable cup for the perfect experience. I used to get Doodhpati but in karak form with Cardamom. So it was a blend of three different chaaye they were serving.
Cafes and restaurants which aren’t in Lahore or your city.
You should definitely try cafes which aren’t available in the city or place you live. I absolutely love espresso, but they shut their branches off in Lahore. So when I went to karachi I went there thrice. Their spicy chicken panini sandwich, mushroom soup and the brick oven pizza was an absolute delight.
96NM for those frappes and coffee cravings. They had opened a pop up in Lahore a couple of months ago and they literally know how to make the perfect balance and blend of a frappe and a coffee. Their Signature (cold) NM special frappe and matcha is definitely what I’d recommend.
Cafe Flo was too bland and tasteless for me. Probably won’t be going there again. However Chef’s table was really good. We took an 11 course meal and we chose the items we’d want to be individually served to us. The desserts I didn’t like, it was too desi for my taste “Paan Gelato”. I liked their Rice Pudding though. From the main I’d recommend the smashed beef in paratha. Amazing. The same paratha smash which got hyped in Dubai. Oh and I liked their Matka Biryani as well.
Seafood from Oyster Bay.
You need to try the seafood boil at Oyster Bay because it’s an experience in itself. It takes some effort as you crack open the crab carefully, trying not to hurt yourself in the process, and while they only had local crabs, I feel king crab would have been better since it’s meatier and easier to handle. The Cajun sauce wasn’t as spicy as I expected, especially compared to Boiling Crab where you can choose different spice levels, so my expectations were a bit high, but it was still enjoyable. The shrimps were similar but in a milder sauce, and overall it’s a fun, messy experience best enjoyed with friends or family where you go full desi and eat with your hands, and they even provide bibs and gloves to make it easier.
What is your favorite holiday? Why is it your favorite?
My favorite holidays aren’t defined by one place or one trip. When I think about them, I think about my father, my Aba, and the way he made travel feel like so much more than just going somewhere new. He didn’t just take us on vacations, he made us a part of something he truly loved. From sitting by the window on the Pacific Coast Amtrak train watching the ocean stretch endlessly beside us, to long drives from Los Angeles to Lake Tahoe filled with conversations and quiet moments, every journey felt complete simply because we were together.
Some memories still feel almost unreal, like climbing over a thousand steps to reach Mount Saint Michel in France, exhausted but happy, or traveling across Europe from Paris to Zurich and Amsterdam, experiencing new places while holding onto that same sense of closeness. Aba always said his trips would feel empty without us, and now I understand what he meant. It was never about the destination for him, it was about sharing those moments with family, about making sure we were there with him in everything he experienced.
Now when I look back, those memories mean everything to me, but they are also bittersweet. I sometimes think about going back to the same cafés and places just to feel close to him again, even though I know it won’t ever be the same. And maybe that is okay. What stays with me is not the places, but the feeling he created, the warmth, the togetherness, and the quiet happiness of being there as a family. I have already lived my favorite holidays and most of my wish list. I was 29 when I lost my father. He is a big part of me and will always be. I dream of him often and find comfort in that.
Do you have a favorite place you have visited? Where is it?
Los Angeles during December has a gentle magic to it. The city feels slower, softer, and calmer compared to the constant rush of New York City. The weather is cool but never harsh, and there’s this bright winter light that makes even an ordinary day feel special. Everywhere you go, there’s a quiet sense of warmth in the air, like the city itself is relaxing.
Some of my most peaceful moments were spent by the water. Laguna Beach and Malibu Beach quickly became two of my all-time favorites. No matter the time of day, they carried a calm that settled straight into your chest. Morning waves, golden afternoons, evenings when the sky turned soft, or late nights when the ocean was the only sound around you—each moment felt healing in its own quiet way.
Glendale became the heart of my time in LA. During the holiday season, the whole city feels inviting. The lights, the music drifting through the streets, the cozy crowd at the Americana at Brand, and the decorated corners all around the city created a soft holiday atmosphere that made me feel at home. Glendale is also famous for its vibrant Persian community, and it shows everywhere you look. From the markets to the restaurants, it’s full of life, and the Persian cuisine there is some of the best I’ve ever had. Even simple routines felt comforting, like quick grocery trips to Target/Ralphs or wandering around the mall with Christmas songs playing in the background.
There were also the little details that made the experience unforgettable. The drives along Angeles Crest with mountains opening up around the road. Grabbing In-N-Out almost every day without ever getting tired of it. Stopping for Salt & Straw ice cream. And remembering the Godiva outlet that no longer exists, especially their rich dark chocolate ice cream that became a small tradition for me whenever I passed by.
Even the quiet evenings in Pasadena added to the feeling. Walking along Colorado Boulevard felt safe, lively, and full of gentle energy. The mix of nature, holiday lights, food, small routines, and late-night drives created a season that felt warm and deeply personal. Los Angeles in December became more than just a place to visit. It became a memory that settled in my heart, full of moments that still feel alive when I think about them.
All of this traveling and seeing these places was thanks to my amazing father. He literally showed us the world. He was a very involved, loving, and caring father who made every trip special. Glendale has a personal connection for our family too, because it is where my father went for his further studies in the 1980s. Today, it remains one of the safest neighborhoods in LA, and experiencing it with the memories of my father made it feel even more special. I will forever carry his memory—his favorite restaurant, his favorite cuisine, his recommendations. I just can’t believe he is no longer here with me.
I really wanted to visit Paris ever since I was a kid specially because of Disneyland. I am so glad when the first time I went to Paris I was 22 and the memories I have are so clear. Kids don’t remember anything!! The best age to travel is actually when you can remember what you did, where you went and all those amazing strolls down the aesthetically pleasing streets! You need to stay in a good neighbourhood so that you can actually walk and enjoy your trip. Shopping and cafe culture is something you cannot miss out on in Paris. You need to dress a bit formally in Paris; unlike Los Angeles. They have the biggest Sephora in Paris and you can literally find anything! There was even a cute little Sephora next to our hotel as well. I hate how convenient shopping is in Paris and you literally end up buying whatever catches your eye. Which means you end up buying things you don’t need.
Amsterdam;
This is definitely the most safest city after Zurich. Literally everyone is so sweet and kind. I love the tram culture in Amsterdam, you can never get lost in this amazing dutch city. The canals, weather, food and super easy going lifestyle is what attracts people to visit this amazing place over and over again. You need to try seafood here, particularly the famous SeaFood bar. The weather is super pleasant and you might even need a jacket after sunset (that is if there’s no heat wave). Avoid going to Amsterdam in June & July since chances are you might get caught in middle of a heat wave and it might just ruin your trip. Personally for me, I hate summers and I hate hot weathers. The best time to visit Amsterdam is definitely Autumn and spring.
Norway (Fjords);
I have never visited Norway but this is on my bucket list for the future. Not every trip has to start and end at Champs-Élysées or Rodeo, You need to experience naturally aesthetically pleasing sites too. Fjords are a slice of what heaven would look like. If you don’t know what an amazing piece of land Norway is you need to start looking up (specifically their Fjords). I am grateful to my father to have told me about this amazing piece of land and one day I plan on going there with him and the rest of my family. I’ve always traveled with my entire family and I don’t understand how people can just fly off themselves whilst leaving their families on one side of the world. My father always included us in his plans and I will forever be grateful to him.
Los Angeles;
Flights to LA can be hell tiring and the the jet lag takes at least a week to get over. But is it worth it? HELL YESS!! As soon as you get out of LAX the cool breeze can make you forget about the long flight and how tired you actually are. You just need someone who knows all the places. You need to stay in a safe neighbourhood. I absolutely loved Glendale. The apartment where we stayed was a 5-6 minutes walk from Americana The Brand. I used to walk by myself every single time. People are extremely warm and welcoming. Three things I loved the most was my salt & straw ice cream, In-n-out burgers and Boiling crab. You need to try these things if you’re in Los Angeles(or some other city). I prefer walking when I’m travelling, I hate using any sort of transportation. Absolutely loved Laguna beach and Malibu Beach there, you just need to make sure you don’t slip when a wave comes right at you, just hold your ground. I once had my back towards the ocean, a huge wave just came right at me and I had to make sure I didn’t budge and stand perfectly still( i’m extremely bad at swimming); almost went into the pacific. Sharks are on of my major fears ever since growing up (probably because I watched ever single scary shark movie) I was the only one that close to the water. But oh well I was brave I guess. I just love walking on the beach, soaking my feet in the water and enjoy the sound of the waves. The skies in California are literally out of this world.
Iceland;
This place is yet again on my bucket list. You’ll see geothermal hot springs billowing with white smoke, moss-covered lava fields stretching into the distance, dazzling white glaciers slicked over mountainsides and if you’re lucky you’ll see the Northern lights too.
Nothern lights – Iceland
Peak viewing season for the northern lights is always September through March when the nights are long, during winters darkness can extend for approximately 19 hours. Arrive about five days before a new moon, and you will have a very dark week ahead, perfect for seeing the lights. List of places in Iceland where you can witness Northern lights;
– Hella
– Reykjavík
– Höfn
– Skógar
– Snaefellsnes
Next attraction is the Blue Lagoon. It’s a a geothermal spa, located in a lava field near Grindavík and in front of Mount Þorbjörn.
Lake Tahoe, Nevade;
I went to Lake Tahoe last year, it was summer the season, the lake had all shades of blue and it was so pretty. South Lake Tahoe is a more touristy spot and but you can definitely spot some secluded places with minimal or no people for your photography. Emerald bay was a bit crowded but definitely worth the views. Tahoe has lakes, Greenery and snow capped mountains at the same time. If you plan on going to The States do add driving to Lake Tahoe, you’d love it.
Yosemite National Park, California;
If you truely want to be awed and experience mother natures true beauty you need to visit Yosemite National Park. It includes peaks, canyons, cliffs, domes, rivers, lakes, immense waterfalls, lush green meadows, wildlife, and forests. If you’re lucky (or unlucky) you can also spot a bear just strolling around you. Just don’t feed them and don’t walk off by yourself since the park is packed with wildlife. I saw the biggest squirrels at Yosemite. Literally huge and fat. You’ll see the worlds tallest sequoia trees here too. You’ll feel like you stepped into a fairytale.
I’ll be adding more places to this amazing list. Stay tuned for more✨
Sehr 🩷
P.s if you’ve ever been to any of these places don’t forget to reach out and share your experience!
Hey gals! I hope you all had an amazing summer, I have always wanted to use Nars products but I never got a chance to get it. Previously i’ve used Mac, Estee Lauder, Huda beauty, Fenty and Chanel makeup, so Nars has always been on my bucket list.
Okay so one thing I do and I think everyone else should also do is get a matching concealer along with your foundation shade. I end up buying all the makeup products from that particular line except a few (Laure Mercier setting powder and my makeup setting spray). The only Nars product I had previously used of Nars was their lip balm (a year ago).
Here’s a list of NARS products I got and absolutely love them;
NARS RADIANT LONGWEAR FOUNDATION
This is a lightweight yet a long wear and medium to full (buildable) coverage foundation. Has an amazing finishing and feels so beautifully natural. It’s fragrance free (unlike Huda which is heavily scented) and Oil- Free. I don’t like scented foundations, the scent means more chemical and probable skin damage. I would always suggest go for something which has no artificial scent for your skin or face. This foundation basically has everything amazing yet just feels like your normal skin. It has a huge variety of shades, the lady at Sephora told me to go for the shade Santa Fe(it was a perfect match).You need to know your skin tone and undertones before going in to buy your foundation. This is an all time classic foundation.
NARS RADIANT CREAMY CORRECTOR
No matter how beautiful your skin is, you always need a color corrector. Orange is used to cancel out the dark circles while green color is used to cancel out redness. And trust me when you travel a lot and are immensely jet lagged you are more likely to end up with dark circles! And this magical bottle goes over your primed skin and below your foundation. Thank me later! I have previously used nyx corrector too but that one wasn’t available anywhere this time.
NARS RADIANT CREAMY CONCEALER
This is the concealer you need to get along with your nars foundation. Since my Shade was Santa Fe I ended up going for the shade Custard for my concealer. This isnt full coverage but does the job well with the foundation and the corrector. It’s lightweight yet has a beautiful texture.
NARS BRONZING POWDER
This gives you an amazing sun kissed look. I am a big fan of bronzing powders and how much they enhance your features. Gone are the days when you ended up looking like you had dried cheeks due to heavy blushes. Blush is important but bronzers are very much important too. I am not a fan of creamy bronzers though. I bought the hyped up Anastasia Beverly Hills infamous contour creme palette and it was a complete waste of money. Nars bronzing powder is one of my favourites along with Benefit cosmetics Hoola bronzer and even the NYX Bronzer powder.
NARS BLUSH
NARS blush comes in three finishings;
Sheer
Matte
Shimmer
Personally I love the shimmery effect more because you don’t really need a highlighter after that. And the texture just feels amazing. Would definitely recommend this to everyone. Also a quick tip you can use this over tinted cheeks too. Gives the perfect shade and glow.
After Glow Lip Balm
I personally would go for gloss or lip balms over lipsticks any day. Firstly they’re hydrating and coloured as well. The colors aren’t extra dramatic either, so it can be used by anyone. You can easily use it over a tint again for that extra pop of color.
Lastly, I’d like to add is that it’s very important to have a good skin care routine. No amount of expensive makeup can make your skin feeling good. Your makeup only looks good if you are consistent with your skin care (simple yet effective) and if you’re well hydrated! So take care of yourselves 🩷
Hey girls, I hope you’ll had an amazing summer. Previously on my skincare blog post I wrote about a few glow recipe products I used religiously, well I recently added two more amazing products to the list. If you’ve read my previous blog post regarding my skin care routine you can tell how much I love their Watermelon range, Particularly their Niacinamide. Well I was in Los Angeles and I literally stocked up on all my favourite products from them, and added two new amazing products to my routine from the same range.
Glow Recipe PHA+BHA Pore Tight Toner
This amazing toner hydrates and tightens your pores, while giving you an amazing and plumped up glow at the same time. I use it right after my cleanser, and before my Glow Recipe Dew drops (Niacinamide). It just makes everything absorb in so well. A little goes a long way, so this one full size bottle will be enough for 2 months or even more. I got the mini bottle (40ml) for 15 usd and i’m still using that bottle right now (for over a month now). Got the full sized one too, will use it once I get done with the mini.
Watermelon Glow Niancinamide Sunscreen SPF 50
I cannot tell you how much I love this product. I have been using this particular sunblock right after my glow recipe dew drops(in my morning routine) and my skin feels amazing (MashAllah🧿). When I went into sephora and asked for a sunscreen recommendation this is what everyone suggested and i’m so glad I listened to them. This is their new product in the watermelon range and is completely worth investing on. I got 3 extra bottles for myself, considering how much I love using my sunblock everyday regardless of my plans.
The thing I love the most about this particular brand, The Glow Recipe, is that they don’t use harsh chemicals or artificial scents which makes them highly suitable for someone with a sensitive skin. It’s all natural Korean beauty line manufactured in USA. Korean are known for their amazing skin care.
You should definitely read my updated skin care routine for 2022 featuring more of The Glow Recipe products;
Hey guys! I write this while I still fight my jet lag! My routine is still not on track. Anyways, we stayed in Pasadena, and were located in the heart of Pasadena about 5 minutes walk away from their famous Colorado Blvd. I opt for walking my way around places when on a vacation because we can’t do that back in my country. LA is known for its weather, it was pleasant during the days and got super chilly right after sunset (Similar to what it was in December 2017).
Salt & Straw
I cannot put into words on how much I loved their chocolate gooey brownie ice cream. The ice cream had brownie chunks in it and was super yummy. I have always been a Haagen-dazs kinda person but this ice cream was just AMAZING. Definitely worth every calorie. I wasn’t really calorie conscious on this trip. Also this is only Available in the States and was previously introduced in Portland, Oregon first.
In-n-Out burgers
This chain of burgers, fries and milkshakes is only available in the State of California. NO OTHER STATE or country. I’ve never really liked beef burgers but their burgers are an exception. The texture and they’re very basic yet taste amazing. At the end it all comes down to quality maintenance, something they’ve managed to do so well. Due to covid and monkeypox we just got it via Drive Thru instead of going in the outlet. The line at the drive thru used to be crazy, easily took us 20 minutes or more each time. You definitely should try their Burgers. Fries aren’t that good but the burger just melts into your mouth. So it’s definitely worth it.
Starbucks
Okay so starbucks is everywhere! But I have some favourite drinks which I would definitely recommend. Previously I had only tried their basic unflavoured latte but this time due to the summer and heatwave going on I opted for cooler drinks instead. I would definitely recommend strawberry creme frappe & cookie frappe. These two were my favourite. Plus I don’t know about you but I hate flavoured coffee. Makes me sick. Coffee itself had such an amazing and strong taste, why would anyone want to change to into caramel or any other pathetic taste? Just blows my mind. So if you want a hot drink just stick to their basic latte. Also before you order any new drink from them just ask the person taking your order if they would recommend that particular drink to you, and just tell them what you actually want/ or like, if they’re kind enough they will definitely recommend or suggest something. Atleast they were super sweet in Pasadena (Colorado blvd) Los Angeles. They even told me they’d change my drink if I didn’t like it. So shout out to them for being extra sweet.
85c cafe
They had an amazing collection of pastries, cakes and a huge variety of bread. The coffee was just average, but the hype regarding their bakery items was on point. This was a 3-4 minute walk from my hotel and a go to place due to the convenience. The funny part is that I actually went to this french crepe cafe near this bakery first (for breakfast) but their menu didn’t really fascinate me so I left that cafe and stumbled upon this cute bakery.
The Boiling Crab
Let me tell you one thing. I never liked seafood just because I grew up watching Little Mermaid. And I always believed that if I eat fish i’m causing harm to the mermaids. Yes! That was me growing up. And guess what? I never bothered eating sea food until we traveled and the first time I ever had sea food and king crab was in Amsterdam. My entire idea has completely changed. Number one there are no mermaids (as of now) and number two you definitely need to try seafood when travelling because Pakistan has the most pathetic quality seafood ever. I loved Fried COD and King crab, but this time I actually ate shrimps for the very first time and I LOVED IT. We got fried shrimps, boiled shrimps & king crab, fried calamari, corn on the cob and cajun fries (absolutely loved these). You don’t need anything except a crab shell cracker and your hands! This was definitely very unsophisticated but the taste was still worth the experience. Just make sure you wash your hands before and after the meal thoroughly. We went here twice. For the first time we ordered the spiciest sauce for our crabs and shrimps, I literally had tears in my eyes while I ate my meal. I couldn’t even wipe them off because my hands were a mess!! They literally give you a bib so you dont ruin your shirt and they lay out a disposable sheet on the paper on which you actually eat your meal! If you are ever travelling to LA you definitely need to try this!
On our short trip we also visited 4 Indian restaurants 1 in LA, 1 in Minden (Nevada), 1 in South Lake Tahoe and 1 in Oakhurst. Ended up ordering the same thing; Yellow tarka dal, chicken tikka masala (extra spicy), Palak Paneer(spinach and cheese), garlic naan/ green chilli naan and Vegetable samosa. My top favourite one would be the one in Tahoe, the best food. I am big fan of Dal. I mean who isn’t. Specially when you’re away from home and you want some good desi comfort food. We had also ordered barbecue but it was nothing like what you get in Pakistan, there was no taste just a red color added to the meat, so didn’t really give that barbecue vibe. Just remember ordering the food extra spicy when you’re travelling in the west, otherwise your desi food will be more towards a dessert. Thank me later.
Urth Cafe
Okay apparently this was the first time I had cucumbers in my veggie cheese omelette and it was so weird. Literally wasted the entire thing! I only thing I loved was their coffee. The lady serving us complimented me and told me how pretty I looked, so it made me forget about the cucumbers in my omelette. The croissant however wasn’t that fascinating either, Idk maybe my expectations were super high. The only thing I loved was the ambiance and how sweet their staff was. The breakfast was just okayish.
Porto’s Bakery And Cafe
This place had an amazing variety of breads & desserts. Personally I loved the Tres leches cake and their egg bread. The egg bread literally metled in your mouth, it was super soft and airy. While the Tres leches cake was just perfect. I absolutely love milk cakes and this was a good find.
Raffi’s Persian Food
I don’t eat beef. I prefer having lamb kebab’s over beef. When I was here in 2017, they had Lamb Koobe’deh which I loved but this time they only had beef koobe’deh and it was so disappointing. I ended up ordering their chicken option instead. If you’re someone who doesn’t mind having beef then this is definitely a place to go. This is a Persian restaurant and quite famous in Glendale.
Krispy KremeDoughnuts 🍩
Have you even lived your life if you haven’t had Krispy Kreme doughnuts? I’d been craving for these doughnuts since the past 4 years now (since my last trip to US). These aren’t available anywhere in Europe, which was shocking. Personally I don’t like doughnuts with fillings, I prefer the ones which are plain from the inside and loaded with flavour on top. My personal favourite will always be classic glazed, strawberry glazed with sprinkles and chocolate glazed with sprinkles. The strawberry glazed has a legit strawberry flavouring and would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves doughnuts. They’re always freshly made, super soft and flavourful.
Absolutely hated the Chinese food in Los Angeles. Though we went to one restaurant, Panda Inn (Glendale). It was overly priced and had no taste at all. The only thing I liked was Edamame wok fried. That is it. We had ordered vegetable chowmein, egg fried rice, sweet & sour chicken, orange beef and crispy garlic chicken. We ordered way too much food and it got wasted. I had high expectations for some reason. This is an old restaurant and was recommended by my father since it there since his college days. If you’re someone who wants to spend a lot on food which has almost no taste, you should definitely go there. Portions in America are huge so order accordingly.
Will be posting more from my trip! So stay tuned for more!✨🤍
Hey guys! I hope you’re all having an amazing day. Today i’ll fill you in about how amazing this beautiful city of love/lights is! If you’re on your Euro Tour you cannot skip Paris. I remember the first trip we had planned for my 22nd birthday and everyone loves this city since then. On both our trips we stayed for at least 10 days in this city more than a week. Staying less than a week in Paris is of no use. There’s always so much to do and see.
Firstly it’s very important to choose a good place to stay specially safe and clean. I would not recommend staying in the middle of heavy crowds or sort of downtown areas since they get quite unsafe later at night. Safety is number one priority when it comes to travelling. And there is no point of staying in Paris if you cannot go out all by yourself regardless of what time it may be. We stayed in Saint-Germain. I absolutely loved our hotel location, we had Galeries Lafayette on a 7 minute walk, Le Bon Marché 8-9 minute walk away, Sephora a street away, Zara on a 3 minute walk and tons of outdoor cafes and amazing bakeries. Walking your way through to places is such a nice feeling specially when the weather is amazing, meaning there should not be a heatwave. Or just take a cab if you want to go to far off places. We stayed in this area on both our trips twice. It was super safe, we used to go for late night walks and never found anything off or strange! Prior to staying in Saint Germain our travel agent wanted us to stay right in the middle of Champs-Élysées. Thank God we didn’t. That place is heavily crowded and has too much tension going on. Not a fan of heavy crowds at all. You’re just surrounded with tons of designer stores and Arc De triumph. Whereas we could go to an authentic french cafe and enjoy an amazing cup of coffee, a strawberry and Nutella crepe, a good English Breakfast and the list goes on, that too a couple of minutes or even seconds walk away from our hotel, with less crowd and safer environment.
Next best thing you need to do in Paris is shop. I would prefer going to Champs-Élysées, Galeries Lafayette or Le Bon Marché for shopping (don’t forget to get a tax refund receipt) and a picture of your passport in your phone for all the details. Benefits of shopping in the malls is that you don’t need to keep changing shops in order to get what you want. Or just go to Champs-Élysées if want a full on Paris vibe. French and Italian brands are cheaper in Europe than America or UAE. They have huge variety of products there as all. Literally everything you need or article you need is right there. They also had a disney store there, and it made me want to be a kid all over again. I would have gotten so many things had I been a child, but I ended up buying a Little mermaid mug instead. And I still haven’t used it. Once you’re in Champs-Élysées you definitely need to go to Ladurée for a coffee/dessert or just get their macaroons. This is the prettiest bakery/cafe i’ve ever been too! The interiors and details will blow your mind. The staff is amazing as well.
You definitely need to take a cruise in Paris, particularly right before sunset, in order to see the amazing orange skies and the surreal architecture. Dinner cruises are just fine, you just enjoy the food and forget about enjoying the view completely (wouldn’t recommend that if you want to enjoy the views).
Lastly you need to go to Latin Quarter (it’s not as good as Gothic Quarter in Barcelona, but definitely does the job). Explore it while walking. There are some amazing hand made chocolatiers there and they had Häagen-Dazs there too(our must stop). This is a couple of minutes walk away from the famous Notre-Dame Cathedral(which got closed down due to a fire since 2019) but the outdoor views are still spectacular! Definitely worth exploring. We went inside of it in 2016. But it was closed down on our last trip.
Heyy guys! Today’s blog will be about things you need to do in Amsterdam & places you need to visit once you’re there.
DAM SQUARE
This place has everything on a good walk/distance, every event or shop is super close to this area. You’re literally in the middle of everything. So you definitely will have to go this place and lets not forget the amazing pictures/videos you can take in this location. The aesthetics are amazing.
Vleminckx Sausmeesters (1887)
The most amazing fries ever. No one recommended this to us, I discovered these fries while strolling across the street with my younger brother (while rest of the family was busy shopping). We saw a huge queue of people in order to get fries so we joined them and made an amazing discovery. We Went to this place multiple times on our second trip to Amsterdam. p.s I got plain salted fries but their garlic mayo ones were good too.
Paddle boat
This was by far a very fun experience! You need good amount of strength in your legs in order to keep up with who you’re with or just be with someone who’s physically stronger than you so you not need to put in that much effort. And I had my younger brother with me here. He didn’t complain when I stopped paddling. Good old times. We both paddled our way through the canal. This was in July, the canals are frozen during the winter season.
Cycling
This is good as long as you have company and you are aware of the routes. There was a bike/cycle lane right next to our hotel and we rented cycles from our hotel and went out. The only thing is that I got super confused when we got on the main road and the bicycle/bike lane merged with the main road with actual cars. I don’t drive and nor am I good at those skills. I almost got hit by a bike (due to my confusion) and when my parents found out about our little adventure I was scolded and told never to get the cycle again. And this was our first trip, I didn’t even bother renting the bicycle on the next trip.
Take a train to Delft
The train ride was for about 50 minutes and the weather here was super pleasant (while Amsterdam was facing a really bad heatwave). We booked a golf cart/ golf buggy which took us around this super cute yet historic city. Definitely worth the trip. We got back to Amsterdam after a tour and lunch at delft the very same day. There are multiple trains going back and forth from Amsterdam to Delft.
The Seafood Bar
If you like fish or seafood in any way or form, you need to visit this amazing place. This is our go to place whenever we’re in Amsterdam. Sort of a family tradition to go there almost everyday specially the Van Baerlestraat branch. They have multiple branches in Amsterdam but this is where we went all the time. The staff, the food, ambiance, menu everything was perfect! I Had king crab for the very first time here and I was never into crabs or lobsters before. This place just changed my taste buds!
D’JUICE HOUSE
They have an amazing range of smoothies! And some of them were super healthy too and filled with nutrients. I got the beetroot and apple smoothie all the time! This was next to the area we got our Belgium fries from.
The people in Amsterdam are super sweet and welcoming. They have trams which are super easy to understand and you can never lose your way. Plus it’s super safe. Just be careful to not interact with shady people (specially towards dam square).
I hope you all are having an amazing day. So this year i went to Europe for Summer Vacations.
We went to 4 countries;
Spain
France
Belgium
Netherlands
Today i’ll be sharing my experience in Gent or Ghent whatever way you want to write it. It’s pronounced as Gent, the h is completely silent.
Okay so we were traveling from Paris to Gent/Ghent. Trust me the trains were not easy, we had early morning trains. First we went to Brussels and then from Brussels we had to switch trains for Gent/Ghent. The train from Brussels to Gent actually didn’t have enough space for bags. We were 4 people with 2 suitcases each. Plus my handbag. It was not easy pushing the suitcases, but Ghent/Gent is such a hidden treasure hence it’s completely worth the hassle.
The location of our hotel was amazing, it was right in middle of everything, food or shopping you name it. We stayed at Hotel NH Gent Belfort. The rooms were huge and the washrooms were spacious, would highly recommend staying there.
Ghent has everything. The best food and the best scenery. I had the best Asian Cuisine there, we went there everyday for either lunch or dinner. It was open till 11 p.m the plus point. It was Pho Saigon Noodle Bar, loved their chicken skewers and vegetable spring rolls. Plus the rice noodles were FANTASTIC 😍
Here’s a picture of it:
Waffles and Fries are something the Belgium people are good at, and they had the most amazing waffles there. Thinking about them right now makes me super hungry, THEY WERE SOOOOO GOOOOOD!!!!!
There were no high end brands in Gent/Ghent. Unlike Paris or other major cities. It’s such a undiscovered gem in Europe. The architecture over there was so beautiful, every street’s hundreds of years old. With beautiful history. Would definitely recommend going there.
