Exploring Wadi Damm: Panda’s Practical Guide
Once in a while I need to escape the UAE in search of some lush scenery and natural formations. I am fortunate enough to find that (and more) in the country right next door to me- Oman. I have been […]
Azerbaijan: Panda’s picture-perfect weekend away
I had zero expectations about visiting Azerbaijan. I knew no one who had been, and I didn’t know much about the country itself. What I did know is that it was close proximity to Dubai and offered a very easy […]
Tunisia: A country of unbelievable contrasts
A lost child wailed for his mother, a man frantically searched for his missing cat, shopkeepers screamed out offers on the top of their voices to attract customers and customers desperately tried to bargain for the best possible prices. The […]
Oman: turtles, secret beaches and hidden pools
Do you ever find that there is just one country you keep being drawn towards no matter how many times you go there? For me that country is Oman, the country I also imagine to be where Aladdin fell in […]
Expat Panda’s 3 hidden & inexpensive gems in Dubai
When it comes to visiting Dubai- the United Arab Emirate’s most famous emirate- people generally visit the same expensive places to take the same repetitive photos and have the same customary experiences. While I am not insulting anyone who chooses […]
The Seychelles: Why the experience in an African paradise justifies the price!
The Seychelles is paradise on earth. I know that is a bold statement to make but its seriously true. I cried a little as my Air Seychelles plane touched down on this stunning island. Not because I was sad […]
Nepal: A truthful trip in the world’s least developed nation
People always rave about Nepal. I’ve met many people who say it’s their favourite destination in the entire world. People who return time after time and never tire of Nepal. Having heard all of these avid fans, I decided I […]
Myanmar: What to skip and when to go
I didn’t fall in love with Myanmar. In fact, there are more things I disliked about Myanmar than things I liked. My reaction took me by surprise- I’m used to loving a place, leaving my heart there and making return […]
Laos: Why should you go to this tiny country?
I had never planned to go to Laos. In fact I had only heard about its existence very briefly when I traveled through Thailand in 2013 from a few backpackers who had just arrived from there. To be honest I […]
The “Quirks” of traveling to Iran: Everything you need to know
As a person with a passport from a third world country, I understand the many barriers to traveling. From expensive visa costs to mounds of paperwork to language barriers to currencies you can’t afford to exchange your money into… believe […]