The Asian side of Istanbul often receives less attention by tourists since the majority of renowned places such as Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Topkapı Palace are in the European side. Read this blog to know more the places to visit in the European side of Istanbul. However, if you really want to truly understand Istanbul, you need to step onto the Asian side of Istanbul. This side of Istanbul represents the modern and daily life of the city. Similar…
Exploring Istanbul by walking along the city can be exhausting due to traffic, crowds, and distance of sightseeing places. If you are searching for an alternative and want to level up your Istanbul experience, going for a Bosphorus cruise tour is an option. The Bosphorus cruise will help you capture the essence of Istanbul. The Bosphorus straight is a 31 kilometers long narrow waterway that divides not only Europe and Asia but also centuries of history. A Bosphorus cruise isn’t…
This summer of July 2025, I had an opportunity to go to Copenhagen Denmark for one week because of a conference that is rarely held in Europe. Despite the busy schedules of presenting, networking, and attending conference sessions, seeing places and experiencing Copenhagen is something that needs to be squeezed-in in my agenda. Despite the daily lack of sleep, I managed to experience Copenhagen – visit as much place, taste local foods, and observe their daily life. Of course, this…
Luxembourg city is a perfect place to visit for one day if you are in any of these areas: Northeastern France, Southeast Belgium, or Southwest of Germany. Staying within the city of Luxembourg is quite expensive. Therefore if you are in a budget constraint, it is best to stay in its neighboring countries and do a day visit. My family and I had an opportunity to visit Luxembourg in the summer during our stay in Bitburg, Germany, which is just…
Givet France is a small town that lies along the Ardennes trail near the Belgian border. Although not as rich, popular, and big as the other towns in the Ardennes, Givet has a charm in its own way especially when visited during good weather and season. The town lies on the Meuse river, which passes other countries such as Belgium and The Netherlands. Given the size of Givet France, the town could be toured in one day by walking. Below…
Dinant Belgium is a charming city that lies along the River Meuse and has a rich historical accounts especially during World War I. It is located in Namur region of Belgium in the south, and is one of the famous stops when touring the Ardennes region. If interested, see my blog about Belgian Ardennes: Seven Interesting Reasons to Visit and Summer holidays in Champagne-Ardennes: Reasons to do it. Dinant Belgium is a nice escape for those who seek tranquility in…
Pisa Italy, which is located in the middle of the country, is known for its Leaning Tower of Pisa. Yet, there are still more that this city has to offer. Pisa Italy has more than twenty historic churches, a number of medieval palaces, and astonishing view of bridges across the River Arno. Many of the architectures that we currently see in the city of Pisa were financed in the past by the maritime republics, or merchants that enjoyed political freedom…
Bergen op Zoom, which is derived from two words “Bergen” meaning hills or mountains in Dutch and “Zoom” which means border of defensive wall of a castle, is one of oldest city of The Netherlands. It is located in the North Brabant region and is strategically accessible from various major cities, such as Rotterdam, Zeeland, and Middleburg in The Netherlands, as well as Antwerpen in Belgium. Its’ history dated back 800 years ago and can still be seen in its…
The Hague Netherlands is one of the known Randstad’s, meaning “Rim city” or “Edge city”, in addition to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht. The Hague is not the capital of the Netherlands but the seat of the Dutch government and the location of the palace of the King and Queen of the Netherlands. There are also many international offices located in The Hague such as the International Criminal Court, many International Governmental Organisations and various (inter)national Dutch companies. The rich history…
Incheon South Korea is one of the major cities in Korea, next to Seoul and Busan. Incheon is known for its beautiful sceneries due to its location facing the East China Sea, historic sites that tell many interesting stories, and having one of the largest Chinatowns in South Korea. This city has an international reputation being home to major international airport, sea port, and large scale international conferences in the country. This August 2023, I was able to visit Incheon…