When learning how to bike as a 10-year-old, I got in an accident with a kid I classify as Satan’s offspring. I still have the ugly scar on my right hand. Fast forward 13 years, I’ve moved to a small town with shitty bus service and realized the 20 mins walk to campus was 20…
Turbulent Nature, the Silk Road, and Pakistani Ingenuity in the Northern Areas
Some people aren’t good with babies, others aren’t so hot with dogs… …though both of the above give me equal amounts of anxiety, mother nature is probably what agitates me most. We often get so engulfed in blue beaches and starry nights that the fear of being alone or lost among them starts to evaporate. The…
Why Lahore Remains Lahore: A Dip into Pakistan’s Cultural Hub
If you’re not already familiar, there is this saying in Punjabi coined from an old song: “Lahore, Lahore aye“, that “Lahore is Lahore”. Sometimes words aren’t enough to describe something. Lahore is one of those. Calling it Lahore is more than enough to explain it. The singer also repeats the line “Ho jinnay L’ore naee tak’ya o’…
Dear Aunties, Stop Telling Us to Get Married
“I’d already had your father when I was your age” “If you let this “primal age” pass, you’re only going to get divorced men” “Learn to do this *insert house chore* properly because you’re going to have to do it for your husband/family soon” “Hurry up and get married because you also have younger siblings”…
I Interviewed Women of Colour about Traveling & Here’s What They Said
Traveling alone is one thing. Traveling alone as a WOMAN is another. Traveling alone as a WOMAN OF COLOUR, well that’s sometimes a whole other minefield. I could sit here and go on and on about my experiences as a woman of color (comment to let me know if you want my take) but I…
Why I’m Super Excited to go to Pakistan this Summer
I’ve dreaded going to Pakistan since I can remember. I’m not a fan of the Karachi heat, nor am I good at family stuff. Since our trips last less than 2 weeks, I have zero friends. This is NOT about hating my country so lay off the judgments. I remember tweeting it was really hot…
PICK-POCKETED in PARIS + PARIS VLOG
I’ve been extremely fortunate in my travels to never be a victim of a serious crime or just general “L”s from life, knock on wood. Even though I’ve made, and with no doubt, continue to make some extremely STUPID choices at airports, border controls, and with directions, I’ve walked out of these situations reinsured that…
Tunisia: The Cheap Alternative to Greece
Small country: Check On the coast of Mediterranean beaches: Check Blue doors on white homes: CHECK and CHECK Don’t lie to yourself, as much as you love the rush of big cities like London, Barcelona, or Tokyo, sometimes you just need a good portion of sun, beach, desert, and palm trees. Definitely, I do. Now…
Granada: An Arabic Heaven on Earth in Spain
But first, a bit of history From time, historical records show Granada ruled by Caliphs, Sultans, and dynasties. The Moorish empire once stretched right up into the north of Spain. When the various Christian groups settled their differences, they joined together and drove the Arabs out. Granada was the last stronghold in Spain that succumbed…
Paris, is it worth the hype?
Warning: The following content may contain elements that can distort unrealistic fantasies of Paris and is unsuitable for audiences who want to continue to have Eiffel Tower magazine cutouts on their honeymoon vision boards. Viewer discretion is advised. When traveling, there are two things that I factor in harshly: a high culture shock and a…
