For a someone used to hip hostels and hearty homestays, this Airbnb made me the happiest camper. Our one night stop in Saint Catharines was supposed to be a small part of the travel schedule, yet it became the highlight. This little second floor art sanctuary was a quick walk away from the bus stop…
What a #MuslimBan Means to a Muslim Travel Blogger
I was originally going to post about my cool new haircut but this week has been quite shitty. Being denied entry into countries is nothing new as a Pakistani passport holder. After all, we do have the second least appreciated documents on the planet. Having the privilege to also be Canadian, I climbed up the…
An Open Letter to My Brother-in-law
Hey bro, When we moved to Canada in 2005, our family reduced to 5 from 8. Then to 4, then 3 after Batool left for university, and now we’re just 2, thanks to you. It’s okay, I forgive you for taking what never cuddled back, even after 21 years of sharing a bed. There…
December Diaries Part 3: 10 Touristy Things to do in NYC with your BF
1. Go with your best friend Meet Sara, my high school sweetheart and my third sister who moved to Ottawa for university. Traveling with my BFF was on my bucket list for a while and we wanted to celebrate the end of a semester, and my birthday together. Most importantly, we wanted to catch…
December Diaries Part 2: Rideshare Horror to Ottawa
The rideshare to Ottawa ripped me off by not having Wi-Fi in the van that they advertised on Kijiji. The dude driving was on his phone the entire time through the storm and didn’t even let me sleep! Me, on transit, not sleeping?? Impossible!! So I did what I had to, I fake cried. He…
December Diaries: Part 1 in Toronto
December 2016 itinerary: Toronto > Ottawa > NYC > Ottawa > Toronto > Karachi > Toronto > Ottawa > Toronto December Diaries is a series of craziness put together by yours truly to reach the full potential of 2016. It is also a 21st birthday gift to myself where I planned to be in places…
How my absent immigrant father raised 3 feminists
It is not uncommon for immigrant families to have broken homes because a parent educated in a different part of the world is deemed unqualified to work in Canada. A child’s identity is not only divided between culture, religion, and language but also between their caretakers. I’m not sure what I’m writing is considered daddy…
Digital Death
Originally posted on RUSL There is a new side to death: digital death. Our inactive accounts have become carcasses of ourselves. “Pics or it didn’t happen” is a real cultural phenomenon attesting to the legitimacy of our existence. Is the award you won actually something to be proud of if no one “likes” your accomplishment?…
4 Useful Things I Learned While Road Tripping Across India
Originally posted on RUSL Travelling teaches you new things no matter how often you leave home behind. But road trips are a whole other ball game. Here are some things I learned while doing a road trip through India. You will have poo issues It happens to even the strongest of digestive systems. Because your sleep…
The Best (Job) I’ve Ever Had
Now that you’ve acknowledged my Drake pun, let’s move on. With McDonald’s as my first job, I looked at the customer service industry with pity and a promise to never go back. But this summer changed everything. I cannot be more grateful for the experiences I’ve had and the people I’ve met through my summer…
Zahra Travels 