Cappadocia is famous for its naturally formed cave dwellings and numerous underground cities. While staying in Goreme (city in Cappadocia) we took the chance to go on our first hot air balloon ride during sunrise to take advantage of the unique landscape. We wondered through the dark and dusty houses, churches and tunnels of the Kaymakli Underground City which with multiple floors housed a large population and livestock. It was amazing to comprehend the comi...

After a long commute we arrived in Istanbul some time after midnight and were treated to an unexpected tour of Sultanahmet as the shuttle driver weaved in and out of the narrow streets as he struggled to locate the hotels of the other passengers. After a much needed sleep we made our way to the roof top terrace where we ate a traditional Turkish breakfast of olives, tomatoes, cucumber, boiled egg, freshly baked bread and jam. In contrast to the food that we ha...

Varanasi Varanasi is a holy town and an important pilgrimage for Hindus. Many of the stories told about what happens at the Ganges is an everyday practice here. During a morning walk along the Ghats (steps leading into the river) we passed locals going about their usual day; bathing, washing and drying clothes and boys playing cricket on the steps. We witnessed a funeral procession, a body wrapped in shawls being lead to the water, dipped into the holy Ganges ...

Agra Visiting the Taj Mahal was a highly anticipated part of our trip in India. Although we've seen countless photos, entering through the gates to see the marble dome emerge is breathtaking and a surreal experience - even with the hordes of tourists! We don't usually accept guides but thought if we were going to do it, the best place is here - so we opted for the $2 audio guide tour. The Taj Mahal is surrounded by lush green gardens with a view of the Yamuna...

We arrived in Jaipur, also known as the Pink City late at night. As soon as we got off the train there were the usual rickshaw drivers offering to take us to our accommodation. One friendly fellow offered us a reasonable fare which we quickly accepted - after being sick on the train I would have accepted anything. The driver started with the standard questions; where are you from, do you like India, but got increasingly personal as we neared our destination. W...