It is tough restricting the selection of the beautiful places to see on earth to just 24. Being able to explore foreign countries and cultures is a privilege, hence everyone should have a travel bucket list. Don't know where to start? Here are a few ideas to get you inspired:

The Ultimate Travel Bucket List

Sonamarg

Location: Ganderbal district, Jammu and Kashmir, India

Sonamarg

 

Namtso

Nagaland

Location: Northeast India

Nagaland

Fjaðrárgljúfur

"The purpose of life is to live it, to taste it, to experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience." – Eleanor Roosevelt

I could still smell the food, the smell of the Mediterranean that hung in the air.

Albania is amazing during summer. Tirana, the capital, is Albania's beating heart. A dense metropolis sparsely studded with discreet high-rise, the city can easily be recognized by its loud vibrant colors and cinematic graffiti-plastered walls. The teens, proud and aloof, are clad only adequately to expose their perfectly sun-kissed skin. Albania, in my opinion, is the most badass country in Europe, and its local cuisines are equally as fierce and wicked.

Delicious Traditional Albanian Food

Listed below are a few popular Albanian food which have made my stay in Albania extra delightful and satisfying:

Cheap and Delicious Traditional Albanian Food

Paçe Koke - "Head Meat Juice" - served with garlic-infused wine vinegar and various spices

Cevapcici - Grilled skinless minced meat sausage

Pilaf - An Albanian variation of Pilau

Tavë Dheu - Fried meat in curds

Tavë Me Mish Viçi - Pan of calf meat

Patate Furre - Oven-baked potatoes

Grilled lamb chops

Byrek Me Spinaq and other pastries

Raki - A traditional Albanian fruit brandy

If Elizabeth Gilbert has rediscovered her appetite in Italy, I have definitely got mine tastefully restored in Istanbul.

Istanbul is a city of colors, cordial smiles, succulent döner kebab, and a delightful blend of cultures. With sufficient time on hand, Istanbul makes the perfect, most comprehensive travel destination. From inexpensive street food to upscale restaurants, buzzing city to sleepy villages, Asian to European (or Eurasian) - it has something to fit everyone's budget and preference. Below is a brief guide to the top things to do in Istanbul:

Top Things to do in Istanbul

Turkish Bath

Turkish bath is a relaxing and cleansing treatment with each standard session lasting for about an hour. You'd be clad in sweat most of the time while sitting in a room filled with hot steam. Cleansing is performed on a big slab of marble where you will be thoroughly scrubbed, rubbed, and washed from head to toe by a masseur.

Note: I was asked to strip completely naked during the cleansing session by my naked female masseur. I did not find it to be a problem. However, I've later learned from the experience of others that you're supposed to have a towel on at all times.

Facilities at a Turkish bath

Try the Turkish Coffee

It goes without saying that Turkish coffee is a must-try when in Turkey. These roasted and very finely ground coffee beans are boiled in a cezve and are then served in a small, colorful porcelain cup on a saucer where the grounds gradually settle. Sugar is optional.

It is said then once you are done drinking and all that's left are the grounds, you can flip the cup over and read your future from what forms on the saucer. Of course, I've attempted this several times but I could not make anything out of it, unless it is repeatedly indicating that my life is a black hole (very likely)

Turkish coffee

Try the Turkish Tea

While you're at the coffee, why not go for the tea as well? Turkish tea is usually served for free (otherwise it doesn't cost more than 2 TL). It is usually served piping hot in a very delicate glass.

Turkish tea

Try the Local Turkish Dishes

It is a challenge trying to look for restaurants that serve local dishes. You'd need to look hard beyond the sea of kebab stalls and fast food chains. Local food is obviously the most authentic, delicious and tasty, so don't miss out on the chance to savor them while you're there!

Delicious Turkish Pilav with some dishes which names I have a hard time recalling

Go on a Bosphorus Cruise

12 TL, 90 minutes, magnificent views of both the European and Asian sides - the Bosphorus Cruise is very worth it.

Tips #1: Go in the evening and you'll get an amazing view of the sunset as the backdrop thrown in for free.
Tips #2: Sit on the left side of the ferry. The ferry goes in a way that all the amazing attractions are on the left and that gives you plenty of opportunities for clear shots.

Views from the Bosphorus Cruise

Visit a Mosque

The Ottoman Empire had made Islam an important influence here and mosques are a common sight. Take some time off to visit the impressive Blue Mosque or any other mosque (most of them allow visitors) which usually do not take an entrance fee. Females should dress decently and have their hair covered with a scarf.

Inside one of the Turkish mosques

Take the Tram

One must get on the 19th-century Nostalgic Istiklal Caddesi tram not only for its historical values but also because it gives its passengers a slow but exciting ride through İstiklal Caddesi. Another notable tram is the T1 Bağcılar- Kabataş tram, which stops at nearly every major attraction such as the Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace, Sultanahmet and many more.

The pretty Nostalgic Istiklal Caddesi tram honking its way through the Istiklal Street

Visit an Island

There are a few islands close to Istanbul known as the Princes Islands (Adalar) which are reachable by ferries which make the perfect day trip on a sunny day. There are not a single car on these islands, and taxis are replaced by horse-drawn carriages instead. Note that the shores here are rocky and void of sand, and tourists were suntanning on the grass instead. Anything goes!

The island of Büyükada, or Big Island

 

Get a Bird's-Eye View of Istanbul

The city is spectacular, more so when seen from above. Climb the Galata Tower (25 TL) and reward yourself with a stunning view of the buildings as well as the Golden Horn.

Yangshuo Beer Fish 啤酒鱼

One does not travel to Yangshuo without giving its Beer Fish a try.

As suggested by its name, the two main ingredients in this dish are beer and fish. Grown carps caught from the Li River will only be selected, gutted and cleaned upon order to ensure utmost freshness.

The preparation of the dish is tedious but is surely worth the effort. Fish is first fried in camellia oil to achieve a slightly crusty texture on the outside. It is then braised in a superior beer brewed locally in the province of Guangxi, before being served with a generous portion of colorful jardinière, including diced tomatoes, pepper, coriander, spring onions, and so on.

More about Yangshuo Beer Fish:

The dish is served and eaten with its scales. I was initially surprised to see that my fish was not scaled, but my Chinese cook claimed that it has been so perfectly braised that the scales have become soft and tender, and it would be a waste (or an insult) to not eat them. The scales are also thought to be the most unique feature to this dish.

Chosen carps usually weigh above one kilogram and they must be caught from the Li River because according to the locals, it is so that the fish would taste the best. Fish from the Li River is also believed to be one-of-a-kind in the world because they have lived a life of contentment in the clear water surrounded by beautiful green hills and karst. (Yes, the Chinese can sometimes be overly philosophical)

Beautiful Li River surrounded by karst after the rain

During the trip to Högbo Bruk, I had the chance to visit the tastefully-crafted Gamla Herrgården, a gallery fringed by lush green trees and a lake. The mansion is broad and its walls are covered with a graceful selection of wallpapers - a unique hue and motif for each room. Its decor had a minimalist approach, overlaid with timeless vintage articles.



Sauntering from room to room and the slow walk past the corridors was a delight. Everything here is worthy of admiration. Nothing was encased, granting visitors the opportunity to peer even at the smallest details, from a tiny scratch on the wooden desk to writings in a journal.

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