India, Ireland and the 6 countries you should consider visiting in 2021

All of our travel plans this year were dashed for obvious reasons, so we are going to look ahead to the return of travel in 2021. No longer should we tell ourselves that “I will do it eventually” or push our desires to the side and say, “I will go there one day”.

No, in 2021, we are saying nothing but yes. Yes, to new travel experiences, yes to making new friends, and yes to giving ourselves a challenge. There are so many vibrant cities, majestic beaches, and charming villages that are just waiting for people to explore them again. Below we have given you a list of places that you should definitely think about traveling to next year.

India

Colorful, captivating, and totally chaotic, there really is nowhere on this beautiful planet of ours quite like India. A land that is home to a billion people and more than a thousand languages, it really is a country that is steeped in tradition and history. This huge country is also home to some of the most

impressive building in the world. The Taj Mahal will live up to your expectations, while the Ambert Fort will fascinate you with all of its intricate architecture. In the north of the country, <ahref=”https://www.ranthamborenationalpark.com/”> will give nature lovers the opportunity to spot leopards, tigers, and sloth bears. Last but not least, how could we talk about India and not mention the amazing food? The guy that stands outside your local curry house might claim they have the best curry outside of India, but you cannot beat the real deal.

Vietnam

With its beautiful beaches, friendly people, tantalizing food, and ancient temples it is no surprise that Vietnam is such a popular destination for tourists from all over the world. You can get yourself lost in the city streets that are bristling with street food vendors and scooters, or you can relax a bit in picturesque bays and peaceful villages. You can experience Vietnam’s complicated past by exploring the Cu Chi tunnels or by taking a walk through the war-damaged Imperial Citadel in Hue. If you consider yourself to be a bit of a gambler, then you will be glad to hear that there are plenty of land-based casinos, mostly in Ho Chi Minh City, where you will be able to test out your luck while having an awesome gambling experience.

Ireland

Ireland is a great place to visit not only because of its history and beauty, but also because of its fantastic atmosphere. The Irish are known all over the world for their festive celebrations, and there are many festivals and events throughout the year such as the TradFest that is held in Dublin at the start of each year. This is the biggest traditional music festival in the country and is attended by thousands. You can drink some of the best beer and whiskey in the world while listening to some quality music, what is not to like about that?

The Irish are also sport mad, so we highly recommend that you attend a sporting event while you are there, if you like sports yourself, of course. We suggest you watch a Gaelic football match or a rugby match. As well as watching sports, the Irish love to place bets on them too. If you are reading this and happen to be from Ireland yourself, perhaps you are looking for a great betting site. If so, we recommend that you take a look at https://www.betinireland.ie/. Here you will find a lot of valuable information about the best sportsbooks and online casinos for those in Ireland.

Morocco

Morocco can be seen from Spain, but when it comes to cuisine, culture, and landscapes it is fair to say that it might as well be a world away. We recommend that you visit Morocco with an empty suitcase as it is very easy to go overboard in the numerous markets that sell hand-woven rugs, fragrant spices, and traditional ceramics. The Atlas Mountains will provide you with some of the best trekking routes in the world, winding through fantastic villages, mountain pastures, and farmland. Another must see while in Morocco is the Sahara Desert, and you should spend a night sleeping under the stars.

Uzbekistan

When you are looking for a holiday destination, we know that it is tricky to resist the allure of a beach, but we promise you that this landlocked country will not disappoint you. Uzbekistan really is a diverse and unique destination that has a spellbinding history. Turquoise tiles adorn madrassas, mosques, and mausolea, which makes this treasure trove of Islamic and Soviet architecture something that you will not experience anywhere else on this planet. However, do not just stick to the beautiful cities while you are here, as a good time can be had in the Desert sharing stories and drinking wine with the locals who call it home.

Turkey

If you are searching for a country that has ancient cities and distinctive landscapes, then you really do not need to look any further than Turkey. From the stunning basalt chimneys in Cappadocia to the travertine terraces in Pamukkale, Turkey is home to natural features that really are one of a kind. However, some of the most remarkable sights that you will see in this country have been left behind by ancient civilizations. Persians, Greeks, Phrygians, and Romans used to call Turkey home at one stage, and you can find out all about how they live by visiting the wonderfully preserved ancient cities, museums, and underground cave homes. Europe and Asia collide in Istanbul, which is a capital city that will amaze you with its countless restaurants, imposing mosques, and the biggest bazaar in the world.

Peru

The tricky thing about a trip to Peru is deciding on what you are going to do while you are there – this is a country that is full of wonderful attractions. You might think of Machu Pichu as an overcrowded tourist hotspot but seeing it on your friend’s Facebook profile cannot compare to experiencing it in real life. It really is worth your time and effort to visit this ancient Incan citadel. When you have finished exploring

Machu Pichu, you can experience the Amazon or spend a night in a mud hut on the shores of Lake Titicaca. All of this exploring will make you hungry, so you will be happy to find out that the Peruvians know how to make some delicious food.

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Fast Fashions in Asia: Westside and Urban Revivo are the Zaras of India and China

For almost ten years, India’s country’s largest conglomerate The Tata Group – who has their hands in just about every industry in India — has helped establish Zara locations and storefronts in India. Continue reading “Fast Fashions in Asia: Westside and Urban Revivo are the Zaras of India and China”

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When do the Zara sales start in India?

As of October 2016, there were well over 2000 Zara stores worldwide. More than two thousand. Let that sink in. Still, Zara is just beginning to hit their stride and are expanding globally. Continue reading “When do the Zara sales start in India?”

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Here’s every Zara store location in India (From Mumbai to Delhi)

Did you know that Zara has over 2,000 brick and mortar stores worldwide and that the company is continuing to expand? Continue reading “Here’s every Zara store location in India (From Mumbai to Delhi)”

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M.I.A. releases “Swords” single and video for upcoming “MATAHDATAH” album

M.I.A. announced a new studio album “MATAHDATAH” and released a new single “Swords” this week. The song and video are produced by M.I.A., Spanker and The Partysquad and filmed in India and West Africa. Continue reading “M.I.A. releases “Swords” single and video for upcoming “MATAHDATAH” album”

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Handcuffed Indian grandfather paralyzed after being slammed to ground by police officer in Alabama

Earlier this month, Sureshbhai Patel traveled from his farm in India to Madison, Alabama to help care for his newly-born grandson. Continue reading “Handcuffed Indian grandfather paralyzed after being slammed to ground by police officer in Alabama”

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The Best Vegetable Pakora in San Francisco is at Red Chili in the Tenderloin

Vegetable pakora is a battered vegetable appetizer found on Indian/Pakistani menus. Continue reading “The Best Vegetable Pakora in San Francisco is at Red Chili in the Tenderloin”

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Dance without a care (or knowing any of the music) at Basement Bhangra

When I lived in San Francisco, I was a 5 minute walk from Public Works, an event venue that hosted a variety of parties and performances. One of the parties that I attended was a monthly event called Non-Stop Bhangra  Continue reading “Dance without a care (or knowing any of the music) at Basement Bhangra”

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Best of East Village: Punjabi Grocery & Deli

Outside of pizza, chicken+rice, hot dogs, and dumplings, there’s not a lot of diverse meal options in Manhattan where you can plop down a fiver, maybe get some change back, and be satisfied afterwards. Enter Punjabi Grocery & Deli  Continue reading “Best of East Village: Punjabi Grocery & Deli”

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Nina Davuluri is Miss America, but not American according to racist tweets

Nina Davuluri wins Miss America, reactions on Twitter

If I filed blog posts like I filed real files, I’d file this blog post in my tabbed manila folder labeled ‘NS;LX’  which stands for Not Surprised; Low Expectations.’

Even if I didn’t flinch when I heard about all the idiotic tweets about our new Miss America, it’s still worth mentioning how ridiculously low the level of ignorance (like, really ignorant) that was on display when Indian-American Nina Davuluri won the 2014 title. Continue reading “Nina Davuluri is Miss America, but not American according to racist tweets”

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M.I.A.’s Matangi Mixtape for Kenzo is Shaking My Soul

mia matangi mixtape for kenzo

M.I.A. created a soundtrack for the Kenzo fashion show in Paris. I’ve embedded it below. Rated: Badass. Shake. Dance now.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/81367665″ width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
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Show Me What You Got

Money on a stick - on our way to Agra
On our way to see the Taj Mahal, our driver pulled the car over to buy some water. I was in the back seat minding my own business. I wasn’t looking out my window, but was looking toward the street, when I heard a tapping on my window.

I turned to see this man, half-smiling at me, and carrying a stick. He stared at me with his frozen smirk/smile for a couple seconds before tapping his stick.

Out of sight was a huge monkey/monster that was leashed to the stick. The monkey jumps up to the top of the stick and scared the hell out of me.

The man smiled. I smiled. He extended his hand for rupees. He got rupees.

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