Category: PLACES

- TRAVEL DIARYDaily NotesRussia

A brief time travel and the start of the final chapter

A brief time travel and the start of the final chapter On September 5th, I took a flight from Moscow to Korea to visit family. It turned out that the day was my 2nd travel anniversary, which was a pure coincidence. I had thought about taking the time at the airport to record how I feel about having spent two years traveling. But as is often the case, at the end I was only grateful to have made it to the gate only 20 minutes before...
- TRAVEL DIARYMoments Together (Friends)Russia

with Artyom @ Bratislavskaya, Moscow, Russia, September 5, 2019

In general, I try to keep distance from using the word ‘hospitable’ when describing people of a country or a region. It’s not because hospitality is an undesirable value by any means. I just feel that accepting to use the word encourages me to subconsciously believe that I am in the position to evaluate different cultures or even compare them, based on my perspectives. Allowing myself to reinforce my previous world view is far from the purpose of journey. But during the three days of stay...
- TRAVEL DIARYDaily NotesMoments Together (Friends)Russia

Lesson on a sad day @ Pulkovo Aiport, St. Petersburg, Russia, August 12, 2019

Lesson on a sad day Sometimes people ask if or when I get lonely on the road. Since I have been traveling for almost two years, it seems to be fair curiosity. But when I think about it, I realize that it hardly happens. Yes, there were demanding situations where things could have been solved more easily if I had had company. And yes, there were special experiences which I wished I could have shared in real-time with someone who understood me on a deep level....
- TRAVEL DIARYDaily NotesRussia

Border crossing into Russia @ Luhamaa – Shumilkino Border, August 11, 2019

Border crossing into Russia Originally I was planning to cross from Estonia to Russia through the Narva border point. But I ended up entering Russia (almost) from Latvia. It was because I realized that I wanted to ‘do justice’ to my experience in Latvia and Estonia, instead of having to rush in those countries. So I had dedicated the entirety of my remaining Schengen days to Latvia, and decided to visit Estonia properly when the next Schengen window opens. It was my fifty something-th border crossing...
4 EuropeDaily NotesLatvia

Arrival @ Riga, Latvia, August 8, 2019

Arrived in Riga, the capital of Latvia. Here up north close to the Baltic sea, it is rainy and it feels like fall, not summer. It is not exciting having to wear a jacket in early August. I’m not sure whether this is typical or unusual for this time of the year. My European chapter of the journey is coming to a close, that is if I don’t count Russia. @ Riga, Latvia, August 8, 2019
- TRAVEL DIARY4 EuropeDaily NotesMoments Together (Friends)Ukraine

with Sibel, Özlem, and Ebrar @ Market Square, Lviv, Ukraine, August 2, 2019

I’m sure that they do not know about this, but my friend and I actually talked about whether to ask them if they needed someone to take a picture for them on our way to the High Castle. They seemed they needed a photographer and there was no one around then. So it was interesting when they came to us later to ask for a picture at the top of the Castle. Despite the not-so-shallow language barrier, we exchanged some good laughs and mutual energies. Probably...
- TRAVEL DIARYDaily NotesUkraine

A small time travel in Kyiv @ Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine, July 17, 2019

A small time travel in Kyiv In the apartment where I am staying in Kyiv, there is a small playground. Often I see many kids playing there in the evening, probably because it is not too hot and it’s still bright outside (the Sun sets later than 9 pm these days). One day I came home after having reviewed my car and drone in the city, and I saw these kids having an exciting time constantly jumping off a mere bench. In general, I don’t find...