I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.

Home Sweet Home — but haven’t yet explored its full beauty (yet). But that’s about to change very soon!

Longest stay outside India, on and off since 2008, adding up to 7+ years — all for work (gratefully so). Before I bid adieu, proud to say I’ve ticked off all 75 cities across the 4 nations, plus the 3 crown dependencies. Mission thoroughly accomplished!

Visited twice: 2009 filled me with awe, 2016 brought a shift in perspective. Paris once felt like the pinnacle, but changing times reshaped that view. Still, I believe every city deserves another chance to tell its story, so hopefully back again! Worked for a little bit in Lille too :) 

2009 again — My first 'solo' travel, or so I thought. A close senior based there turned guide, showing me the charms of Amsterdam and Den Haag. A solo trip with a twist!

2012 — My 'not-so-solo' escape. Sweet memories, and let’s leave it at that :)

2013 — Yes, technically entered via Phuentsholing (a classic Bangali Jungle Detour!). But the real journey — Thimphu, Paro, and the dragon kingdom’s soul — still awaits.

2016 — After my 'solo' attempt flopped in the Netherlands, I went for the real deal. Life had changed a loooot since then, and the travel bug had bitten too. Destination? Louvain-la-Neuve — just to meet my childhood hero, Tintin. Dream fulfilled. Oh, and Brussels happened too!

2016 — The year solo travel truly began. Belgium lit the spark, and a cheap flight to Munich sealed the deal. Bavaria welcomed me warmly, and I knew this was just the beginning. Germany’s got more — I’ll be back, promise!

2016 — While in Munich, I hopped on a train and found myself in Salzburg — just an hour away and suddenly in a new country. The city was breath-taking: Mozart, The Sound of Music, and those stunning alpine views. Note to self: Must return for Innsbruck and Vienna — this was just a teaser.

2016 — This one had me jumping with joy — like a kid! Barcelona was a no-brainer: I went for one reason — Messi (duh!). Visiting Camp Nou was a once-in-a-lifetime moment. But the city had more in store. Gaudí’s surreal architecture and the buzz of La Rambla? Pure love.

2016 — Ended the year in lively Lisbon — best seen from Tram 28. Don’t skip that ride! The highlight of my trip? Touring Benfica’s stadium, then catching a Sporting Lisbon match on the same day. Yep, the rivalry is intense !

2018 — It was time to explore Asia now, starting from Home. Took my buddy KD and planned a two-country trip. First stop: Kuala Lumpur — my first real taste of Southeast Asia, and yes, it didn’t disappoint. The Petronas Towers (and much more) kept us real busy and happy.

2018 — From airport awe to city rush, Singapore wowed us from the airport itself — it was hard to leave! With just two days, we rushed through Marina Bay’s glam and glitter, and soaked in the charm of Chinatown and Kampong Glam (my reco, for street graffiti!)

2019 — This was another “cheat trip.” While roaming around Imphal, Mizoram, 3 of us decided to cross into Myanmar — just like that. Tamu, a small border village, welcomes us, with just a national ID. Went in, explored, and returned by evening. Myanmar is fascinating — and I have to come back, at least for Bagan!

2019 — SP was in India, and we hadn’t done a boys trip in ages. So, Jakarta it was! Skipped Bali (not the most touristy choice), but Yogyakarta (Jogja) blew us away with its old-world charm. And the highlight? I had the BEST COFFEE OF MY LIFE – Kopi Luwak (look it up).

2019 — The second of my double-country trip of the year. The selection criteria? Simple: easy visa. Siem Reap remains beautifully frozen in time — a perfect place to lose yourself among ancient temples, Lara Croft-style. After all, this is the land of the famous Angkor Wat.

2019 — The journey continued from Siem Reap to its neighbouring marvel, Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam is often remembered for its war-torn past and legendary freedom-fighting spirit, so a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels was a must. I definitely missed out on Hanoi and Ha Long Bay—giving me the perfect excuse to return!

2019 — Imagine country no.18 being Thailand — Adulthood unlocked, lol! Coincidence? Not really :) Next stop then, Bangkok — often stereotyped as the classic 'dodgy abroad trip', but honestly, I loved it! Land of two of my favourites combo: Pad Thai with a Singha Beer. Pure Bliss!! Thailand with easy Visa has lots to cover, so... back again, soon :)

2019 — Bangladesh has my roots —bit far-fetched, but always wanted to visit. Despite current tensions between us and them, my weekend in Dhaka was peaceful. The Chaotic Capital! Walked all day from Notun Dhaka to Puran Dhaka, dodging the madness — and what fun it was! And yes, Kachchi Biriyani was the perfect reward.  

2020 — Last pre-Covid trip was a spontaneous dash to Nepal — because you simply can! Kathmandu was fantastic, still healing from the quake. Bhaktapur and Patan were captivating, and I basically lived on Momo. But Pokhara, nestled in Annapurna’s lap, was pure magic. Honestly, I never wanted to leave! Dead serious!

2022 — Travel restarted after 2.5 years of battling through the Covid times. And somehow — legally, mind you — I sneaked into Pakistan using the Pilgrimage Visa via the Kartarpur Corridor, where Guru Nanak spent his final days. It was just a single-day trip, but I could write thousands of words about that one day. WHAT AN ADVENTURE IT WAS!

2022 — Wimbledon, Olympics, even Formula One's done. But World Cup Football was a big item left on my bucketlist, and finally managed to tick it off this time. Qatar was mainly Football, and a dash of Doha, but boy what an arrangment. Loved it to the core, specifically since Messi lifted his first. Definitely coming back here!!

2023 — The year I travelled like a fanatic, literally :) Imagine visiting 23 countries in one year — solo. Wild, right? And it all kicked off with Istanbul. WHAT A CITY!! People ask me, “Best city you’ve visited recently?” Easy pick: Istanbul. That perfect blend of Europe and Asia. Nudge me, and I’m ready to fly again — tonight, no kidding :)

2023 — People go to Norway for the Northern Lights. Me? I went chasing a long Schengen visa.

Idiot move, I know :) Ended up with a 7-day single entry! So, Oslo it was — no going up, down, or sideways. But hey, Oslo didn’t disappoint. Still, Bergen and the Lights? Definitely on the comeback list

2023 — Travel was back-to-back, sometimes twice a month. Istanbul had spoilt me — easy, tourist-friendly. So I winged it to Tirana, no homework… and boom, got screwed :) Eastern Europe doesn’t care about tourism, and I forgot that. But it gave me one of life’s best stories! Tirana amazed, Mother Teresa connections and all. Durrës was fun too. Hidden gem, just like its people. Loved them!

2023 — Eastern Europe happened thanks to no Schengen (remeber Norway?) but guess what? UK BRP works here! (Yes, read that right.)

Started with Albania, then off to places I hadn’t even heard of two years ago. MONTENEGRO WAS BEAUTIFUL. PERIOD. Think Croatia vibes, minus the pocket pinch. Bay of Kotor, Perast — JUST LOVED THEM! What views, man!!

2023 — Eastern Europe continued, and I visited places again, which I have never had heard years back. Skopje, the capital was perfect for a weekend getaway, and I found out more of Mother Teressa's root. Had some extra days in hand, and attempted to sneak in another country, using UK Visa, and GOT DEPORTED first time :) Boom! Yes, my passport now has variety of stamps - all thanks to Kosovo! 

2023 — A quick detour from Europe, to Africa, thanks to easy visa using UK BRP, Morocco = Madness. I decided to spred it out between 2 cities — Casablanca, with its serene coastline and the breath-taking Hassan II Mosque; and Marrakesh, where the Medina was chaos, pro max :). From snake charmers to sizzling tagines, it was absolutely captivating — more Arabic in vibe, less African in feel

2023 — Back to Europe, but still without a Schengen visa, hence was looking for easy options; and the homework paid off! Serbia turned out to be the perfect weekend escape, thanks to UK BRP, once again:) Stuck around to the capital, Belgrade. The Nikola Tesla Museum, the majestic Saint Sava Church, and visits to the two iconic stadiums of Red Star and Partizan were just enough madness needed.

2023 — Finally got the coveted Schengen visa… but only 2 entries! Painful. So, the desperate me mapped out a 15-day road trip across 7 countries (mostly capitals). Stop 1 : Czechia—because hey, they gave me the visa! Spent two days in Prague and now I get why it’s a backpacker’s paradise. Loved every bit of it, and I’m definitely coming back for a much longer stay. John Lennon’s Wall was epic btw!

2023 — This trip was all about overnight border crossings — God bless FlixBus! First border crossed, and Stop 2 was Czechia’s neighbour: Slovakia. I picked Bratislava with zero expectations… and ended up falling in love with the capital. Made friends with Čumil - the famous bronze handyman peeking from a street canal; roamed like crazy; and even had my own Selfieccino. What fun!

2023 — Another border, another country. Stop 3: Hungary. Honestly, the next 3 days were the best of the trip. Buda and Pest — two cities split by the Danube — were EPIC. Rode Tram 2, one of Europe’s most scenic routes, passing everything touristy: Parliament, Chain Bridge, (and viewing) Buda Castle. But the real magic? Budapest at night — it turns to GOLD. Budapest has my heart.

2023 — Border crossings continued. Stop 4: Croatia, Hungary’s neighbour. Just a quick 2day stop in the capital, Zagreb, to stay close to the northern borders. The city was compact and fun, but what stood out were its quirky museums — especially the wackiest of them all: The Museum of Broken Relationships. I laughed and laughed, OMG! Dubrovnik’s still on my list, and I’m definitely coming back.

2023 — One border after another. Thought Hungary was the highlight? Then came Slovenia. Everyone goes gaga over Lake Como, but Lake Bled? I JUST DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE. Just one day — biking, walking, hiking, soaking it all in — and I swear, I’ve never seen anything more beautiful. Bled is Europe’s HIDDEN GEM. PERIOD. Ljubljana? Loved the capital. And their chilled beer — LOO-BLAH-NAH :)

2023 — Italy was next. Mostly picked for a cheap flight back to the UK to close the loop. So, Venice it was. Italy deserves a solid 10 days to do it justice, but Venice? Magical. A city floating on water — how wild is that? If you're heading there, don't miss the two island gems: Burano and Murano. (I skipped Murano — short on time; Regret level — high). Italy, I am coming back, for sure!!

2023 — San Marino was literally sneaked into the trip. The smallest country I’ve visited. Land locked inside Italy, it was one more reason to include Italy in this mega loop. Just a day there — fun, eventful, and easy. In, out, and back to Italy. Simple as that. A cheeky non-EU visit, totally abusing my limited-entry Schengen visa :P

2023 — Now that I had the coveted Schengen Visa, I was searching for easy and cheap flights across Europe, and so began my next two trips. Romania came first, with Bucharest — the capital — making for a perfect weekend getaway. The old town was charming, and the public spas were fascinating! However, the Arcul de Triumf — Bucharest’s answer to Paris’s original — felt rather quirky :)

2023 — Next came its neighbour, Bulgaria — visited again thanks to my already Schengen Visa. Another quick weekend getaway took me to its capital, Sofia. Joined a walking tour, explored the iconic Saint Nedelya Orthodox Cathedral, and then just chilled out the rest. It was another slow but well‑spent weekend.  Note : These 2 are part of Schengen now, since Jan 2025!

2023 — As my 6 month double‑entry Schengen Visa neared its end, I set off on a 15‑day trip through Scandinavia++.  Stop 1 : Denmark. Copenhagen was magical in winter, especially as it dressed up for Christmas. The colourful Nyhavn harbour alone will bring me back — surely one summer. Also explored Freetown Christiania, a semi‑autonomous community in the city centre — amazingly crazy :)

2023 — Stop 2, crossing the borders, and utilising the affordable Flixbus, was Sweden. Another beautiful country, where the focus was the capital — Stockholm. This was an amazing blend — old and new; and I just loveeed the old part (more) : Gamla Stan. Fantastic! And yes, it was nonstop Swedish meatballs every few hours. Surely I am coming back for meatballs, & staying back for a Stockholm summer.

2023 — 3rd Stop. This time I flew the borders, landed at HEL(L) [ Airport :P ]; and got greeted by a sign that read, “Nobody in their right mind would come to Helsinki in November. Except you, you bad-a**. Welcome.” Winter was getting crazier by the day, and so was my trip. It felt like a White Christmas already, and the taste of Lohikeitto — the Finnish Salmon Soup — still lingers around!!

2023 — Stop 4. Estonia. Took the overnight ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn — such a fun way to cross borders! The medieval Old Town, with its cobblestone streets, gothic architecture and old fortifications, felt like stepping into a storybook. No wonder it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Perfect for a day’s stop before moving ahead. Tallinn was MAGICAL!

2023 — 5th Stop on the road. Crossing borders again, and this time the affordable Flixbus took me to Latvia. Another day, another UNESCO World Heritage Site — Riga, the capital. The highlight though? Getting swept into a massive military parade after randomly landing there on their Independence Day (Nov 18), celebrating 105 years of freedom. What a moment!

2023 — Penultimate 6th. Lithuania. By now I was visiting countries I didn’t even know existed a few years back. LOL (on me!). Another border crossing, another Flixbus — this time to yet another UNESCO Old Town: Vilnius, the capital. Charming city, but the wackiest part was a visit to Užupis — a bohemian “independent republic” with its own constitution, flag, and… a president :)

2023 — Final Stop. Poland. Honestly, I was dead tired by now, and the city was getting hammered by snow blizzards. Ended up seeing a full ‘White Warsaw’. Enjoyed the snow more than the city — which means I’m surely coming back to do Poland properly in the summers. Maybe Kraków, and of course Warsaw, in a more detailed way. And that wrapped 2023 — 23 countries in a year. Whoa!! Best Travel Year!!

2024 — UAE, but not Dubai?? Bizarre decision, yes :) I’d been away from Home for long, and while planning a trip, stumbled onto an Abu Dhabi (AD) stop‑over program — 2 nights complimentary. And who wouldn’t take it? But honestly, didn’t like AD much… and this was my first taste of travelling everywhere by cab. Duh! Hated it. Coming back to the UAE? Dubai — for sure, but may not be for AD again :(

2024 — Fresh back from India and very close to my first milestone, was already planning my next. The easy/no‑visa list handed me my next 4. First up — Azerbaijan was FANTASTIC — yes, repeating it — FANTASTIC! Baku blew my mind. From the Flame Towers to the Old Town, the city felt modern and historic at the same time. And the best part? The Baku Boulevard and that skyline. Truly FANTASTIC :)

2024 — Stop 2. Georgia. Easy visa led me to Tbilisi next, the capital. And all of a sudden the scenery changed completely from Baku. Hillside homes, a giant fortress, sulfur baths, a cobblestoned old town, and the super‑modern Bridge of Peace — what a mix! And then came the flavorful dishes — Khachapuri, Khinkali, and hearty stews like Kharcho. Yum. Loved Georgia!

2024 — 3rd Stop was fun and challenging at the same time. Armenia — and I wasn’t aware that they were in a war with Azerbaijan then, resulting in a prolonged grilling at the immigration, asking 'Why on earth are you here, that too coming from Azerbaijan'. The sugar‑coated question was: “Are you a spy?” LOL! Survived the officers, and spent some good time in Yerevan, amidst a 'bit rough' few days.

2024 — Milestone 50th! And I was thinking this had to be a ‘bit different’ to remember my 50th. Thus came the last stop — the ‘least visited country in Europe’. Yes, you read that right. One thing I missed though, while in full celebration mode, was a visit to the unrecognized breakaway state of Transnistria! Still guessing my 50th? Moldova! Chișinău even showed me a mini Arc de Triomphe.

2025 — I slowed down! Got this brilliant idea of completing visits to all cities of the UK; thus 1 year was gone just like that. Then remembered I’d been ignoring this country, literally next to my base these days — and boom, in comes Ireland. Dublin was super duper fun, I’m definitely returning, will add the beautiful Galway and Cork! Celebrated my b'day here too, all thanks to my juniors there!

2025 — They say ‘necessity is the mother of invention’. Well, not getting a long Schengen visa pushed me into one of my best travel decisions (hopefully!) — getting a US travel visa. Overnight, my weak passport felt super strong! Proof to follow. This trip was mainly for compliance — to get that coveted USA entry stamp — but NYC BLEW MY MIND!! Next goal: visit all 50 states of the USA :)

2025 — The USA visa gave me an immediate side effect: a Canada visa, with zero pains :) Add to that, my buddies moving there — Ontario was my next. This (and many more upcoming) was purely — and rarely — a leisure trip. Chilled out to the core at Kitchener! But didn’t forget Toronto. It was big and smart, but let’s face it, right after a NYC visit, everything else looks a bit non‑glam :)

2025 — No Schengen visa, but Europe is still in proximity. Ques: Where can I fly next? Duh! Use the USA visa and go to Bosnia and Herzegovina! Sarajevo, the capital, actually amazed me. Perfectly placed between the Dinaric Alps and the Miljacka River, it was an amalgamation of deep religious and cultural diversity. Btw, did you know the East meets West in Sarajevo — at Baščaršija, the old bazaar?

2025 — The USA‑visa‑hunt continued. Next up: Saudi Arabia. Normally I pick the capital, but Jeddah had the better deals — and BOY, that worked out. Way more vibrant than my last Middle East stop (Abu Dhabi). The Red Sea Boulevard, the F1 Racing circuit, and finally, Al Balad with those gorgeous Roshan windows… stunning. And yes, the Arabic coffee sealed the deal. I’m definitely coming back

2025 — USA Visa + J‑Pass = Easy Entry. Next: Jordan! Hands down my BEST trip in years. Ticked off my 2nd Wonder of the World — PETRA. No video can justify it; it’s for mortal eyes only. Then Wadi Rum… calm, surreal, like landing on the Moon. But the Dead Sea? I WAS FLOATING — and I can’t even swim. Amman, the capital, was cool too, but got overshadowed by these giants :) Powerpacked days!!

2025 — Most‑coveted Caribbean trip finally happened. Hopped my a** off, based out of Barbados. Stop 1: T&T — a day trip to the “notorious” Trinidad, where everyone (including the Tourism team) scared the life out of me :) Port of Spain hit instantly — loud, like the whole city was 5 minutes from a party. But the real mission was Queen’s Park, and to meet Brian Lara. Well, his statue, close enough.

2025 — Next Caribbean hop: Saint Lucia. The moment the plane dipped over the Pitons, I knew this one was going to be a flex. The island looked like a postcard someone forgot to Photoshop — raw, green, dramatic. Spent most of my time just staring at those mountains and quietly imagining a life there. Zero regrets. Castries, Rodney Bay, Gros Islet, Soufrière — simply LOVED them! 

2025 — Barbados was my base for the 11‑day run. Immigration dramas continued, as I was basically entering or exiting every single day :) Bridgetown had its charm, but the cricket connection got me — the Mecca, Kensington Oval, meeting Sir Gary Sobers (well… his statue), and visiting the house of Barbados’s Diamond, Rihanna. And Bajan food? Dangerous. I ate like I was training for something.

2025 — A short hop, but a whole different vibe. St. Vincent's capital, Kingstown, felt rugged and real — volcanic, & slightly moody. Then the Grenadines? Pure calm. Water so clear it looked fake. I kept wondering how this place isn’t constantly trending… maybe that’s the magic. A quick ferry to Bequia dropped me straight into paradise. My two cents: the smaller the island, the prettier it gets.