After my friend flew home and I had one last free day before heading off to India, I was hit with a feeling I can only describe as a “travel itch.” You know—the I can’t just sit around when there’s a whole city waiting to be explored kind of itch. And for some reason, Cologne was calling my name. Loudly! So, I packed up my backpack, laced up my (very unaware) walking shoes, and set off for one last European adventure before heading off to India.

One of the coolest things about Cologne is that as soon as you walk out of the train station, it's bam- massive beautiful cathedral. The location is really quite unbeatable.

Let me just say… I knew the Cologne Cathedral was going to be stunning, but WOW. The photos do not do it justice. It’s massive, dramatic, and something out of a fairytale. I had to struggle to pick my jaw off the floor, to be honest! Naturally, I had to climb it—because why just admire a cathedral, when you can challenge your legs, lungs, and life choices all at once? Also, this trip has been all about the church towers- I did the Dom tower in Utrecht, the Belfort tower in Brugge, and I wasn't going to leave Germany without conquering one more!

Spoiler: I made it to the top. Barely. My legs were crying, but my heart? Absolutely soaring. The view over the city, with the Rhine sparkling below and rooftops stretching out in every direction, made every step worth it. I just stood there for a moment, wind in my face, thinking, I really did this. By myself. Solo travel feels so magical sometimes. 

Post-leg workout, I wandered along the Rhine River, completely in love with the crisp autumn air. The trees were in full fall glow, and I found the perfect spot to plop down with a very tasty Gouda sandwich. Honestly? It might’ve been the hunger, but that sandwich tasted like joy. I people-watched for ages—tourists with cameras, locals on bikes, kids chasing leaves—and just soaked it all in. Sometimes, the simple stuff is the best part. I walked across the bridge and got some gorgeous views of the city, then walked back and took a few pictures on my little Kodak disposable camera so I could finish it before dropping it off at the camera store (very conveniently located next to the Cathedral) for development. 

When in Germany- you have to try currywurst. I remember my dad telling me about his experience eating this when he'd visited Frankfurt on a business trip years ago, but I didn't really believe him. How could Germany make a dish called currywurst? As an Indian, it just didn't make sense. However, I was proven extremely wrong, because it was absolutely delicious! I tried currywurst at the Cologne train station, from a place that was absolutely packed with locals. That's the only way to really tell a place is good, so I should have known. The spices, the sauce, the whole thing? Chef’s kiss.

I grabbed some German snacks for the road (as one does), and it hit me how different things felt here compared to the Netherlands—even though they’re neighbors. Same with Belgium and Luxembourg. It’s wild how these places are so close yet have their own distinct vibes.
As a Canadian, where you can drive for hours and still be in the same province (or the same stretch of highway), I was fascinated. Europe is like a patchwork quilt of culture, and I loved getting a peek at each piece.

That day in Cologne wasn’t jam-packed with “must-sees,” but it was perfect. I didn't make it to the Lindt factory or cross some other things off my travel list, but it was perhaps one of my favourite days of the trip. It was just me, a backpack, and a city that welcomed me with open arms (and a lot of stairs). I felt grateful—truly, deeply grateful—that I had the freedom and courage to travel alone, to follow my instincts, and to find joy in places I’d never been before.
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Cologne, you were the best surprise. Thanks for the memories—and the currywurst. 

1. Try to stay in a female-only dorm. Mixed dorms are usually fine, but I personally feel a lot safer in female-only dorms.
2. Make sure you keep your valuables locked up. Best place to have your valuables is on your person, but since that isn't always possible, lock up your bag and keep it in the locker that's usually provided in your room. I always carry a couple of locks, just for peace of mind. 
3. Keep your phone with you at all times. Keep it charged and make sure you either have a cell connection or wifi available. Even in "safe" cities or areas, you never know when you'll need to make an emergency call or text. Yes, even in the shower, just have it nearby.
4. Toss an AirTag in any bags with valuables. I do this with my camera bag especially, because those things are too expensive to lose!!
5. Don’t bring too many valuable things you don’t need! You don't need all your jewelry or fancy purses. For me, this often means limiting to one camera (which can be a struggle, but I wouldn't want to lose everything together!)
6. Learn your roommates names. This can come in handy at unexpected times, and also helps humanize you to them- just in case!
7. Keep your eyes and ears open. Just stay aware of your surroundings, because things can change suddenly in such a transient environment. 
8. Make sure someone, either a parent, friend, or sibling, knows where you’re staying, when you’re planning to check out, and what your room number is. You probably won’t need to use any of that, but it’s just better to be safe. 
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I hope these tips can help you feel a little safer and more comfortable while travelling, because it is such a freeing experience to explore the world all by yourself!
Happy adventuring, my friends!
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​Today marks two weeks since I embarked on this crazy adventure. In some ways, it feels like I’ve been on the road for months, but at the same time I feel like I JUST got here. I don’t think I’ll be happy to leave in a month… but let’s see what the next 4 weeks have in store for me! So far, it’s been a fascinating trip. I’ve never spent this much time so alone in a foreign land, but I’m soaking in every single moment.

​I spent the first week in England, splitting my time between 3 cities. They were all extremely different from each other, but I liked all of them. The first was Brighton, a place I’d wanted to go to for years. I spent a perfect evening on the pier there, and I really couldn’t have asked for a better start to my trip! The next city was the big one: London! I stayed in a hostel close to Tower Bridge and got to see the sunset pour over the London skyline every day. After a few days in the capital, I took the train north- to Milton Keynes- to visit my aunt and uncle. I'd heard a lot of mixed reviews about Milton Keynes from various people, but I really liked it. I think I got a little lucky on the weather front though, because it stayed dry throughout the weekend I was there. There's also something I really enjoy about a small town in Europe, and the quaintness of it. It reminded me a little of my host family's town in Denmark too, Aars. I miss that place! 
After a great first week in England, I got on a flight to Portugal. Oh Porto, what a city! As soon as I saw the lush landscape of Portugal through my airplane window, I felt a rush of excitement course through me. Unbeknownst to me, THIS was had been I had been waiting for. After all, this was the first town I would truly be alone; in London, I had the safety of my aunt and uncle being a stone's throw away if I needed them. Here, I was going to have to fend completely for myself. And with that thrill of independence, the first thing I did after dropping my bags off in my (super nice) hostel was: getting an ice cream cone. Twenty-two years old, and there's still something so exciting about ice cream in a cone.
I practically ran around the streets of Porto that first day, feeling particularly free now that I was in a city warm enough to wear a t-shirt and shorts worry-freely, and high on the energy the city was pulsing with. Everyone around me seemed to be taking it in too, the cobblestones were covered with retired couples holding hands and looking as in love with each other as they must have been when they first got married. There were street performers and magicians, school kids singing songs in costumes and talented artists selling their work. The air was humid and sweet- the lingering aromas of the pastel de natas and port wine hung in the air like candy. I even called my parents to show them how gorgeous it all was, and they immediately  said I was glowing- but that may have just been the sweat from the steep hills I was running up and down. 
After that first adrenaline-induced day, the rest of my days went a bit slower. The hills were tiring me out faster than I'd have liked, and the heat made it hard to be outside for too long, especially around midday. The most troublesome thing, though, was the crowds. Every street was packed full, and this was still during the off-season! I couldn't imagine being there when it was actually at capacity. Porto isn't a large city, and it felt like there were barely any locals, just a million tourists. I still managed to see the sights, though, including the famous wall from the Igreja do Carlo, the Luis I Bridge, Porto Sao Bento, Torre de Clerigos, and much more! 
That's it from me for now, stay tuned for the in-depth city blogs! I hope to write much more about each place, but I can't promise anything as this whole backpacking thing is slightly more tiring than I expected! Ciao meus amigos! 
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Have you ever dreamed of dropping everything and exploring the world on your own? That's exactly what I'm doing- and here's why. Solo travel is daunting, and backpacking adds an extra layer of challenge. But for me, it's the best way to see as much as possible in a short amount of time.
I've always wanted to set off on my own, before I even heard of the term 'solo travel.' I knew I would not let the lack of company stop me. There's a whole world out there to see! And that remains true to this day. The desire to see every corner of this magnificent planet propels me through the fear of travelling alone, with all my worldly possessions strapped on my back. I keep my greatest assets- common sense and street smarts- close to my chest and let them guide me through foreign streets. This is the first trip I'm taking like this, but it definitely won't be my last. I've been waiting for an opportunity like this for my whole life! 
I hope my travels can inspire you to put your desires above any fears you have- you got this! Being scared is okay, just don't let it hold you back. Pack your bags, book that trip, and leap out of your comfort zone! You can do it!

I’m finally doing it. I’ve booked my flights, made my reservations, and it’s happening. I’m going backpacking around Europe! I’m going by myself, for 6 weeks- which some people think is too long, and some people think it’s too short, but I think it’s going to be perfect. There are so many firsts here: my first international trip alone, first time BACKPACKING, first time being away from home for so long, and my first time travelling for this long all at once.  The only time I’ve travelled for this long has been our family trips to India, but since those are just going from one home to another, it’s not really comparable. I’m beyond excited-  I’ve been wanting to do this for as long as I can remember, but I’m also deeply scared. There are a plethora of things that could go wrong: I could get sick, injured, robbed, and even worse. It’s hard not to think of the extreme worst case scenario when the departure date is approaching. But oh my god, I know this trip is going to be amazing. I have so many places to see, foods to try, and new cultures to explore! And I can’t wait to share everything I encounter with you all!
​I will be going to England, Portugal, Spain, and France; all in 48 days. I’ll be spending the majority of my time in Portugal, including the islands which I’m really excited about! If you’d like to follow along my adventure, you’ll find regular updates on this blog, as well as on my instagram (@kashishadventures) and my TikTok (@kitkatkash)! I’ll also be posting YouTube videos at some point, but I’ll post an update on this page once that happens. Here’s the channel link if you’d like to subscribe: https://youtube.com/@kashishadventures134 
If you’d like to support me, you can purchase some postcards from my shop, or choose the “buy me a coffee” option. ♥️

     A little while back, while looking for something completely unrelated, I found an old disposable camera. Excited by the fact that I didn’t need to spend $15 on a new one, I packed it into my backpack to take on my trip to Vancouver. It was still in the packaging, so I figured it would be fine- not even considering the fact that the film may have expired…in 2006. Or that it was a black and white camera. I’ve never really shot in black and white before, because well I was born into the digital and colour age. And since this film had expired 15 years ago, the effects  it got were pretty interesting. A couple of the photos were completely blank because the lighting just wasn’t bright enough. However, the photos that I did get had a cool vintage feel to them. Like this photo here, I took it in 2022, but it looks like something straight out of the 1900s.
 
​     It very well could be, considering the Vogue Theatre was built in the 1940s. It’s an important part of Vancouver’s historic ‘Theatre Row’ on Granville Street. What is now the Pacific Centre Mall, used to be a few different theatres, including the one that started the whole theatre trend on Granville Street in the 1800s- The Vancouver Opera House. If you look closely, you can see another historic theatre in the photo, the Orpheum, built fourteen years before The Vogue. It was originally known as the ‘New Orpheum’, as the Opera House was renamed ‘The Orpheum’ in 1913. 

     The Vancouver Opera House was built by the Canadian Pacific Railway and opened on February 9th, 1891. It had 1,200 seats originally, but after being renovated a few times, it had over 1,700 seats. After a couple more theatres opened nearby in the late 1890s, Vancouver was gaining a lot of buzz in the United States. By 1908, with so many venue options, Vancouver had become a staple of many North America-wide tours. The theatre changed owners many times and was renamed several times, before being demolished in 1969 to make room for the Pacific Centre mall. The theatre row that got its name for the assortment of movie theatres found on the street doesn’t actually have any more operating cinemas. The last one closed in November of 2012- The Granville 7 Cinemas. However, the history stays alive through theatres like The Vogue and The Orpheum changing to accommodate the present day’s needs on the inside but keeping the historic sentiments on the outside. 

     I didn’t know most of this before researching the Theatre Row, to get an interesting tidbit for my Instagram caption, but it’s quite fascinating to see how such an important street has had to be rebuilt for every generation, and for the interests they bring. Granville has gone from live theatre to movies, to clubs, and back to theatres all within a hundred years. I hope the city and people can keep preserving the history as they try to make way for whatever the new craze is. I don't think I would have ever found out about all this if it weren’t for the mistake of using an old, expired black and white camera to take a random picture., but sometimes a mistake can give you something more valuable- like learning about a city's history! Also, I don't think I could have gotten a better picture with any digital camera.
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 Also, this week the Vogue turns 81! It’s still as fabulous as I imagine it once was, at its peak. If you’re ever in Vancouver, I highly recommend coming down to the brightest part of the city- you can’t possibly miss the neon signs- and catching a concert or show. It’s bound to be an entertaining night in the entertainment district. 




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Top left (black and white): Michael Kluckner, 1940s
Middle left (colour): City of Vancouver, 1967
Bottom left (colour): City of Vancouver, 1891
Right (black and white): Kashish Vij, 2022

 

Living in Calgary, you get to experience a few thunderstorms almost every summer. Some people hate them, and for good reason, because they often bring flash floods along with them. I, however, have always loved the roar of thunder, and the fantastic flashing in the sky that occurs because of a lightning bolt.
When I was younger, my family and I used to live in an apartment in downtown Calgary, and in one of the rooms, there were windows almost from the floor to the ceiling. During one summer night, it started thundering, and the light show I saw that night was something out of a movie. It was incredible to see the sky come alive, and shoot electricity to the earth. It was a moment where you really realised that the world is so much bigger than you think, and your problems are quite minuscule in the grand scale of things. Anyways, after that night, I fell in love with watching lightning. 
So after years and years of living in a city that put on a lightning show every year, I realised this year that... I had never even tried to capture it in a photo. As a long-time photographer, this was so odd. Why had I never even tried? Yes it would be terribly difficult (lightning flashes so quickly), but I had to try this year.
After doing some research on how to photograph lightning, and really just skimming some articles, I got out my camera and started playing around with the settings. I was using a Sony ZV-1, a great beginner camera, but one with limited settings. As a photographer with limited manual mode experience, I didn't think I would be able to get even one shot of a lightning bolt. But after 45 minutes of standing painfully still in my living room window, trying not to miss a single flash, I clicked through my camera roll and was surprised to find more than a few decent shots! They were far from professional of course, but I had CAPTURED LIGHTNING. It felt amazing. My mom and sister who had been walking by every few minutes, asking "Are you still taking pictures?" came by to ask once again, and this time I had something to show for my time. 
Here are a few of the photos I got. If you have any advice on how to take pictures of lightning, I’d appreciate it!
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  For as long as I can remember, I have been wanting to go to the Taj Mahal. And it has nothing to do with the fact that it is a wonder of the world, and has a really fascinating history. Although all of that is really cool too. It was the fact that it was only a three-hour drive away from Delhi, where I was born, had lived for many years in, and visited quite frequently, yet still had never made it to the Taj. That's it. And so many of my friends, many of whom had never even been to India, much less lived there, had seen this beautiful piece of Indian history before me. It wasn't fair, as childish as that sounds. But- Finally! I got the chance to see the place I had been dreaming about. And it was epic. It definitely lives up to the hype. The weather in Agra was horrible though, and I feel like I need to talk about this. So, here goes. It was so humid! It felt like we were walking around in a closed metal box, with the temp turned up to 50 degrees (Celsius). And there was so much walking involved, it just made us so sweaty. Also the crazy humidity and weather made my hair go completely insane. Consequently, I did not get any instagram-worthy photos of me. Oh! And we had no water with us. So smart, eh? So not only were we dying of heat and humidity, we were also severely dehydrated. What a day. 
Even through all of this, it was an amazing trip and I wouldn't have changed anything. I finally saw the Taj!

Okay, I'm just going to say this first: I have always been in love with London. In fifth grade, I decorated my notebook covers in pictures of London and the nearby castles. I knew I would like London. But I think that this expectation, a standard set superbly high, kind of actually ruined my trip. 
Now I am definitely not saying that the trip was bad. It was great. I just was expecting...more. Especially after going to Denmark. Denmark was amazing, even though I felt a bit lonely going to a new country by myself (without my family). With friends, the trip became a lot more fun, and that's something that was missing in London. Since I went with family, it was a totally different experience. And don't get me wrong, it wasn't like I didn't have a ton of fun- because I did! I took a gazillion pictures, enjoyed every tourist site we visited, and was psyched to experience the British culture that I had been fascinated by for so long. 
So instead of me just rambling, let me summarize the trip!
Firstly, we went to our relatives' house in a suburb an hour away from central London. When we got there I was pleasantly surprised by how classically 'British Suburban' it looked. Just like Privet Drive in Harry Potter! (You should know, I'm a HUGE fan of HP and am going to be making a lot of references. If you haven't read the books or watched the movies, you should do that before reading this blog :) Or just be prepared to be confused. The books/movies are one of the main reasons I've dreamt of travelling London for so long.)
Staying in a town that wasn't quite in the big city, but still had the elements of British life, was an interesting experience. As soon as we we dropped off our luggage, my dad and I set off to explore the nearby surroundings. Since we had just gotten off a very long flight, my whole family was starving. We looked up nearby places and discovered a TESCO within walking distance. TESCO's are one of the chain supermarkets in England like Superstore or Walmart. As soon as I walked in this store though, I was amazed. It was so...cool. Not just because the AC was running, but because it had all the basic things you would find in a grocery department store, but the layout and the products were so different that it made the entire experience different.
Now, it might sound strange, but one of my favourite things in London were the super markets (and the mini ones!). TESCO and M&S to be specific. I found it refreshing how good the food quality was, and how many different types of products there were. The variety! It was very cool. So anyways, after wandering the store for about an hour (it was a Super TESCO, okay!), we finally bought some food to take home for my mom and sister. We got some microwavable chicken rice and pudding cups. The rice was pretty bad, which was pretty much expected, but wow, the pudding cups were amazing. I think what I realised through all of this, is, that in Canada we've become used to a lower standard of quality because of a smaller population and less diversity. Now that I have discussed the groceries, let's talk about some actually interesting stuff: London Town!  
We surprisingly visited at the perfect time; we didn't see  a drop of rain (insanity), and there were barely any tourists around. We were there from around the end of august to the first couple days of September. If you're visiting London, I would highly recommend that window, because the weather is still really nice, and most of the tourists have left for the season. 
After the first couple days in the subrubs, we moved to an AirBnB in actual London, near Hyde Park. It was a second floor walk-up, which was interesting. Possibly the most surprisng thing in this AirBnB was how narrow the stairs were! In North America, we're so used to wide open spaces, Europe always surprised you with how little space you actually need. This location was really nice though, because the underground (metro) was pretty close by, and there were a ton of things to do nearby. 


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Quickly, everything I saw:

• Big Ben
• Westminster Abbey
• Tower of London 
• Tower Bridge
• like 50 other bridges
• Canary Wharf 
• Notting Hill
• London Eye (we didn't go on, but saw it from the outside. The line was so long! Also the ticket is around 40 pounds!)
• the British Museum (so so cool!)
• Buckingham Palace
• The Shard
• Trafalgar Square
• Piccadilly Circus
• Oxford! The town is outside of London, but I had to mention it here. I'll write more on this later.
• Marble Arch. Just an arch.
• Oxford Street 

etc. We actually covered so much of London! It was awesome. 
Even though this was one trip where I can say I saw enough that I don't need to return to finish the sights, I can't wait to go back to London! It was such a lovely city and had a great vibe to it. Cheerio!

So I've been pretty busy lately. I've been meaning to write more, I have, but I never finish the posts! I have a very long post from Mexico but it's incomplete and one from the hiking day in Barrier lake. So I have decided I'm just doing to leave the half done ones for now. I'll post some pictures in the gallery so check those out! I'll just summarize the two trips really quickly here.
Mexico was awesome. It was really relaxing and I didn't really do much, just lazed around on the beach. One day I did go explore the city, Zihuatanejo, which was beautiful! The colourful buildings were amazingly photogenic and half of my camera roll is just random buildings and sunset pics. Pretty great food too! Great trip in general.
Hiking day was...tiring. My ankle was being insufferable on the hike up and it was horrible. Especially since the climb up Barrier Lake is quite steep. And the group was moving so fast! The view was absolutely breathtaking. I unfortunately didn't get a picture at the top, with being so tired from the walk up. I need to go back and take some good pictures. I did take a picture on the halfway mark, because I was still reasonably energetic. The descent was fun, especially since I could keep up with my friend who is a lot better at hiding than I am. It was a lot quicker too. The uphill was approximately...3 hours? I'm not sure. But the downhill was half that. It was an interesting day because I was with all my buddies from school and got to hang with people outside of school that I wouldn't normally hang out with. 
​So that's all for the summary. Check out the pictures section!
Also I'm going to start adding little maps of where I go, just to make it little more interesting. I need to figure out a way to put a map that shows where all I've been, but until then, this will work.