A change in latitude, does wonders to my attitude.

What a gem of an airport.. remnant of minaret Baku is beguiling because of its trading past  as part of the Silk Road, its recent wealth from oil exploration in the Caspian sea, its mixed ancestry of peoples of Turk, Russian, Iranian. It is an Islamic stronghold with both Sunni and Shiite followers living in relative harmony. Inside Old City, Maiden tower  main shopping street Best way to see Baku .. pickup a free tour My tour guide with the great haircut, is a 27 year old Sunni whose family members are Shiites and apart from doctrinal differences, they all love happily together. my favourite building... ever ! With so much wealth in the hands of the ruling elite, whose penchant seems to be in real estate development, Baku's skyline is getting crowded with ever more offices and apartments being built. Whether or not the supply tips the demand balance is anyone's guess. Nonetheless, visitors get to enjoy architectural wonders like the Heyd

Bayterek Tower Nur Sultan, previously known as Astana, is the capital city of Kazakhstan.  Like Canberra, it is an  administrative capital and hence a little boring. Its remote location in the windswept northern steppe pokes out like a space  station with its protruding bold and futuristic architecture. Looking from the airplane window, the landscape looks rather hostile and unwelcoming, with pockets of cafe latte coloured lakes,  hardly any greenery nor signs of population. I had flown with Aeroflot to Nur Sultan via Moscow. With just one hour transit in Moscow and having to change planes, the risk of losing your luggage is almost guaranteed. And yes, it happened to me too. Thank goodness I was staying at the spanking new 5-star St Regis hotel and resort. The spacious luxurious rooms are fitted with a walk-in bathroom, ample wardrobe space, l'Occitane toiletries and plush beddings. It somehow made up for being without luggage. Hearty Breakfast at the St Regis Af

Bottle tree bush, Yarralumla, ACT oversized rabbits For a long while, I've laid off visiting Australia because of one simple reason: arachnophobia. And if you think it is safe to get into the waters, you'll have to share it with Great White Sharks and Salt water crocodiles. For an avid Scuba diver like me, it is a tough call as I would think 100x before i'll suit up for the Great Barrier Reef. Nevertheless, Australia beckons and it was time to heed the call. This time it was work. My husband's work, to be accurate... I flew Singapore Airlines from Zurich to Sydney, meeting my husband at 0600am at Sydney International airport as he flew Thai Airways. My tickets were round trip on Premium Economy while he was in Business Class. The difference in flight class was huge and since I had to foot the bill, I decided less is better. Parliament House... harmless creature Jerrabomberra & National Rose Gardens Clearing immigration was swift with my AUS$