I’ve always been fascinated by textiles from around the world — this universal desire we have as people to tell stories through cloth. You can see it in the huipil of Guatemala, the batik of Indonesia, the saris of India; cloth is a blank canvas that bears the markings of each culture’s tradition. Uzbekistan is…
If you take a trip from Nukus to the Aral Sea, you’ll see a very interesting slice of Uzbekistan that few tourists get to see. Most travelers stick to the famous blue-tiled Silk Road cities, sometimes stopping at Bukhara, occasionally making it out to Khiva. Few tourists continue the journey further west into Uzbekistan, into…
One of my favorite memories of Khiva takes place in an odd location: sitting at a folding table covered by a blanket, sheltered from the street’s view by a fluttering wall of suzani embroidery, learning from a woodcarving master. Behind the suzani wall, the Islam Khoja Minaret stood above us, and countless travelers passed us…
Within the UNESCO-listed fortified city of Itchan Kala, there are many places that easily take your breath away: this part of the city packs more sights per square inch than anywhere else I can think of in the world. And yet tucked away behind rather nondescript stone walls — hence its rather literal name, meaning…
What’s that Mike Tyson quote? Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth? That’s how I feel about Bishkek Airport. I’ve landed solo in many an international airport in my lifetime. I’ve visited about 80-odd countries, and probably flew into about half of them solo. But Bishkek’s Manas Airport has to take…
![7 Unique & Aesthetic Cafés in Hanoi City Center [2026]](https://eternalarrival.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Hanoi-Cafes_4256-768x1024.jpeg)
It seems almost unfair to write a post about the delicious cafés in Hanoi city center: there are simply too many of them, and I know just by writing this post, I will surely leave some out. However, as a huge coffee fiend who loves to visit specialty cafés everywhere I visit (see my coffee…
![10 Mistakes to Avoid When Visiting the Colosseum [2026]](https://eternalarrival.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Visiting-the-Colosseum-23-768x576.jpg)
While Rome is filled with wonderful squares, fountains, and awe-inspiring ancient ruins, nothing will capture your interest like the Colosseum! The nearly 2,000-year-old amphitheater is the symbol of the Eternal City and a must-see on any Rome itinerary — whether you have one day, 3 days, or a full week! But visiting the Colosseum comes…
Many people wonder whether you should take a Ninh Binh day trip from Hanoi, or if Ninh Binh itself is worth a few days of exploration and it should be used as a base on a larger trip through Vietnam. My answer is that it’s all about timing. Yes, you absolutely can see the highlights…
I’ve been to Bali several times — so many that, somewhere along the way, I’ve actually lost track of the sheer number of times I’ve been. And honestly, slowly and slowly, the island has started to lose its charm for me. Especially in South Bali, as well as Ubud, there’s little magic left to be…