Posts in Travel

The much hyped wonder of the world and its images are in public domain since 1993. However, its illumination is considered an artwork on its own, and is protected by copyright, making it illegal to post pictures of the lit Eiffel Tower.

Hence, posting an incomplete, unlit picture of the tower, in which I look like a con artist trying to sell Eiffel tower for scrap metal. (Not a joke, this happened twice. Read the wikipedia article about Victor Lustig for more info) .

Back when I was a quiz-obsessed kid, the phrase “The Dark Continent: Africa” was burned into my brain. I always dreamed of visiting the place where humanity began. So, when my cousin Jayakanth—who runs a bunch of businesses in Ethiopia and Kenya—casually suggested a trip to Ethiopia over a few drinks at SP Grand Days, I didn’t even pretend to think twice. Sobriety? Who needs it when adventure calls? Before the buzz even wore off, my tickets were booked. Call it spontaneity or just pure impulse, but I was all in!

Here are some of the incredible places I visited on this trip—each one a story of its own, packed with adventure, history, and a bit of exhaustion! From fiery landscapes to ancient fossils and wildlife encounters, Ethiopia and Kenya had it all.

• Erta Ale – Africa’s only active volcano was worth every bit of the 17-hour journey and grueling trek to reach the top. Standing at the edge of the lava lake, watching molten rock bubble and churn, felt like staring into the heart of the planet itself.
• Danakil Depression and Dallol – This place felt like an alien world, with its neon-colored hot springs and sulfuric landscapes straight out of a sci-fi movie. Extreme heat, surreal scenery, and the realization that life can exist in the harshest conditions made this visit unforgettable.
• Lucy – Seeing the 3.2-million-year-old fossil of Australopithecus afarensis was surreal—this tiny skeleton is one of our earliest ancestors. It’s humbling to stand before something that rewrote our understanding of human evolution.
• Masai Mara National Park – My first time in the Southern Hemisphere, and what a way to experience it! This safari not only completed my journey through all four hemispheres of Earth but also gave me a front-row seat to nature’s greatest spectacle—lions, elephants, and the endless African plains.