From ‘There are no Gods in North Korea’ by Anjaly Thomas

Mongolia is a country of less than three million people and for each person there are five animals, most of which are roaming free across this vast and so incredibly beautiful country. …Friendliness is ingrained culturally among the Mongolians and the harshness of their daily life hasn’t changed that unique quality. …The Mongolian psyche and persona, as well as its fledgling tourism industry, appear to be based almost entirely on Genghis Khan and his exploits, from the name of the airport to his face on the currency and the most popular brand of beer. …In Mongolia it is said that in life you should ride your invisible horse of luck. ….Of all the places I’ve visited in Mongolia, the Gobi is by far my favourite….because its forbidding beauty challenges the imagination, and because the Gobi people are the hardiest, yet friendliest people in the world. ….Ulan Baatar ….It is easy to get around, either by a bus, taxi or if you like, walking…..What surprised me most about this city was that culture shock was almost non-existent. I suppose their friendliness breaks down this barrier quite easily …..

There was no escaping the chipathi in Kampala, a legacy of the Indians who came to Uganda years ago with their chapathi. Idi Amin may have shooed away the Indians, but he couldn’t kill their flatbread which eventually overthrew posho (a starchy meal made of maize flour or cornmeal, with millet flour and is a native east African dish) as the national dish…… I fell in love with the Ugandan beans….

…..the only existing proof of Ugandan history – the Kasubi tombs …..the burial site of the Kabakis, the kings of Buganda which is a sub-national kingdom enjoying autonomy from the State.

….Africa. It is as different and as varied as nothing else in this world……Tanzanians liked Ugandans a little more than Kenyans who saw themselves as the ‘ruler’ of the three because of higher tourist footfalls, volunteers and charity organizations and because they were more often in the news, whatever the reason. Ugandans and Tanzanians did not place much trust in the Kenyans, who drew the last straw when it came to honesty.

….the Nile cruise was the best ever decision I have made in my life…..I could never have imagined this vastness. It was mesmerizing to have the world’s longest river flowing around us.

…..they giggled in that strange Chinese way….

Why are the Chinese not like the Thais who start their day with a smile and a purpose that is so tourist-centric? It would be so helpful if they did. I wish there was a way to get them to react.

…..China …..People spit too much, even around food. So, so disgusting….What is worse is that here they don’t really care about the tourists. Its definitely not like that in Thailand or Turkey. Here if you think you should get special treatment for being a tourist, you can think again ….Food on Chinese trains is quite uninspiring and I want something that does not look or smell like noodles. Railway platforms here do not have food stalls – like in India. ….I often felt the Chinese lacked in hospitality and inquisitiveness. …Why did the Chinese lack the curiosity so common to other South East Asian countries? ….China definitely is not a solo-traveller destination …..It is a land of frustration, fascination and some fun ….Taxis in general have been a constant source of disappointment. They never stop, never arrive on time and never go where you want to …if they speak your language, your options are limited to paying a lot over the meter…….

Indians who miss their flights when on a holiday are not the best people to be around……

There are some things I miss about Africa in general, starting with laughter. Every person I have met will always greet you with a loud, belly-deep, thigh-slapping laughter….I have never met a happier person than a laughing African.