What I pack has changed over the years. All the things that you see here are the essentials that pack in my small bag. Let me know if you want to see another version of whats in my travel backpack.

1: Travel Journal
2: Battery Power Bank (10,000 Mha)
3: Macbook Air
4: iPhone 6s
5: My Contact/Visiting Cards
6: Portable Bluetooth Speaker 
7: Local Maps
8: Earphones
9: USB and Sd Card Case
10: Cologne and Concentrated Fragrance Oils (For those long sweaty transits and travels)
11: Polaroids that I click along the way
12: Reading Glasses
13: Polaroid Camera (Fujifilm Instax)
14: Water Bottle (MUST!!!)
15: Passport or Local ID
16: Sunglasses (Rayban India)
17: Debit Cards (Visa and Master)
18: Local Guide Book with attractions and Transport Maps
​19: DSLR Camera NIkon D3200 with 18-55 Kit lens. I use D 750 now but still with this Kit Lens. I need to buy a FX wide angle soon!!
20: Travel Pouch to keep luggage keys, coins, money, polaroids
21: DW Watch
22: Locks
23: Local Currency
24: My Rajasthani Kadda 

These things are more than enough for me to explore the place all day while collecting memories and content. It will depend what all you might need while travelling, what ever you wish to keep, make sure you pack as light as possible. 
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You dont need a lot when you are travelling. Just write all the things that you need before you go on a trip and then start removing things focusing only on the essentials. 


In the end, there is no perfect way of  packing. Everyone has different needs. This list suits my needs. It might not suit yours.

If you want me to do more flat lays, then let me know. Instagram: @Traveller.Chris

I had Russia on my mind since past 2 years and I knew it was time for me to finally go. In the midst of back to back photoshoots with some of the top models in Bombay and Delhi, I made sure I balance it all well to plan and execute this solo travel backpacking trip to Russia. Although I have done backpacking several times in the past, it's always a thrill to do it again. 
​Russian Visa is easy and fairly cheap. I found all the details on this website.

It was raining the day I got my Visa in Bombay. My backpack was ready and I was set to explore all the palaces, squares and cathedrals that Russia had to offer. I am more excited to try local food so I always try to meet locals who know secret gems to a place. I believe the best way to travel is to do it like the locals do, and that's how I met Marina. A few weeks before my travels I put up a request on Couchsurf.com to live and surf the city with the locals. I got a few replies and Marina and I coordinated to meet and see the city for my first day. She took me to the coolest eating spot in Moscow called Market Place which was filled with cuisines from around the world. Market Place is located at Tsvetnoy Boulevard street and a must visit for every traveller. This is what we ate from a Vietnamese Restaurant. Now that we have started with food let me tell you all about that first...

Market Place, Moscow
Tsvetnoy Boulevard Street

Vietnames Cuisine here. Rice Noodles with Chicken and Prawns with Veggies Wrapped in Rice Sheet. Featuring Mariana snapping away on her Instagram. 

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Waiters, Moscow

Authentic pure Russian Cuisine here. Okroshka , Borscht, Turkey Steak and Morse from Cranberry

Dummplins

Time to enjoy some dumplings with potatoes, cottage cheese and chicken with Zhenya and Taniya. This is actually a very traditional Russian dish and a must try whenever in Russia. The name of this restaurant is Varenichnaya

Yarumen, Saint Petersburg

Traditional Ramen Noodels with Chicken, Pork and Seaweed. Honestly, it was quite average, so visit only if you are a Ramen fan.

Traditional Russian Pie. I tried the one with chicken and loved it. Had it in breakfast before exploring the city. 

Delicious buffet breakfast at Market Place, a must try.

Kupetz Eliseevs Food Hall, is a little pricey and very fancy. You can buy small boxes of sweets and other bakery items to gift your loved ones.

Zaryadye Gastronomic Center, Moscow

This place is heaven. It is in Zaryadye Park and is heaven for any foodie. The place has dozens of cuisines to choose from. 

Saint Basil's Cathedral
The Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed, commonly known as Saint Basil's Cathedral, is a church in Red Square in Moscow, Russia and is one of the most popular symbols of the country. 

The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is a Russian Orthodox cathedral in Moscow, Russia, on the northern bank of the Moskva River, a few hundred metres southwest of the Kremlin. With an overall height of 103 metres, it is the tallest Orthodox Christian church in the world.

The Street on the way to Req Square and the area nearby including The Gum

Red Square

And here is me with some local Russian ladies in their traditional outfit. Just like me!

Moscow City

St. Isaac’s Cathedral, or Isaakievskiy Sobor in Saint Petersburg, Russia, is the largest Russian Orthodox cathedral in the city. It is the largest orthodox basilica and the fourth largest cathedral in the world.

Take the stairs all the up the dome to have a beautiful view of the city. 

The Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg, Russia, was, from 1732 to 1917, the official residence of the Russian monarchs. Today, the restored palace forms part of a complex of buildings housing the Hermitage Museum.

An evening at Winter Palace.

The Peterhof Palace is a series of palaces and gardens located in Petergof, Saint Petersburg, Russia, laid out on the orders of Peter the Great. These palaces and gardens are sometimes referred as the "Russian Versailles". The palace-ensemble along with the city center is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Not to forget the Russian Dolls.

Thats me, George, Olive and Vlada doing some pub crawls. 

Pub Crawl
We went to:
Fiddler’s Green
Tesla Bar
Red Yard
Prilichnoye Mesto. All at a walking distance. I will always remember that night, to the fact how random and perfect it was.... new friends, new places and lots of beers.

Rooftop view from Kempinski Hotel. You can simply go up the rooftop restaurant for a view. Not mandatory to eat, just tag the hotel if you post a photo. They are super nice. 

So here is the main thing. I know we all travel and see exotic places and all that. But what about those small moments and incidents that happen while you travel? I love creating content through my photography but what I actually live for are the possibilities of meeting new people. I feed off people's energy and emotions, their thoughts and aspirations... 
I was lucky to meet so many amazing people on this trip. Zhenya and Tanya helped me catch my flight when I almost missed it. Vlada and Marina made my experience in Russia more special and local, it almost felt like we are old friends wandering in a city. 

Moving on to the tragedies in this trip. The biggest one being losing my DJI Spark drone in St. Petersburg. Now, how the f*** did that happen? Just imagine a plastic bag being blown away by the wind into nowhere. That's exactly what happened to my drone, a strong blow of wind and there goes little sparky lost and crashed on a cold evening in Russia. To sober out from the heavy loss I planned out for that crazy Pub Crawl that night which u saw above. 

The next day I forgot the one and only bank card I had, at Market Place breakfast place in St. Petersburg (see images above). George and I walked half way back when I realised I don't have my card. We rushed back and after 15 mins they showed me several other bank cards left behind and then mine.  I realised it was not just me but it was crazy because I had almost no cash. But it would not have made any difference even if I had lost it forever. 
Now I'll tell you why it did not make any difference. Because my card stopped working a day later anyway. Bear in mind I still have very less cash with me. It's been 2 months now and that card still does not work. FML. 
So with no card, no cash I had to borrow money from my hostel to catch the slowest bus ride ever to the airport. When I realised I am about to miss my flight (given the fact that Russia gives you visa for exact days, that is up to your return flight, so if you miss your flight you pay a heavy fine!) I called up Zhenya, who then booked a cab from where I got off from the bus and helped me reach the airport just in time for my flight. (I mean I still had to cheat my way through the longest Check-in line ever, I will tell you that story when we meet).
Which brings us to the final tragedy of not being able to buy one single thing to bring back home from Russia because no cash and no card. Like an idiot I thought I'd buy things on my last day so that I don't have to carry around all that weight in my backpack. Guess what, I now buy whatever I want as soon as I see it. 
Even after all these mishaps, I found such beautiful people who redefine friendship, hospitality and the way of life in general. I am blessed to have done this backpacking trip and cant wait for hundreds of more. Until next time... 
Inspiring • Passionate • Meaningful Travels. 

​So I took up a lifestyle choice few months ago and totally fell in love with it. I switched my daily wear from Western to Indian. It was that simple, which completely transformed my personality and confidence.
But first, what exactly is a Kurta Pajama?

And not just Kurta Pajama, India has a long history of vivid traditional clothing. This post tries to promote them all with the same ideology discussed below.
​

A kurta (Hindi: कुर्ता) is an upper garment for men and women, originating in the Indian subcontinent, with regional variations of form.
Pajamas or pyjamas, often shortened to PJs, jimmies, jimjams, can refer to several related types of clothing originating from the Indian subcontinent. Pajamas are loose-fitting garments for both daywear and nightwear, derived from traditional pajamas and involving variations of style and material.
(Wikipedia)
​
And not just Kurta Pajama, India has a long history of vivid traditional clothing. This post tries to promote them all with the same ideology discussed below.

​...My heart sinks to see this “modern” generation loosing it’s sight of the Golden India and it's culture that it used to be.

​Since past several months I have been wearing Kurta Pajama on my travels, parties, clubs and office. Everywhere, you can imagine being. After months into this amazing clothing transformation this is what I discovered:

In today’s modern and fast moving India, my heart sinks to see this “modern” generation loosing it’s sight of the Golden India and it's culture that it used to be. I see college students say they can’t properly read or write Hindi. The majority is fairly less but with a rise of English culture soaring in through films and media, the future does not seem bright until we the “modern” Indians change.
 
Before the beautiful culture fades away, I am doing my part to keep it alive and you will too once you read these 7 benefits of wearing a Kurta Pajam everyday.
 
First things first. When it comes to clothing, I am sure everyone loves comfort. As they say: Style is Comfort.
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​If  you take a glance at a Kurta Pajama you can already see how comfy it looks, because... it is. It’s so comfortable I can go to sleep and still feel I am wearing nothing. (Trust me I have done that often, because it’s just so comfortable) I have backpacked dozens of places nationally and abroad and Kurta Pajama has transformed my definition for “Travel Clothes”. I love it and you can see how much.
​

​Wearing a certain kind of clothing affects our cognition in its early stages, but when we look good we feel more in control...

We might not realise this but we are always dressing up our brain more than our bodies. Putting on a suit doesn't just change how you look, it can change the way you perceive the world and make you think more broadly (MACDONALD, 2015). Wearing a certain kind of clothing affects our cognition in its early stages, but when we look good, we feel more in control, and this sense of power has been linked to an increase in abstract thought (MACDONALD, 2015). It is very evident that Kurta Pajama obviously makes you look a lot smarter than a saggy t-shirt and sweat pants. So lets wear it everyday and feel the subconscious super powers.

You don’t just get a fabric stitched to your fit, you stitch your personality with it.

​The process of getting a Kurta Pajama stitched from starch, makes you get involved in its making. This process makes your clothes define you as an individual and creates a unique bond with your clothes and yourself. You don’t just get a fabric stitched to your fit, you stitch your personality with it. It’s almost like getting a tattoo that you designed yourself according to your taste and needs.
 

​Getting your own fabric and then getting it tailor made for everyday wear will be the cheapest and the coolest piece of clothing you will ever find in India. This Kurta Pajama  that you see below was bought and stitched from scratch for just  ₹ 1000  that’s like £11. I don’t think you can get a custom jeans and shirt for £11 and still look classy af!
​

The fabric and dyes used in most of these Indian clothes is pretty decent. Even after dozens of wash and being sun dried in harsh summer, almost none of my Kurtas have lost a single shade in them or have got torn apart, unless the fabric was too thin or fragile. 
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​Connecting back to the custom abilities of a Kurta Pajama, you can always give the same fabric a formal look by adding cufflinks and collars or leave it casual and informal by adding round colors and open sleeve ends.
​

You might think wearing Kurta Pajama everyday is bizarre. Well I can say the same for wearing Jeans and T shirt every day. Infact a Kurta Pajama is almost always paired up which saves a ton lot of time and energy in “deciding what to wear?” We have famous examples of people who wear same outfits everyday which helps channelize there time in more significant decision making. 

​Finally, as part of our India culture, don’t you want your kids to see the beautiful culture we live in? I get asked upon and looked upon my everyday Kurta. And I always wonder why? when I am in my own F’**in country? I definitely don’t want the same reaction for my kids, so I try to sober out people now while I still can. Making those who raise eyebrows, rethink their position again. Because a country with no culture is a country with no soul. 
​

When I wore kurta pajama everyday during my backpacking trip to Turkey, I felt a strong connection with my culture, my country and my self as an India. For me that’s the closest I have felt to “Proud to be an Indian” at a more personal level, have you?
While wandering in Turkey with my loud and clear Indian self was the best feeling ever. People smiled, looked twice and asked me if I was Indian, Arabic or Italian! Italian??  Some even stopped me, befriended me and took selfies. It was an informative meeting for those abroad while they met me. All because I was my country and my culture all in all. 

​

​I believe this attitude of Indians has a lot to do with the dress codes set down by colonial forces while they were around.... Anyone not wearing a suit was viewed as less important...

​I still know people who find this funny, probably because they are not proud of their nationality and try to avoid being identified as an India. I just feel how sad and disgraceful such people can be. But its not there fault and this Quora question will answer why? Because with so many added benefits, why is Kurta Pajama still not our everyday attire?
 
I found this interesting question during my research to understand just why? And the question on this Quora post explains it all: 
​

“Places like India, wearing a full suit is just a few degrees away from self-imposed torture. The humidity levels of the tropics ups the discomfort levels by several notches. And yet we go for ‘corporate wear’, whether we like it or not.
I believe this attitude of Indians has a lot to do with the dress codes set down by colonial forces while they were around. If you see the attires of people back in the days, you’d see everyone in what were considered to be respectable clothes in their region.”
When the White Man descended on our lands wearing trousers and ruffled shirts and waistcoats and hats, people began to look up to them as sahibs…people worthy of respect and reverence. Anyone not wearing a suit was viewed as less important. This mental attitude has become a part of the mental make-up of almost all societies the world over. Arabs wear their traditional costumes when they are in societies that accept it. When they move outside to foreign lands, they too wear formal wear for official meetings and smart casuals at other times. Indians do the same thing in a much smaller circle, though. (Raakhee V. Menon, 2016). 
You can read the entire thread here. 

New Year is around the corner and maybe we can make a new year resolution of changing any of our habits for the good of others if not ourselves. Starting from our everyday outfits?
And here is me again in a Kurta Pajama at my very official Christmas House Party! Until next time.... Happy Holidays.

So, in the end it all comes down to our personal choices and I choose to stay in touch with my roots and take it forward for others to see, while doing everything that I would do regardless. If I can, you can too.
Thank you for reading.
​Please leave your thoughts in the comments below.

The sprawling annual festivities of the 100 year old Pushkar Mela through its dramatic collage of diversified pictures, mirrors the vibrancy of the gracious state of Rajasthan. It is celebrated for five days from the Kartik ekadashi to Kartik Poornima, the full moon day of Kartik (October–November) in Hindu calendar.

Dates: 28th till 4th Nov 2017
Location: Pushkar, Rajasthan
Please download the daily event schedule PDF below so that you don't miss on anything. 

I am writing this to raise the standards which are oh too low right now. Some brands are sweeping away teens with thousands of followers and exploiting their user base. It's not their fault as there is no 101 guide for how to go about it. So here are some crystallised thoughts after a  few years of Instagram and brand promotions.

The following blog is in relation to creating photographic and textual content to be published on Instagram.

Its simple, find the brand or organisation you like and send them your work over a simple e-mail...

Approaching Brands

So you have this amazing way to create content for yourself and believe that you could do it for someone else too, in return of some remuneration. Brilliant! But how do we really go about that?
Its simple, find the brand or organisation you like and send them your work over a simple email or contact form from official website. One message could land you a great deal with your favourite brand.
​
Mention some important information while sending these emails such as:

• Your work portfolio (website or attached documents)
• Your Instagram user base, stats and reach
• How your work is unique
• How the brand's ethos can make an impact on your follower base.

If you don't know how much to charge for a post, you can always search new posts about price calculations online or just price yourself according to your area and peers. 

They are obviously interested in working with you but might actually not.

When Brands Approach You

"I just got an email from a brand for a collaboration, but how do I take the conversation further and make a deal?" Many of us have been here, including myself on a very regular basis and this is what one may do.

When a brand approaches you, it means they are obviously interested in working with you but might actually not. With brands and companies, its 90% of the time about what they want and how they will benefit from a social media promotion deal. So think wisely and work through the following two most important factors of all:​

Promotions in Exchange of Products or Cash?

A standard email form a new brand looks something like this which I received about 2 weeks ago.

• They want me to Upload a photo of me in their clothing line.
• Then Tag their Instagram.
• Use specific hastags (#)

And in return I will get on piece of garment from there collection.

Now lets observe and evaluate the situation. Again this is my perspective and it will depend on person to person so be smart about it. As of now, here are some facts.

1. I don't know the brand at all and never heard of it.
2. I am a travel account so should I even do it all?
3. If I find out a way to do this, should I do it only for the garment or cash?

Things to do after your first observation:

1. Search upon the brand first, it might seem unknown at but could be making waves in it's sector already.
2. Look at how both the parties could benefit from this deal. 
3. Does the brand message relate to your audience? (In my case, as a travel account, it definitely won't)
4. And if at all you decide to do it, calculate upon what they offer you in ratio to your reach, followers and impressions (this can be found in your stats tab on top of your Instagram profile) 

So in this case I decided I don't want to do it for product trade but I can still offer my services at a price. Which brings us to our next important factor:

Be Clear

Be very very clear about what you want and how it will help both the parties. Negotiate if necessary but at the end, know your value and what it's being priced at. 

You should realise that your gallery is an asset.

​Season your Gallery

By now, you should realise that your gallery is an asset. Not just in terms of branding but your own identify and messages you send as a creator. Save that gallery from death: If you have a seasoned gallery, with a specific genre, then don’t let a brand post ruin it for peanut payments or products. But if you really want to do it, then try to sync in with your style while delivering the message softly.

If they are a genuine company and value your work, they will never ask your time and energy for free.

Final Thoughts

The time and effort you put in your gallery was not free so don't let brands sweep you away with a product or payment worth $5.
Don’t get trapped by dodgy and fabricated promises new brands/apps/website make to you.
NEVER fall for “ we have 100000 of users and we will credit your name for using the content”. Instead get your images licensed, sell the copyright and be smart about it. If they are a genuine company and value your work, they will never ask your time and energy for free. Just don’t do it. Ignore such emails and spend time creating more unique stuff.
Start saying, NO! Always be clear of what you want in return, and be open for negotiations. Finally be creative upon what you deliver, here are some of my brand collaborations in the past and how I did them.

Simple and fun, just cut some fresh fruits, lay flat and snap. Best thing is that you can eat the setup later.

Here is another fun collaboration with Kingfisher. Again, super easy, call some friends get some food go on a ride and snap away.

You can see many more on my Instagram here. Thank you for reading and I hope it will help you in some way. Still have a question or a comment then please drop it below. 

After meeting hundreds of travellers from across the globe, I have found my own way of seeing the world. It is not something new or unique, its something that anyone can do and probably is doing.
​
Info: This post focuses on sharing my travel style, tips and how I manage to balance it all around with multiple  jobs.

But before I dive in, here is a post with a thoughtful quote I made few days ago....

It's that simple. I have been doing this for over 2 years now and it's all about prioritising. Whatever money I make, I save most of it for my future travelling and spend the rest on my daily life leisures, because hello I still have a life back home. My friends, family, dogs and massive art projects. I cant live without these for long, which brings us to the next point; How I travel? 

 I feel emotionally vulnerable and that shapes me in a permanent way, sometimes negatively. 

I do not travel 24x7 because I cannot.

I will answer two great question sent in by @madmash1999 who asked:  How do I edit my pictures in spite of travelling 24x7. When do i get time? and ​@abhi.traveller07 who asked about How do I travel and earn?

Okay, so lets clear the main thing first. I do not travel 24x7 because I cannot. By 24x7 I mean not coming home for 4 or 6 months straight. When I took my first solo trip when I was 19 to Prague and then another one when I turned 20 to Cambodia I clearly realised that I cannot do this continuously for too long. Not because I get homesick but because I feel emotionally vulnerable and that shapes me in a permanent way, sometimes negatively. Although it is possible that I would not feel this way if I am traveling with a special someone and not alone. (I don't know this myself as I never found that "someone" yet!)

Which means that I do as many edits as I can while I'm travelling during night time, after seeing all the amazing places or maybe early mornings. Because 90% chance is that, I will be out, on foot, somewhere random, with a stranger in a place I know nothing about, during the entire 12 hours of the day. Then edit the rest when I'm back home.

Which brings me to the next question which is most crucial. Work and Travel?

I have 6 jobs running simultaneously every month.
And travelling squeezes somewhere in between. But it definitely does!

I have 6 jobs running simultaneously every month. Yes 6! None of them are 9-5 because duh! 
I will just name my jobs below and then you can do the math as they are super simple but mostly creative!
1. Part Time at a Hotel
2. Teacher at a School
3 and 4. Working for 2 different Travel Companies
5. Content Creation for Brands
and
6. Professional Photographer

​And travelling squeezes somewhere in between. But it definitely does! It has to, because its like an itch that happens at the back, every now and then for no reason!
So, because I don't travel 24x7, I am working when I am home, making as much money as I can. Although some jobs like, content creation can be done even while Im travelling. I just need my laptop and a phone.

It took me a while to carve out my life, travelling and making money. But if I can, you can too and I'm sure someone is already doing it better than me. So if you are reading this please lend me some tips. (I say this and it instantly makes me down to earth, ha-ha!). 
​

Clicked on iPhone 5s and editing only using Snapseed 

Another very frequently asked question, sent in recently by Bharath Varma: Which apps I use for editing?
​ I wish I could go back to my early days of Phone Photography when my world was my iPhone 4 and a hand full of editing apps. After 2 years of merry making with my phone I bought my first camera, Nikon D3200 which I use till date. With large files and my infinite imaginations, I switched to hardcore softwares like Photoshop or Lightroom and minimised using those cute apps. 

As of today I use,  Photoshop CS6 on my Mac and Snapseed editing app on my iPhone before posting any image online. I test new apps every now and then but so far I have never found anything better and free like Snapseed. The image of the dog above, is only edited with Snapseed and clicked on my iPhone 5s. Although if you want to go even further, another amazing but a little complex app that I love is Filter Storm which works amazing while editing phone images. 

Last but not the least, Picsart. I have not used this app a lot, but things that it can do, such as masking, is a pretty decent tool that can come very handy for manipulation or fine art imagery. But then again its good for phone images not for DSLR files. Which means for budding photo artists without heavy softwares, its the app to be. 

So how do I work and travel year round? I am sure you have a glimpse of the scenario by now, but to simply the equation here it is: 

I plan my trip in advance > then calculate a rough budget > then work and make money to reach my target just in time to book my tickets and accommodation and voila > Happy Travelling > then plan next trip  > .......

This way I have a perfect balance of life with experiencing new places and then spending just enough time back home. Although there are cases when I get to travel because of my work, such as photography assignments elsewhere. But if you are not a photographer then simply follow the above recipe and you will live a happier life. If you still have questions, send me a message.

Until then enjoy some of my storytelling with surreal images on my Instagram and Facebook



Thanks and I love you all, a little too much hence, some free wallpapers for you.
ok Bye!

So the iPhone 7 just came out at a whopping ₹63,000. I have been there, when I think I need an upgrade to my phone which never gives up on me but sometimes your life needs an upgrade by buying experiences and not things. You could either make calls or fly to an exotic location, offering you priceless memories. Here is a list of places to fly to instead of a shiny new Apple.
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Compiled by: Priyanka Dodia

Mumbai–New York: Rs56,367 (United; 12–19 October). 
Delhi–San Francisco: Rs59,632 (China Eastern; stopover in Shanghai; 12–19 October).
Delhi–Honolulu:Rs62,229 (China Eastern; stopover in Shanghai; 11–17 October).

Delhi–Auckland: Rs56,797 (China Southern; stopover in Guangzhou; 12–19 October).
Mumbai–Auckland: Rs62,206 (Malaysia Airlines; stopover in Kuala Lumpur; 12–20 October)

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Delhi–Cape Town: Rs61,613 (Ethiopian Air; stopover in Addis Ababa; return by Emirates; stopover in Dubai; 14–20 October). 
Mumbai–Johannesburg: Rs23,485 (Ethiopian Air; stopover in Addis Ababa; 11–17 October)

The National Geographic has always been crucial for the world's most revolutionary photography, and its special annual contests always attract the most talented photographers worldwide.The 2016 Travel Photographer Of The Year Competition is no exception. This year's judges faced real tough time picking a winner from these fantastic entries. The Grand Prize on offer was a 7-day Polar Bear Safari for two (including airfare) at Churchill Wild-Seal River Heritage Lodge in Manitoba, Canada. But the real prize of course is simply being named National Geographic's Travel Photographer of the Year. The competition ended May 27th.

Here are some of the most beautiful entries of the contest, including one of the winning entries:

"When I was told I was going to Pakistan, I started to think about all the reasons to not go," writes Clara Arrighi, a Spanish woman who recently visited the country. However, what she experienced in Pakistan was truly beautiful and when she had to leave after having spent seven months there, changed her perception about Pakistan and she could not be thankful enough for the trip.

In a Facebook post that has gone viral since it was uploaded on August 23, Clara describes her seven-month long visit to the country whose image is quite different in our eyes. Not a lot of people would like to plan a trip to Pakistan given the public image that has been marred with terrorism, extremism and violence. And this is precisely why this Facebook post by Clara, who had her own share of pre-conceived notions about the country as well, deserves a special mention.

She was so consumed in the beauty, culture and hospitality of the country that she could not stop crying when she had to leave. "When you go to Pakistan, you cry two times: when you are sent there and when you have to leave", Clara says in her post.

Her post describes how the country is much more than what meets our eyes and ears. She also advises others to take a trip to Pakistan at least once to understand and admire what it has to offer."I challenge you to come to Pakistan and don't like it. Because, so far, I haven't met anyone who didn't. I spent seven beautiful months in Pakistan and I encourage everyone to give this amazing country a chance," she said.

What makes clara, a foreigner's trip to pakistan so special is her experience which breaks many stereotypes that come with the name 'Pakistan'. Any traveller rates a place not merely based on it's natural beauty but on several other, small yet essential notions. Notions such as how you felt being in the place, surrounded by local people, the treatment you receive as a foreigner, the love and respect from the locals all counts equally in one's over all experience of the place. And here's how clara felt:

View Clara's post on Facebook.

We’ll just start by saying this: These might be hotels, but they’re not your typical business suites or budget vacation rentals. These hotels are over-the-top, insanely well-designed, and located in some of the most beautiful locations in the world.

From floating cabanas in Zanzibar to giraffe-occupied properties in Tanzania, to igloos in Finland with the Northern Lights as the main event, these hotels will take you well beyond the queen suites and continental breakfasts and into a realm of travel excellence that you never thought possible