A different experience is when you hear the name of Russia, snow-covered roads, huge churches, ancient history and harsh weather come to mind. I had wanted to see this mysterious country up close for a long time. Finally, one winter morning, I set off for the historical small town of Suzdal in Russia.
I had read the name of the city in a book before. It is said that it is one of the most beautiful and peaceful cities in Russia. The old wooden houses, churches, rural life and the sincerity of the people here fascinate tourists.
I first arrived in Moscow by plane from Delhi. As soon as I stepped out of the airport, the cold wind hit my face. Seeing the snow-covered roads, rows of cars and the busy movement of people around me, it felt like I had stepped into a movie.
After spending a day in Moscow, I set off for Suzdal by train. Time was passing by as I saw the white snow-covered fields, small villages and distant forests outside the window. The behavior of the Russian people inside the train was very polite. Even though not everyone spoke English, they were still helping with a smile.
After about four hours of travel, I arrived in the city of Suzdal. As soon as I entered the city, I felt like I had returned to Russia hundreds of years ago. There were old wooden houses, domed churches, and snow-covered streets all around. Everything was as beautiful as a picture.
Suzdal is a very quiet and clean city. There are very few tall buildings here. Most of the houses are made of wood. The roofs of the houses were covered in snow and the windows were decorated with colorful wooden frames. There were small gardens and wooden fences in front of each house.
The people here love nature very much. They keep the surroundings of their houses clean and plant flowers. The streets of the city are not very wide, but they are very beautiful. There is no sound of horns anywhere. There is only a quiet atmosphere all around. I stayed in a small guesthouse. The owners of the guesthouse were an old couple. They welcomed me very warmly. Although there was a language barrier, their smiles and behavior impressed me.
The people of Suzdal live a very simple and peaceful life. There is no extra hustle and bustle like in a modern city. Most people are involved in agriculture, handicrafts, or tourism. People wake up very early in the morning. Many people raise cows or horses. The women of the village make woolen clothes with their own hands. The men are busy with woodworking and farming.
The people here give great importance to family. In the evening, everyone sits together to drink tea and talk. There is very little artificiality in their lives. A simple life is the main secret of their happiness.
Russian culture is very rich. The imprint of that tradition is clearly visible in Suzdal. The old history of Russia is hidden in the various churches and monasteries of the city.
One day I attended a local cultural event. There was a performance of Russian folk music and dance. Men were dancing in long coats and fur hats, while women were singing in colorful dresses. The melody of their musical instruments was extraordinary.
The people here celebrate various festivals with great joy. Especially the winter festivals are very famous. During the festivals, everyone gets together, sings songs, and prepares special dishes.
There are small schools in Suzdal. I had the opportunity to visit a local school. When I went there, I saw that the students were very disciplined. The teachers taught very sincerely. Education is very important in Russia. Children are encouraged to pursue science, literature, and art from an early age. There are also special arrangements for music and sports in schools.
A teacher told me,
“Education is not only important for a job, but also for becoming a good person.”
I was very inspired by hearing this.
Russian food tastes very different. I ate many new foods in Suzdal.
The most popular dish was a soup called “borsh”. It is made with beets, vegetables and meat. It was nice to have a hot soup in the cold.
I also ate a type of dumpling called “pelmeni”. It is filled with meat. It is very tasty to eat with sour yogurt. Russian bread and honey are also very famous. For breakfast they eat black bread, cheese and hot tea. One day the old lady at the inn fed me pancakes made by herself. I still can’t forget the taste of them.
Although Suzdal is a small city, it has many historical places. First of all, I visited the Suzdal Kremlin. It is the oldest historical place in the city. I was fascinated by the huge church, old walls and beautiful architecture. Then I saw the Museum of Wooden Architecture. Old Russian wooden houses, churches and mills have been preserved here. It felt like history had come alive. I also visited the Spaso-Evfimiev Monastery. Inside the monastery there are wonderful paintings and old architecture. The snow-covered environment around made the place even more mysterious.
Many people think that Russians are very strict. But after coming to Suzdal, my opinion changed. The people here are very sincere and hospitable.
One day I forgot the way. An old man himself walked and showed me the right way. Another day, a shopkeeper offered me hot tea for free. Although the language was different, the people's smiles and sincerity shortened all the distances.
The winter in Suzdal is very cold. Sometimes the temperature drops below zero. At first, it was a little difficult to bear the cold. But after a few days, the beauty of the snow fascinated me. In the morning, the sunlight fell on the snow and made the whole city look like a fairy tale. At night, the street lights sparkled on the snow. It is difficult to describe the scene in words.
Towards the end of the trip, the family of the innkeeper invited me to have dinner with them. We all sat at the table together and ate. They were talking in Russian, I couldn’t understand everything, but I could feel their joy.
After the meal, they gave me a small wooden doll as a gift.
“To remember Russia,” they said.
That moment has become the most emotional memory of my trip.
After a few days of beautiful experiences, the day of my return arrived. I took the train back to Moscow. Outside the window, the snow-covered city was slowly receding. It seemed that this small town had become a part of my heart. The simplicity of the people of Suzdal, their culture, food, education, and way of life taught me a lot.
As the plane flew towards India, it felt like I was not just visiting a country, but returning with a new culture and the love of its people.
The city of Suzdal in Russia was one of the most beautiful travel experiences of my life. The peaceful atmosphere, historical monuments, the sincerity of the common people and the natural beauty of the place touched me deeply.
This trip taught me that people from different countries of the world, although they differ in language and culture, are all the same at heart. Love, respect and sincerity are the true identity of a person.
Laos Village Luang Prabang
On a winter morning, I set off from Kolkata Airport for Laos, a peaceful country in Southeast Asia. For a long time, I had wanted to see a country where the simplicity of people is more valuable than modernity. While browsing the internet, I repeatedly came across the name of a beautiful city surrounded by mountains, rivers, and temples—Luang Prabang. So I decided that this trip would be there.
After flying for a few hours in a small plane via Bangkok, when I reached the sky of Laos, only green mountains and winding rivers could be seen outside the window. It felt like I had gone far away from the hustle and bustle of the world.
The airport was small but very tidy. As soon as I stepped outside, a cold and sweet breeze hit my face. There were coconut trees, bamboo fences, and small wooden houses on both sides of the road. Just by looking at the people in the city, it was clear that they were very calm. No one shouted, everyone walked slowly, and spoke with a smile.
The taxi driver's name was Somchai. In broken English, he told me,
“Everyone walks slowly in Laos, there is no rush here.”
I truly understood what he meant throughout the entire trip.
On the way to the hotel, I saw small shops on the side of the road selling fruit, rice, fish, and various types of soup. Most of the houses are made of wood and bamboo. Some houses are built a little higher on the ground with stilts. Somchai said that houses are built in this way to protect them from rain and water during the rainy season.
As soon as I arrived at the hotel, I opened the window and saw the vast Mekong River in front of me. The red evening light on the river made the whole environment look like a dream.
The next morning, I woke up to the sound of the bell. When I went outside, I saw many Buddhist monks wearing orange robes walking in a row. Local people were kneeling and giving them food. This custom is called “tak bat”. Lao people respect Buddhism very much and consider it a sacred act to feed the monks every day.
An old woman told me with a smile,
“Here, people measure happiness not with money, but with peace.”
Hearing that, I felt like the people of this country were really different.
For breakfast, I had the famous Laotian food “Khao Piak”. It is a kind of noodle soup. It was accompanied by grilled fish and sticky rice, which they call “sticky rice”. Laotian people eat this rice almost every day. They make it into small balls with their hands and eat it with curry.
The taste of the food was completely different. Less spicy but very refreshing. That day, I went out to explore the city. The Royal Palace Museum was my first destination. The old royal palace is now a museum. It preserves the clothes of the Lao royal family, gold statues, and old weapons. The guide told me that Laos used to be a country of monarchy. Now, although the common people live very simply, they respect their history very much.
After leaving the museum, I walked to Wat Xieng Thong temple. This golden temple is hundreds of years old. The smell of incense and the chanting of monks filled the atmosphere with a strange peace. Next to the temple, some young boys were trying to learn English. One of them was named Kham. He told me,
“We want to learn to be guides.”
The education system in Laos is still waiting for improvement in many places. Although schools in big cities are good, opportunities are few in the mountain villages. Still, the children’s interest in reading is noticeable.
The next day, I decided to leave the city and go to a nearby mountain village. We had to cross the river in a wooden boat. The boatman was a very cheerful man. He was singing songs in Lao as he rowed the boat.
When I arrived at the village, it felt like I had stepped back in time a few hundred years. Bamboo houses, chickens and ducks roaming around in the yard, children running around barefoot. Many families still make a living by farming and fishing.
The people of the village are very hospitable.
A family invited me for lunch. Fish, bamboo curry and sticky rice were being cooked on an earthen stove. Their house was very simple. Wooden floors, small tables and a few handmade baskets. But there was peace and sincerity in the house.
I asked,
“Don’t you want to live in the city?”
The owner of the house smiled and said,
“There is money in the city, but there is peace here.”
In the evening, the villagers lit a fire and started singing.
Everyone was dancing to the tune of flutes and drums. Their traditional costumes were made of colorful fabrics. The women weaved their own clothes. Lao silk fabrics are famous all over the world.
That night, I saw so many stars in the village sky that I have rarely seen in my life. There was no sound, only the chirping of crickets and the sound of the river in the distance.
The next morning, I went out for a walk towards the mountains. Fog and green forests were all around. Some farmers were working in the rice fields. Most of the people in rural Laos depend on agriculture. An old farmer showed me how they cultivate rice by holding back the water of the rainy season. Although their life is difficult, they always have a smile on their faces.
I returned to the city in the afternoon and set off again. When I arrived in the city, I went to see the famous Kuang Si Falls that day.
The place is like a fairy tale. The blue water fountain has descended step by step. There is jungle and bird calls all around. Tourists were swimming there. I sat for a long time just listening to the sound of the fountain. It seemed that all the fatigue of the world was disappearing.
I went to the night market at night. Small shops were selling handmade clothes, wooden crafts, and various kinds of food. The shopkeepers were very polite. No one was forcing me to buy anything. A shopkeeper girl served me traditional Lao coffee. The taste was strong and fragrant. She told me that coffee is grown in the mountainous areas.
On the last day of the trip, I climbed Mount Phousi. After climbing numerous stairs, I could see the entire city. On one side was the Mekong River, on the other side were the mountains and the golden roofs of the temples. The sun was slowly setting. At that moment, it seemed that Laos was not just a country, but another world of peace. I realized that people here are happy even though they are not rich. They value relationships more than competition in their lives. They respect nature, love guests, and know how to be content with little.
The next morning, I set out on the way to the airport. I saw rows of monks, small shops, and smiling people on the side of the road again. As the plane took off, the green mountains and river slowly disappeared below. But the peaceful atmosphere of Laos, the simple people of the village, the sound of temple bells and fountains remained in my mind forever.
Many countries may be advanced in modernity, but Laos taught me that happiness does not always mean big cities or a lot of money. Sometimes happiness is hidden in a small bamboo house, a handful of rice eaten by the river, and the sincere smile of strangers.
* The End *
2.Seoul city in South Korea
The plane was slowly descending through the cloud layer. Sitting by the window I was looking down at the city below. Many lights have spread through the chest of darkness. In the distance, the black line of the mountains, the bright road and the river in the middle of it. All in all, it seemed like I was watching a movie scene.
This is the capital of South Korea, Seoul. I had a strange attraction to this city for a long time. I used to see in the Korean drama, the city of night is floating in the light, people are walking fast, steaming food is being served in small restaurants. It seemed that this city is so beautiful in reality? This is my journey to find the answer.
The first thing that surprised me when I got off the plane was the perfect order of everything. A huge airport, but there is no commotion anywhere. Everyone is standing in their own line and working. As soon as they went out, the cold air came to their mouths.
It was almost ten o'clock at night. But the speed of the city did not stop. I was going towards the city by train. Everyone inside the train is silent. Some are watching videos on the phone, some are reading books, some are sitting with their eyes closed.
But there is no loud noise. Outside the windows, one after another, the illuminated buildings were running. I felt like I was in a future city.
On the first morning, I woke up early in the morning and removed the window curtain. People are walking down the street. Some are going to the office, some are opening the shop.
The morning of Korea starts very quickly. I left the hotel and entered a nearby cafe. The small shop, but the decoration is so beautiful that the eyes cannot be turned away. Wooden tables, yellow lights, small trees by the window.
Cafe culture is very popular in Korea. Here not only coffee is consumed, people sit for hours talking, work, listen to music. A young woman in the shop greeted me with a smile. I ordered coffee and a sandwich.
I was sitting by the window with a cup of coffee and watching the people of the city. Everyone is very busy. But in the midst of that busyness, instead of fatigue, a habitual stillness.
The biggest beauty of old Korea, Seoul is inside the modern city. Here the past and the present walk side by side.
On one side is a huge glass building, on the other is a hundred years old house. I went to Bukchon Hanok Village area.
As soon as I entered there, it seemed as if time had suddenly gone back hundreds of years.
Narrow roads, wooden houses, curved roofs. Everything is telling the story of old Korea. These traditional houses are called "Hanak".
Small garden in front of many houses. Somewhere dry chili is hanging, somewhere old design on wooden doors.
A few young women were taking pictures wearing colorful hanboks on the side of the road. The color of their clothes made the whole atmosphere more alive.
An old woman was sweeping in front of the house. He smiled softly at me. The language is different, the country is different. However, the warmth of that smile seemed very familiar.
The lives of people in Korea are very regular. Time is worth a lot here. Buses, trains, offices. Everything runs at a certain time. Especially the life of students is very difficult.
They study from morning till night. That day I saw a girl wearing a school dress standing in the metro reading a book.
Tired in his eyes, but he did not stop reading. In Korea, education and hard work are given great importance. Again, people know how to find joy even in this difficult life.
At night, young people hang out with their friends, sing and dance in different areas. Especially the Hongdae area is the heart of the youth.
On the side of the road playing the guitar, some dancing, some singing their own songs. Crowd of lights and people all around.
I stood for a while and just watched the vibrations. It seemed that the city never sleeps.
There is so much talk around the world about Korean food that travel is incomplete without eating them.
On the first day I played Kimchi. At first the taste was a bit strange. Soldier, sour, and a different kind of smell. But after a few days I realized why Koreans like it so much.
Then I played Bibimbap. This dish made by mixing various vegetables, eggs, meat and sauce on hot rice is as beautiful as it looks and is also delicious to eat.
One evening I went to the night market. Smoke is rising all around. Various types of street food are being prepared in small shops.
I play tteokbokki. At the first bite, tears came to the eyes due to the intensity of the jhal. The old lady of the shop laughed at it. Then he gave me a glass of cold water.
I also laughed. Another day I played Korean barbecue. Fire in the middle of the table, meat is being grilled on it. Everyone is cooking and eating together. Koreans have a family feeling in food. They prefer to eat together than to eat alone.
As the night falls, Seoul becomes another world. I went to Myeongdong area. Huge billboards, cosmetic shops, fashion stores, and many people around.
Some are frying hot fish on the side of the road, some are making sweets. An old man was playing the saxophone. His tone was sweeping through the cold night air. As I walked, I realized that the beauty of this city is not only in its light.
One day I went to see Gyeongbokgung Palace. Huge palaces, large doors, red and green crafts. Everything looked like I had entered history. In front of the palace stood guards in royal clothes. While walking there, it seemed that Korea kept its history alive even in modern Seoul.
Sitting by a small pond, I was silent for a long time. The light breeze was swaying in the water. At that moment I felt a strange peace away from the busyness of the city.
One of the most beautiful moments of the trip was the evening spent by the Han River. The sun is slowly sinking. The light of the city is shining in the water of the river.
People are walking, cycling, some sitting on the grass and eating. I bought hot ramen from a shop and sat by the river. Eating hot noodles in the cold air seemed like time had slowly stopped.
A little boy was running holding his father's hand. The sound of his laughter was floating in the air. Suddenly I realized that the people of the big city are actually looking for very common happiness.
One afternoon I went to Namsan Seoul Tower. The way up was amazing. Trees all around, cold air, and mountain silence. Standing on top of the tower, the entire city of Seoul can be seen.
There are numerous buildings in the distance, the river in the middle, and the mountains around it. The sun was setting slowly, and the city lights were shining one by one.
I felt like seeing that scene. This city is not only brick and stone, it is made of the dreams of millions of people.
Respect is very important in Korean culture. Respecting the elderly, following the rules, working hard, these things are taught from childhood. Modern culture is also very strong here.
K-pop songs, dramas, fashion, everything is a big part of the lives of young people. At night I saw some young people practicing dance on the side of the road.
They are doing the same step over and over again. Their eyes were tired, but more than that, there were dreams.
On the last night of the trip I was walking down the streets of the city again. Lights all around, crowd of people, the sound of shops.
Everything is the same as before. But this time the city did not look unfamiliar. It seemed that I had an invisible relationship with this city.
I bought coffee for the last time from a small shop. The shopkeeper said with a smile,
"Kamsahmanida."
I smiled and replied,
"Kamsahmanida."
The next morning, when the plane was flying in the sky, the city of Seoul was getting smaller. I was looking out the window.
I haven't seen just one city in these few days. I have seen people's hard work, their dreams, their culture, their smiles.
I saw the peace of the old wooden house, the warmth of the night market, the silence of the river. Seoul taught me.
The beauty of a city is hidden not only in its building but also in its people's lives. The plane began to disappear inside the clouds.
And I said to myself... "Someday I will return, Seoul."
* The End *
Story - 1
Kyoto City in Japan
I went to see the red city of Kyoto. The autumn of Japan is like a different world. The mountains are full of fire colored maple leaves, small wooden houses, soft cold air and the road shining with the light of lanterns in the evening. All in all, it is like a state of dreams.
I have been dreaming of going to Japan for a long time. Especially the old city of Kyoto. Because everyone says, even in modern Japan, Kyoto still keeps its old memories alive.
Finally, one morning in the first week of November, my dream was fulfilled. The first thing that surprised me after landing in Kyoto from Tokyo, Japan was discipline. Coming out of the airport, I saw hundreds of people walking around, but there was no shouting, no pushing. Everyone is doing their job quietly.
From Tokyo station I boarded the Shinkansen bullet train. I have never traveled so fast in my life. The train was moving so smoothly that I could not understand that it was running at a speed of three hundred kilometers per hour. One after another small towns, paddy fields, hills and rivers were flying in front of the eyes. At some point in the distance, a huge mountain covered with snow was seen in the distance.
A Japanese gentleman sitting next to him smiled and said, "Fuji San." I looked out the window. Mount Fuji. Japan's pride. After two hours I reached Kyoto city. Today is the first day the smell of this quiet city filled the mind. At first I felt that this city was completely different after leaving the Kyoto station.
There are no tall buildings like Tokyo. Here I saw old wooden houses, narrow roads and small shops. I left my bags in the hotel and went out to visit the city. Small shops on both sides of the road. Somewhere handmade kimonos, some bamboo items, some tea shops. The smell of green tea and fried fish was floating in the air.
I was most surprised to see the behavior of people. As soon as you enter the shop, everyone bows their heads and says, “In Erashymus!” I mean, welcome. They always have a calm smile on their faces. That evening I went to Gion area. This is the famous Geisha district of Kyoto. The whole area is like entering history. Stone roads, wooden houses, red paper lanterns and quiet and quiet atmosphere.
Suddenly I saw two women walking on the other side of the road. White makeup, colorful kimono, wooden sandals. A local man said, "Myko." I mean the apprentice geisha. They were walking so fast that they disappeared before taking pictures. I entered a small tea shop and drank matcha tea. I didn't like that bitter taste green tea at first, but slowly I felt a strange peace.
The old owner of the shop knew little of English. Still trying to talk with a smile. He said, "Time is slow in Kyoto." It really seemed so.
The next morning I went out to see the Fushimi Inari Taisha temple. Thousands of red tori gates of this temple, famous all over the world. Sunlight was entering through the red gates.
All around was the sound of birds and the sound of bamboo leaves. Once I came to a place in the middle of the mountain and stood. From here the whole city of Kyoto was seen. Small houses, mountains in the distance and morning fog. There he met an old Japanese man. He comes here every morning for a walk.
He told me, "In Japan we respect nature very much. I believe that there is a soul in everything in mountains, rivers, trees." I was listening quietly. Maybe this is why Japan is so beautiful.
There is no way not to fall in love with food in Kyoto. One afternoon I entered a small ramen shop. Only eight seats in the shop. Everyone is eating silently. As soon as the hot steaming bowl came in front, the mind was filled. I will never forget the taste of noodles, eggs, meat and thick soup in life.
Another day I played sushi. At first I was a little afraid to eat raw fish. But the taste is amazing. I play Takoyaki in the street shop. Round ball made with octopus. The outside is soft, soft on the inside. The Japanese dessert mochi was the best. Sweet bean paste inside soft rice cakes. The care of the Japanese is clearly understood in the food. They also serve a small dish like art.
On the third day I went to see the bamboo forest of Arashiyama. There is a world famous bamboo forest here. The tall bamboo trees are standing touching the sky. When the wind blows, the bamboos were making noise together. That sound was so calm that it seemed like nature was singing. I sat there by a small river.
I saw some Japanese families doing picnics. Children are running, old people are drinking tea quietly. People in Japan are very calm. They don't speak loudly. Trying not to inconvenience others. No one talks loudly on the phone on the train. Garbage is rarely seen on the road. But the surprising thing is that there are very few dustbins here because they go home with their own garbage in their bags.
That night I was walking along the narrow road of Gion. It was raining lightly. The light of the red lantern was shining on the wet road. Suddenly an old bookstore came into view. I entered inside and saw an old man reading a book. The shop is stuck out of time. Old paper smell, wooden shelves and yellow light.
The old man showed me a book. The book had pictures of old Kyoto. He said,
“This city changes, but its spirit doesn’t.”I was looking at pictures of old Kyoto in the book.
The streets of this city were almost the same even a hundred years ago.
Suddenly I understood why people love Kyoto so much.
It’s not just a city. It’s a feeling.
On the last morning, I was walking along the Kamo River. The red autumn leaves were floating in the river. In the distance, children were cycling to school. No one was in a hurry. I suddenly felt that this city teaches people to live slowly. We always run fast. But Kyoto teaches that you can sit peacefully with a cup of tea, and even the falling of a leaf can be beautiful.
I looked at the city one last time before getting on the train. It felt like Kyoto was silently saying...
"Come back again."
And to be honest, I still haven't forgotten that city.
* The End *
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