Tag: azerbaijan

Trip to Baku – Going back home

~ Srinidhi Prabakar ~ Leave a comment

Hello to all my viewers reading this. Today was our last day in Baku as we prepare to make our grand exit back to the UAE, and I must say, I was sad—so sad, I could probably win an award for it! After I woke up, I got ready and had my last meal at the Diamond Hotel, which was as epic as a last supper could be.

After packing our bags, we shuffled to our van like a bunch of reluctant cats being dragged to the vet. I will definitely miss Baku, the driver of the van, and the view—oh, that view! After some time, we finally reached the airport, where adventure awaits… or at least a long line at security!

We wrapped up our security checks and check-in—it was about as thrilling as watching paint dry. To sprinkle some joy on our hungry faces, the adults embraced their inner heroes and whisked us away with Happy Meals from McDonald’s, though they ominously instructed us to devour our feasts on the airplane. I ended up with crocs as my toy, and guess what? My sister got the exact same pair—twinsies!

I even managed to score a chicken burger, which I confidently deemed a gourmet meal at 30,000 feet. Afterward, we sauntered over to passport control and made our way to our gate, where I stumbled upon a sweet shop. My mom and aunt decided it was the perfect time for some Azerbaijani sweets, but I was too stuffed to entertain the idea of eating any more—priorities, right?

Then my mom, in her never-ending quest for the perfect souvenir, waltzed into a shop and called me, sounding like a modern-day treasure hunter, demanding I arrive with 10 bucks. So, off I went, and what did I get? A wooden pencil and a pen—because obviously, that’s what every kid dreams of on vacation! By the time we got our souvenirs, our flight had begun boarding, and we were practically the last ones to waddle to the gate like it was a race.

Once aboard, we became professional photographers, snapping selfies like we were about to win the Oscar for Best In-Flight Snack Montage. Just when we thought we’d reached peak dining bliss with our Happy Meals, guess what? My pre-ordered food swooped in like a superhero: a chicken cheese zinger wrap! Talk about an upgrade!

You see, there were so many empty seats on our flight that it looked more like a ghost town than an airplane! So, our friends from the back decided to join us up front, probably thinking there might be snacks or better views (spoiler alert: there weren’t). After a while, I got bored out of my mind, so I whipped out my phone to indulge in some literary magic – that’s right, I dove into a Harry Potter e-book!

But just a few hours later, the flight attendant popped up like a magician, telling us we were landing shortly. I was sitting with my mom and my aunt, battling ear pain like a warrior when my aunt discreetly handed me some bubble gum (keep that on the down-low, will ya?). And just like that, we landed in Abu Dhabi, UAE – our home sweet home where the only flying I do is in my dreams!

Then we landed, did a quick makeover in the restroom, and made our way to passport control like we were in a reality show challenge. After that, we heroically rescued our baggages, and since my family was the speediest, we even snagged our friends’ luggage—talk about a heist! We staged our grand exit from the airport, hopped into an airport taxi, and made a beeline to my friend’s house. From there, my family commandeered our friend’s car and off we went to Dubai, with dreams of grandeur and adventure.

But first, a pit stop at a gas station where my dad, in a caffeine-fueled frenzy, bought us coffee. My sister and I shared a French vanilla latte like it was the last cup on Earth, while our parents savored a cappuccino—because adulting is hard, right? Finally, we rolled into our home, grabbed a bite at Vegme, and crashed into bed, where I dreamt about all the wild adventures I could potentially feature in a blockbuster movie.

And that’s a wrap on our Azerbaijan escapades! Until next time, when we’ll embark on even more questionable adventures! (P.S. Today’s photo album features a stunning blank page—a true masterpiece!)

But hold onto your hats, folks! Here’s a pie-in-the-face question for you—what was the most shockingly fascinating, mind-boggling piece of awesomeness you stumbled upon while chomping on my wildly entertaining escapades in Baku from day 1 to day 5? Spill the beans!

The End

Trip to Baku – Day 5

~ Srinidhi Prabakar ~ Leave a comment

Hello to my fabulous viewers eagerly anticipating the wacky escapades of Day 5! So, picture this: we woke up in a hotel in Gabala (the name is as forgettable as my memory). We jumped into the shower, but the water heater had other plans, treating us to a hot-cold spa experience that felt more like a surprise party gone rogue! After our refreshing rollercoaster, we ventured out for breakfast.

Let’s just say the options were about as plentiful as a diet at a chocolate festival—so I went for the classic combo of pizza, parota, and egg. Once we made our culinary masterpiece disappear, we packed up faster than you can say “check-out time,” then struck a pose with some stunning cherry blossom-like flowers that clearly had more Instagram followers than I do!

Then, we loaded our luggage into our van, embarking on our grand adventure to Baku today. Our first stop was the Seven Beautiful Waterfalls—because why not start our tour with something that sounds like a fairy tale? The view was so stunning, I half-expected a nymph to pop out and offer us tea. We trudged to the top, making sure to awkwardly splash our hands in the running water because, let’s be honest, who can resist?

At this point, I had firmly decided to stay back, but I suddenly found myself ascending the hill like I was on a reality show challenge; I swear my feet had a mind of their own! That view was so breathtaking, I might have shed a tear—or was it just the mist? We snapped a few photos worthy of a magazine cover and then trooped back down to rejoin our group, only to realize we had all collectively just conquered the most glorified stair stepper ever.

Then we piled into our van like a bunch of excited squirrels and headed to the Gabala shooting range! I was sooo pumped for this adventure because, guess what? They had archery! Now, I don’t exactly dabble in archery myself, but I’ve read enough about it to almost qualify as a professional expert!

But first, the adults got their moment to shine, blasting away with guns and shotguns like they were in some action movie. Then it was the kids’ turn! They handed us a paper, the target looking at us like it was all too easy. I managed to get 4 to 5 bullets in the black circle, which is basically my version of scoring a winning goal!

Then it was time for Archery! I was super excited, practically bouncing off the walls. As luck would have it, I was called first—probably because they wanted to witness my imminent archery greatness (or comedic failure). I loaded my arrows like a pro and almost hit a bull’s eye! Then it was the kids’ turn, followed by some very brave adults who clearly didn’t mind risking their dignity.

After our glorious displays of skill, we plopped down in the lounge area, waiting for the uncles to finish paying for their wild off-road escapades. Just when I thought it was safe, my mom instructed me to vacate the sofa. Confused, I stood up and—surprise!—there was a cat hiding under me! I sat on a cat! Talk about a surprise guest! This gave me a minor heart attack and left me questioning my life choices!

Then we went off-road driving, which was like a roller coaster but without the safety harness! I squeezed into the front seat with my sister and dad, and we had a blast—like, literally, at one point I thought we might take off! After conquering the wild terrain, we returned to the van while the adults had a shoe-washing party for our muddy footwear, which, let’s be honest, they were more excited about than we were. Then it was full throttle to Baku!

We made a pit stop at the legendary RAJA RESTAURANT, where we dined like kings on cumin rice, naan, roti, chapati, paneer butter masala, dal tadka, and spaghetti—because, obviously, we needed an Italian twist! With our bellies bursting, we hopped back into the van. On our way, my mom decided to interview our driver about the entire history, laws, and regulations of Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, knowing we’d be starving by the time we reached the hotel, the adults ordered chicken burgers from McDonald’s online—because nothing says “cultural immersion” like fast food!

When we finally rolled into the Diamond hotel, we dashed to our rooms and devoured the chicken burgers like they were the last supper. Meanwhile, the adults, in their infinite wisdom, decided sandwiches were a better choice and promptly regretted it as they waited an eternity—I’m pretty sure the sandwich could have been a contestant on “The Amazing Race”!

While they were in the restaurant engaging in cardio by waiting, we kids hijacked a room to binge-watch TV like it was our day job. Curiously, the adults entrusted me with the prestigious title of babysitter—clearly, they had low standards. Eventually, the adults stumbled back to our rooms and crashed, dreaming of tomorrow’s grand adventures—but plot twist: tomorrow, we’re trading adventures for the UAE!

And now, folks, brace yourselves for today’s masterpiece of picture-taking! Don’t just enjoy them, revel in the pixelated glory!

See you guys tomorrow! Unless, of course, I get abducted by aliens or mistaken for a lost sock—then it might be a minute!

The End

Trip to Baku – Day 4

~ Srinidhi Prabakar ~ Leave a comment

Hello to all you bright-eyed adventurers anxiously counting down to the epic Day 4 in Baku! After a breakfast that could impress even the pickiest of food critics at our sparkling Diamond Hotel, we hopped into our trusty van like a group of over-caffeinated squirrels.

Today’s destination? Gabala! Since it’s further than your last New Year’s resolution, we had to pack our bags, shed a few dramatic tears saying goodbye to our Diamond Hotel, and embark on our next escapade. Buckle up, it’s going to be a wild ride!

It was a 5-hour journey to Gabala from Baku that felt like an episode of a reality show titled “Survivor: Backseat Edition.” My friend and I, in a moment of pure genius, claimed the back seats and entered hibernation mode. But, just as we were dreaming of snacks, our 2-year-old human alarm clock—who clearly has a talent for miscalculating nap times—decided it was time for a wake-up call. We jolted upright to a picture-perfect view of the village and nature, and I couldn’t resist snapping some photos that might just make us look a little less like zombies!

Then we rolled into the gas station for a bathroom break and to fuel up the van, though let’s be honest, the washroom looked like a monster’s lair from the outside—not a chance I’d risk it! After surviving that ordeal, we hopped back into the van and made a beeline for a restaurant.

The establishment proudly advertised itself as RAJA RESTAURANT. There, we indulged in a feast fit for royalty: Chapati, Egg curry, Noodles, and Cumin rice—talk about a culinary rollercoaster! After this epic meal, we waddled our way to the Tufandag mountains, ready for whatever adventure awaited us (as long as it didn’t involve any more questionable restrooms).

To reach the pinnacle of those towering mountains (a whopping 1920 m high), we had no choice but to hop on the cable car—a magical box of fear and vertigo! As we ascended, I felt like I was auditioning for a low-budget horror movie, dizzy and on the verge of creating my own personal water feature, but mercifully, I held it together. After 3 nail-biting cable car rides (I could’ve sworn we were defying gravity), we finally made it to the top!

I frolicked in the snow like a clumsy penguin, raced around with my mom, and stumbled into a steak and wine shop—not to feast, mind you, but to bask in the warm embrace of a heater. Eventually, our entire gang waddled in, chattering teeth and all, looking like a bunch of frozen popsicles in dire need of thawing out!

After what felt like an eternity, we decided to hop on the sledge, but lo and behold! The ticket counter was closed—cue the dramatic music! Just when despair was about to set in, a wonderfully generous family tossed us their ticket like it was some sort of Olympic baton. Bless their hearts—they only got one ride too, but hey, sharing is caring, right?

Then we heard an announcement that was basically a race starter pistol for our legs, and we sprinted to the cable car like a herd of caffeinated goats. It was 5 PM, aka closing time, and we were not going to let that stop us! We zoomed down, and I proudly declare my family as the speed demons of the mountain—first place, no contest!

After we crammed ourselves into the van, our next stop was the illustrious Nohur Lake. There, we hopped onto pedal boats that had me feeling like I was part of a Peppa Pig episode, just waiting for Peppa to show up and give that iconic pig snort. After exhausting our leg muscles on the boats, we stumbled into a café where I kicked things off with a coffee and ended up finishing with a pizza that could probably qualify as a toe-stubbing hazard. I bravely ordered a caffe mocha, and when my sister left her hot chocolate half-finished, I swooped in like a snack ninja and claimed her chocolatey treasure for myself.

After gobbling down our food like we hadn’t eaten in days, we sprinted to the van in the pouring rain like a scene out of an action movie. We zoomed to the hotel in 10 minutes, but I was in a real pickle—having held in my pee all day, I was about to burst like a water balloon! In a moment of desperation, I snatched the hotel room access card from the bewildered attendant, dashed to my room, and only then did I realize I could finally see straight without the fear of an imminent flood!

As the kids polished off their pizza like it was the last supper, the adults decided to throw a pizza party of their own, complete with roasted chicken and a mountain of french fries—because why not add enough carbs to fuel an entire football team Meanwhile, I heroically sacrificed my social life and went to bed, determined not to let my dwindling energy be wasted on chitchat. I drifted off to sleep, dreaming of tomorrow’s adventure—hopefully involving fewer carbs and more hilarity!

And now, brace yourselves, folks, because my photography skills are about to dazzle your socks off! Enjoy the spectacle!

See you tomorrow for more shenanigans that we’ll probably need to apologize for later!

The End

Trip to Baku – Day 3

~ Srinidhi Prabakar ~ Leave a comment

Hello fabulous folks eagerly counting down to day 3 of our Baku escapades! I rolled out of my delightful cloud of a bed, took a shower that could rival a spa day, and somehow managed to get ready without losing a sock. Today’s grand adventure? Shahdang!

We sauntered off for breakfast, where I definitely did not overindulge—promise! After that, it was back to our room for a frantic gather-up of essentials: gloves, camera, and of course, snacks! Finally, we met our partners in crime at the reception and piled into the van, ready to conquer whatever hilarity awaited us!

It was a marathon of a trip to Shahdang, and my friend and I blissfully commandeered the back seat like two royalty on a quest for snacks, dozing off like we were in hibernation mode. In the midst of my berry-induced dreams, I jolted awake to the magical sight of a person peddling strawberries—clearly, the universe wanted us to embrace our inner adventurers with a bucket of berries! We annihilated that entire bucket like it was the last dessert on Earth, despite me being half in dreamland. As we trudged towards the mountains, the view was so breathtakingly beautiful that even my sleepy self considered waking up for it!

Eventually, we ascended into the mountains, where the weather decided to play a practical joke and shower us with snow—much to the dismay of our tour guide who confidently proclaimed there would be no snow! We geared up for the icy assault, precisely as we stumbled out of the van, looking like human icicles ready to take on the polar vortex!

After a much-needed bathroom break, we discovered we had selected the wrong gloves—cue the slapstick music! Our hands were so soaked from snow that they might as well have been dipped in a swimming pool. So, off we trundled to a nearby store, because who doesn’t love an unplanned shopping spree for the right gloves?

With our new snug hand-huggers, we approached the cable car like pros. But first, an epic snowball fight erupted; snowflakes flew as we became snow-covered warriors! Finally, we boarded the cable car, and lo and behold, the snow decided to double-down on its density. But no worries—the view was so stunning it could make a snowman weep with joy!

When we finally conquered the peak, the real fun began—imagine a bunch of people trying to run on snow, only to discover that gravity doesn’t care about your plans! After a flurry of pictures, the snow decided to take a turn for the dense, so we plotted our escape. As we descended, I pleaded with my dad to open the window so we could get the full “snow experience,” you know, other than just freezing in place.

When we finally reached the bottom, I took one glance at my dad, and I swear he looked like a polar bear who’d lost a bet—he was practically wearing a winter coat of snow! With the cold biting at our noses, we dashed to the shop where we snagged those shiny new gloves, all for the sake of basking in the glory of a heater!

After that brain freeze from the thought of a snowstorm, we decided to brave the roller coaster – because who doesn’t love a good adrenaline rush paired with frostbite? I embarked on this wild ride with my dad, taking turns while the first three brave souls went screaming into the abyss.

Meanwhile, the rest of our crew chose the cozy safety of a coffee shop, probably plotting to take over the world while keeping an eye on our pint-sized two-year-old human tornado. While we waited, we caffeine-fueled ourselves into oblivion; I treated myself to a latte – because nothing says “I’m about to hop on a dizzying ride” like a fancy coffee. We even snagged some french fries, because if you’re going to ride a roller coaster, you might as well do it on a diet of carbs and chaos!

After those other groups had their fun, it was finally our turn to brave the wild. First things first, we made a pit stop at the restroom—because nobody wants to add “wet seat” to their resume while soaring through the sky! Then off we went, and let me tell you, it was a rollercoaster of emotions: boring, scary, and downright amazing all at once! We climbed to the top of the mountains, waved hello to the clouds, and swapped seats again (because nothing says teamwork like a good old-fashioned shuffle!). The descent was nothing short of epic—think action movie without the stunt double! And after all that thrill, we cashed in on photos, only to realize we turned into a collection of blurry blobs. Who needs to see faces when you can have mystery?

That roller coaster was the crown jewel of today’s escapade! After that thrilling ride, we swaggered over to the coffee shop to rendezvous with our group, only to discover one of the little kids munching on snow like it was cotton candy at a fair. We were all set to zipline into the wild blue yonder, but alas, that dream was dashed—it was closed, probably for ‘safety’ or some other boring reason. So, we grabbed some snapshots to immortalize our day and hopped into our trusty van. Inside, we cranked up the heat and feasted on a lunch/snack combo that would make any gourmet chef green with envy!

By the time we rolled into Baku city, night had already thrown its party hat on. We decided to summon some food online like modern-day wizards, and after what felt like an eternity (or maybe just a few minutes), we finally checked into our hotel. We arrived just in time for our culinary magic to unfold, as our food materialized shortly after—talk about timing!

For dinner, we feasted on parota, paneer butter masala, butter chicken, and cumin rice—the ultimate showdown between our taste buds! After stuffing ourselves, we slumped in front of the TV, bid our friend a sleepy goodnight, and drifted off, dreaming of the epic adventures awaiting us the next day—or at least hoping there would be no food comas involved!

And now, brace yourselves for photo time! I hope you’re ready to be dazzled by my so-called “professional” photography skills—just don’t forget to adjust your expectations!

I’ll catch you tomorrow for an adventure! Hopefully, it involves fewer awkward encounters and more snacks!

The End

Trip to Baku – Day 2

~ Srinidhi Prabakar ~ Leave a comment

Hello to all you fabulous people eagerly sitting on the edge of your seats waiting to hear about my thrilling day 2 in Baku! So, we crashed at this place called Diamond Hotel—because who doesn’t want to rest their head where the only thing shiny is the name? It’s a 3-star hotel, but trust me, it vibes like it’s sitting on a cloud made of a million stars, just minus the actual celestial bodies. The room was nice, the bed cradled me like a baby in a hammock, and honestly, everything about the hotel was so perfect that I half expected a royal trumpet to sound every time I opened the door!

For breakfast, I devoured a boiled egg that looked like it had a serious identity crisis, a sunny side up egg that was practically winking at me, sausage links that were clearly born for a talent show, pancakes stacked high enough to challenge gravity, delicate crepes just waiting to be unrolled for a runway show, and cupcakes that were so pretty I felt guilty eating them. And there was a mysterious spread that resembled custard cream on bread—clearly, avant-garde cuisine at its finest!

Since we were playing a dangerous game of “when will we eat lunch?”, my mom and a few stealthy adults pulled off a heist, sneaking snacks like we were on a secret mission, just in case we were stranded in the van forever. After our feast fit for royalty, we hopped into the van and headed to Gobustan museum, where the first thing that caught my eye was a bunch of Stone Age folks chilling in their trendy straw huts—definitely the original hipsters!

We wandered into the museum, which seemed to be a time capsule dedicated to the Stone Age, Paleolithic Age, and Neolithic Age—talk about a prehistoric overload! It felt like my grade 3 SST lessons were crashing back like a bad pop quiz. As I gazed at the ancient artworks, I half expected Picasso to pop out from behind a rock and yell, “Whoa, what an amazing masterpiece!”

After a while, some of my friends announced they needed a bathroom break, probably after being overwhelmed by the ancient vibes. So, I took the opportunity to snap some selfies with my trusty camera—who wouldn’t want a photo with friends in front of art older than their great-grandparents? Oh, and I even caught a close-up of a ladybird; I’m pretty sure that counts as another ‘masterpiece’!

Then we decided to ascend the Gobustan mountain, and let me tell you, the view was so spectacular I half-expected a dragon to swoop down and ask for directions! We stumbled upon ancient drawings and historic spots that practically screamed, “Look! People used to party here!” In a nearby shop, we encountered this delightful old lady who was crafting Azerbaijani food known as Qutabi. It was scrumptious—imagine a thin bread stuffed with cheese or greens that could probably convince you to abandon all dietary restrictions! Later, we discovered a trio of antique cars that looked like they were straight out of a museum exhibit titled “Things That Should Absolutely Not Be Driven.”

We hopped in one, which was an adventure in itself, and zoomed off to the mud volcano. The ride felt like a wild amusement park attraction, thanks to our driver who I swear was a grandfather straight out of a sitcom! He navigated roads so thrilling I thought I was on a rollercoaster – without the safety bar, mind you! My ride was a champ, but my buddy’s car needed two people to slam the door shut from the outside—talk about a two-man job!

After we rolled up to the land of volcanoes, I was simply flabbergasted to see grey mud shooting out of the ground like it was competing in an art show! They say this mud is great for skin, but of course, we forgot to bring a bottle—so much for my spa plans! And guess what?

I spotted a volcano that looked like it was just waiting for its lava debut! Meanwhile, my dad and some other adults were getting cozy with the fire as if it were a campfire marshmallow roast. We snapped some unforgettable photos and then hopped back to our van, taking the scenic route in what felt like a rollercoaster ride with our car.

Then we stumbled into a restaurant and decided to try something fancy called Pilaf, which is basically briyani but with a side of dry fruits—because who needs spice, right? We also went wild with spaghetti and fries, because why not mix cultures? And let’s not forget about Qutabi, which sounds exotic but is mostly just delicious. Right next to the restaurant was a fire temple, because obviously, after stuffing ourselves, we needed to learn how this country came to be.

After that, we traipsed over to this mountain whose name escapes me—probably because I was too busy trying to remember where I left my sanity. There was a fire there too, which made me wonder if we’d accidentally wandered onto a camping trip gone wrong. While my friends were risking life and limb on the bridge, I opted for the safer route of browsing the souvenir shop with my mom.

It was cold enough to make penguins look like they were sunbathing, so I snagged a pomegranate fridge magnet—because clearly, my kitchen needed more fruit that doesn’t spoil! To my surprise, I also spotted an exact painting of my two feathered troublemakers; perhaps they were moonlighting as art models. Once my brave friends returned from the mountain’s treacherous side, we headed back to our van, ready to embark on our last adventure of the day—hopefully one without any unnecessary rock climbing!

Our last destination was the Heydar Aliyev Centrum, which was technically closed – because who needs art when you have a great excuse to take selfies? We snapped some pics near the “I Love Baku” sign, and I treated myself to a latte while the others munched on who-knows-what! After our photo op, we squeezed back into our van like a can of overstuffed sausages and headed to the hotel. As for dinner, I was too stuffed from lunch to eat—seriously, I could’ve rolled away! Meanwhile, my friends devoured shawarma, chapati, and dal like they were training for a food Olympics!

I swapped my day clothes for my jammies, looking like a fashion disaster, and sank into bed pondering my epic plans for Azerbaijan—should I climb a mountain or just try not to trip over my own feet while sampling too much baklava?

Now here are some dazzling snapshots I snapped today — brace yourselves for a visual rollercoaster! Enjoy the ride!

Tomorrow, I’ll waltz in with a shiny new adventure that’s more exciting than a cat in a room full of laser pointers!

The End

Trip to Baku – Day 1

~ Srinidhi Prabakar ~ Leave a comment

Let me whisk you away to October 2024, where the dinner plates were still spinning from our meal. Just as I was contemplating whether dessert was a good idea, one of my family friends rang us up like a delivery pizza that had gone rogue. “Guess what?” he exclaimed, “Air Arabia is practically throwing flight tickets at us!” After what felt like a lengthy debate—you know, the kind that could rival a political debate—my family, along with two other brave families, decided to book our escape to Baku in March 2025. Who said planning a trip wasn’t as fun as a family board game night gone wrong?

After 2025 rolled up like an unexpected guest at a party, my family had a lightbulb moment, realizing we had booked tickets to Baku a month prior—who knew time travel could be so confusing? We were stuck in a conundrum of whether to go or not, thanks to a series of personal dramas worthy of a soap opera. Initially, we decided to pull the plug on the trip, but just like a plot twist in a bad rom-com, Dad swooped in a week before takeoff with a dramatic declaration: “We are going!” My mom and I were so laser-focused on hunting down the coziest winter gear on Amazon that we willingly sacrificed lunch on the last day.

You see, I live in fancy Dubai while my flight is set to take off in Abu Dhabi, and one of our friends is in the same boat—except their departure is in Sharjah! So, like seasoned travel gurus, we hatched a master plan. With our flight scheduled for Friday, we decided to kick things off on Thursday. Our friend, being the clever schemer, borrowed our car on Thursday and crashed at our place. Meanwhile, we gratefully invaded their home like unpredictable houseguests! Let’s just say it was a real swap party—minus the snacks!

On Friday morning, we jumped out of bed like we were being chased by a bear, frantically double-checking our bags to make sure we hadn’t packed our entire house and missed the essentials—like phone chargers—because who needs clothes anyway? After a taxi ride that felt more like a rollercoaster, we finally arrived at the airport and spotted our other family friend, who seemed to have a sixth sense for luggage pickup.

Together, we checked in and sped through security as if we were auditioning for a spy movie before settling at our gate. That’s when the real feast began! My uncle swooped in with poori, which he’d heroically smuggled in, and their infamous GOAT tamarind rice—yes, it’s a dish so good it deserves its own fan club! After our epic airport banquet, we rolled onto the plane like overstuffed burritos, ready for adventure!

On our flight, the culinary adventure began! I opted for a kids meal—because who doesn’t want to relive their toddlerhood? I swapped it with my friend, a miniature human with a penchant for fried chicken and mac and cheese, who was desperate for the allure of the kids meal. While I was munching away, my other friends, including my mom, who clearly channeled a food peddler, showered me with a treasure trove of snacks: gummy bears, chips, mango juice, Oreos, and a chicken & cheese zinger sandwich that could probably qualify as an aircraft emergency exit slide!

After what felt like a mini eternity, we touched down in Baku. While waiting in the passport control line, I spotted my friend who had bravely flown in from Sharjah. I couldn’t resist the temptation and fired off a selfie showing my best thumbs-up pose just to annoy my friends—nothing says friendship like digital torture! Once we rescued our luggage from the conveyor belt, we made a beeline for the van. The moment I stepped outside, I transformed into a shivering human popsicle, eagerly sprinting towards the van like a clumsy penguin in winter gear!

We reached our hotel and somehow managed to get ready in 20 minutes—what a miracle! I threw on my shirt and jeans over my thermal wear, because nothing says “fashion icon” like layers of clothing! Our first stop was Highland Park, which has a staircase so long that I half expected to find a pilgrimage happening on the way up. But when you finally reach the top, there’s a view of Baku so stunning that I nearly forgot to take pictures. I whipped out my dad’s camera, striking poses like a pro, while trying not to tumble backward and embrace the “scenic view” from a different angle—straight down!

Our next pit stop was Nizami Street, which felt like London but with fewer red buses and more pigeons that were obviously trained in the art of dodging tourists. The first gourmet achievement of the day was a chicken burger at McDonald’s—because why not experience local cuisine in the most global way possible? After our culinary adventure, we couldn’t resist snapping some photos with a rather fabulous pink cat who clearly knew it was the star of the show.

And just when I thought the day couldn’t get any weirder, I stumbled upon a statue of a lady holding an umbrella as if she were about to fend off an army of raindrops, right next to some impressive wooden carvings of stacked books that looked like they were desperately trying to keep their literary secrets intact!

We found ourselves at a festival that seemed to have popped up out of nowhere, snapping photos like we were on a celebrity red carpet. As we strolled deeper into the streets, we stumbled upon another statue that I attempted to capture, but my photos turned out darker than a sitcom’s plot twist. Meanwhile, I witnessed the police engaging in a tussle straight out of an action movie, trying to get someone into a car—it was like I was living in a bizarre film where I was the unwitting extra!

Next, we dragged ourselves back to our hotels, collapsing like a bunch of weary superheroes after a long day while dreaming of the next day’s adventures. And now, brace yourselves for a stunning slideshow of my highly artistic photos from today—trust me, they’re the reason the modern camera was invented!

Get ready to buckle up, folks, because tomorrow we’re diving headfirst into another wild adventure—bring your snacks and a helmet!

The End