Favourite Sunrise/Sunset

We were very lucky with the weather throughout the trip and had a proper sunset on most days, so there are plenty of options to choose from. We didn’t often make the effort to get up for sunrise, but on those days we did, it was always spectacular.

Honourable mentions: Yerevan, Istanbul

Best market

One market stands far above the rest. Stretching up the side of the mountain in Dali, you could find everything from fresh local Yunnan coffee, snacks, Bai fabrics, fruit, veg, animals (dead and alive), spices, furniture, and just about anything else you could wish to purchase. It was also manageable, without the overwhelming nature of most markets which look exciting but are chaotic and stressful to actually explore.

Architecture

We both loved the Shebeki architecture of north-west Azerbaijan and north-east Georgia, with Persian influences and spectacularly colourful locally made windows. On the other end of the spectrum was Chongqing, with its layers of modernity built on top of one another overlooking the Yangtze. The golden accented temples found all over Thailand and Laos sat gorgeously amongst the foliage. Similarly, Hoi An had a beautiful balance of colourful flowers and pastel buildings along walkable streets and the riverfront. I liked that almost every alleyway in Vietnam had this to some degree, epitomising the community spirit of the country.

Best hotel

For me, the ‘best’ hotel always came down to the friendliness of the owners, the location, and the food. It could be very basic, such as in Akhaltsikhe, and still be amongst my favourites. Kaja also appreciated these elements but took the view into account a little more.

Best view from room

Two complete opposite ends of the spectrum – Chongqing and Mestia. Our room in Chongqing sat 200 metres above the 8D magic city, overlooking skyscrapers, bridges and the mighty Yangtze. I had to crawl towards the window to even take photos! Mestia in the Georgian region of Svaneti is another place that had long been on my dream list. Sitting on our wooden balcony, drinking Georgian wine and looking at the rustic Svan towers and the mountains beyond, the view matched every expectation as a base from which to explore these valleys.