Blogs, They Are A-Changin’… to a New Address!

My current whereabouts in Pokhara, Nepal.

My travel blog Arimo travels has moved. From now on, all new blog posts will appear at arimotravels.com.

Survival Tips for India

Indian crowd near Red Fort, Delhi.

India is a perfect country for backpackers: it is exotic, beautiful and diverse. At the same time, India can be a very challenging destination that may quickly wear you down. Here are a few survival tips to make your stay more enjoyable.

Happy Days with a Travel Companion

Tino with his video camera in Agra Fort.

After months of solo travel, it was finally time for something different. My close Finnish friend Tino flew to Delhi to see me, and we explored northern India together for ten days. And oh boy, was it fun!

Alternative pictures from Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal as seen from the Agra Fort.

Have you ever seen any photos of Taj Mahal that are not taken in a perfect weather? If you search Taj Mahal in Google, nearly all the pictures are taken from the same direction. I want to show what visiting the famous mausoleum is really like, so here are a few less glamorous pictures from the site.

I Had a Noble Mission in Udaipur

Udaipur and Lake Pichola. Hanuman Ghat Area is in the middle of the picture and the City Palace is in the bottom right corner.

Searching for a lost friend of a friend in an Indian city of half a million people? Challenge accepted!

I Got off a Train in a Random City in India

The view out of my hotel room window.

After traveling through some of the most popular tourist destinations of Southern India, I decided to hop off the train on a random city for a few days rest. When I finally got out of the beaten track, I witnessed a completely different India with unique flavours that… Nah, just kidding. There was nothing remarkable about my stay in the city of Surat.

Stumbling in Hampi

The ruins in Hampi are remnants of Vijayanagara, the capital of the historic Vijayanagara Empire.

“Oh, you have to go to Hampi!” exclaimed Anthony, an American long term traveler during our stay in Iran in July. Anthony had not personally visited Hampi during his stay in India, but he had heard many other travelers recommend the place. Hampi is also listed as one of the top sights of India in the Lonely Planet guide. You can’t go wrong with so many people, right?

8 Useful Android Apps for Long Term Travel (and What to Do With Them)

Keeping track of my purchases during a train ride from Moldova to Romania.

Ah, smart phones. They’ve permanently changed the way we travel, but they don’t help much if you don’t know what to do with them. Here are some free Android apps that I’ve found very helpful during my months on the road.

I Found Paradise (and It’s Called Gokarna)

Om Beach, located a few kilometers south from the town of Gokarna, India.

After over two months of traveling, I’ve had moments when I’ve been bored with the monotonous cycle of moving from one place to the next. Then I found Gokarna, my new favorite place in the world that reminded me why I’m traveling.

Visiting Kerala During the Monsoon Season

Athirappilly Falls in Kerala

Many travelers have strong opinions about India. They either love it or hate it, or feel both of the things at the same time. After a week in Kerala, Southern India, I started to understand why.