Mugdha Khedkar

Dr. Mugdha Khedkar

Research Associate, Secure Software Engineering, Universität Paderborn

Posts by Country

Australia

Australia · Melbourne: An Innings to Remember A cricket fan's dream come true: a behind-the-scenes tour of the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Australia · To the Paradise "Down Under" My first trip to the Southern Hemisphere: Melbourne's trams, an untimely autumn and an upside-down moon.

Belgium

Belgium · Truffles, Murals and All Things Belgian A shaky first impression, a dazzling Market Square, Tintin murals and a truffle-making class. Belgium · Bruges: A Birthday Girl's Dream! A birthday among canals, waffles and a Belfry climb in the most romantic place I've ever visited.

Brazil

Brazil · Rio: Summer, Wonders, and a Sip of Home My last PhD conference, a free week in the Rio sun, and a city that reminded me of Mumbai.

Croatia

Croatia · Zadar: Melodies of the Adriatic Three unhurried days in Croatia's oldest city, with sunsets over the Adriatic and the music of the sea organ.

Cyprus

Cyprus · Limassol: The Calm of the Mediterranean A conference in Cyprus, the only sunny day of the week, and an old town that reminded me of India.

Czech Republic

Czech Republic · Prague: A Bohemian Dreamland The Old Town Square, the Astronomical Clock at night, and Charles Bridge from morning to sunset. Czech Republic · Prague and its Unearthed Treasures Kafka's Jewish Quarter, a 'dementor' outside the Opera, and the Hanging Man: Prague's quirky side.

Denmark

Denmark · Helsingør: The Home of Hamlet Hamlet performed in Kronborg's courtyard, an afternoon of coloring in a castle, and a 15-minute ferry to Sweden.

France

France · Paris: A Dollop of Fantasy, a Pinch of Reality An honest day in Paris: an underwhelming first look at the Eiffel Tower, and bakeries that made up for it.

Germany

Germany · Sachsenhausen: A Graveyard of Humanity After four years in Germany, I finally visited a Nazi concentration camp: the most chilling place I have ever set foot in. Germany · Goslar: Ore Mines and Their Secrets A half-timbered Airbnb, a noisy bell tower, and a train ride 300 meters down into a 1,000-year-old ore mine. Germany · Schloss Dagstuhl: Best of Both Worlds Three days living and working in a castle in the forest, with a library of thousands of Computer Science books. Germany · The Bavarian Dream Hiking through the roaring Partnach gorge, and finally seeing Eibsee, a lake I'd dreamt of for years. Germany · Harz Towns: Walking through History Rain canceled our North Sea plans, so we wandered the fairytale half-timbered towns of the Harz instead. Germany · The Deutsche Experience (2/2) Our first Oktoberfest in Munich: beer, the grand opening parade and the largest public festival in the world. Germany · The Deutsche Experience (1/2) Showing my partner Germany on a 9-euro ticket: Berlin, my favorite city, and the festivals of Paderborn. Germany · Ruins When a tornado tore through Paderborn, my favorite place in town took a direct hit. Germany · Hidden Treasures of NRW: Herford The road less traveled: a quiet old town, untouched by tourists, that turned out to be an eye-opener. Germany · Hidden Treasures of NRW: Bonn Cherry blossoms, an 11th-century minster and a two-story Haribo store in the birthplace of gummy bears. Germany · Hidden Treasures of NRW: Paderborn (2/2) Sunday walks by Padersee, ice cream and mulled wine at Schloss Neuhaus, and the rivers that shape my town. Germany · Hidden Treasures of NRW: Paderborn (1/2) An ode to ordinary Paderborn: the Town Hall, the warm Pader springs and the hometown of Heinz Nixdorf. Germany · Zuhause (Home) A year after moving to Germany alone, a love letter to Paderborn, the quiet town I learned to call home. Germany · Hidden Treasures of NRW: Monschau A fairytale town near the Belgian border where every shop, cafe and even the bank is half-timbered. Germany · Hidden Treasures of NRW: Aachen A dreary December brightened by Aachen: a 1,200-year-old cathedral, a hot spring and Christmas markets. Germany · Heidelberg: Redefining Romance Germany's oldest university town: the Old Bridge over the Neckar, castle ruins and the world's biggest wine barrel. Germany · Hidden Treasures of NRW: the Externsteine Ice Age sandstone pillars in the Teutoburg Forest, and the forest trail where Google Maps abandoned me. Germany · Hidden Treasures of NRW: Detmold (2/2) Germany's largest open-air museum: 500 years of Westphalian half-timbered houses, farms and country life. Germany · Hidden Treasures of NRW: Detmold (1/2) A princely palace, a canal with Amsterdam vibes and the view from Hermann's Monument on a rare sunny day. Germany · Hidden Treasures of NRW: Bad Lippspringe Odin's eye, the spring where the Lippe river is born, and the healing waters that make this spa town 'Bad'. Germany · Hidden Treasures of NRW: Minden Half-timbered streets along the Weser, and Stolpersteine on the pavement that tell of Minden's darker history. Germany · Hidden Treasures of NRW: Bielefeld A hike up to Sparrenburg Castle, art on the Kunsthalle lawns and an Old Market lit up for the art festival.

Hungary

Hungary · Budapest: The Wonders on the Danube Back in a city I love: thermal baths, ruin bars and the hidden world beneath Buda's cobbled streets. Hungary · A Tale of Two Cities: Buda and Pest A Halloween weekend in Budapest: Buda Castle, Matthias Church and a night cruise past the glowing Parliament.

India

India · Jodhpur: Rao Jodha's Fortress The blue city of Rajasthan, the mighty Mehrangarh Fort, and an evening of street shopping and mawa kachori. India · The Great Indian Desert Back home for the holidays: a jeep safari across the Thar desert, a breathtaking sunset and a camel named Bhura. India · Neil Island: A Blanket of Dreams Hypnotically blue water, a glass-bottom boat, a hunt for glowing waves and a sunrise worth the wait. India · Havelock Island: A Homecoming to Remember My first family trip in over a year: island life in the Andamans, a cyclone, and the best beach in Asia. India · Ladakh: India's Little Tibet A trip from ten years ago: landing among the Himalayas in Leh, quiet monasteries and the Indus river. India · Alappuzha: Venice of the East A family trip to God's Own Country: houseboats, floating villages and canals under a canopy of coconut trees.

Italy

Italy · Florence: A Renaissance Masterpiece A December evening in Renaissance Florence: views over the Arno and Ponte Vecchio lit up at dusk. Italy · Burano: Alappuzha of Europe A foggy winter boat ride to colorful houses, quiet canals and a leaning tower: Italy's own Alappuzha.

Netherlands

Netherlands · Giethoorn: The Dutch Venice Showing my mom and twin sister my life in Europe, by boat through a car-free Dutch village of canals. Netherlands · Amsterdam: Sunshine on the Canals Showing my partner my life in Europe, starting with the dancing houses and flower-lined canals of Amsterdam.

Portugal

Portugal · Lisbon: A Slice of Western Europe A conference trip, a free day exploring solo, and books from the oldest operating bookstore in the world.

Slovakia

Slovakia · Bratislava: Sculpting Simplicity Quirky life-size statues, a sunset over the Danube, and an autumn street straight out of a poem.

Switzerland

Switzerland · Zermatt: Under Toblerone's Spell An apartment with all of Zermatt at our feet, my husband's first snowfall, and the Matterhorn closer than I ever imagined. Switzerland · Glacier Express: The Ultimate Alpine Escape Our first trip as husband and wife: six hours on the 'slowest express train in the world' through the Swiss Alps.

USA

USA · Cayucos: Sunsets and Small-Town Charm When the flu canceled our New Mexico trip, we chased elephant seals and sunsets along California's Central Coast instead. USA · Carmel Valley: The Reward of Patience A hilltop trailer, a hot tub and a sky full of stars: one more American experience before leaving the U.S. USA · Shasta: Trails, Laughs, and Peace by the Water Waterfalls, winding lakes and limestone caves: the offbeat second leg of our Northern California road trip. USA · Redwood Coast: Where Giants Meet the Ocean A week stolen from our PhDs to wander among the tallest trees on Earth, right where they meet the Pacific. USA · Arizona: The Home of Pluto Sedona's red rocks, a surprise snowstorm, and the observatory where Pluto was discovered. USA · Grand Canyon: Nature's Majestic Canvas A plane tour over one of the world's natural wonders, and a terrifying first look down from the rim. USA · Southern California: Spring in the Deserts My first U.S. National Park: Joshua trees, rocky landscapes from another planet, and two deserts in one park. USA · Joshua Tree: A Glimpse of the Heavens A 3 a.m. alarm, a windy desert night, and my first real glimpse of the Milky Way. USA · Northern California: Experiences of a Lifetime Whale watching in Monterey Bay, cliffs along Highway 1, and a takeoff over San Francisco I'll never forget. USA · Carmel-By-The-Sea: Europe of California My first taste of the California countryside: a quirky beach town with a law against high heels.