What truly made my visit to Kosovo memorable apart from seeing the Bill Clinton statue, eating the affordably priced food, or the targeted execution that took place just a few steps away from me, were the Kosovars who are some of the warmest and welcoming people on the planet. It amazes me that despite all the crazy shit that they’ve witnessed and gone through with the war, they’re the first to give you a smile. I think some of the charm has to do with the fact that not many tourists visit Kosovo, at least not when I did back in 2018. On top of that, I don’t think people in Kosovo get to see an Asian person often, which made me feel particularly special. Come to think of it, I don’t think I saw a single Asian person during my entire time in Kosovo, which is crazy because Asians are everywhere.

Hey children, I promise I’m not a creeper. Really.

If you read my previous post, Shit Goes Down in Kosovo, you’ll know what happened above.

After the incident, I found a cute coffee shop where I sat to chat with this friendly man, who wanted to know where I was from and what the hell I was doing in Kosovo.

I met this little fella while walking along the Prizren River in, you guessed it, Prizen.

The Pristina Bazaar was bustling with activity and friendly vendors.

Most of the people at the bazaar actually insisted that I take pictures of them. Not many people in other parts of the world are that willing to do so, which is another reason why I loved Kosovars so much.

Beneath the friendly smiles, one cannot ignore the political and ethnic tensions that still remain in the country.

One thing’s for sure. The positive impression that the people in Kosovo left on me will make me come back in a heartbeat. I don’t know when, but I definitely will some day. Until next time, peace out, Kosovo.