Hello from Hanoi! Yes, I am currently sitting in my Air BNB in Hanoi Old Quarter with a belly full of Banh Mi Hanoi, and decided that I really should share the best locations that I’ve found to get Banh Mi Hanoi around the city. Over the past couple of […]
Along with several other waterfalls in North Bali, Banyumala Twin Waterfalls had been on our list of “must visits” for a long time. Finally, we planned a whole week in the Munduk region so that we could tick all of them off our list. Now we are so glad that […]
Presiding quietly and ominously over the entire Indonesian Archipelago reside no less than 127 Volcano’s. The names of several of them are well known to visitors to the region as they smolder away, ever present and always a threat. Mt Ijen, however, is known mostly for its iconic Blue Flame, […]
One of the first things that visitors to Bali see upon arriving is the massive Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue located on the Bali Bukit, presiding over the entire southern Bali area. This incredible statue is part of the Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park, and can be seen from as far […]
As someone that lives in Bali and has been to nearly everywhere on the island, I am constantly fielding enquiries from friends, relatives, and readers about the best places to stay. As a long term resident of Nusa Dua, many of those enquiries are, is Nusa Dua or Uluwatu better? […]
Is the new Bali Railway the answer to the rapidly growing traffic issues on the island? This is a question many are asking, and one that authorities believe they have answered. A long-awaited ring road servicing the Uluwatu area, and railway network connecting the airport to central tourist hubs could […]
Tourists behaving badly in Bali still defies belief, even after crackdowns by law enforcement and immigration officials. Solutions appear to be few and far between, and no matter what measures are put into place, unruly tourists in Bali just seem to keep coming. From Uluwatu to Canggu, local authorities have […]
Antalya is the fifth largest city in Turkey, and one of the hotspots for tourism during the summer period. As the largest city along the Mediterranean shoreline, it becomes very popular with visitors to the “Turkish Riviera” with its beaches, old town harbour and scenic seaside parks overflowing during tourist […]
One thing about writing guides for Lonely Planet is that you find yourself discovering and exploring locations that you otherwise might have completely passed by. Such was the case with Dieng Plateau when I visited there a few weeks ago. Located right in the middle of Java, this highland gem […]
For first time visitors to any city, the first question that gets asked is how many days they will need to see the city and the sights. At least, the main sights at a very minimum. Having visited Kuala Lumpur now on half a dozen occasions whilst researching guides throughout […]
In a country like Indonesia, there just HAS to be a few haunted places, right? Well, there are, and I’m here to tell you that after living in the country for several years, I rate Indonesia as one of the most haunted countries in the world! In this article, I’ve […]
One very under rated getaway from Semarang in Central Java is a place called Benteng Fort Willem I. This partially abandoned fort hails back to the early 1800’s, and is a fascinating place to visit if you are in the area. Located not too far off the motorway, and in […]