Categorie: Asia

2013 Travel Summary, Part II

Resuming the travel summary of 2013, the nomadic year… Read part I here. JULY – Timor-Leste / The Gili Islands If you need to leave Bali for a visa run… why not go completely off-script and head to Timor-Leste? Practical info about the place is scarce, so I went in blind — which may be […]

2013 Travel Summary

2013 flew by so fast, I barely saw the months pass.In terms of travel, it was insane. I moved from Europe to Asia and wound up in a place that “forces” me to leave the country at least every two months just to renew my visa.Not the worst deal, right? Here’s a look back at […]

What it’s like to live in Ubud, Bali in 2013

So… What’s Life in Bali Really Like in 2013? I’ve been asked the question dozens of times:“What does your life in Bali look like?” Every time, I launch into a passionate description of Ubud — the spiritual, artsy town we now call home. Yet somehow, people still look at me blankly and say,“I still don’t […]

8 Days in South Vietnam

Vietnam: A Failed Mission (Sort Of) My trip to Vietnam was meant to be a bit of a mission. For years, I’d heard nothing but negative stories: scams, rude vendors, rigged taxi meters, unwelcoming locals… the list went on. Nearly everyone I met who’d travelled through Vietnam had something negative to say, often claiming it […]

Myanmar: land of infinite Buddhas

Myanmar: A Thousand? Try Hundreds of Thousands of Pagodas Myanmar is often called the “land of a thousand pagodas.” A thousand feels wildly inaccurate.“Hundreds of thousands” might be more fitting. The Burmese seem to dedicate their lives to honouring Buddha — and building pagodas, stupas, and temples. Each structure holds relics or statues of Buddha, […]

5 Quirky Things To Do in Manila

5 Wonderfully Weird Things to Do in Manila Manila is a vibrant city where everything seems possible. People are loud, full of life, and seem to know no embarrassment — at least, that’s what it looks like to an outsider. I only spent a couple of days in the metropolis, but I immediately LOVED it. […]

Eating dog in East Timor

Don’t Knock It Till You’ve Tried It It wasn’t a mistake. It was a conscious choice I made under the motto: don’t knock it till you’ve tried it. There I was, sitting in the hostel’s common room, chatting with a group of interesting travellers who had all found their way to a relatively unknown destination: […]

Part II. The best of Palawan

A couple of days ago, I started listing my 20 favourite things about Palawan, the Philippines. Today, I’m finishing off the list (Missed part I? Read it here) In no particular order,   What else makes Palawan so great?   11. Motorcycling through the country side  Rent a motorcycle or scooter in El Nido or […]