Tag: off the beaten track

What’s in Macau?

Is Macau Worth the Splurge? After a quick calculation, I realized that a day trip to Macau from Hong Kong would set us back roughly €85—just in transport costs for two. Whoops… this was supposed to be a budget trip! As often happens, I was torn between saving money and discovering a new corner of […]

5 Quirky Things to do in Bali

There’s a widespread misconception that Bali is just another tourist mecca full of beautiful clichés. Granted, there is a fair amount of mass tourism, but the island has so much more to offer. Finding authenticity is a walk in the park, and going off the beaten track is just as easy. Quirks are plentiful, and […]

What’s in Sulawesi?

Maybe I should start by answering the question: “Where is Sulawesi?”Among the 6,000 inhabited islands of Indonesia lies Sulawesi, one of the country’s largest. When I told my friends we were off to explore Sulawesi, they all gave me the same puzzled reaction: “Oh, how lovely… What’s in Sulawesi?”To be honest, I wasn’t entirely sure […]

Torajan Death Rituals

“Would you like to go to a funeral, m’am?” Not exactly the question you’d expect when stepping out of a long distance bus… And yet, what this man was proposing, is quite normal in Tana Toraja. In fact, funerals are the “main attraction” in the region. Visitors mostly come to learn about the Torajan culture […]

Thingyan, Water festival in Myanmar

Who doesn’t love a smashing New Year’s party? Now imagine that bash lasting for days, taking place outdoors under a blazing sun, and involving obscene amounts of water. Welcome to Thingyan — Myanmar’s water festival, held around mid-April to ring in the Burmese New Year. It’s the country’s biggest and most important holiday, and it’s […]

Spiritual Tourism: Thaipusam 2014

Experiencing the Festival of Thaipusam: A Dream Fulfilled Yes!! Another travel wish come true. Years ago, while doing some research on Malaysia, I stumbled upon a celebration that immediately caught my eye: Thaipusam. I was fascinated. But when I realized I had just missed it by a few weeks, I was gutted. Fast-forward six years, […]

What’s in… Palestine?

Israel is, agreeably, a popular travel destination that sees millions of visitor each year. But what about Palestine? As it is often forgotten by travellers or ignored because of its size, ‘danger’ or whatever the reasons may be. I felt the need to find out… What’s in palestine? Very competent barbers. Like in the olden […]

East Timor: not for rookies

When I told my friends I was going to Timor-Leste, many of them had no idea where it was. Some had never even heard of this country. Understandably, since it has only been an independent country for 11 years.