Previously recognised simply as Bali’s sister island, Lombok is now a full-grown destination with its own set of charms. Each year, more people are skipping Bali for Lombok’s pristine, unspoiled nature. Some say Lombok’s exotic beaches remind them of what Bali looked like decades ago – and that doesn’t include the island’s hidden, untouched spots …
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Hotel Mexicola is a trendy and unique dining place with a colorful concept serving Mexican specialties and alcohol. With such unique decorations and even various candles surrounding portraits of the deceased people, I could not help but think back to Dia de los muertos, a festival commemorating the dead in Mexico. Unfortunately, the lighting at …
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At the Pasar Bawah, the undercover market of Pekanbaru, baskets are piled ceiling high with the spices and other flavours that make up the local Padang cuisine famous to West Sumatra: ginger, galangal, turmeric, lemongrass, cassava chips, garlic, shallots, shrimp and chilli. Together, they spice up the most iconic dishes of masakan padang: rendang daging …
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Just a 90-minute drive from Kalibo is the Philippine’s paradise island, where everything is bright, gaudy and tourist-friendly. Imagine Bali but Filipino style. In light of the island under closure, I have prepared a 3-day itinerary that you can refer to once the island opens up to tourists again. Perhaps prices may go up, but …
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Located some 150km southeast of Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia’s West Java province has a quaint atmosphere that suits the tastes of the adventurous. With a population of approximately 2.6 million, Bandung has a laid-back lifestyle that is different from the country’s capital with all its hustle and bustle. Just a two-hour drive (if there …
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Borobudur Fun fact – did you know that Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim country, yet it is also home to the largest Buddhist temple complex in the world? This is testament of how various religions can co-exist in one country. Borobudur: This famous Buddhist temple, dating from the 8th and 9th centuries, is located …
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For those who have seen my Instagram posts about the hand structure overlooking the valley, this is the new Instagram place to be for those who are visiting Yogyakarta. Situated about an hour away from the city and a winding ride up the mountainous roads, Pinus Pengger in Bantul is a pine forest area with …
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Pekanbaru is not your typical destination to visit in Indonesia. While it is not really off the beaten track, the international airport only serves two international destinations – Singapore and Malaysia. Being the capital city of Riau province in Sumatra, it serves mainly as as the largest oil-producing capital in the whole of Indonesia and …
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Since Scoot launched their 4 times weekly flight to Pekanbaru, it has been much easier to visit this capital city of Riau province. The economy was originally built on coffee and coal but now relies on oil. The Riau Province produces half of the crude oil for all of Indonesia, 650,000 barrels per year. Pekanbaru is …
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Update: 5 May 2019 I flew with KLM again to Bali. KLM offers a flight between Amsterdam and Bali, with a stopover in Singapore. This flight is popular with European revellers who are headed to Bali for their beach vacation. Since I had not taken a KLM flight before, I booked the Singapore-Bali return journey …
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What a tropical paradise Bali is. I had long avoided visiting Bali because it is touristy and filled with drunk Australian tourists. However, I was so wrong! I found my inner peace in Bali. This Indonesian island known for its forested volcanic mountains, iconic rice paddies, beaches and coral reefs is more than meets the eye. …
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Bandung is the capital of Java Barat province of West Java in Indonesia. It is well known for its fashion and wide varieties of flowers, trees and parks. Café and boutiques are spread throughout its street. The climate of Bandung is very pleasant throughout the year. This city is situated at an elevation of 768 …
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