Any trip to Africa would be incomplete without a safari tour. The same goes for Eswatini, despite its small size and that we had just come from South Africa Kruger National Park, we decided to visit Mkhaya Game Reserve. This time, I would not be the one driving and we could sit in a jeep …
continue reading »
In 2018, the country of Swaziland became eSwatini. The new name, eSwatini, means “land of the Swazis”. The change was unexpected, but King Mswati has been referring to Swaziland for years as eSwatini. He explained that the name had caused some confusion, saying: “Whenever we go abroad, people refer to us as Switzerland.” So this …
continue reading »
After our drive through Kruger National Park, we went to Nelspruit for a night’s stay. Nelspruit is Mpumalanga’s dilapidated but functional provincial capital, where bakkies (pick-up trucks) dodge potholes en route to shiny malls. It’s more a place to get things done than a worthwhile destination for tourists, but it’s not unpleasant and has the …
continue reading »
Finally fulfilled my dream of visiting Kruger on my third trip to South Africa. Got to see many animals (elephants, buffaloes, zebras, impalas, giraffes, wildebeest, lions, hippos etc) while driving and imagine our delight when some wild animals appeared from the bushes, allowing us to stop by the roadside and happily snap away. This post …
continue reading »
The Colombian capital is a vast, noisy, and intense city, but Bogota has a lot more to offer than initially meets the eye, and not just for solo travellers. It caters to all groups of visitors, be it the business tourist there for a business meeting, a backpacker touring his/her way down the length of …
continue reading »
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 …
continue reading »
An absolute “must visit” day trip for those in Medellin, located just two hours away on bus, you can find the marvel that is Guatapé and the infamous rock, La Piedra. Combine the spectacular 360 degree views from the rock with a beautifully preserved colonial town and you have a formidable Colombian day trip. Although Medellin …
continue reading »
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 …
continue reading »
For those who are tired of exploring Bangkok and want a city break, do head over to Phetchaburi, a small, tranquil town about 2-3 hours away from the bustling capital. It has temples, palaces and cave shrines, and is a convenient stop on your way to the beach. Best of all, Phetburi, as it’s usually called, …
continue reading »
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 …
continue reading »
The pretty little coffee town of Jardin in the mountains of southern Antioquia department is one of Colombia’s Heritage Towns and arguably one of the nicest small towns to visit in the whole country. A charming mix of traditional architecture, stunning natural scenery and friendly local people, Jardin is worth visiting for at least a …
continue reading »
**Update** Colombia will lift the “Reciprocity Fee” for all Canadian tourists entering Colombia, effective 1 May 2019, so there will not be any payment of COP200 000 for Canadian passport holders. Cartagena de Indias is the undisputed queen of the Caribbean coast, a fairy-tale city of romance, legends and superbly preserved beauty lying within an …
continue reading »
Colombia’s capital city of Bogota is a vast, sprawling place with a population of over 8 million people, and concrete as far as the eye can see. It’s a great city to visit,cradled by the chilly Andean peaks on one side and steeped in sophisticated urban cool on the other. The city’s cultural epicenter is La …
continue reading »
The desert city of Yazd is as picturesque as Middle Eastern cities come. Its well-preserved mud brick old town, distinctive badgirs, or wind-catchers, dotted around the skyline, and numerous historical sites make it a necessary destination for any tourist visiting Iran. With its winding lanes, forest of badgirs, mud-brick houses and delightful places to stay, Yazd …
continue reading »
Many travellers opt to bypass Kashan on their journeys between Tehran, Esfahan and Yazd, but this delightful oasis city on the edge of the Dasht-e Kavir is one of Iran’s most alluring destinations. It not only boasts a cluster of architectural wonders, an atmospheric covered bazaar and a Unesco recognised garden, but it also offers …
continue reading »
Belgium is the capital of Belgium and also the de facto capital of the European Union. The “muscle from Brussels” Jean-Claude Van Damme is also born here as well. Ironically, one of the symbols of Brussels is the Manneken Pis, the bronze sculpture of a naked little boy taking a piss. Once a week, there …
continue reading »
Esfahan is a city in central Iran, south of Tehran and is the capital of Esfahan Province. The Persians call it “Nesf-e-Jahan”, meaning “Half The World”. Due to its beautiful hand-painted tiling and magnificent public square, it is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. An ancient town and capital …
continue reading »
Tehran is a conservative city, but it is also home to some of Iranian society’s most liberal strands, particularly behind the closed doors of the tree-lined streets and cul-de-sacs of its northern neighbourhoods. Hugging the lower slopes of the magnificent, snowcapped Alborz Mountains, Tehran is Iran’s most secular and liberal city. Spend time here – …
continue reading »
At the crossroads where the Balkans meet Central Europe lies one of Europe’s oldest cities, the capital of Serbia, Belgrade. Although very much a western city, Belgrade’s location and history of inhabitation by many different cultures and civilizations have left it with a feeling of the magic of the east. Belgrade has become one of …
continue reading »
Blessed with some of the greatest wildlife spectacles on earth, Botswana is one of the great safari destinations in Africa. After crossing the border from Zambia, I ended up in Kasane which is the gateway to Chobe National Park. Chobe National Park in Botswana has the highest concentration of elephants in the world, it is …
continue reading »
Havana is generally the first port of call for visitors to Cuba, and if you are pressed for time, it might be the only one. For those planning to explore the rest of the country, or just want a day trip from the capital, look no further than Viñales, which is just under two hours …
continue reading »
After having explored most of the cafes nearer to Johor Bahru (JB) customs for a while, plus walking several rounds around City Square Mall, we decided to venture further out to Taman Mount Austin. This is one up and coming neighbourhood to check out while in JB, with several cafes and restaurants springing up. A …
continue reading »
Besides Russia or India, Singaporean passport holders require a visa to be applied in advance before being allowed to enter Pakistan. This can only be done at the home embassy of the applicant, so for travelers who are in the region now, they must send back their passport to their home country in order to …
continue reading »
Mexico has always intrigued me due to the ancient civilisations and beautiful, white, sandy beaches. Mexico is the second largest economy in Latin America and the country caters to all kinds of visitors, from those seeking luxury in the resorts along the Riviera Maya to the backpackers having a slice of the beach at Cancun …
continue reading »