Manila is not only a gateway for South East Asia and the 7,000 islands in the Philippines, it also has a number of beach and mountain destinations nearby for a weekend getaway. I have reported on Taal Lake & Volcano and the Nasugbu coast. If you want to do more than enjoy the scenery or swim, you […]
Ever since I visited Bali for the first time (and loved it), I was looking for a smaller, less developed and generally less busy version of Bali – trying to keep all the good things without some of the bad things that come with development. I had high hopes for Lombok, but while I enjoyed
Lombok has been on my travel list for a long time: When I first visited Bali 15 years ago, Lombok saw some tragic events with local mobs, stirred up by muslim agitators, looting Hindu and Chinese businesses and homes, sending tourism on Lombok into a long decline. I was looking for an “unspoiled Bali”, something
This is the first post in the “Snapshot” series, a combination of destination description and travel tips (see more details about the kind of posts here). And Penang is a great candidate: While it might not be a dream destination for me, it has a lot to offer and makes a good weekend destination. Good
On my ASEAN Explorer trip, courtesy of the AirAsia travel pass, I planned a stop in Surat Thani, in Southern Thailand to visit the nearby Khao Sok National Park. But with the tricky Thai ground transport putting my onward flight at risk, and having just spent a lot of time exploring nature and wildlife in
Boracay has been one of my favorite beach destinations since I visited years ago – the powdery, white sand and crystal clear, warm water make it a special slice of paradise, as you can read here. Apparently, many people agreed and Boracay’s popularity has soared, it was voted to be “Best Beach in Asia” and
Manila is a mega-city of somewhere between 8 and 15 Million people. On a good day, it’s a bustling city of friendly people with lots of great fun, food and fiestas – I have written about “The Gateway to Paradise”. On a bad day, when you are stuck in chaotic traffic with crazy drivers, you just
I love South East Asia: The 10 countries making up ASEAN have so much to offer – from getaways to white beaches to exciting cities; from untouched nature and wildlife to stunning historical sights there is so much to see. And the different countries are as different as European ones, making it worth spending time
The Philippines have over 7,000 islands, and Coron is one of the most beautiful areas in the country for a peaceful getaway. The beaches are unspoiled, the hotels are generally small and spread out across a number of islands and it is still a dream destination you can go to now, without thinking “I wish
Most people thinking of “getaways” have images of beaches in their mind – yet Luang Prabang is one of the most serene and relaxing places I have ever been to… and it is not one of the places you hear everybody recommend…yet…
My way to Borracay led via Manila, to a little airfield close to Borroacay. At the counter of “Asian Spirit” I receive my manual boarding pass, with handwritten seat assignment. A small turbo prop plane is waiting to take me. After a short flight the plane descends towards the landing strip on the nearby, larger
I was ready for some beach time, relaxation away from it all without the tourist masses and the pretense you find in so many tourist getaways. While I did not need a phone or TV, I wasn’t willing to give up on all comfort and human contact. In preparing for the trip to Belize, I