North-West Bali: Bali Gecko Homestay, Pemuteran

There are loads and loads of hotels, villas, and homestays on the coast. You can take your pick depending on your preferred location and budget.

Indonesia: Labuan Bajo, Flores Island

view of Labuan Bajo town

For our 3^rd year anniversary and Christmas holiday, Michael arranged a trip to the Flores Islands. Seeing the Komodo dragons has always been a dream for us, not only because they are part of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World (according to the UNESCO Heritage Site) but we were interested to see these giant lizards in action as well as experience the beauty of the island. 

What’s also highly fascinating is that the Komodo Dragon is one of the very, very few surviving representatives of the Pleistocene era, where creatures and fauna were of gigantic proportions. And now these beautiful lizards are endangered – currently there are only more or less 4,200 dragons left! Their endangerment is highly due to the diminishing fauna and food available to them on the islands they inhabit plus the changes their environments are going through.

Singapore -- Exploring Little India

Philippines -- Baler

Beautiful BALER



Mike was busy working in Australia so I went home again to the Philippines to see family. A friend was going to Baler for the weekend and I decided to tag-along.

Philippines -- La Union

There has been so much talk about the surf in the Philippines lately, so we went to check out a popular spot up north.

sunset on the northern coast of the region

East Bali: Tirta Gangga & Kusumajaya Homestay

After visiting Pura Goa Lawah and continuing another hour north, Kristin and I were ready to settle in for the night. I had been told the best place to stay in Tirta Gangga was the Kusumajaya Homestay. Sitting halfway up a mountain, the site overlooks the beautiful valley below. It's not the easiest place to find, but we didn't mind exploring the surrounding area's rice terraces before finally arriving at our destination.

Setting Up in Bali: Part I -- Accommodations, Furniture, and Appliances

Sorry for the delay in between posts. Life has gotten quite stressful and busy here in Bali land.

Things to Do in Kuta, Legian, and Seminyak

Once a small fishing village, Kuta has developed into the heart of Bali's tourism industry over the past four decades. In fact, it's gotten so big that it's hard to tell where Kuta ends and its northern neighbors of Legian and Seminyak begin (we can barely tell, that's why we grouped them together here). The area's proximity to Ngurah Rai Airport makes it the easiest arrival and departure destination, and it's long sandy beach is close to a wide range of accommodations, shopping, restaurants, and bars.

Where to stay in Hanoi

In my searches, Hanoi Backpackers always came up with good reviews. So when I got to the strip I decided to check it out. Oh yeah, it's popular all right. It was bursting to the seams with young drunk aussies on their version of spring break. The place looked like an over-flow of Kuta in Bali.

Where to stay in Siem Reap

There are plenty of affordable hotels and hostels in the area. But, I love this one:

7 Fun things to DO in Osaka

I went to visit my good friend Andrew, who has moved here from Tokyo to work as an English professor at the beautiful Kwansei University. After touring his new school (definitely an upgrade from the language center we both worked for), we went around town to do some sight-seeing, eating, and of course partying!

What to DO and SEE?

5 Amazing Things to DO in Kyoto

Kyoto Imperial Palace

I had a few days off work so what better way to spend it than visiting ‘old Japan’ or what people call the ‘real Japan’ which is Kyoto. 

Kobe: 6 Things to DO in One Day

I had an extra day to spare so I decided to pay a family friend, the Sakoda Family, a visit. Sachiko and her daughter Aki gamely showed me around this little city.

What to do in ONE DAY??

How and Where to find a Place To Live in Tokyo

photo courtesy of sakura-house

So, you’re about to move to Japan or have already moved but unsure of where to get help finding accommodations and such. 

Normally, your employer should help set you up. But if this isn;t happening and you're alone on your hunt, here are what you need to know about finding a place in Tokyo: