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

Amed

East Bali: Tirta Gangga Water Palace

After bidding farewell to Kusumajaya, we walked down the hill and a hundred meters up the road to the Tirta Gangga watergarden. I had been looking forward to visiting this site for quite a long time and hadn't told Kristin about it at all, so I was excited.

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.

East Bali: Pura Goa Lawah

Pura Goa Lawah is one of six temples known as the Sad Kahyangan, or the 'six temples of the world'. The Balinese believe these six temples are the pivotal points of the island; along with Pura Goa Lawah, Pura Besakih, Pura Lempuyang Luhur, Pura Uluwatu, Pura Batukaru, and Pura Pusering Jagat makeup this sacred group.

Nusa Lembongan -- How to get there

Dream Beach

I decided to go out of town for the weekend and what better place to do it than
Nusa Lembongan.



Ashamedly, in my almost 4 years here, it was my first time to see this beautiful little island especially since it's so close to Bali.


Having only a couple of days, it was the perfect easy getaway. Because of its proximity to Bali, Lembo is the preferred 'go to' escape for those with limited holiday time or those needing a quick one-day leisure off Bali.

Loads of travel and boat companies offer trips from 1-day cruise tours to 3 Night holiday packages.

How to get from Langkawi to Singapore

We basically retraced our steps until Alor Setar.

From our hostel, we rode a taxi back to the Jetty Port, took the ferry to Kualah Kedah, a cab ride to Alor Setar, then the coach (~RM43) back to Singapore.

This is just one of the ways you can return to Singapore. The other is to fly back or take the train at Arau Railway Station.

This is probably the longest bus trip I’ve ever taken in my life. The entire trip took a little over 10 hours! (so yeah prepare yourself, bring some snacks and water) Good thing was that the bus was pretty comfortable and I slept for most of the trip. 

dinner at Red Tomato before leaving

Previously:  Lounging in Langkawi

Author: Kristin

How to get to Kuala Lumpur from Singapore

After hanging out all over town in Singsing, my friend Jasmin and I made our move for Langkawi, an island on the west of the Malaysia peninsula with a stop-over in Kuala Lumpur.

I’ve heard of the difficulties of traveling it by land but we were both up for an adventure so, we decided to give it a go!

How to get from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi

listening to kelly clarkson's concert
outside the hockey stadium while waiting
for the bus departure time. 

Jasmin and I took a cab from Berjaya Square to Sentral Station. From here, we rode the train to Bukit Jalil Station and walked about 5 minutes to the "temporary Bus Station / Terminal" -- because Puduraya Bus Terminal is closed for renovation at the time (it has resumed operations in 2011) -- where we took the late night bus, 11:30PM for Alor Setar. 

How to get to Sesame Street?

"Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?"

Doubt anybody ever really knows. Doesn't even say in the song nor has Big Bird, Bert or Ernie mentioned it. Perhaps, Snuffie knows.

How to get from Koh Chang to Bangkok

This trip was probably the most excruciating of all. 

How to get from Bangkok to Siem Reap - Part 1

Many travelers make their way to Siem Reap after a stint in Bangkok, as the city is accessible by various modes of land transportation.

I’ve done the mini-van and the local train ways.

the Low-Down:

Fun DAY stuff to do in Bangkok

So you’re over the whole Khao San and Tani Road scenes, or were never really into that and would love to see BKK during the day.

Here are some FUN day stuff to do:

BANGKOK: Ways to get from the Airport to Khao San Road

Bangkok is the capital, most populous city, and the main business district in Thailand. For foreign travelers however, Bangkok is a shopping mecca for cheap fashionable goods, delicious Thai cuisine, a commuter hub that connects you to the many other touristy spots of central Thailand, and of course the infamous Khao San Road.

Khao San Road is where the nightlife in Bangkok is concentrated; about 30 km/ 30 minutes from Suvarnabhumi airport. This is where all the crazy ought-be-forgotten partying happens aka the thai vortex.

How to get  to KHAO SAN from SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT

Got Kink? Kansai does.

Kansai, historically known as the Kinki Region, literally means "west of the border" that spreads all through the Kinki Plain and consists of seven prefectures: Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyōgo, and Shiga.

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??