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Waimangu Volcanic Valley

Prepare yourself for a surreal visual experience as you journey to the breathtaking Blue Spring in Putaruru. While the drive to this hidden gem may seem like a considerable distance from Auckland, We were rewarded with stunning picturesque countryside views. The beauty of the landscape serves as a testament to why numerous epic movies have …

During my recent visit to Kampar, a small town near Gua Tempurung. I came a day ahead and booked the tour of Gua Tempurung for the next morning. Gua Tempurung is the largest limestone cave in Peninsular Malaysia. Gua means cave, and Tempurung is a coconut shell in Malay. Gua Tempurung gets its name from …

White water rafting in Gopeng, Malaysia, is an exhilarating experience for everyone, whether you're an expert seeking adventure or someone looking to pump up their adrenaline. No matter your skill level, there's something for you during this thrilling activity in Gopeng. During our visit, we chose to stay at Adeline Villa, an eco-friendly villa nestled …

We had heard about Adeline Villa and Rest House from friends and family for quite some time. We always wanted to visit and experience this place's delightful food and the Gopeng area's outdoor activities. Today, we finally made it here, as we are attending a function in Kampar, a small town not far from Gopeng. …

Huka Falls is just a 5-minute drive north of Lake Taupo, within Wairakei Park. This waterfall is one of the most visited waterfalls in New Zealand, and you have to be there yourself to understand why.  We arrived at the car park of Spa Thermal Park, where there were plenty of parking lots for free. …

After our recent visit to Queenstown, we began contemplating our options for exploring the North Island before returning to Malaysia at the end of the month. Our local in-laws proposed a captivating 4-day and 3-night journey to the Taupō and Rotorua region. This post is all about our first stop, Aratiatia Rapids. Intrigued by the prospect …

During our three-month stay in New Zealand, we had the opportunity to explore various locations in both the North and South Islands. One of our longest and most memorable journeys was a ten-day, nine-night trip that covered all the places to visit in Queenstown and its surrounding areas on the South Island. In this article, …

Let me tell you about our tour in Queenstown City Center! We stayed for nine days and went on awesome day tours to nearby places. But we also had downtime to explore this incredible city.  Queenstown is a gem, with the stunning Wakatipu Lake and Remarkable range as its backdrop. We took a leisurely walk, …

Throughout our 9-day tour in Queenstown, South Island, and the surrounding area, we made it a point to explore a wide range of restaurants, each offering unique cooking methods and flavors. While we had the opportunity to try more establishments than those mentioned below, I would like to share my top restaurants in Queenstown and …

On the ninth day of our Queenstown trip, we opted for a different mode of travel. We rent a car instead of joining a guided tour and immerse ourselves in the breathtaking beauty of the Queenstown to Glenorchy highway, renowned as one of the most scenic drives in New Zealand. We started our day with …

During the seventh day of our journey around the South Island, we were excited to embark on the Doubtful Sound cruise to explore the wilderness of Fiordland. We had a peaceful night's rest in the charming town of Te Anau.  This fiord is three times longer than Milford Sound and has ten times the surface …

Our sixth day on the South Island was an exhilarating experience and undoubtedly the pinnacle of our trip. We woke up early, walking from our hotel to the bus stop, eager to join the Milford Sound cruise to visit this renowned scenic gem of New Zealand. We decided to join the all-inclusive Milford Sound nature …

On the fifth day of our trip to Queenstown, we embarked on a day trip to Wanaka, including the Crown Range Summit and the Cardrona Hotel, in the morning. After a delightful lunch, we continued our journey to Arrowtown. In this article, we will delve into the captivating experiences of our morning activities, with Arrowtown …

On the fifth day of our holiday in Queenstown, we booked a bus tour to Arrowtown and Wanaka. Opting for a guided tour instead of self-driving was a wise decision, considering the tales we had heard about the steep and winding route to Wanaka.  In this article, I will take you through the beautiful historic …

This morning, we decided to take a stroll to Long Bay Beach. The weather forecast assured us of a sunny day without any rain. We walked from home to Long Bay, which took just over half an hour. Long Bay Regional Park is situated a mere 20 km north of Auckland. This reserve serves as …

Experience the thrill of snowy footsteps on a breathtaking mountaintop with the Queenstown scenic helicopter flight! On the fourth day of our Queenstown adventure, the highlight was the Queenstown scenic helicopter flight and alpine landing tour. The Helicopter Line, our tour company, has arranged to pick us up directly from our hotel, the Colonial Village …

Our stay in Queenstown has now reached the third day. We boarded the Million Dollar Cruise, ready to indulge in a 90 minutes journey on the captivating Lake Wakatipu. (You can read about our Day 1 and Day 2, in which we have uploaded our stories. The Million Dollar Cruise is immensely popular in Queenstown, …

On the second day of our trip to the South Island of New Zealand, we woke up early to trek the Queenstown Hill Walking Track.  Yesterday's weather forecast predicted today's temperature would plummet to near zero and rain in the morning. So we anxiously hoped the forecast would change in the morning.  When I logged …

Our eight-day adventure in Queenstown and its captivating surroundings started with an early morning flight that landed us in this enchanting town. Upon settling into our accommodations at our motel, we wasted no time walking down to the magnificent Queenstown Gardens alongside the lively Queenstown Bay. Activities at Queenstown Bay This vibrant hub is bursting …

Warkworth, a tranquil residential community just an hour north of Auckland, may surprise visitors with its hidden treasures. Here a the top three things to do in Warkworth during our half-day tour. 1. Parry Kauri Park The Warkworth & District Museum was our first stop in the charming Parry Kauri Park. We strolled through the …

North Shore has several stunning beaches, including Murrays Beach, Waiaki Beach, Mairangi Bay Beach, Browns Bay Beach, and Long Bay Beach. These beaches are the local favorites,  known for their clean white sand and picturesque scenery. They are also popular spots for swimming, surfing, fishing, and beach volleyball for the locals. Before starting our journey, …

We enjoyed a half-day tour of the stunning Wenderholm Regional Park on North Island this morning. This park is between the Puhoi and Waiwera Rivers and boasts breathtaking views at every turn. We left Albany, Auckland, in the morning, where we set off for Wenderholm Regional Park in anticipation of rain in the afternoon. The …

Greetings from New Zealand, our home for the upcoming three months. Although our routine activities will mostly consume our days, we plan on setting aside time to discover the urban and rural marvels of New Zealand that await us. Our excursions will commence in Devonport, the suburb we will traverse before embarking on uncovering the …

Ipoh, the capital of Perak, is famous for its delectable culinary offerings. The food served and sold here is not just high quality but also the sheer variety of unique street food and snacks. You will miss out if you do not try the famous food in Ipoh. The famous food in Ipoh has its …

Recently, I decided to visit some of the best restaurants In Ipoh. I also made it a point to try out some new and popular restaurants I had heard about. I spent my entire primary and secondary school days in Ipoh, the capital of Perak. However, after graduating, I moved to Kuala Lumpur and only …

When I arrived in Ipoh, Perak, I knew I had to visit Qing Xin Ling Leisure & Cultural Village. It's quickly become the most popular tourist attraction in Ipoh, and I could see why as soon as I stepped inside.  The name itself, Qing Xin Ling, meaning "Serene Hill" in Chinese, perfectly captures the tranquil …

During our recent trip to Kota Kinabalu and Kundasang, we had the opportunity to savor some of the most authentic food in Kota Kinabalu. To taste Sabah's unique culinary heritage, you should not miss this local food. From BBQ wild boar meat to ambuyat, there is something for everyone. We'll share our top picks of …

Here is our story at Mari Mari Cultural Village. After two days of physically demanding mountain climbing at Mount Kinabalu, we took a day off to unwind and explore Kota Kinabalu. During our visit, Mari Mari Cultural Village was one of the most important sites we visited. The Mari Mari Cultural Village is a non-profit …

We visited Kundasang, the small town near Kinabalu National Park in the district of Ranau, recently. Here is the list of things to do in Kundasang based on our 2D1N itinerary. We were here because this was the best place to acclimatize ourselves to the high altitude before scaling Mount Kinabalu. With an altitude of …

As an average amateur hiker who loves climbing mountains, I had an unforgettable experience last week when I reached the summit of Mount Kinabalu. Before the hike, I received advice from various sources on how to climb Mount Kinabalu, including how to prepare, the necessary training, the items to pack, and accommodation recommendations. Unfortunately, while …

As an average amateur hiker who had never tackled strenuous hikes at high altitudes, I never thought climbing Mount Kinabalu and reaching the summit was possible.  Here is the story of my climb, a test of my perseverance, endurance, and triumph. Although I am healthy in my 60s, climbing one of the highest peaks in …

Are you looking for a Bhutan itinerary that gives you the details and images? We were just like many others tourists, attracted by the advertisements and brochures from the tour company, and wanted to visit this mysterious country. However, the information is limited to a brochure, usually with only a few lines describing each destination. …

We just got back from our trip to Bhutan last month. We got many questions from people who have asked us about things to know before visiting Bhutan. With this in mind, we have put together a list of frequently asked questions to provide the answer with our first-hand information.  We cover as much as …

After 4 hours and 20 minutes, we finally arrived in Bhutan. The first thing I did before stepping into this mysterious country was to experience the thrilling landing at Paro Airport. Why do we want to visit Bhutan? We spent only six days and four nights in Bhutan. Although it was a short trip, everything …

We made a day trip to visit Punakha Dzong and Chimi Lhakhang from Thimphu during our visit to Bhutan. These are the two historical places no one should miss while coming to Punakha. We will focus on our visit to Punakha Dzong in this article.  You can read about our visit to Chimi Lhakhang here. …

The legend behind Chimi Lhakhang is mythical and captivating.  Chimi Lhakhang Temple is located in the hamlet of Sopsokha village, at Punakha Valley. It is well-known as the "Fertility Temple," and many childless couples from Punakha District frequent it. Moreover, visitors from all over the world travel here in droves to see the strange traditional …

We visited Buddha Point on day 4 of our trip to Bhutan. It has become a must-visit tourist destination in Thimphu Valley, as one of the largest Buddha statues in the world, measuring 51.5 meters in height, is here. The Buddha Dordenma statue is built on the remains of Kuensel Phodrang, the thirteenth Druk Desi's …

On the second day of our trip to Bhutan, we crossed the Dochula Pass from Thimphu to Punakha, the highest highway point of Thimphu. Bhutan is a country located high in the Himalayan mountain range. It is a little paradise that few have experienced. It is governed by the biggest living Buddhist monarchy and is …

We just returned from our Bhutan trip yesterday and can’t wait to write this post about our hiking to the Tiger's Nest Monastery. We had heard about it so much- a place for the Buddhist to pay a pilgrimage in his lifetime, a temple with mystical legends, an unusual architecture that build in a cave …