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 complete Bhutan itinerary with detailed tips, images, and experiences? Like many travelers, we were drawn to Bhutan by tour brochures and advertisements. Most brochures offer only a few lines about each destination and some images, but they rarely provide the depth we want. After returning from Bhutan, we wrote this …
We've just returned from our trip to Bhutan, and people have been asking what they should know before visiting. There were so many little details we learned along the way, things you won’t find in a typical guidebook, but which make a big difference to your trip. What follows is everything we experienced and discovered …
In this part of our journey, we want to take you along as we landed, explored, and took off from Paro International Airport, one of the most thrilling airports in the world. For the full story of our Bhutan adventure, check out our Bhutan Hub Post. Our trip to Bhutan was short—we spent just six …
Punakha Dzong, also known as Pungthang Dechen Phodrang (“Palace of Great Happiness or Bliss”), is one of Bhutan’s most beautiful and historic dzongs. On our day trip from Thimphu, we explored its courtyards, intricate murals, and rich history. This guide shares our first-hand experience, including how to get there, what to see, and the historical …
During our trip to Bhutan, we took a day trip from Punakha Valley to visit Chimi Lhakhang, a small temple famously known as the “Fertility Temple.” Both locals and travelers visit this temple, especially couples hoping to start a family. You can easily pair this stop with Punakha Dzong to experience the history, culture, and …
We visited Buddha Point on Day 4 of our Bhutan trip, and it was easily one of the highlights. Sitting high above the Thimphu Valley, this spot has become a must-visit place in the capital. As our bus made its way up the winding road, we could already see the giant Buddha statue in the …
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 …
Kuala Lumpur has some world's biggest shopping complexes and malls You can find almost everything there, from renowned brands worldwide to local specialties. Most of the shopping malls listed in this article are bigger than one million square feet! Some even have an interlinked bridge joining two malls, making it a mammoth complex where you …
I have lived in Kuala Lumpur for over 50 years, and I can attest that Kuala Lumpur is one of the cities with the best street food in the world. Kuala Lumpur is a melting pot of culinary cultures from Malay, Indian, and Chinese to Eurasian. There is a flavor for everybody, from savory to …
I have lived in Kuala Lumpur for more than 50 years, visited most of the places in Kuala Lumpur. So here are my recommendations for the places to visit in Kuala Lumpur from the perspective of a local guy. Kuala Lumpur has a rich and diverse culture, and there are countless things to see and …
Are you ready to explore the wonders of Ushuaia? From cultural sites to stunning natural vistas, this city tour will take you on an unforgettable experience! Come along as we explore some of Ushuaia's most impressive and unique landmarks and attractions. Located below the snowcapped Martial Ranges lies the southernmost city of the world – …
We just returned from our epic Antarctica trip last month. It was costly and required three weeks of leave from work, a heavy investment in time and money. Therefore, we spent a few weeks researching, comparing, and evaluating different options to ensure we picked the right tour. This article is a collection of all the common …
On the 28th of November, we joined the luxury cruise to Antarctica operated by Ponant, one of the leading French cruise lines. It is a place south of everything, far from home, a time zone separated by 11 hours, a transverse from the north to the southern hemisphere, and 48 hours of flight time. It …
For most people, visiting Antarctica is a dream come true. We are not the exception. We planned our trip two years ago, but unfortunately, due to the pandemic, we have no choice but to postpone our trip until this year. So once our country's border was opened a few months ago, we immediately planned our …
Hooray, we are leaving for Antarctica, the continent south of everything. I am excited to write about our trip; this Antarctica packing list is the first of the series. We have plans to join the Antarctic cruise two years ago. Then, unfortunately, the pandemic hit, and everything came to a halt. With the country's border …
Welcome to the Land Below the Wind, Sabah! This Sabah itinerary is written based on our nine-day trip to the east coast of Sabah, visiting Sandakan, Lower Kinabatangan River, and Tabin. This is where Orangutans swing branch to branch, where the Sulu Sea and the South China Sea meet, pygmy elephants roam in herds, and …
We spent a week in Sandakan, Sepilok, and Bilit of Kinabatangan River. Today, we are heading to Tabin Wildlife Reserve in the eastern part of Sabah, the final stop of our Sabah trip. Tabin is the largest wildlife reserve in the eastern part of Sabah. It encompasses approximately 300,000 acres in the center of the …
Our East Sabah trip is not complete without the Kinabatangan River trip. Kinabatangan is Sabah's longest river, beginning from the southwest and ending at the Sulu sea east of Sabah. Kinabatangan is 560 kilometers long, the longest in Sabah and Malaysia's second longest river. The lower Kinabatangan wildlife reserve has the highest concentration of wildlife …
After spending two days in Sandakan, savoring the amazing food, and visiting the proboscis sanctuary and orangutan conservation center, our Sabah trip continued to Bilit Adventure Lodge at the lower Kinabatangan river. We started our journey after lunch and arrived at about 4:00 pm at Bilit Adventure Lodge. This article will focus on the lodge, …
The best way to watch orangutans closely is to witness the feeding session at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. That was one of the main activities during our two days trip to Sandakan, Sabah. We arrived at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre just about time for the morning feeding session, and many tourists were already waiting at …
Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary is an excellent place to get close to the proboscis monkeys. This sanctuary is located near Sandakan, roughly 25 km from the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre and Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Sepilok. It was established in the middle of the 1990s when an oil palm plantation decided …
We stayed at Sepilok Jungle Resort while visiting Sandakan for a reason. It is located at Sepilok, a small town 26 km from Sandakan. It is convenient to stay here because our following itinerary will be around this area the next day. Sepilok Jungle Resort offers a different experience, although there are four to five-star …
We arrived in Sandakan early in the morning from Kuala Lumpur on the first day of our holiday in Sabah. Our first stop is to visit the Sandakan Heritage Trail. We will be in East Sabah for more than a week, savoring the iconic and unusual food items, learning about the culture, and eventually looking …
We finally arrived at Sandakan and started our Sandakan food tour today. We started our journey by taking the early flight from Kuala Lumpur to Sandakan. Our tour agent, Sepilok Tropical Wildlife Adventure, had arranged a day tour of this city, which seemed familiar to me as I only learned about it through primary school …
Jewel Changi Airport has made the Singapore international airport more than a place to enter and leave Singapore. There’s a reason the Changi Airport is one of the best in Southeast Asia; surrounded by lush green gardens and beautiful attractions, this shopping center cum entertainment hub surely beats the rest. However, when you enter the …