Hotel Name: Gia Hoa 2 Hotel Address: 50 Le Loi, Tra Vinh, Tra Vinh, Vietnam. I stayed at the Gia Hoa 2 Hotel in Tra Vinh, Vietnam. I booked online at the rate of 420,000 VND ($18.12 USD) and picked it for its location close to the central market. I didn’t know the best area […]
Ben Tre Farm Stay – An easy escape from Saigon life in the Mekong Delta
Hotel Name: Ben Tre Farm Stay Address: Cai Suc Bridge, Hamlet 3, Xa Phu Nhuan, Ben Tre, Vietnam. When exploring the Mekong Delta region I suggest staying for at least some of your time at a home or farmstay. Part of the appeal of the Mekong is exploring the rural roads and the many waterways […]
Jalan Jaksa – The slow demise of Jakarta’s backpacker street
On my first trip to Indonesia in 2009 I travelled from Medan to Bali by ferry, bus, train, and plane. Midway through that trip I arrived in Jakarta with a copy of Lonely Planet Indonesia in hand. The Book directed me to Jalan Jaksa – the backpacker street of Jakarta. I don’t remember where I […]
Notes on Jakarta – Metros, moto apps, an airport train, and a giant seawall
Jakarta has been making headlines in 2019, and not always in a good way. In August the Indonesian government announced that it was planning to move the capital of Indonesia to a location in the jungles of Borneo. This news, coupled with high-profile reports that the city is sinking, has led news agencies around the […]
Palembang to Bandar Lampung by train – riding the coal-subsidised railway of South Sumatra
Sumatra is the sixth-largest island in the world with a population of over 50 million people, yet there are only a few railway lines on the island. There are plans to unite the current lines to form a trans-Sumatran railway that would travel from Medan to Bandar Lampung. This is a distance of over 1750 […]
Flight Review: VietJet Air – Denpasar (Bali) to Ho Chi Minh City
Flight: VietJet Air VJ 894 From: Denpasar (DPS) To: Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) I flew with VietJet Air from Bali to Ho Chi Minh City. This is a new route that started in 2019, though it was initially announced a few years ago. When the tickets became available I started planning a trip as […]
Hotel Review: Eddys Cottages & Villa, Legian, Bali – Indonesia
Hotel Name: Eddys Cottages Address: Jl. Arjuna – Double Six, Gang Eddys, Legian, Bali, Indonesia I stayed at Eddys Cottages in Legian, Bali. I booked online for the amazing rate of $15.66 USD per night. I just happened to find a good deal for the days I was staying at, but you can often find […]
Guesthouse Review: Indy’s House, Ubud, Bali – Indonesia
Hotel Name: Indy’s House Address: Jalan Karna No. 10B, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia. I stayed at Indy’s House in Ubud, Bali. I booked a single room with a private bathroom at the rate of 160,000 IDR ($11.40 USD) per night. So yes there are still good deals to be found in Bali, and having just arrived […]
Flight Review: Malindo Air – Melbourne to Denpasar (Bali)
Flight: Malindo Air OD 178 From: Melbourne (MEL) To: Denpasar (DPS) I flew with Malindo Air from Melbourne to Bali. I compared flights online with Skyscanner as there are a number of options to choose from. Malindo was the clear winner for both price and time of day. My ticket was $329 AUD ($223 USD) […]
Flight Review: Scoot – Singapore to Melbourne
Flight: Scoot TZ 24 From: Singapore (SIN) To: Melbourne (MEL) I flew with Scoot from Singapore to Melbourne. The was the second leg of my flight back to Australia, with the first leg being Saigon to Singapore. I wanted a stopover before going back, and I wanted a flight during the day. I looked for […]
