A little big city Dili is the smallest capital city in Southeast Asia, and also the newest, having gained independence from Indonesia in 2002. While Dili is going to feel sedate after being in the other capital cities of the region, travel is a relative experience so your impression will depend on where you’re arriving […]
How to travel Flores (Indonesia) in 1 week
I’m wrapping up my Flores posts to highlight how to travel Flores in the space of a week. Originally I had intended to spend 2 weeks there, but my trip was cut short when I realised I needed extra time to apply for an East Timor visa in Kupang, West Timor. [The coast of Flores. […]
Flight Review: Sriwijaya Air – Dili (East Timor) to Denpasar (Indonesia)
Flight: Sriwijaya Air SJ 2710 From: Dili (DIL) To: Denpasar Bali (DPS) How I Booked: Searched via Skyscanner. Sriwijaya Air is an airline based in Jakarta that flies domestic Indonesian routes and well as a some regional international flights. In this case I was flying one of their international services from Dili in East Timor […]
Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide
Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam and the unofficial business capital. If you love chaotic cities with a buzz and want to visit a city that is transforming into a modern Asian metropolis then this is the place to be. I’ve put together some notes on the city and linked to […]
Bajawa day trip: Volcanoes, traditional villages, and hot springs
[Bajawa, Flores – Indonesia] On my trip to Flores I stopped at Bajawa, which is about half way between Labuan Bajo (for Komodo National Park) and Moni (for Kelimutu National Park). If you are travelling overland in Flores it’s worth stopping regularly as bus travel is arduous. Bajawa is a small market city in the […]
Cafes in Bali
Bali has long been a popular destination for creative types, but for us reliant on the internet its reputation of poor internet connectivity precedes it. I was a bit sceptical to come back myself. Last time I was here (4 years ago) I had a hard time finding accommodation with wifi, and there wasn’t much […]
Komodo dragons and coral reefs: Komodo National Park 2 day boat tour
[One of the many islands of Komodo National Park.] Komodo National Park is a protected watery expanse that covers a group of islands and reefs to the east of the island of Flores, Indonesia. Komodo is famous for the giant lizards of the same name, but it’s also home to some of the best coral […]
Sleeping in Airports: Staying overnight at Singapore Changi Airport
While booking flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Denpasar (Bali), the two cheapest flights on offer were overnighters with connections in Singapore or Kuala Lumpur (Low Cost Carrier Terminal). If you know anything about LCCT you would know not choose to do an overnighter there, so I picked the luxurious SIN. Usually I would […]
Saturday Night’s Alright (For Writing)
When you work for yourself you soon find what hours are the most productive for you. I was reflecting on this when I found myself in a Hanoi-style cafe in Saigon on a Saturday night. I usually walk around everywhere with my laptop, but this night I only had my notepad and pen at hand. […]
Tsunami sites in Banda Aceh
“I lost 16 members of my family in the Tsunami”. When I arrived in Banda Aceh I wondered if people would be receptive to discussing the tsunami. I needn’t have worried as my taxi guide started telling me his experience as soon as we left the airport. He was at the airport when the tsunami […]
