Cities and Their Celebrity Doubles: Vientiane / Robert Downey Jr.

Patuxai park in Vientiane, Laos

Vientiane wasn’t always the laid back, family friendly Lao capital you see today. For a period in the 1960’s and 70’s it was a town where anything went, where foreign spies mixed with prostitutes in city bars; a place you probably wouldn’t take your wife and kids to. The same can be said for Robert … Read more

Backpacking in Malaysia: Costs, Tips and Places to See

Backpacking in Malaysia

At first glance Malaysia just doesn’t seem as exotic or interesting as other countries in the region, but take a closer look and you’ll find everything you need for a rewarding backpacking experience. You won’t get hassled by touts and you’ll be treated to the best food in the region, so if you’re looking for a more relaxing alternative to Thailand, Malaysia could be a great choice. While backpacking in Malaysia you’ll see a huge variety of landscapes, from the jungles of Borneo to the white sand beaches of Pulau Tioman, via the very British Cameron Highlands hill station, where you can stroll through tea fields and search for the largest flower on Earth.

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The 15 Best Natural Wonders in Southeast Asia

The best natural wonders in Southeast Asia

As my time in Southeast Asia draws to a close, I’m starting to think about all of the awesome places I’ve been. I love cities, history and architecture, but the most memorable aspects of the region for me are the unique and varied natural wonders. I hope you enjoy my list of the best natural wonders in Southeast Asia, but bear in mind that these are only places that I’ve been to, so I might have missed some popular ones!

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The Best Walks in Singapore: From the Forest to the City

The Southern Ridges - a great place to walk if you have 2 days in Singapore

Singapore crams a lot of variety into its tiny borders, and there is no better way to get to know this misunderstood country than to go for a walk. Check out this list of the best walks in Singapore, which pass by beaches, mangrove forests, historical districts, skyscrapers and a whole lot of trees.

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Komodo National Park Tour: More Than Just Dragons!

Komodo National Park tour, Indonesia: A large komodo dragon

Everyone has heard of the Komodo dragon – the largest lizard in the world and part-time human eater who stalks the barren islands off Flores, Indonesia. There is far more to a Komodo National Park tour than just dragons though, including a pink beach, some rugged coastline and that calm feeling you get while sleeping on … Read more

Exploring the 17 Islands Marine Park in Riung, Flores

Backpacing in Indonesia - a view of the 17 islands marine park in Riung, Flores

The 17 Islands Marine Park in Riung would be really popular if it wasn’t so hard to get to, which means if you brave the terrible roads and overcrowded buses you’ll have an array of island paradises that are begging to be explored. I learnt, after a quick search online, that Riung is 72 km from … Read more

The Colourful Crater Lakes of Kelimutu, Indonesia: Jon Vs the Volcano

The blue lake on Mt Kelimutu, Flores, Indonesia

After reading the title of this post you might be thinking that climbing Kelimutu was a really difficult and harrowing experience. That couldn’t be further from the truth, although waking up at 4 a.m is always a little traumatic for me. Getting to the crater lakes of Kelimutu requires a 40 minute motorbike or car … Read more

The Rat Factor: What is the Cleanest Country in Southeast Asia?

The rat factor: What is the cleanest country in Southeast Asia?

Everyone says not to judge books by their covers, but if you’re lazily looking for a quick way to review them then there really is no better way. I took the same attitude when trying to decide the cleanest country in Southeast Asia. Sure, I could have done a whole lot of research and bombarded you with facts and figures – but to be honest, the only figure I really care about is the number of rats I see (I have a fear of rats, check out this post to find out why). The rat factor may be a flawed system, but it’s as good as any other and could 1 day be the official cleanliness yardstick in respected publications like Lonely Planet (as long as they pay me for using my idea!).

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