indonesia

Backpacking in Indonesia: Costs, Tips and Places to See

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

This post was originally published in May 2015 and updated in February 2019 after my big trip to Bali (and nearby islands) in 2018 With over 17,000 islands (I’m sure some of those are just rocks that disappear at low tide though) to choose from, planning a trip to Indonesia can be a daunting prospect. … Read more

Things to Do in Jakarta: Two Days in Indonesia’s Capital

by
Things to do in Jakarta, Indonesia: Jalan Cikini Raya

When I told people I was going to go out of my way to spend two days in Jakarta the general reaction was…why? It isn’t the kind of place you go to just have a look and see the sights. I’m probably one of the few people who actually went there for the sole purpose of … Read more

14 of the Best Beaches in Southeast Asia

by
Nacpan beach, one of the beaches of El Nido, Palawan, The Philippines

This post was first published in 2015, but I’ve been to a lot more Southeast Asia beaches since then so it needed an update! Are you planning a trip to Southeast Asia? There’s so much to see – from ancient history, pulsating cities and stunning natural wonders, but perhaps the biggest draw in the region is the … Read more

The 15 Best Natural Wonders in Southeast Asia

by
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!

Read more

Komodo National Park Tour: More Than Just Dragons!

by
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

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

by
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!).

Read more

Rote Island, Indonesia: A Gem Hidden from the Tourist Trail

by
Nemberala, Rote Island, Indonesia- far from the tourist trail

“Bule, bule, hello, bule!!” screamed young and old as I passed through their tiny village. Bule means foreigner – I’m not sure if they were really saying hello or they were just alerting their friends that a tourist was in town. I’d wandered a few kilometres from Nemberala, the tourist epicentre of Rote Island, and by … Read more