13 Weeks in Langkawi? π¦
Richly Rewarding (If you can afford the time)
An extended event-filled stay on this tropical Malaysian island can cost the same as staying at home (even including your flights!).
#13Weeks #Langkawi #Malaysia #Tropical #Island
Sunday, 31 December 2023
13 Weeks in Langkawi π¦ Where to Stay and What to Do
13 Weeks in Langkawi? π¦
Richly Rewarding (If you can afford the time)
An extended event-filled stay on this tropical Malaysian island can cost the same as staying at home (even including your flights!).
#13Weeks #Langkawi #Malaysia #Tropical #Island
Saturday, 30 December 2023
The eloquence of Burj Khalifa Dubai π¦πͺ Tallest building in the world
...Mission Impossible: Unless you happen to be Tom Cruise however, you won't get the chance to sit on the very apex of Burj Khalifa Dubai.
#BurjKhalifa #Dubai #TallestBuildingInTheWorld
Friday, 29 December 2023
Waterfall rappelling in Boquete Panama π§♂️ Don your harness & kick off
Abseiling down a waterfall might not be everyones cup of tea, but for an adrenaline rush its hard to beat waterfall rappelling in Boquete.
#Abseiling #Waterfall #Rappelling #Boquete #Panama
Thursday, 28 December 2023
Turkish Airlines Inflight Experience πΊ Share the Misery!
When the food tray is delivered to you, you'll know what it feels like to be an elephant trying to ride a tricycle.
#Turkish #Airlines #inflight #Istanbul #Transits
Wednesday, 27 December 2023
The Tioman island ferry ⛴️ from Mersing on the East coast of Malaysia
Best to know in advance at which jetty or “kampong” you'll need to disembark. The Tioman island ferry boat handlers don't hang around…
#Tioman #Ferry #Malaysia
Tuesday, 26 December 2023
Istanbul Eateries & Accommodation π What to expect & what you'll pay
If you only have a few days in Istanbul, to optimize your time and find the best eateries its best to do your planning before leaving home.
#Istanbul #Restaurants #Hotels #Costs
Monday, 25 December 2023
Indian Railways Sleeper Class π It's really not for wimps!
Though advised not to buy Sleeper tickets, destiny somehow conspired to treat us to the full Indian Railways Sleeper Class experience.
#IndianRailways #Sleeper #Class #India #Trains
Sunday, 24 December 2023
HαΊ‘ Long Bay ⛰️ Vietnam's Natural Wonder
HαΊ‘ Long Bay ⛰️ Vietnam's Natural Wonder
Explore the enchanting beauty of HαΊ‘ Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Vietnam known for its stunning natural landscapes, karst formations, and emerald waters.
#HαΊ‘LongBay, #VietnamTravel, #NaturalWonders, #UNESCOWorldHeritage, #VietnamDestinations
Off the grid in Karimunjawa town ππΊπ₯₯π Karimunjawa islands, Indonesia
Although it's a small place you can get temporarily lost in Karimunjawa Town. Most facilities are spread around & not always easy to locate
#karimunjawa #karimunjawaisland #jepara
Pangangan Island π
Bohol in the Philippines
A quiet backwater, except weekends & holidays, when Pangangan locals rent beach huts for the ubiquitous Karaoke competitions.
#Pangangan #Bohol #Philippines
Vaporetti Day Pass π Essentials for a short weekend in Venice
One of the reasons we go to Venice is to ride their unique water transport system. For a short weekend, a Vaporetti Day Pass is the answer.
#Venice #Vaporetto #DayPass
Malay Peninsula West Coast ⛴️ Island-hopping through to the mainland
If you're planning a multi-destination road trip, then booking an open-jaw flight can be a godsend.
#Malaysia #Peninsula #WestCoast #IslandHopping
Around Town in Santa Catalina Panama π You prefer diving or surfing?
Santa Catalina Panama beaches may not suit everyone. Black sand and rocks, and a daily tide that takes the sea out a good 200 yards.
#SantaCatalina, #Panama #beaches #diving #surfing #crabs
Ceylonica Beach Hotel Negombo ⛱️ What you need to know…
First stop in Sri Lanka? don't be put off: The beaches around the Ceylonica Beach Hotel Negombo aren't the best this island has to offer…
#Negombo #SriLanka #Ceylonica #Hotels
Girona transfers from airport and onwards to Barcelona π
With its proximity to Barcelona, Girona's a great place to start a trip to exotic locations. You just need to sort your Girona transfers from the airport.
#Girona #Spain #Transfers #Airport
The Marhaba Lounge Dubai π¬✈️π« Is it worth the extra cost?
If you don't automatically qualify for the Dubai Connect program, what's the best way to deal with an extended layover in Dubai?
#Marhaba #Lounge #Dubai
Borneo Wavehunters π£ White Water Rafting in Malaysia
The Borneo Wavehunters rapids each have their own character - “Headhunter”, “Cobra”, “Scooby-Doo” and the nerve-wracking "Washing Machine”.
#Borneo #Wavehunter #Rapids #Rafting #Malaysia #WhiteWater
Ziplining in Boquete Panama - A treetop adrenaline rush to savour.
12 ziplines spanning and criss-crossing an area high above the river & main buildings: No breaking advised when ziplining in Boquete Panama
#Ziplining #Boquete #Panama #TreeTreck
Hotel Central Boquete Panama - The House That Jack Built
The room we were given at the Hotel Central Boquete Panama was like sleeping in a cross between a railway carriage and a goldfish bowl.
#HotelCentral #Boquete #Panama
Bocas Town in Carnival - Panama's very different Caribbean feel.
Bocas Town is like someplace from the wild west: Wooden shacks on stilts overlooking the water with boardwalks and upper level balconies.
#Panama #BocasDelToro #Bocas #Town #Carnival #Caribbean
Ushuaia Guesthouse Bastimentos - Heavy Metal Dosshouse
Except for one $10 guesthouse in India, the Ushuaia Guesthouse Bastimentos rates as the worst place we've had the misfortune to experience.
#Ushuaia #Bastimentos #Panama #HeavyMetal
Buy your own fully-equipped Panamanian Island with 2-bedroom house
It costs less than a posh city apartment, but is owning a Panamanian island going to offer you the kind of lifestyle-change you imagine?
#Panama #Property #island
The trip from Bocas to Boca Chica by bus requires a little patience...
...for a total journey time of approximately 7 hours from Bocas to Boca Chica by bus and boat, at a total cost of $20.50 per person.
#Bus #BocasDelToro #BocaChica #Panama
Hanging out with the Howler Monkeys in Boca Brava, Panama
If you're interested in monkeys, you'll hear the Howlers everywhere (and we're not just talking about your next-door hotel guests).
#BocaChica #BocaBrava #Panama
Travelling from Boca Chica to Panama City? Checkout your options...
If you don't have your own car, there are 2 ways to get from Boca Chica to Panama City: The hard way or the expensive way.
#BocaChica #PanamaCity #Bus #Panama
Karimunjawa island boat transfer - Slow boats and fast boats
There's a variety of Karimunjawa island boat transfer options, but if you're on a tight schedule & need to catch a plane - plan carefully!
#BoatSchedule #Kendal #Jepara
Here's a no-frills summary of our Panamanian hotel experiences
If you're seeking decent Panamanian hotel experiences, don't go too cheap. Anywhere we stayed charging less than $40 a night was a mistake…
#Panama #Hotels #Costs
Take the Jakarta train from Semarang, relax and enjoy the view
Purchasing tickets in advance for the Jakarta train from Semarang saves time when travelling & guarantees you'll get a seat when you need it
#Semarang #Indonesia #Jakarta #train #tickets
Booze in Bohol Philippines πΊ It's difficult to get a really cold beer
Drinking booze in Bohol in the Philippines can seriously damage your holiday budget - Especially if you happen to be a wine drinker.
#Bohol #Philippines #Booze #Alcohol
Colorful Filipino Currency π΅ Best keep a stash of lower denomination notes
Check out the colorful Filipino currency. Newer notes are brightly colored like Euros - though the equivalent amount goes a lot further...
#Colorful #Filipino #Currency #Notes #Philippines
Alona Beach in the Philippines: Too touristy? or is it worth a visit?
Alona beach came as quite a surprise: If you read up about it online, you get the impression that this is an overcrowded tourist magnet.
#Alona #Beach #Philippines #Ashiyana
Loboc Bohol - Enjoy the beautiful river and lush paddyfields
Famous for its lunch cruises along the river, Loboc Bohol is also one of the few locations in the Philippines where you can observe the Tarsier monkey.
#Loboc #Bohol #River #Paddyfields #Tarsier
Our Karimunjawa travel budget & impressions of this Java sea archipelago
Did our Karimunjawa travel budget cover our costs? Was it all we were expecting? How much budget do you really need when travelling through Indonesia?
#Karimunjawa #Travel #Budget #Impressions #JavaSea #Archipelago
Fox & Firefly Cottages Loboc - Paddle Boarding on the River
Don't expect anything fancy at the Fox & Firefly Cottages Loboc. This is a pure backpackers place with the smallest dormitory I've ever seen.
#Fox #Firefly #Cottages #Loboc #Philippines #PaddleBoarding
2013 Loboc Earthquake - An energy equivalent to 32 Hiroshima bombs
No wonder the Filipinos are a God-fearing nation: This area suffered catastrophic damage in the 2013 Loboc earthquake and flooding.
#2013 #Loboc #Earthquake #Philippines
The Seaside Boutique: By far the best food we ate in the Philippines
At the Seaside Boutique our host created delicious and thoughtfully prepared 3-course dinners: We didn't consider eating anywhere else in Panglao.
#SeasideBoutique #Panglao #Philippines
Panglao Island Nature Resort - Enjoy the infinity pool on a day-visit
The Panglao Island Nature Resort has a beautiful private white sand beach, better than any other we found in Panglao, including Alona beach
#Panglao #Nature #Resort #Philippines
The White Sands of Dumaluan Beach in the Philippines
A good alternative to Alona, but bring your own picnic to Dumaluan beach. Food options at the snack bar are limited and the service is slow
#Sand #Dumaluan #Beach #Philippines
Griller in Manila Shabu Shabu self-service taken to a new level
Eat and drink as much as you want - including beer - at a Manila Shabu Shabu restaurant. Cook your soup and grill food at your own table.
#Griller #Manila #ShabuShabu #SelfService #Philippines
Philippines Buses & Jeepneys - Definitely more fun than a taxi...
If you're going to be using the Philippines buses & jeepneys to get around, check out these tips we picked up on the road.
#Philippines #Buses #Jeepneys #Taxi
Philippines Trikes Taxis and other Transport Options
Since we'd read a lot about people being ripped off, we were initially wary when using Philippines trikes, taxis or other transport options.
#Philippines #Trikes #Taxis #Transport
Eating Bland Filipino Food π₯’ Helps Pile on the Pounds
On menus everywhere, pork and chicken cooked in a sickly sweet marinade. This bland Filipino food is usually accompanied by heaps of plain white rice.
#Bland #Filipino #Food
Philippines Tokay Gecko π¦ The "Little Britain" Lizard
Catchphrase or Mating Call? Short of David Walliams hiding in the rafters, the Philippines Tokay Gecko lullaby had us confused and amused.
#Philippines #TokayGecko #LittleBritain #Lizard
London City Stopover π♂️ What to See & Do in just 6 hours
If you're flying in and out of London on the same day, you can still pack in some decent sightseeing - and even a British Pub Lunch. Just make sure you stick to a realistic time schedule, and don't overdo the
#London #City #Stopover
Malaysia My Second Home - Our Personal MM2H Application Experience
A second home in Malaysia is a dream for many, but how does the country's MM2H program work? Here's a 1st-hand account...
#MalaysiaMySecondHome #MM2H #Application #Retire #Malaysia
Getting Gringoed in Isla Colon Bocas del Toro
Overcharging of foreigners is called ‘getting gringoed’... and in Panama you'd better get used to it.
#GettingGringoed #IslaColon #BocasDelToro #Panama
Terravision Rome airport bus π Is it worth the hassle?
Though our 1st experiences were positive, the Rome airport service has seriously deteriorated *** Do not buy Terravision bus tickets in advance ***
#Terravision #Rome #Airport #Bus #Italy