I love Boracay. Ever since my first visit to the Philippines’ most popular beach in November 2013, I’ve dreamed about frolicking in its turquoise waters on oh so many occasions. I mean, look at it. It’s no wonder White Beach is my second favorite beach in Southeast Asia. It’s perfect! Or is it? For those who…
When I first arrived in Jakarta I was completely unprepared. I knew Jakarta was an enormous city, but I had no idea just how difficult it would be to navigate the ins and outs of this city. And being a woman made living and traveling around Jakarta especially intimidating. I might live here with my boyfriend but…
Before I moved to Jakarta, I was really worried that being a vegetarian in Indonesia was going to be really frustrating. I had already spent two months traveling the length of Java and Bali, subsisting on a steady diet of nasi goreng (Indonesian fried rice), which got really old, really fast. Back then it appeared that the concept…
One of the reasons that backpackers and budget-travelers head to Southeast Asia is because of its affordability and its chaos. Singapore is a definite exception to this rule. I’ve heard so many travelers describe Singapore as expensive and sterile. With a reputation like this it’s no wonder why many long-term travelers (including myself) opt to leave…
UPDATE: As of June 2015, Indonesia allows 30 countries to enter the country for 30 days for free. That means no more VOA for most countries (sorry all of you Australians, you’re not on the list! To find out more information check out this article. There is still a little bit of confusion about whether…
Seriously, what is there to do in Jakarta? That question has taken me a while to answer. Jakarta is an incredibly tough city to get to know. Measuring 662 square kilometers and consisting of over 30 million people (in the greater Jakarta area) exploring this megacity can be a daunting task – and that goes for tourists…
Like most backpackers I’m always a bit concerned about visiting islands because I always seem to spend way more money than usual when I’m on them. Let’s face it, things are just more expensive on islands. Personally, I wasn’t sure what to expect price-wise when I visited Koh Rong in January. I’d heard that the accommodation is of…
I have to admit that I was skeptical about visiting Koh Rong. I had heard rave reviews about the tropical Cambodian isle, which is rumored to be home to some of the best beaches in Southeast Asia. But I’ve learned not to get overly excited about what other people say because, in my experience, it will…
Let’s be honest, Jakarta isn’t exactly a huge travel destination. I’m not saying it shouldn’t be included in your Indonesia travel itinerary (because in my opinion Jakarta is worth a visit) but the reality is that most travelers simply don’t venture here. And if they do it’s for a brief 24 hours. A side effect…
As I established in a previous post, Kuta Beach is not for everyone. But if you’re traveling to Bali, chances are you’ll end up spending at least a night or two in this wild and crazy party town. Some people might be put off by Kuta’s spring break-like atmosphere, but in my opinion it’s not the worst place to…