The beach town of Kuta in Bali is absolutely crazy. It has been deemed by other travel bloggers as “the worst place in Bali” and “one of the most infamous beaches in Southeast Asia.” And, in many ways, it is. It’s akin to the spring break mecca of Cancun, Mexico, the boozy streets of New…
As our ferry puttered toward the island of Camiguin, Philippines, it felt as if we were sailing toward a lost world. Set amid the cobalt sea, the untamed oasis felt worlds away from the crowded beaches of Boracay and Bohol. Fringed with lush palms, lime green rice paddies, and pebbled beaches, its appearance was deceptively tranquil. Also…
I was lured to the island of Bohol for the same reason every other tourist is. Promises of dreamy tropical beaches, cuddly miniature primates, and surreal Chocolate Hills made it impossible not to visit this popular island getaway during my trip to the Philippines. But, honestly, it was the prospect of motorbiking Bohol that was the…
When most travelers think of Penang, the first thing that comes to mind is street food. In fact, many travelers visit the ‘Pearl of the Orient’ solely to sample the island’s world-famous cuisine. But I have to admit, I was less than enthused about the prospect of being a vegetarian in Penang. I seriously questioned…
Some say that the nine-hour ferry ride from Coron to El Nido is a hellish one. I’ve read stories of seasickness, overcrowded boats and even shipwrecks. But I experienced none of these things. Our ferry – which was actually more like a large boat – had only a handful of passengers. It was a flawless…
As I mentioned before, my trip to the Philippines was ill-timed. A week before my arrival Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) ripped through the country. It just so happened to stop off at many of the same destinations on my itinerary, including the city of Coron, Palawan. Coron is known for having some of the most stunning scenery in all of…
There are two things that almost deterred me from traveling to Boracay. The first was Super Typhoon Haiyan and the second was the cost. After getting downright spoiled backpacking through budget-friendly Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, I was a little nervous that a visit to the world-class beaches of Boracay was going to be way out…
One week before I was gearing up for my two-month trip to the Philippines, the country was smacked by the strongest typhoon to ever hit land. Typhoon Haiyan (also known as Yolanda) made landfall on November 8, 2013. I was in my rental apartment in Pattaya, Thailand, glued to the TV. I watched, along with…
By now I think I’ve expressed my disillusionment with organized tours, so when it came to visiting the Hindu temples of Prambanan on Java, Indonesia, I decided to heed my own advice and travel there independently. For those who don’t know, Prambanan is a cluster of ancient Hindu temples that were constructed in Central Java around…
Now that I’m back in Southeast Asia it’s becoming increasingly clear to me why I just can’t stay away from this part of the world. I spent a large chunk of the past year backpacking around the region. I visited six amazing countries and relished my time in each and every one of them. Now that I’ve…