Located on the eastern fringes of the Indonesian archipelago, Timor Leste (East Timor) was the first country to become a sovereign state in the 21st century following its independence from Indonesia (and before that, from Portugal). The struggle for statehood was never easy, as it was marked with violence that left a hundred thousand dead, […]

As anyone knows, Indonesia sprawls over thousands of islands all offering something different to the many visitors that come to this country every year. However, while many only stop at the famous Bali, another destination to add to the list should be Java. Besides holding the capital of the country, Jakarta, there is plenty more […]

Teeming with wildlife, a trekking haven, a larger than life lake, and rad waves are just a few ways to describe spectacular Sumatra. Sumatra is the largest island of the Indonesian archipelago, and the 6th largest in the entire world. It’s is monster of an island to tackle, and considering the size of the country […]

A beach, a book and a beer: my three ingredients for a great trip. Traveling in Southeast Asia often involves a visit to one of the area’s exquisite beaches. And, long-haul travelers anywhere know the virtues of having a good book to while away layovers, train departure delays and that quiet time between when your […]

Brunei Darussalam is a tiny country located on the east coast of Sabah ruled by a hereditary Sultan. The Sultan is an absolute monarch, and most of the country’s holidays are celebrations of the monarchy as well as the Sultan’s religion, Islam. Below is the list of Brunei public holidays 2014. New Year’s Day – […]

China has only a few holidays, but each one could easily eat up two or three, even seven days, that the Chinese take advantage of to travel domestically (thus shoring up the local economy). The holidays are often switched to the nearest weekday to make one long weekend, so that it is common for holidays […]

Seldom is a highly destructive event commemorated, but in Indonesia, the Krakatoa Festival in Lampung, Sumatra is exactly that. The Krakatoa (misspelled by the British from “Krakatua”) was a massive volcano found in the Sunda Strait, between the Java and Sumatran islands of Indonesia. It violently blew off its top in the 1883 explosion, and […]

Siquijor was once under the administration of Negros Oriental, so the best route to get to this small island is still via its old mother province through its capital, Dumaguete City. From Manila, you can take a domestic flight to Dumaguete City (Siquijor’s airport is closed to passenger flights as of the moment) and then […]

Magical scenery, piping volcanos, gushing waterfalls, and nearby island gems are just a few of the magical things the small island of Lombok, Indonesia offers. Located in the West Nusa Tenggara province this island is just next door to Bali, but without all of tourists. This island is still a bit untouched by the wave […]

When I fly internationally, I’m usually thinking more about my destination than about the airports I’ll stop at on the way. But sometimes, like when planes are delayed or when I want to plan an extra-long layover so I can do some sightseeing between flights, the airport becomes not only a waystation between cities but […]

There is a compelling reason why Sibuyan Island should be on the radar of every eco-traveler: It is one of the rare islands in the Philippines where primary growth forest can still be seen fringing the coast. Population pressures and clearing of the land for agriculture use have markedly reduced Philippine forests to a smattering […]

Beachy, foodie Penang is a great stopover for visitors to Malaysia. Located just south of the Thai border, this province consisting of a strip of coastline and Pulau Penang boasts quaint colonial architecture, laid-back beach resorts, and fantastic ethnic and fusion cuisine. Here are five fun things to do while visiting Penang: 1) Hit the […]