Following in the footsteps of primitive miners of sulfur from the volcanic Ijen Crater in East Java, Indonesia.
Snapshots
Current Location
Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (10 hours ago)
Appeasing the Volcano Gods at the Yadnya Kasada Festival – Bromo, East Java, Indonesia
Our love affair with volcanoes took us to the very alive and active Bromo Volcano in Eastern Java. We arrived just before sunset and our guide took us to a panoramic lookout for beautiful views of the area, peppered with volcanoes. We could peer down into the old volcanic caldera, now a sandy flat pit, [...]
The Heart of Central Java – Yogjakarta, Indonesia
Yogjakarta is the most popular tourist destination on the densely-populated island of Java. And for good reason. This small city is home to sites exemplifying Indonesia’s multicultural history, including Hindu and Buddhist temples, sultans’ palaces and playgrounds, and old colonial forts. We left the congestion, noise, and pollution of Jakarta behind, departing on an early [...]
Falling for a Scam, Feeling Like a Celebrity and Discovering Obama’s Roots – Jakarta, Indonesia
We were a bit sad to leave Malaysia, after enjoying some of its beautiful islands, jungle and wildlife. But we were excited to enter a new country, our 17th of this trip – Indonesia. After landing in Jakarta, we knew it would be a different story than Malaysia. We’re cautious everywhere we go, but with [...]
Celebrating Erik’s Birthday in the Lion City – Singapore
We left Malacca, Malaysia on my birthday – August 2nd – for the quick trip to the small city-state of Singapore, situated at the southern end of the Malay Peninsula. We knew Singapore would be expensive. Very expensive. But since it was my big day, we decided to take a break from backpacking for a [...]
The “Venice of the East” – Malacca, Malaysia
Our last stop in Malaysia before heading south to Singapore was the old colonial city of Malacca (or as it is know these days, Melaka). Like Penang, this city was a strategic port for Malaysia’s colonial powers, first for the Dutch and later for the British. The meandering Melaka River snakes through the city and [...]
Into the Jungles of Borneo – Uncle Tan’s Jungle Camp, Lower Kinabatangan Valley, Malaysia
We thoroughly enjoyed viewing Orangutans and Proboscis monkeys up close at a “rehabilitation centre” and “wildlife sanctuary.” Of course, the only reason these semi-wild animals can be found in these sanctuaries is due to their native habitat – the Borneo rainforest – quickly disappearing under a carpet of perfectly-planted rows of palm oil trees. Palm [...]
Wild Orangutans and Proboscis Monkeys – Sepilok and Sandakan, Malaysian Borneo
One of the most exciting aspects of our visit to Borneo was the chance to see some incredible and rare primates and monkeys in the wild. As we’ve learned time and again in our travels, seeing animals in person and in the wild is such a precious experience that words can’t really convey. It’s so [...]
Life Among the Sea Gypsies at Singamata Dive Resort – Semporna, Malaysia
From Kota Kinabalu, we boarded a 12 hour bus crossing Sabah, bound for Semporna. This small town near the border with the Indonesian side of Borneo is the launching point for the world famous islands and underwater adventures found in the Celebes Sea. Most divers come here to dive Sipadan, a small island filled with [...]
The Two Sides of Bali Tourism – Kuta and Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
We begin our Bali adventures in the party-capital, Kuta, before moving inland to the cultural and spiritual center, Ubud.
Read More »