After a disappointing experience on neighboring Gili Trawangan, we head over to smaller, quieter Gili Air and find the island paradise we had been dreaming of…
Snapshots
Current Location
Bangkok, Thailand (3 days ago)
Paradise Lost – Gili Trawangan, Indonesia
We hit this popular “paradise island” during the peak season, but find it doesn’t quite live up to the hype…
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.
The Volcanic Sulfur Miners of Ijen Crater – East Java, Indonesia
Following in the footsteps of primitive miners of sulfur from the volcanic Ijen Crater in East Java, Indonesia.
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 [...]
Dolphin Spotting and Bali’s Best Snorkeling – Lovina and Amed, Bali
Our final stops in Bali take us to the far north for Lovina’s famous dolphins and to the far East for Amed’s famous snorkeling and diving.
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