Battambing, Battambang, Battamboom
The river trip to Battambang from Siem Reap took 6 hours or so, passing through part of Tonle Sap Lake before entering countless narrow channels of the Prek Toal Wildlife Preserve (a birdwatcher’s paradise) and on to sections only passable when the water is high. People along the waterways live in wobbly-looking houses on stilts. […]
If You Buy, You Buy from Me, Okay?
Cambodia is a country of both stunning beauty and deep sadness. The country’s violent, recent history has left ugly scars, but the resilience of Cambodia’s people is demonstrated every day as they work to put things back on track. There are many international NGOs and aid organizations, as well as locally-owned and operated projects. It’s […]
Malaysia, Truly Asia
“Malaysia, Truly Asia” The television commercials had been singing their message to us for months, “Malaysia, Truly Asia.” It’s a great ad campaign, with captivating images of white sand beaches, rivers flowing through verdant jungles, orangutan and proboscis monkeys, and glimmering, modern Kuala Lumpur. We longed to get to Borneo, to find the perfect spot […]
Singapore, Lion City
Intro to Singapore After using every last day of our 30-day Indonesia visa, we moved on to Singapore. To make the most of SE Asia’s most modern and expensive city we cashed in our Marriott Rewards point stockpile to check in for five days at the landmark Singapore Marriott, located smack in the middle of […]
Jogja On My Mind
No trip to Indonesia would be complete without a visit to the island of Java: not just to sample the coffee but to see how a true Indonesian city feels. After a quick fifty minute flight from Bali, we arrived in the city of Yogyakarta, Jogjakarta or, locally, Jogja. Our best-laid plan for accommodation was […]
Uncovering Ubud
Return to Bali On our return to Bali, we wanted to see something beyond beautiful beaches. Ubud is the center of Balinese culture, ancient and modern, and travelers inevitably make it a stop on any Bali itinerary. There are temples around every corner, interspersed with art galleries and museums, shops featuring carved and sculpted handicrafts, […]
Here Be Dragons
Icon of Indonesia, their home a World Heritage Site, Komodo Dragons are the world’s largest lizard. They are only found on Komodo and Rinca islands in Komodo National Park, and in the north of Flores Island, just outside the boundaries. Dragons can grow up to about 9 feet (3 meters) and weigh over 300 lbs. […]
Getting Beneath the Surface: Labuan Bajo
After the 57 hour odyssey, we finally arrived Labuan Bajo, the gateway to Komodo National Park and western Flores. We lined up diving for the next morning right away, and dragged our weary selves down the dusty main street to find a room. We checked a couple out, but passed on dirty sheets, stinky bathrooms […]
Never-ending Story
In Sengiggi we had purchased a through ticket from there on the west coast of Lombok all the way to Labuan Bajo on the island of Flores. It was the cheap and local way to do it, and though we would miss out on three days of coastal views, saltwater bucket showers and sleeping on […]
Lonely Lombok
After an early morning boat-crossing from Gili Air, we arrived at Bangsal Harbor in Lombok. Though poised strategically between famous Bali to the west and the rest of Nusa Tenggara, (with Komodo National Park a few islands to the east) Lombok seems to be searching for how to fit in. Senggigi is known as the […]