A Road Trip in Tropical Paradise
The opening riff of Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild” is on repeat in my mental iPod as palm trees blur by, brilliant green against a tropical sky. I’m trying to remember the words to the second verse as my motorcycle speeds up the scenic coastal road on my way to Indonesia’s Lombok Island. Sure, a […]
A Diving High Off Hon Mun Island, Nha Trang
The island of Hon Mun near Nha Trang was set aside as a protected area by the government in 2003 – good thing too, as the 350-plus species of coral and colorful nudibranch specimens now thrive under the enforced absence of fishermen. In the fishermen’s place, divers now explore the depths under Hon Mun, finding […]
Soft Adventure in Vietnam
Vietnam tourism policy is geared towards promoting its abundantly available nature (N) and culture (C) products, next to increasingly more developed and accessible beach (P) facilities. Not counting backpackers who travel the country extensively and have time aplenty, due to the shape of the county and long distances between major tourist attractions, the average overseas […]
Southeast Asia’s Most Thrilling Mountain Treks
Slopes of Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia. Image courtesy of the Malaysia Ministry of Tourism, used with permission. Bitter sub-zero temperatures, oxygen tanks and frostbite – these hazards of hiking in the mountains elsewhere in the world simply don’t exist in Southeast Asia. Don’t get us wrong, many of the trails around Southeast Asia’s highest peaks offer […]
Off the Beaten Path: Trekking in Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang may be Laos’ most avidly-visited tourist destination, but tourists only need to step out to the surrounding countryside to go off the beaten track into some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. As you tread the local countryside paths, you’ll also venture into villages populated by Luang Prabang province’s three main […]
Soft Adventure in Singapore
Crossing the border between Malaysia and Singapore, I wondered what the city state possibly could have on offer, after just having experienced the abundance of nature and culture based soft adventures in Malaysia. Sure, familiar watersports were to be expected (e.g. sailing, kayaking, swimming, skiing) and probably a few well-kept routes for cycling fanatics. But, […]
Island Of The Gods: Indonesias Beautiful Bali
Bali isn’t just about tropical beaches and sunshine. Blessed with soaring volcanoes, spectacular rice terraces, and ancient sites, this “Island of the Gods” offers a unique culture that is both magical and mythical. From the first century AD, Indian and Javanese visitors brought with them Hinduism and Buddhism influences to Bali, which merged with local […]
Soft Adventure, The Indonesian Way
Soft Adventure, The Indonesian Way One needs a glossary to describe the richness of that vast Archipelago called Indonesia, ranging from immense, lush and impressive to stunning, secluded and extraordinary. It has an abundance of natural and cultural resources to which the country attaches great importance. Hence, Indonesia’s tourism development, based on the Tourism Act, […]
Water Sports In Brunei Amidst Abounding Marine Life
Brunei is blessed with a marvelous collection of marine life which has grabbed attention from all around the world. With a coastline of some 160 km along the South China Sea and many attractive beaches (e.g. Muara, Meragang and Pantai Seri Kenangan), water sports enthusiasts will be glad to discover that Brunei offers a lot […]
Cranking Through The North: Cycling Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, and Indochina in particular, offer some of the world’s best cycling routes; spectacular journeys along tropical coastlines, through verdant jungle and rice terraces, and over craggy mountain ranges. span>The variety of rides is simply staggering, from highly technical mountain biking and long haul road trips to gentle rides and brief excursions suitable for […]