My trip to floating houses at Tempe Lake, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, brought back my love for my home country. Some of us would agree that although they’ve traveled far and visited many countries, they feel most comfortable in their home country. So do I. I love staying in Malaysia, but my love for my home country will never change. Actually, I’ve been to more European countries than destinations in Indonesia. Up until now, I’ve only been to Bandung, Jogja, Solo, Bali, Raja Ampat and Makassar. The reason is very cliche. As a native, I think I can visit other parts of Indonesia anytime. Strangely, the day that I fall in…
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A Wanderlust’s Journey to The Road Less Traveled
What I’m going to share with you isn’t about discovering a secret travel escape or an inspirational book by M. Scott Peck. It’s how to overcome your wanderlust, live a life with fewer trips in a year – like what I’m trying to do. I always see wanderlusts as happiest people. Oh, the twinkle in their eyes! You can feel the burning passion in them when they share their travel stories. That cheerful, spontaneous spirit and dreamy eyes… But what happens if you take the passion away from them? Like what I’m trying to do now, toning down the wanderlust within. Toning Down the Wanderlust Within Why? Because as a…
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Breakfast and Birdwatching at M.P.S. Village, Sri Lanka
In the previous blog post, I shared that to travel is also to enjoy food. In addition, I feel that your travel experience is also affected by your choice of accommodation. This isn’t a paid post. I just want to share my experience staying at M.P.S. Village, a budget hotel in Sri Lanka with a wonderful view and yummy breakfast. Imagine hearing the sound of peacocks and other kinds of birds while enjoying your breakfast! Peacocks? Where do they come from? I’ll tell you later đ M.P.S. Village, a Budget Hotel Surrounded by Greens and Birds First of all, this beautiful budget hotel isn’t located in Dambulla city center. You…
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How âBegpackersâ Make Me Feel Grateful for My Powerless Passport
I used to feel bitter towards âbegpackersâ because of my powerless passport, but not anymore. First of all, according to Global Passport Power Rank, my Indonesian passport is ranked 58th out of 93. While doing this research, I get to know that my passport is ranked lower than the passport of the countries I never heard of like Nauru, Kiribati, and Vanuatu. More surprisingly, the passport of Timor-Leste, which was part of Indonesia until 1999, is doing better – sitting at the 45th position! The Roots of My Bitterness Towards “Begpackers” For someone who loves travelling, the roots of my bitterness towards âbegpackersâ are obvious. I have to work hard…
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Nuwara Eliya: An English Tale in Sri Lanka
Being a tropical country located near South India, I used to think that when visiting Sri Lanka, all I needed to pack was summer clothes. Wrong. Especially if youâre planning to stay in Nuwara Eliya, a beautiful English town on top of a hill. Dubbed Little England, the town is a contrast to other cities in Sri Lanka not only because of the English history, but also the climate and architecture. Founded by Samuel Baker in 1846, Nuwara Eliyaâs cool climate (daily average of 16°C) made the town a favourite place to stay for British civil servants and colonialists. Iâm so happy to include Nuwara Eliya in my Sri Lanka…
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I Visit Lonely Planetâs Hottest Destination 2019 and Regret
Like most of my friends, or should I say, most Asians, Sri Lanka, Lonely Planet’s hottest destination in 2019, is a country that we never dream of visiting. It doesnât even cross my mind. However, my crush tells me that heâs been to Sri Lanka four times and the country is one of travelâs best-kept secrets. Really? What are the good things in Sri Lanka? Soon after, Lonely Planet named Sri Lanka the best country in the world to visit in 2019! I feel so curious. I know that I need to see and experience the country myself. âYou better hurry or itâll soon become packed with travellers, just like…
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Globetrotters and âMacaronsâ, Is It True?
Some people think that globetrotters or people who travel a lot will kiss and bang strangers from around the world. Perhaps, in every country they visit. Whereâs this perception comes from?? Once I had caught up with my ex-colleagues. Weâre very close and brutally honest, we discuss anything. At one point, my male friend asked me, âSo Clara⊠Do you try a lot of âmacaronsâ when youâre travelling?â âMacarons?â I asked in confusion. The first thing that popped up in my mind was LadurĂ©e, the famous French macaron that I tried while in transit in Charles de Gaulle. âYou know what I mean,â he looked at me with a naughty…
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5 Things People Got Wrong About Joining Tours
I agree that when we arrange our own trip, weâll have total freedom. However, whatâs bugging me is when some people think theyâre better travellers because they arrange their own trips. They got the wrong impression about joining tours! Itâs like the traveller snobs. Perhaps they forget to check the dictionary that âtouristâ is the synonym of âtravellerâ? I have some reasons to arrange a private tour or join a tour, but the strongest reason is to help me attain the tourist visas. Thatâs how I got my very first Schengen Visa, even though I was in a complicated situation. This article isnât about boosting the benefit of joining a…
