[after a 3 month break I am back again!]
One month to go till my last class at INSEAD.
This period (aka semester) my classes are amazing. Just finished the full weekend class - Entrepreneurship in Action - business simulation game. Officially, I was the CEO of the company. Practically, I was both production planning guy and the secretary at the same time. I loved the team, we were so high on energy. I woke up.
I have a million item to-do list with #1 item on it is to find a job!
I thought I could only travel so much out of Singapore. I was wrong.
My schedule in P5:
Week1: Amsterdam
Week2: Moscow
Week3+4: nothing! guests!
Week5: Germany
Week6: Dublin
Week7: Berlin (back at 8pm, driving back home, leaving at 5.30am for London the next day)
Week8: London
Week9: Grad trip to Sri Lanka!
It is 2 am, and I am still not sleepy...
10 November 2009
10 August 2009
Lombok to Flores adventure
From Lombok I took a 4 day-4 night boat to Flores visiting the islands of Komodo and Rinca, aka The Komodo National Park, home to komodo, dragons or how we called them – dinosaurs.
There are only two “budget” boats operating this route. The well-known Perama boat reaches Flores within 3 days and costs more than $400 and Kecana tour that costs merely $150 for 4 days. Given the savings, it should not come as a surprise that Kecana boat did not have any safety measures or any decent navigation system. The food was bare minimum, we slept on the deck, the “guide” did not really speak English, but since we have not drawn, I cannot complain. At times through I was wondering if we'd ever make it. To make us feel save we were told "if waves are too big, we will wait".
We have seen komodo on both Komodo and Rinca islands, but significantly more dragons on Rinca (as everyone says!). It was the mating season so we witnessed a magnificent dragon fight for a female. There is only one female for 4 male komodo. The most fasinating way to see the fight is to have photos lined up. I was impressed! Those heavy carnivores only seemed to be sleeping in the sun. Another second they were fighting with their blood vessels flexing scarily just about 3 meters in front of us.
On the way we also snorkeled at two superb locations. Satonda National Park was maybe the best coral collection I have seen to date. Snorkeling at Red Beach near Komodo was also amazing. The beach itself is also interesting. It is white from the far, but pink up close thanks to red coral pieces.
The landscapes on the way were stunning and different from anything I have seen before. Barren islands with no vegetation, life or people are surrounded by amazing warm blue waters with colourful corals. Some views:
Labuan Bajo is where we ended the trip. The place did not reveal anything special to me except for lack of decent budget accommodation. An expensive hotel outside the city was a nice change after 3 days without fresh water on the boat - we enjoyed the pool for $5/day.
Did I mention the earthquake? Yes, it happened while we were having dinner, but it was weak, not even our plates fell.
My advice is to book an ticket in advance to get out of Flores the very moment you arrive (in high season ppl get stuck there for 10 days). Unless, unless you dive. I heard diving is AMAZING but difficult around Laub Bajo (very strong currents). It costs $80 for two dives.
KOMODO TRIP album on flickr with more dragons and views
Next stop was Sulawesi with a day layover in Kota.
There are only two “budget” boats operating this route. The well-known Perama boat reaches Flores within 3 days and costs more than $400 and Kecana tour that costs merely $150 for 4 days. Given the savings, it should not come as a surprise that Kecana boat did not have any safety measures or any decent navigation system. The food was bare minimum, we slept on the deck, the “guide” did not really speak English, but since we have not drawn, I cannot complain. At times through I was wondering if we'd ever make it. To make us feel save we were told "if waves are too big, we will wait".
We have seen komodo on both Komodo and Rinca islands, but significantly more dragons on Rinca (as everyone says!). It was the mating season so we witnessed a magnificent dragon fight for a female. There is only one female for 4 male komodo. The most fasinating way to see the fight is to have photos lined up. I was impressed! Those heavy carnivores only seemed to be sleeping in the sun. Another second they were fighting with their blood vessels flexing scarily just about 3 meters in front of us.
On the way we also snorkeled at two superb locations. Satonda National Park was maybe the best coral collection I have seen to date. Snorkeling at Red Beach near Komodo was also amazing. The beach itself is also interesting. It is white from the far, but pink up close thanks to red coral pieces.
The landscapes on the way were stunning and different from anything I have seen before. Barren islands with no vegetation, life or people are surrounded by amazing warm blue waters with colourful corals. Some views:
Labuan Bajo is where we ended the trip. The place did not reveal anything special to me except for lack of decent budget accommodation. An expensive hotel outside the city was a nice change after 3 days without fresh water on the boat - we enjoyed the pool for $5/day.
Did I mention the earthquake? Yes, it happened while we were having dinner, but it was weak, not even our plates fell.
My advice is to book an ticket in advance to get out of Flores the very moment you arrive (in high season ppl get stuck there for 10 days). Unless, unless you dive. I heard diving is AMAZING but difficult around Laub Bajo (very strong currents). It costs $80 for two dives.
KOMODO TRIP album on flickr with more dragons and views
Next stop was Sulawesi with a day layover in Kota.
09 August 2009
08 August 2009
Portuguese Blues
I will never catch up with my photography. I just came back from the beautiful (western) coast of Portugal. I have a number of great images, still on my SD card. I am still to go through some images from Indonesia (the amazing Sulawesi) and I am asking myself the same question over and over again. Why bother?
If anybody is reading it, let me know. That would motivate me somewhat to go through this torture of selecting images. I realize that blogspot is not as good as livejournal to create a snowball effect for readers. Flickr is definitely better at it, but I am still not ready to spend the time required for that. And besides I like telling stories even though recently I became lazy and somewhat paranoiac.
Regarding Portugal - after partying at sudoeste festival I concluded that Portuguese men are the best looking in the world, at least the part I have visited (the whole 25% of it). Sorry Israelis, you move to the 2nd position in my list. Comments?
If anybody is reading it, let me know. That would motivate me somewhat to go through this torture of selecting images. I realize that blogspot is not as good as livejournal to create a snowball effect for readers. Flickr is definitely better at it, but I am still not ready to spend the time required for that. And besides I like telling stories even though recently I became lazy and somewhat paranoiac.
Regarding Portugal - after partying at sudoeste festival I concluded that Portuguese men are the best looking in the world, at least the part I have visited (the whole 25% of it). Sorry Israelis, you move to the 2nd position in my list. Comments?
05 August 2009
Lombok
I was lucky to get an individual tour of Lombok behind the adventurous, as he calls himself, travelmaster. Still undeveloped compared to the Gili Islands and Bali, Lombok felt like real Indonesia – Muslim, poor and beautiful. Three days on a bike (btw, my ass still hurts a month later!) and I began to discover this island - the green rice and tobacco fields, wild beaches of the north and south, waterfalls by the Rinjani, sunset over Bali, photogenic locals and hyperactive kids screaming “Hello Mister, where you going!?”, the worst roads ever in Southwest Lombok and an amazing cafe Ashtari.
Here is my "favourite" old lady that we caught by chance before sunset.
Other amazing photos on flickr.
Here is my "favourite" old lady that we caught by chance before sunset.
Other amazing photos on flickr.
31 July 2009
Hopping the Gili Islands, Indonesia
Gili Cat speed boat from Bali to Gili costs ridiculous $60, but if that was the only problem.
High season on Gili Trawangan and I wanted to kill myself how much I hated it. So many people, so much development, so little beach and quietness. I definitely did not understand what the hype was all about. Koh Phi Phi seemed like a paradise right there and then.
The next day I took a public boat to the next island – Gili Meno. I was happy I moved. This was more in line with what I was looking for. Quit and very tranquil Meno with its beautiful beaches won my heart over for the next 4 days. I met two sisters from Moscow, so the days went by very quickly, perhaps even too quickly. We took a snorkeling trip around the island and saw the turtles. The corals were not that great, so I just hope people who dive at Gilis are not disappointed.
In two days families with kids arrived to Meno, so kids-haters beware!
I heard Gili Air is the compromise of the party Trawangan and the quiet Meno. Still with magic 8 to 9 hour daily sleep, sun baths and swimming activities in the perfectly warm days (breeze + no humidity) I was getting my rest.
I stayed at Kontiki on Gili Meno. Good value for money.
More photos of Gilis
On another note.
Now I had time to read my Indonesia guidebook. Because of Bali tourism, arranging travel from Bali is easy. However, travelling between different regions of Indonesia appeared to be much more challenging, it requires significant amounts of time and best arranged on the spot. Thus, risks must be taken of flying into, say, Maluku, looking around for ferries that take ages (and sink?) or flights that fly couple of times a week. When I read Lonely Planet off-beaten path routes requiring 6 weeks to 2 months, I thought they were kidding or planning long breaks in-between destinations. No, that is just remote Indonesia. Given that 30 days is the longest tourist visa on arrival, I can’t see those areas (Papua, Maluku, Katinkalan) developing any time soon.
27 July 2009
Bali stories, four days in Ubud
Three hours of sleep, 4:20 am wakeup call and I am on a 6 am flight to Bali, half dead. What Indonesia? Why? Just put me to sleep.
Nevertheless, I opened my 2 kg Indonesia guidebook to read where I was going. Having been told multiple times NOT TO STAY in Kota, I figured I would head straight to Ubud (Kota was not too bad 2 weeks later, actually). I skipped the whole southern Bali with its surfing vibe for more Balinese inspired Ubud and surroundings.
An official taxi costs $19.5 for an hour and half ride to the center of Ubud (for the simplicity purposes I will mention all prices in dollars, US$1=Rps10,000). I chose to stay on a quiet street Jalan Bisma, romantic hideaway west of Forest Monkey road, next to my very own rice paddies. My advice would be to leave bags at fancy Café des Artistes and shop around for rooms. Rooms costs from $15 to $35/night. However, Bisma street is a 15-minute walk to the bulk of restaurants.
I fell in love with Ubud before I even reached the center. Streets of galleries and beautiful houses plot a dramatic entrance to town. For the first time I have experienced Balinese architecture and style with its attention to detail and embodied peacefulness. It made the city unique and I would say the most special I have seen in Asia. I spent the rest of the afternoon wandering on Main road towards Monkey Forest and beyond. Every house had a temple inside the beautiful yard behind exquisite doors with sculptures of mystical animals at the doorsteps. Streets beyond the center are quiet and wonderful. I cannot recommend enough taking time to stroll.
That’s exactly what I did for 6 hours the next day. Equipped with Lonely Plan’s recommended walking tours and a map of Ubud’s surroundings I walked through amazing Campuhan Ridge to the small village of Bangklang Sidem and Payogan. Learn how to say “Selamat Pagi” (Good morning) as everyone nods at your appearance.
I then also toured artists’ village of Penestanan. Every house is a residency of an artist with his very own exhibition that seems to be unattended most of the time. After being lost for a couple of times I finally reached the Sayan Terraces (hotel) where one can hike down to Ayung River. Next door is Four Seasons Hotel with an amazing pool at the drop of the hill. If I had extra $600 (standard room rate) I would not mind a night there.
My third day I spent touring north-west part of Bali. I left Ubud at 7 am with a private driver ($30/day) and luckily was the first one to arrive to Lake Bratan and its Bedugul temple. Up and down the slopes we reached twin lakes of Buyan and Tamblingan and then the coffee plantations of Munduk. The highlight of the trip was the rice terraces at Jatiluwih. They are so amazing that tourists are being charged $1 to drive through them. Further climbing up Mt. Batukaru through some narrow roads and tiny old villages untouched by the development happening in Ubud/Kota, we reached lonesome, mysterious covered in green moss Batukaru temple. What a contrast was Tanah Lot Temple where I arrived 2 hours later – surrounding shops and vendors take more space than the Temple itself. It’s tourism at its worst. Too bad, the temple off the coast in the waves of Indonesian Ocean is impressive.
Bedugul Temple
Rice Terraces at Jatiluwih
Batukaru Temple
Tanah Lot Temple
Taxi drivers in Ubud start to annoy me. It is impossible to walk by without being offered transport service literally every 15 meters. iPod helped a bit.
Fourth day and last in Ubud I went to the east Lake Batur.
It’s time to leave Bali behind. Next week I am winding down on Gili Islands, the white beach paradise with famous dive sites.
40 more pictures on flickr
Nevertheless, I opened my 2 kg Indonesia guidebook to read where I was going. Having been told multiple times NOT TO STAY in Kota, I figured I would head straight to Ubud (Kota was not too bad 2 weeks later, actually). I skipped the whole southern Bali with its surfing vibe for more Balinese inspired Ubud and surroundings.
An official taxi costs $19.5 for an hour and half ride to the center of Ubud (for the simplicity purposes I will mention all prices in dollars, US$1=Rps10,000). I chose to stay on a quiet street Jalan Bisma, romantic hideaway west of Forest Monkey road, next to my very own rice paddies. My advice would be to leave bags at fancy Café des Artistes and shop around for rooms. Rooms costs from $15 to $35/night. However, Bisma street is a 15-minute walk to the bulk of restaurants.
I fell in love with Ubud before I even reached the center. Streets of galleries and beautiful houses plot a dramatic entrance to town. For the first time I have experienced Balinese architecture and style with its attention to detail and embodied peacefulness. It made the city unique and I would say the most special I have seen in Asia. I spent the rest of the afternoon wandering on Main road towards Monkey Forest and beyond. Every house had a temple inside the beautiful yard behind exquisite doors with sculptures of mystical animals at the doorsteps. Streets beyond the center are quiet and wonderful. I cannot recommend enough taking time to stroll.
That’s exactly what I did for 6 hours the next day. Equipped with Lonely Plan’s recommended walking tours and a map of Ubud’s surroundings I walked through amazing Campuhan Ridge to the small village of Bangklang Sidem and Payogan. Learn how to say “Selamat Pagi” (Good morning) as everyone nods at your appearance.
I then also toured artists’ village of Penestanan. Every house is a residency of an artist with his very own exhibition that seems to be unattended most of the time. After being lost for a couple of times I finally reached the Sayan Terraces (hotel) where one can hike down to Ayung River. Next door is Four Seasons Hotel with an amazing pool at the drop of the hill. If I had extra $600 (standard room rate) I would not mind a night there.
My third day I spent touring north-west part of Bali. I left Ubud at 7 am with a private driver ($30/day) and luckily was the first one to arrive to Lake Bratan and its Bedugul temple. Up and down the slopes we reached twin lakes of Buyan and Tamblingan and then the coffee plantations of Munduk. The highlight of the trip was the rice terraces at Jatiluwih. They are so amazing that tourists are being charged $1 to drive through them. Further climbing up Mt. Batukaru through some narrow roads and tiny old villages untouched by the development happening in Ubud/Kota, we reached lonesome, mysterious covered in green moss Batukaru temple. What a contrast was Tanah Lot Temple where I arrived 2 hours later – surrounding shops and vendors take more space than the Temple itself. It’s tourism at its worst. Too bad, the temple off the coast in the waves of Indonesian Ocean is impressive.
Bedugul Temple
Rice Terraces at Jatiluwih
Batukaru Temple
Tanah Lot Temple
Taxi drivers in Ubud start to annoy me. It is impossible to walk by without being offered transport service literally every 15 meters. iPod helped a bit.
Fourth day and last in Ubud I went to the east Lake Batur.
It’s time to leave Bali behind. Next week I am winding down on Gili Islands, the white beach paradise with famous dive sites.
40 more pictures on flickr
26 July 2009
Travel Map
After all the travel I did I only covered 27% of the countries in the world. And people say I have seen everything. Ha, just a mere quarter. And I love how I "cheated" with Russia after visiting only St. Petersburg.
25 July 2009
Mt.Bromo, Java, Indonesia
Two weeks before coming to Bali I spent one weekend in Java, witnessing sunrise over Mt.Bromo. It was worth the trip, but maybe not the Friday night spent in horrible Surabaya. NO decent budget accommodation was found and we spent a night in one of the worst hotels I witnessed in my life. Cockroaches were there too.
The viewing platform is easily reached by car early in the morning if you stay overnight somewhere in the vicinity. It was fully packed with Indonesian students due to the summer vacations in the country. The fight for the view was severe, but the foggy view over volcanoes is stunning. After the sunrise we head down to the valley to hike Mt. Bromo – over three hundred steps (??) to see the smoking mountain.
The pictures are on flickr.
The viewing platform is easily reached by car early in the morning if you stay overnight somewhere in the vicinity. It was fully packed with Indonesian students due to the summer vacations in the country. The fight for the view was severe, but the foggy view over volcanoes is stunning. After the sunrise we head down to the valley to hike Mt. Bromo – over three hundred steps (??) to see the smoking mountain.
The pictures are on flickr.
24 July 2009
Vietnam
Part One, the south – Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) airport is brand new and quite impressive. Our pre-arranged visas through Vietnam Visa took about 20 minutes to get. ATM, getting dong and becoming milioners (having dollars have proven to be more useful), cab, and we are in Pham Ngu Lao, the backpackers universe of HCMC. The basic room costs $10, a slightly better goes for $15, a hotel room for $25 and up.
Once the first shock from endless flow of mopeds ended, I fell in love with Vietnam. I cannot even explain why. Maybe because touristy stuff and local go together in Vietnam. Next to the westernized café there will be Vietnamese street restaurants where locals squat on tiny chairs and tables. Maybe because Vietnam is so rich in cultural heritage. There is taste and style in a lot of Vietnamese things. It’s a pleasure to stroll through souvenir shops and find unique textiles, ceramics, jewelry and other hand made stuff.
We walked around, had coffee and pastries in a numerous cafes scattered around the city. We bargained for some beautiful souvenirs. We ate at a fancy Hoi An restaurant tasting gourmet Vietnamese food for about $30 per person (no alcohol). We visited the Reunification Palace and walked around China Town’s beautiful and empty temples.
Finally, we went on a one-day tour of Mekong Delta. In retrospect I would recommend to do minimum a 2 day trip with an overnight in the village as it takes at least 4-5 hours to get to interesting and less touristy parts of Mekong Delta.
Part Two, the north – Hanoi and Ha Long Bay
A couple of weeks later we headed off to Hanoi in the north for three and a half day get-away. The first full day we spent exploring Hanoi on foot. I enjoyed Hanoi even more than Ho Chi Minh City. The Old Part of Hanoi is compact with cute streets where shops specialize in different items. One street sells silk, another - eye glasses, the third – kitchen ware, etc. Getting lost and finding the way back in the 40 degree heat and 90% humidity was definitely an experience. A lot of textile from Sapa is being sold in Hanoi. Pictures of tours into the valley are also all over. Next time I would love to go trekking in the Sapa Valley.
We stayed in backpackers perfect guesthouse – Charming Hotel. For the price of $15 you get a small renovated room with a new bed, A/C , TV, amazing shower, free wifi and a decent breakfast. No wonder they were so busy. Highly recommended for simple lodging.
The next day we were picked up at 8 am to go to Ha Long Bay where a boat for 2day/1night tour was waiting for us. We booked Oriental Sails for $85 per person. Again, we were lucky because the boat was only 2 years old, the food was great and the stuff was friendly.
Ha Long Bay is touristy, but it is gorgeous. Thousands of tiny islands-cliffs stick out of Southern China Sea. The main activity on board is sunbathing and relaxing (our timing with super humid weather made it unpleasant after a few hours). Besides that we visited an Amazing Cave, fishing village and did kayaking at sunset. Indeed, great experience.
Vietnam is on my radar screen for more returns!
Flickr album here
Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) airport is brand new and quite impressive. Our pre-arranged visas through Vietnam Visa took about 20 minutes to get. ATM, getting dong and becoming milioners (having dollars have proven to be more useful), cab, and we are in Pham Ngu Lao, the backpackers universe of HCMC. The basic room costs $10, a slightly better goes for $15, a hotel room for $25 and up.
Once the first shock from endless flow of mopeds ended, I fell in love with Vietnam. I cannot even explain why. Maybe because touristy stuff and local go together in Vietnam. Next to the westernized café there will be Vietnamese street restaurants where locals squat on tiny chairs and tables. Maybe because Vietnam is so rich in cultural heritage. There is taste and style in a lot of Vietnamese things. It’s a pleasure to stroll through souvenir shops and find unique textiles, ceramics, jewelry and other hand made stuff.
We walked around, had coffee and pastries in a numerous cafes scattered around the city. We bargained for some beautiful souvenirs. We ate at a fancy Hoi An restaurant tasting gourmet Vietnamese food for about $30 per person (no alcohol). We visited the Reunification Palace and walked around China Town’s beautiful and empty temples.
Finally, we went on a one-day tour of Mekong Delta. In retrospect I would recommend to do minimum a 2 day trip with an overnight in the village as it takes at least 4-5 hours to get to interesting and less touristy parts of Mekong Delta.
Part Two, the north – Hanoi and Ha Long Bay
A couple of weeks later we headed off to Hanoi in the north for three and a half day get-away. The first full day we spent exploring Hanoi on foot. I enjoyed Hanoi even more than Ho Chi Minh City. The Old Part of Hanoi is compact with cute streets where shops specialize in different items. One street sells silk, another - eye glasses, the third – kitchen ware, etc. Getting lost and finding the way back in the 40 degree heat and 90% humidity was definitely an experience. A lot of textile from Sapa is being sold in Hanoi. Pictures of tours into the valley are also all over. Next time I would love to go trekking in the Sapa Valley.
We stayed in backpackers perfect guesthouse – Charming Hotel. For the price of $15 you get a small renovated room with a new bed, A/C , TV, amazing shower, free wifi and a decent breakfast. No wonder they were so busy. Highly recommended for simple lodging.
The next day we were picked up at 8 am to go to Ha Long Bay where a boat for 2day/1night tour was waiting for us. We booked Oriental Sails for $85 per person. Again, we were lucky because the boat was only 2 years old, the food was great and the stuff was friendly.
Ha Long Bay is touristy, but it is gorgeous. Thousands of tiny islands-cliffs stick out of Southern China Sea. The main activity on board is sunbathing and relaxing (our timing with super humid weather made it unpleasant after a few hours). Besides that we visited an Amazing Cave, fishing village and did kayaking at sunset. Indeed, great experience.
Vietnam is on my radar screen for more returns!
Flickr album here
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