Koh Tao - Dive Central, Gulf of Thailand

Want to learn how to snorkel or dive at one of the easiest dive spots and clearest waters around?  Then head for Koh Tao, the little island in the Gulf of Thailand with over 30 dive operators, 20 dive spots and visibility of up to 40 meters on a good day.  Koh Tao is one of the cheapest places to get dive certified.  If you are lucky, besides the reef sharks, turtles and stingrays, you may bump into the whale sharks that occasionally drop by.

There are several wrecks to sniff around, among them the USS Lagarto and the spooky Tottori Maru from the Second World War and the Seacrest Drill Ship hammered down by Typhoon Gay in November 1989.  Be aware that storm season in the Gulf of Thailand is usually in the month of October thru November.

Not only is Koh Tao a little remote from its popular neighbour Koh Samui, its also much quieter, just nice to get away from it all to its secluded beaches, or go hiking, abseiling or biking. 

This short video by photographic75 shows off glimpses of Koh Tao.

And this video by MasterDiversKohTao may inspire some to go diving soon.

Desert Point – Surfers Challenge

Desert Point or Bangko Bangko beach is in the remote south west of Lombok Island.  Desert Point was voted as the best surfing point by most surfers.

As described by surfers, the wave quality is totally epic, great barrels, with a thrilling 300 meter hollow ride, best when the tide is low and rising.  Because of this and that there is a shallow reef with razor sharp corals, only seasoned surfers risk the ride.  The swells start at 1.5 meters, and holds up to 2.5 meters.

Besides surfing at Desert Point, one can go diving, snorkelling, hiking and a host of other activities in this relative quiet away from the crowds from the other touristy areas of Lombok.  There are several nice lodges around Bangko Bangko at Pelangan.

This video by aznness shows off the fun and the tubes of Desert Point Lombok.

Lombok - Travel to Tropical Islands

Lombok, part of the Lesser Sunda Islands, is east of Bali in Indonesia.  For ecology buffs, the Wallace Line is here at the Lombok Straits, separating the Indomalayan biome at Bali and the start of the Australasian biome from Lombok.  An active volcano, Mount Rinjani, the third highest mountain in Indonesia, dominates the Lombok skyline and is a National Park.  Gili Trawang and its two tranquil sister islands are off the northern tip of Lombok Island. 

Lombok offers jungle trekking, beaches, scuba diving, surfing, snorkeling and some historical sight seeing.  

Sengigi beach is just north of Mataram, en route to Gili Trawangan.  Sengigi beach has four focus areas namely Mangsit with its long and tranquil beach, Kerangdangan Bay, Sengigi town and the Batu Bolong hotels.  Kute beach on the southern end of Lombok is an area popular with surfers for its clean beaches and high waves.  A well hidden surfers gem is Desert Point. You can even hop off Lombok to GIli Trawangan or Sumbawa for a get away from it all feel.

For sightseeing you can go see the Tanjung A'an beach to see its unique pepper shaped sand, Sukarare to watch local artisans at work on handicrafts or for a spirit of adventure, trek up Mount Rinjani to see its beautiful lake crater. Narmada park and Brahma's Throne offers some historical insights and the many waterfalls offer cooling dips from the tropical heat of Lombok.

The video by bali0range shows what Lombok has to offer.

Gili Islands - Ibiza of the East

Fancy going to a place where there are no cars and motorcycles? Just laze on the beach, go snorkelling or scuba diving and then later just party and forget the weight of today?  There is a name for such a dream; the Gili Islands in Indonesia.

The Gili Islands are just off the northwest point of Lombok Island, east of Bali. There are three islands in the group, Trawangan, Meno and Air.  Trawangan is the happening island, with white beaches, dive schools, resorts and a party scene complete with throbbing beach bars and an Irish pub.  Meno and Air are rather laid back, for sun bathing, snorkeling and diving.

Once catering just for backpackers, the Gili now beckon the hip and wealthy too. There are no motorized vehicles on these tiny islands.  Only bicycles, horse carts and your own two feet to get around.  And the boats to travel to the other islands and civilization. 

There are six dive centers, with great dives to see sharks, turtles and seahorses with the stunning coral.  Powdery white beaches, clear waters and a brilliant sun with the unpolluted air clean of fumes give one a feel of a tropical paradise.

This video by mariekevangameren showcases a relaxing day at the Gili Islands.

And this video by sir0 gives a glimpse of a beach party.

Hua Hin – Clear Waters and Strong WInds

Fancy something different in Thailand? Hua Hin is great for Kiteboarding and Windsurfing with winds up to 20 knots. The PKRA (Professional Kiteboard Riders Association) managed the Intercontinental Hua Hin Kiteboarding World Cup last year.  Great Sun, Sand and Wind!

Unusual for a Thai beach town, Hua Hin has a relatively tame nightlife.  This can be attributed to the fact that this town is where the royals come to unwind from city life.  South of Bangkok on the Malay Peninsula, Hua Hin by itself is on the tourist map for its 5 kilometer long and very wide and clean beach.

If you want to unwind with a little nightlife, Soi Bintabahn in Hua Hin is the place to go to.   For jungle adventures such as trekking, the nearby Sam Roi Yot Park has limestone mountains, caves, swamps, and beaches to go explore.  There are also the Namtok Pa Lau waterfalls to go splashing about and a little ways away, Dan Singkhon is the border town with Myanmar, where you can see or buy Myanmarese nature products.  After your stopover in Hua Hin, you can continue on to Koh Samui and the rest of the sun soaked country down south.

This video by asiatraveltips shows a teaser on the kitesurfing action at Hua Hin.

Scuba Diving at Boracay

There are over fifteen dive spots around Boracay Island with eighteen plus dive operators..  Most of the dive spots are off White Beach and the rest are scattered around the North and Southeast points of Boracay.  The currents are moderate to strong.

The best dive spot is Yapak Dive which has two walls and a chimney at its southern end. Yapak goes from 30 meters to 70 meters deep.  Grey and Whitetip Reef Sharks are common here along with schools of barracuda, tuna, surgeonfish and many more.  Hammerheads and Mantarays have been spotted in this area too.  Great spot for the pros.

Start depth are mostly at 5 meters for the dives in front of White Beach.  The Beach Night Dive is 5 meters deep and close to White Beach.  Camia Dive’s start depth is 18 meters.  It is a wreck sank to be an artificial reef.  For beginners, Angol Point Dive is great starting point, with various types of coral and fishes.

This video by beachbum32 shows the dive at Angol Point.

Ariel’s Point – Live to Tell the Tale

Ariel’s Point at Buruanga on nearby Panay Island, is about half an hour’s boat ride from Baracay.  This isolated spot is famous for cliff jumping, paddling around in a boat, swimming and snorkelling as well as exploring the surrounding area.  And great food and drinks too.

Ariel’s Point is a must do if you have no health issues (think short bungee jumping without the bungee).  The highest of the 5 jump points is 45 feet from the sea.  And the deep waters will take you in nicely.  A must do to add onto your to do life list, next to marathon running perhaps. And an awesome tale to share back home!

This video by beachbum32 shows the thrills of cliff jumping at Ariel’s Point.

Bulabog Beach – Kite Boarding Cental

Bulabog Beach on the eastern side of Boracay is a beautiful sun soaked beach with a pristine clear lagoon protected by a coral reef. The lagoon is windy and shallow, making it ideal for beginners trying out their hand at water sports.  

So its no surprise that Bulabog Beach is famed for its windsurfing and kiteboarding activities and has hosted international windsurfing meets.  Besides these sports, you can get jet skis, go parasailing and boating besides swimming, snorkelling and sunbathing.  The Kite Resort WIndpia even has a kite school for the beginner.

This video by ExtremeElementsTV shows off the action at Bulabog Beach.

White Beach Boracay – A Slice of Paradise

White Beach on the western side of  Boracay must have been the reference for the exotic beach life that guidebooks talk about.  Beautiful soft white sandy beach with a gentle surf, shady trees and coconut trees hanging out over to the water, contemplative spots and party spots, and great food and drink at an easy reach.  And with its multi-hued long sunsets and English speaking fun loving locals, it is indeed the closest to your own piece of paradise.

White Beach is sectioned into 3 stations. Station 1 is where the luxury resorts are located.  You can have your pick from over 31 upscale hotels with matching prices to boot.  Station 2 is the commercial and most happening area on White Beach.  The D’Mall which holds the tourists shops, bars and restaurants is here along with a mixed bag of 31 luxury and budget hotels.  Station 3 has recently seen new developments. It offers mostly budget with some luxury hotels in their midst.  So take your pick, check yourself in and start walking or lounging.  Just be aware to book directly with the hotels to get the best rates, if you are not going through a brand name tour agent.

This video by dedek321 shows the best of what White Beach has to offer.

Boracay – Sun, Sand and Adventure

Boracay is a little island in the Visayas, just south of Manila in the Philippines. Boracay's azure waters, beautiful sun drenched white sandy beaches and its host of activities from partying, sunbathing and swimming to kiteboarding, parasailing, windsurfing and diving, will fully occupy even the most active person.  It’s also a great base camp to hop off for water and jungle adventures at nearby islands and lagoons.  And Boracay is one of top beach destinations in the world.

You land at Caticlan Airport (small aircraft) or at Kalibo Interantional, both on the nearby Panay Island. Then you’ll hop onto one of the boats at Caticlan jetty to get into Cagban on Boracay proper. And on Baracay, you will be spoiled for choice for accommodation.

There is the White Beach stretch which is subdivided into 3 stations. Station 1 is upscale, Station 2 the most happening and Station 3 for the reflective mind.  On the northen end of Boracay, Puka Beach sits isolated and is postcard perfect.  Bulabog Beach is the water sports beach on the opposite side of the island from White Beach.

For the adventurous, you can sign up for outrigger cruises to Angel’s Point on Panay to go cliff diving, boat paddling and jungle trekking on the Antiqe coast.  Or just take the many outrigger round island cruises for stopovers at the isolated and quiet beach spots on Boracay.  And while in Baracay, do try out the skimboarding!

This video by alan78p2 shows off the delights of a Boracay vacation.

Play - Sentosa Style

Sentosa Island in Singapore dubs itself as Asia’s Favourite Playground.  And why not?  From the high energy Siloso  Beach to underwater worlds  and quiet nature trails, from a casino to a theme park to a fort, Sentosa has it all in on an 5 kilometer square island.  It is accessible via either a picturesque cable car ride by from Mount Faber, monorail from Vivo City Mall or by bus or taxi from town.  Plan to put up a few days at the many hotels there to maximize your experience at this multifaceted playground.

As you land on Sentosa, you will see Resorts World Integrated Resort with its Universal Studios, a casino, shopping and hotels.  Then you have Siloso Point with its Siloso Fort, Underwater World and the Dolphin Lagoon. Next are the various beaches for fun parties, families and a chance to catch some quiet time if needed.  Imbah Lookout has all the eco adventures you can try your hands and feet at and if you really need to, fine golfing at the two well know courses on the island.

This video from Sentosa Official gives a glimpse of the possibilities for us on Sentosa.

Cebu

Cebu is smack in the centre of the Philippine archipelago.  It made Conde Nast’s list as one of the top 10 island destinations in the world.

As Magellan’s first landing point in the Philippines (and also where he was killed), there is a monument to Lapu Lapu, the leader who resisted the Spanish when they first arrived at these islands.

There are many things to see and do in Cebu; from partying, eating, biking, shopping, sun bathing and sightseeing. Cebu has brilliant white sandy beaches, pristine waters and rich marine life fit for diving and snorkelling, as well as verdant mountains, mysterious caves and challenging trails for mountain trekking and spelunking to provide an endless option of outdoor activities. 

You will be hard pressed to wonder what to do at this tourist centre.  And you might just want to drop by in January to soak in the festival of Sinulog, the thumping Mardi Gras of the East, and the biggest one in the Philippines.

This video by wowphilippinesuk shows off the fabulous attractions of Cebu.

Nakorn Si Thammarat

Nakorn Si Thammarat (the capital city and province of the same name)  is situated north of Hat Yai, between the islands of Phuket and Koh Samui on the lush and evergreen Malay Peninsula within Thailand.  It’s another ancient city in Thailand, this time not linked to the Khmer but to the Srivijaya Empire of Sumatra and to the Chola Kingdoms of India.

An important temple that is one of the oldest continually occupied temples in Thailand, the Wat Phra Mahathat is around 1500 years old.  You may feel that this may be how Angkor Wat, and other temple ruins may have looked or felt  like in their heydays.  Wat Phra Mahathat of Nakorn Si Thammarat is believed to contain relics of the Buddha himself, with memorials in the town to the people who brought the relics.

There remains an old city wall from the 13^th century with tales waiting to be told.  Besides these places to go and see, there are a lot of fun things to do like kayaking, trekking and elephant rides and sunning on the beaches nearby.

This video by bestdestination gives a good overview of things to do in Nakorn Si Thammarat.

Penang - A Victorian Legacy

The Europeans came to Asia looking for riches from spices and trade.  The British created free ports such as Hong Kong, Singapore and Penang to get a share of the money of the Chinese traders.  The first of these free ports was Penang, established in 1786.

Armenians, Danes, Germans, Jews, British, Punjabis, Tamils, Malayalees, Bengalis, Arabs, Straits Chinese, Chinese, Siamese, Burmese, Achehnese, Javanese and Malays flocked to this beautiful island and were richly rewarded for their toils and enterprise.

The umbrella of the British Empire ensured that property was protected by law and the thriving community build institutions and shared their food and cultures.  We can see the cemetaries, houses of worship, clan houses, beautiful parks and beaches and taste the mouth watering mix of food and drink that uniquely defines Penang.  This unique melting pot has resulted in the capital city, Georgetown, to be listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site, a joint listing with its sister heritage city, Malacca. It should be noted that Penang's special home grown dish 'Assam Laksa'  made it to the top 10 (at number 7) of CNN's World's 50 most delicious food.

This video by Alfred and Jasmin Grech from their holiday in Penang sums it all.  Its a colorful montage of the various spots to see and things to do in this cosmopolitan creation of the British Empire.