Top 5 things to do in Puerto Rico

Hailing from Malaysia, never in my wildest imagination I have ever thought of stepping foot into the Caribbean region and my dream came true this summer to explore this wonderful island for a 3-days visit. It wasn’t too long but it’s worth it to have experienced the Caribbean adventure!

Best Ways To Make New Friends On The Road (For Shy People)

Traveling solo doesn’t mean that you should be alone all the time. In most cases, making new friends is easy because generally, travelers are outgoing and excited to meet new people from around the globe. But, if you are extremely shy, things could be harder for you… I feel you, I am an introvert as well. Nevertheless, I’ve listed down 12 practical tips I discovered during my travels to help you shy people out there. 

Step out from your comfort zone and make a new friend today, will you? 

Conquering Mount Fuji On A Budget -- 2 Economical Ways

What comes to your mind when you see the word "JAPAN"?
For me, Mount FUJI is definitely at the top of the list. Standing at the mighty height of 3776m, Mount Fuji is a national icon of Japan and has always been a must-do in every traveler’s bucket list. 

13 Road-Tested Packing Tips From Yours Sincerely

Packing is the final step of trip planning, but at the same time, it is also the vital beginning point of an unforgettable journey. It takes the pivotal position in every trip and I believe everyone had been through it: pacing back and forth thinking what else to pack and how to pack (your whole room) into a small carry-on bag. So I thought it might be a good idea for me to share out all the basic packing rules I’ve been sticking to since I first journeyed abroad. Introducing these 13 road-tested packing tips, if you like them too, share this with your friends, because sharing is caring! 

A Day Trip From Amsterdam: Zaanse Schans

For generations, Zaanse Schans has been a tourist mecca, welcoming tons of visitors from all over the world. It is said to be the jewel of Dutch cultural heritage. Since we have one more day in Amsterdam, we decided to follow the crowd and tick this “Netherlands’ most popular attraction” off the list.  

What To Pack For A Summer in Europe?

So you've booked your flight ticket, totally overwhelmed by the excitement, you can almost see yourself stuffing your face into all those beautiful pastries in Paris... and then, here comes the tough question: What should I pack? 

21 Totally Free Things I Did in Amsterdam

Ah, Amsterdam! The world capital of canals and bridges. It has long been a top destination on travelers’ bucket list and it is not hard to figure out why. Being a budget traveler, my mission was to experience as much as I could without spending a dime in Amsterdam. There are probably 100 more free Amsterdam attractions that you can enjoy but here is what I manage to do in my short weekend escape last July. Come explore with me!  

10 Things Not To Be Missed In Avignon, France

Last July, I had an amazing time in Avignon, the city of the Popes. Now let me tell you exactly what I did during my 2 days stay. I hope this serves as a useful guide for those who are planning their first visit to this beautiful medieval city. As for returning visitors, I am sure you've gain more insights, so feel free to let me know in the comment section below! Thank you in advance! 

Why is Alta, Norway Your Top Aurora Destination this year?

Do you know that the city of Alta, located in the northeast region of Norway, is also dubbed as the City of Aurora?

Hence, this winter, if you are planning for an aurora hunt, you wouldn’t want to miss Alta, Norway as your pit stop in realizing your dream for catching this elusive aurora!

13 Useful Phrases Every Traveler Needs To Know

When traveling abroad, especially to non-English speaking countries, you might feel lost and helpless at times. It's normal and I understand, I've been there too. 

10 Things To Avoid While Traveling In Japan

I've heard rumors saying that Japanese hate tourist and seem to be annoyed with tourist. But I believe there is nothing to do with our nationalities. They don’t hate tourist. So, what’s wrong? 
Japan is one of the most courteous countries I have ever been to.  Also because they are so considerate all the time, I sometimes failed to understand what did we do wrong. 

How to Find the Cheapest Flight Ticket Using Skyscanner?

You want to go on a vacation with your loved ones. Your time is flexible, you know the trip is gonna be epic, but the main questions are HOW, WHEN, WHERE? Do you know Skyscanner has a feature that can inspire wanderlust and find you the perfect holiday destination according to your preference? Now let me show you how with this Step-by step tutorial post: 

5 Ingenious Ways to Avoid Paying For Toilet Trips in Europe

I never thought I'd meet anyone who doesn't know the meaning of WC until I traveled to Europe with an American. So for those who don't know this either, never ask where is the "restroom" or "bathroom" when you are in Europe. You'll either get a blank stare or a weird look. In Europe, the correct word for restroom is “WC”, an abbreviation for Water Closet. You'd have to pay 20 cent- 2 Euros to use a WC almost everywhere in Europe. Phew… Never had I spent so much on toilet trips. 

Hang Gliding in Interlaken: I am like a bird!

Voted as number 2 among Trip Advisor’s World Best Adventure tours, all the hype I read online was proven to be true. Flying like a bird has always been human’s wildest dream. And Hang Gliding in Interlaken with Bernie the Birdman from Hangglidinginterlaken.com is truly the coolest thing I’ve done up to date! 

Paragliding Over the France Alps in Chamonix

After a sumptuous breakfast buffet at Hotel Mont Blanc, Vivian and I walked to the flying school of Air Sports Chamonix, looking forward to the most anticipated paragliding experience. It was our first time flying in the air, and I am not talking about sitting securely on a plane.

A Day Trip From Amsterdam: Giethoorn

I first heard and got to know about Giethoorn via the Bored Panda and almost immediately, I fell in love with its serenity and simplicity. 

The Best of Luberon In A Day

If you’ve read “The Lavender Keeper” by Fiona McIntosh about the French Resistance, then you’ll be excited to set foot in (some say, and I agree) the most beautiful region in France—Provence! I couldn’t believe I was in Provence already, one of my dream destinations. A visit to the picturesque Luberon region was mandatory, I’ve heard great things about it. Provence Reservation seemed like a good travel agent to book a “Pure Luberon Experience” tour with, so I happily went with the plan proposed by the tourism board of Vaucluse.  

FOOD AFFAIR: BISTROT BALTHAZAR, AVIGNON, FRANCE

I’ve developed a thing in France. I’ve become a slow eater. After the amazing 3-course-meal experience in Le Matafan, Hotel Mount Blanc, that took me 2 hours to finish, I continued to make history, beating my own record. It only meant one thing: I really enjoy French Cuisine.

WAKING UP IN: HOTEL MIRABEAU, TOURS, FRANCE.

     With The Palace of Versailles being one of the most popular chateaus in France, and I found out that despite it totally lives up the hype I didn’t really enjoy my visit, I reasoned that visiting other Chateaus in the country must be a good idea. Loire Valley is one of those places with elegant Chateau aplenty. Hence, I have to go there, and I was glad that the Tourism Board of Loire Valley stepped in to organize my trip. Making Tours the base of my visit to the chateaus of Loire Valley, I managed to check into Hotel Mirabeau.  

     The hotel is named after Mirabeau, one of the only few early shakers of the French Revolution that I knew, hence, I was excited to see what it had to offer.

Safety Guide: Hitchhiking Tips for Solo Travelers

Hitchhiking？ Are you crazy? 
True enough, hitchhiking is said to be a risky act. Although I was afraid as well, I finally tried hitchhiking during my trip in Central Europe… of course, I always put safety first, by applying a few rules. 

Top 5 Must-Visit Destinations in NorthEast Iceland

In my previous post about Iceland, I have shared about the things to do in the Northwest region, and now, what about NorthEast Iceland which is equally appealing and beautiful to the eyes that behold it? It is always a waste that tourists have always skipped these unchartered regions of Iceland for those over-crowded tourist spots in the south of Iceland and of course the area around the capital, Reykjavik.

WAKING UP IN: HOTEL BOQUIER, AVIGNON, FRANCE.

After a long day traveling on the train, We found ourselves standing outside the magnificent wall of a medieval city also known as “the city of the Popes”. Avignon is the kind of cities I’d love to be back in a heartbeat, find out why HERE! It was the start of the Theater festival when we arrived and we were lucky to be able to check into a quaint hotel— Hotel Boquier. 

WAKING UP IN : HOTEL MONT BLANC CHAMONIX, FRANCE

Browsing through TripAdvisor while planning for my 70 days long Europe trip, I came across the Hotel Mont Blanc and thought to myself: A stay there would be amazing, except that my imaginary pot of gold key doesn't exist. I never thought that 1 month later, I would be sitting on the terrace of the best room in Hotel Mont Blanc with my best buddy sipping champagne while marveling the grandeur of Mount Blanc. Pinch me I must be dreaming! 

JAPAN HIDDEN GEM -- SHIRAKAWA-GO (UNESCO SITE)

Have you ever been to the fairy tale world?

* ~ ~ .. ❆ ❆ ❆ ❆ ❆ ❆ ❆ * ~ ~ ..

Bucket-List Italy: Touring Sorbet-colored Cinque Terre

     When I found myself in Pisa, I knew I couldn’t miss the chance to witness the beauty of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. I’ve seen too many beautiful pictures, received too many postcards and watched way too many documentaries. Now it is for real, I am going to see Cinque Terre with my very own eyes. One more dream destination from my travel bucket-list, checked!

Favorite Activity In Italy: Kayaking in Procida (Too Underrated!)

Totally wonderstruck, I shall make this statement at the top of my lungs: Joining a kayaking adventure with ASD Kayak Procida was the best decision I’ve made in the Gulf of Naples.  

The day I Lost My Bag... and My Passport!

I never thought this will ever happen to me. I lost a bag in the train station and not just any bag-- it was my small bag containing all the most important things on the road: camera, credit card, bank cards, xiao mi, cell phone, and guess what: Passport! I can’t believe I left it. I lost grip of it when I was boarding a bus, trying to put something into my backpack at the same time. I shouldn't multitask, I was wrong.

Where And How To Find FREE Wi-Fi While Traveling in Europe

One of the most asked questions I get from the readers is: 

do you purchase a sim card in Europe? How do you keep up with your family and friends while on the road? 

Although I used to recommend everyone to sign up for a mobile plan in a foreign country, I’ve had this rule broken when I traveled in Europe for 70 days. I ditched the sim card, and simply relied on free Wi-Fi. I believe every avid traveler will sooner or later turn themselves into a professional Wi-Fi tracker, but for beginners, I’m sharing with you how and where to get online in Europe without spending a dime.