Wednesday, November 30, 2016

France: 24 hours in Tours, Loire Valley

       Tours (with a silent s) is a vibrant, bustling city in the province of Touraine in Loire Valley, located in the centre-west of France. Standing on the lower reaches of the River Loire, the city had long been an important crossing point of the Loire since the Gallic time. Since the city is ideally located rather near to most Loire Valley chateaux, for example, Villandry (19 km), Amboise (35 km), Chenonceau chateau (40 km)… it makes a great base for travelers wanting to explore the exceptional Loire chateaux. That's not all... The city of Tours itself has a lot to offer. As first-time visitors, we've heard so much about its first-rate cultural heritage. We knew that we were going in for a treat. 
tours, loire valley, france

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

21 Illegal Things To Avoid While Traveling In Europe

       To be honest with you, I am guilty for I've done most of them except 6 (because heels are for grown-ups), 14 (because mom brought me up the right way), 17 (because carving your initial alone is just plain sad), 18 (for who?) and 20 (because it's just wrong). 

things to avoid in Europe

       So here you go, 21 activities to avoid while traveling in Europe. These activity could get you heavily fined or jailed, hence read up, better safe than sorry

Monday, November 28, 2016

A Walk with Leonardo Da Vinci: 1 day in Amboise, France

       If the Loire Valley is an open book, I was lucky enough to flip through 2 pages by visiting Amboise and Chenonceaux
       Once home to the French royal court, now a vibrant market town, Amboise is a charming town in central France with the most Italian flair going on. 
Loire Valley

Saturday, November 26, 2016

Aix-en-Provence Hidden Gem: Hotel de Gallifet (Food+Art+History)

There are a million thousand reasons to visit Provence in Southern France: the Lavender fields, the theater festival, the freshest selections of fruits and vegetables. Hence, we are not leaving without a proper meal in Aix-en-Provence, and we found just the perfect place to embark on our Provencal gastronomic venture. 
Aix-en-Provence, Hotel Particular, restaurant

Friday, November 25, 2016

A Quick Guide to Iceland (19 Things You Need To Know Before Visiting Iceland )

Who wouldn't want to visit Iceland? If you are planning a trip to this majestic land of Ice and Fire, here are some tips I discovered during my recent Summer trip. Sharing is caring. 
Iceland flag

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

10 Best Activities in Iceland (Summer)

To truly understand the Icelandic culture and the people, it is important to look further past the beautiful landscape and amazing sunsets (after photographing them, of course!). Instead, dig deep into the roots, soak up the Icelandic lifestyle, appreciate the evolution of its cuisine, learn about the geology, respect the nature and the invisible people of Iceland... and you will be greatly rewarded. 

Monday, November 21, 2016

20 Food You Should Not Miss In Iceland

I once thought Iceland being an isolated country surrounded by the sea, has little resources and raw material, resulting in limited food choice. I've never thought that one day I would be interested in Icelandic cuisine, until my first Icelandic dish was sent to my table-- Reindeer and puffin appetizer. The Icelanders are survivors. They are creative in developing a unique set of national cuisine, making the best out of limited raw material. This guide serves as a rough introduction to Icelandic cuisine
If you've tried something exceptionally good in Iceland, or straight-out weird, which is not yet on the list, let me know by commenting below! Let's start a discussion, everyone is welcome. 

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Solution to Visiting Iceland Without a Driver License: Bus Passport

"Hi, your Iceland posts inspired us a lot, thank you. I have a huge problem, I hope you can give me some suggestions: I don't have a driver license... but it seems to me that my trip would be ruined without one. My friends keep telling me to learn now, but the thing is, I am really afraid to drive in a foreign country... Is hitchhiking easy in all of Iceland? Is there any other choice for us? Thank you in advance..."
Solution: Bus Passport!
Iceland Bus

Saturday, November 19, 2016

Iceland: Bike Tour in Reykjavik

Our initial plan was to cycle the Golden Circle, just like what my friends Jessica and Chris did exactly a month ago. However, despite everything looking relatively close on the map, biking from point A to point B actually takes time, as the roads in between are usually windy (plus, a lot of stamina involved, so nay!) We felt quite sorry for the failed plan, however, our spirit were once again lifted up by another brilliant suggestion from Reykjavik Bike Tours: We’ll be joining a morning bike tour to experience the culture and hidden gems though the locals’ eyes. 
Reykjavik Bike Tours

Thursday, November 17, 2016

My Icelandic Horse Riding Experience In Reykjavik

I wasn’t really a big fan of horse riding due to a damaging childhood experience— falling down from the back of a horse (an fully grown, adult horse!) at the age of 9. I heard that Icelandic horses are different from regular horses, most importantly their size and personality and I've seen pictures of them, so I was convinced to give horseback riding another chance. 
horse riding iceland

How To Rent Camping Gears In Iceland + My Experience

After dropping our luggage in BSI Reykjavik, we walked to the city center to pick up our camping gears. Iceland Camping Equipment Rental is located in the heart of the city and from the street, you’ll be able to see their office which is located on the second floor. 

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Iceland: Puffin and Whale-Watching in Husavik with North Sailing (Eco-friendly)

The quaint town of Husavik is well known for whale sighting, so since we were stopping by, embarking on a journey out to the Arctic Ocean was the most natural decision made. I found out that the Puffin Island was nearby, so to kill 2 birds with 1 stone, we booked ourselves onto the 4 hours Puffin+whale watching tour by North Sailing

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Things You Have To Know Before Camping In Iceland

I recently went on a press trip to Iceland, well basically press trip means my tours, activities, hotel stays, hostel stays are all sponsored or paid for. But guess what, I did not go for the easy stuff because I like torturing myself (as some of you might think). I rejected most accommodation offers, and I went tent camping in the wilderness instead, without a Wi-Fi hotspot, or a car, or a plan. Was I crazy? Probably yes, I almost broke down trying to set up my tent in the harshest weather in South Iceland, but if life were a movie, I’d probably click on that God-damn replay button again and again.   
Here are some things you have to know before you make this big decision to camp. 

Sunday, November 13, 2016

Food Affair: An Affordable Feast For The Whole Family In Iceland @ Bryggjan, Akureyri

At the Akureyri Tourist Information Center, the girl at the counter recommended us The Bryggjan restaurant for a casual meal. Since it was quite a short walk away and the fact that it is connected to another amazing restaurant in Akureyri— Strikid, we found ourselves heading east towards the harbor at the edge of “Old Town". 

Friday, November 11, 2016

9 Cheap and Easy Meals You Can Make In The Hostel

One of the best way to save money while traveling, is to cook your own meals. However,  I highly encourage you to eat out at least once to try the local cuisine. Believe me, you don't have to be a top-chef to cook up these simple dishes. And if you handle the ingredients correctly (always wash them as well as your hands before cooking), you wouldn't get diarrhea. Just look at me, I am still alive. 


Wednesday, November 9, 2016

11 Tips On How To Handle Money While Traveling.

I think I’ve made my point in the previous article: 22 Travel Scams I Encountered and How To Avoid Them. Not all people you meet while traveling are angels, some of them simply want to snatch your valuables away when you are not looking. The golden rule of handling money on vacation is: Never let your guards down. However, an extra effort in preparation goes a long way. I hope the following points will help you deal with valuables better during your holidays. 

Monday, November 7, 2016

10 (Secret) Ways For Booking Cheap Flight Tickets

1. Travel during off season 


This is probably the oldest point in the rule book. Flight tickets are the cheapest during off seasons and the price shoot right up during school holidays. However, if you are a student traveler like me, this rule doesn’t apply.  

Example of off-seasons: September (after Summer break), April (after Spring break). 

Sunday, November 6, 2016

A 12-Days Round Iceland Self-Drive Trip Itinerary

Day 1 

Moscow-Riga-Reykjavik : all necessary preparations

I took AirBaltic, a budget airline which serves indirect flight from Moscow with transit in Riga, Latvia before reaching Keflavik International Airport. 

Saturday, November 5, 2016

How I Spent Only 474$ (RM2092) On A 12-day Round Iceland Trip With A Car: Budget-breakdown and 20 Tips

Two months ago, I had a chance to explore Iceland with 3 friends. We decided to rent a car and self-drive the whole journey without consulting a tour operator. Our journey around Iceland took us 12 days and we did it within a budget of 474$ (RM2092), not including flight ...Here is exactly how we did it. 

Thursday, November 3, 2016

7 Tips To Know Before Renting A Car In Iceland

If you are a group of 2 or above, have a driving license and aren't direction idiots, opt for a car instead of frittering away hundreds of USD for private excursions.
From my latest trip to Iceland with 3 friends, it’s proven that it is much more worthy to drive your own car and besides economical consideration, it’s also the best way to explore the beautiful country at our own whim instead of sticking to rigid timetable (You should understand why without much explanation…)

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Top 6 Hidden Gems and Things To Do In Perth

If you are traveling to Perth, Australia soon, hear me out. I am going to disclose these 6 secret attractions I absolutely love. These are the things I think you should never miss.

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Misconceptions About Solo Travel (My Take)

I used to be intimidated by the idea of solo-traveling. Now that I've discovered the beauty of it, I encourage everyone to try it at least once. There will be ups and downs, true enough, we have to be aware that solo-traveling is not all unicorns and rainbows. I agree that some bloggers (including me) do unintentionally makes solo-traveling seems too easy to be true (which is far from reality). Solo-traveling mean you are on your own from prepping to trip planning to maps reading, it requires hard work but it IS possible and it will most certainly be one of your fondest memories to look back at and proudly proclaim “Been there done that”! These are some common misconception about solo-traveling, especially when the traveler is a girl.     
travel misconceptions