Our sailing trip around the islands of Komodo is one of our favourite moments in Flores. Not only did we hike, snorkel, swim, and see manta rays and a turtle, but we also managed to relax on the boat! The view of the islands of Komodo was spectacular. The landscape was incredibly unique — I had never seen anything like this in any other places in Indonesia. Read more: Komodo Sailing Trip: Exploring the Breathtaking Komodo Islands in Flores, Indonesia BeforeRead more
Sailing around the islands of the Komodo National Park is one of the must-do activities when you are in Flores. The National Park stretches a total area of 1,733 km2, which includes the three famous islands: Komodo, Padar, and Rinca, as well as 26 smaller and lesser-known islands. The three main islands are huge in size and although they look quite close to each other on the map, they are not exactly near. The sailing trip is a perfect choiceRead more
The province of Kerman is full of interesting places to visit. Rayen and Bam are famous for their citadels and ancient cities. Mahan gets its fame due to its impressive Persian garden. Kaluts is well-known for being the world’s hottest and driest place. They are all so tempting to visit, don’t you think? Read more: Kerman’s Hidden Gems: Guide to Visiting Rayen, Kaluts, Mahan, and Kerman City That would not be an issue at all for those who have unlimited timeRead more
Kerman Province is Iran’s second largest province. Situated in the southeast of Iran, it is home to diverse landscapes from deserts, mountains, historical cities, and ancient citadels. The hottest place on earth, Dasht-e Lut Desert or Kaluts, can be found in Kerman. The region also inherits a long history of human settlements which goes back to the fourth millennium BC. Historically, it was part of the region of the Achaemenid Empire, known as Carmania, with mining (silver, copper, ochre, orpiment, andRead more
Iran is home to one of the oldest ancient civilizations in the world. For many centuries, the country is a testament to one of the world’s most powerful empires, conquering a huge chunk of Central Asia, the Middle East, all the way until Turkey. It has survived many wars, conflicts, and confrontations from its neighbouring countries. Among many of the country’s heritage is the famous city of Persepolis and the royal tombs of Necropolis, two spectacular legacies left behind byRead more
I have always been fascinated with the ancient city of Yazd. Situated on the high, desert plateau of the central Iran, the city is widely known for its mud-brick houses decorated with distinct windcatchers and tucked in between small alleyways. Being one of the important stops along the Silk Road, Yazd has a rich history of over 5000 years dating back to the time of the Median empire and is famous for its silk-weaving industry. Even the well-known traveller Marco Polo, whoRead more
Mt Merapi. Here I am, standing at your foot, looking at you in awe. A smoke carefully finds its way out of its chamber, while the sun rises over the horizon overlooking the city of Yogyakarta. Mt Merapi may not be the highest mountain on the island of Java, but it is one of the most active and destructive mountains in Indonesia. It is also an important mountain with its own myths that are still ingrained in a day-to-day lifeRead more
Tehran is a bustling capital city of Iran. It was turned into the official capital city of Persia since 1776 by Agha Mohammad Khan of the Qajar Dynasty after it was moved from Shiraz. The city is beautifully guarded by the Alborz mountain in the north, which can often be seen from certain parts of the city. Read more: Visiting Tochal: A Mountain that Looms over Tehran Being one the world’s fastest growing city, Tehran has seen explosions of its populationRead more
Iran is one of my favourite countries that I have visited. It is home to one of the oldest civilisations in the world. It has varied landscapes, impressive architectures, stunning mosaics, great history, and delicious foods. The people are the nicest and their hospitality often surprised me. That’s why I visited Iran twice: in 2011 during my 1-month backpacking trip in the Middle East, and recently in 2017 with my beloved husband. Will I visit Iran for the third time?Read more
Abyaneh is one of the oldest villages in Iran. It is known to have existed 2,500 years ago. Situated on the north-western slope of Mount Karkas between Kashan and Esfahan, this ancient village is a living museum of Iran, preserved for its cultural heritage, traditions, and unique beauty despite centuries of changing rules, dynasties, and kingdoms in Persia. The oldest building in Abyaneh, Harpak Zoroastrian Fire Temple, was a true testament to the existence, growth, and advancement of the once-isolatedRead more
Yogyakarta or Jogja had been on my bucket list for a long time. It was one of the regions in Indonesia that I would like to visit. Its history, kingdom, culture, arts, and Borobudur are the main reasons why I want to set my foot here. Surprisingly, Jogja has so much to offer! It’s no longer a region of temples anymore. There are so many landscapes and attractions you can choose: from museums, beaches, forests to mountains. This trip wasRead more
I always wondered if Tehran would treat me the same way it treated me when I travelled here 6 years ago. Before I came here for my second visit (and this time, with my husband), I told myself to control my expectations. Societies change. People change. Cultures change. And Iran is no exception. What did I find at the end? Well, to my surprise, by the end of this trip, I have nothing but good memories of Iran. Despite the increasing influx ofRead more
Tehran is a huge city and if you ask an Iranian what their favourite restaurants are, they’d usually ask you back, “Which part of Tehran do you want to go to?” There are simply many choices that you can choose from. So here are the 4 restaurants that were recommended to me by many of my Iranian friends and hosts. You can try other eateries and restaurants, but make sure you don’t miss these! Moslem Restaurant Your visit to TehranRead more
Since we came to Iran during the winter season, we decided to have a look at one of the famous ski resorts in the country — Tochal. Skiing in Iran? Yes, you can do it and no, I’m not kidding 🙂 . There are several great skiing resorts in Iran, including the famous Dizin. We chose Tochal as it is the most easily accessible mountain to get to. It is also quite cheap to get there as the Tehran MetroRead more
