Archives for December 2016

Best of Bingin Beach Bali

December 20, 2016

Bingin Beach Bali is one of my favourite places in the world. Apart from its breathtaking beauty, relaxed surfer vibe and rustic accomodation, there’s a certain sense of calm you feel when descending the sea-facing steps which seem to go on forever. You weave through cute little warungs built into cliffs and once those waves touch your toes you really know you’ve arrived in paradise. Some of the best times I’ve had in Bali were spent watching the sun go down on Bingin Beach, eating fresh prawns, sipping Bintangs and bonding with free spirits from all over. Bingin Beach Bali truly is one of the only places left in the south where you feel like maybe, just maybe, you travelled in a time-warp to the Bali of the seventies, where an eclectic mix of surfer gypsies and yogis are hanging ten without a care in the world. Best of Bingin Beach Bali The Cashew Tree Cafe… for fresh salads and organic smoothies. Kellys Warung… for cheap comfort food and Bintangs after surfing. Deeksha Bali Beach House… for when you’ve got a group of friends and need a shack on the beach (accommodates 8 at $201 AUD / night) The Temple Lodge… for early morning yoga overlooking the ocean The Sun and Surf Stay… for clean, inexpensive rooms with best view in the world! Lucky Fish… for the best grilled seafood cooked right on the beach! El Kabron… for a slightly upmarket evening feast with sweeping cliff-top views. Mu Resort… for when you want a bit of pampering and a massage. Mick’s Place… for the infinity pool with sweeping views across the peninsular and eco-rooms on top of the cliff (if walking up and down cliff stairs all day isn’t your bag). ~ How To Get To Bingin Beach Bali If you want to make the easy trip to Bali to check out Bingin Beach, Jetstar Airways has daily flights from most major cities in Australia direct to Denpaser International Airport. You’ll be flying on their hi-tech Boeing 787 Dreamliner if you depart from Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne, which provides a better in-flight experience as the aircraft is 60% less noisy than other planes their size. They also emit less nitrous oxide, meaning they are better for the environment and have low cabin altitude which enables passengers to absorb more oxygen on board. Say bye-bye to being drowsy and hello to uninterrupted sleep! To book flights, visit Jetstar.com. Once you’ve landed in…

Saigon Highlights: A Sign of the Times

December 7, 2016

There is a noticeable schism between two of Vietnam’s most well known cities. On the one hand, you’ve got Ha Noi, with it’s quaint charm and faint French-colonial vibe, and on the other you’ve got the progressive and ever-growing Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon as the locals still like to call it. Fast becoming one of the key commercial hubs in Asia, this type of urbanisation filters right down to the type and flavour of Saigon highlights. Free citywide wireless Internet anyone? It is this Vietnam North/South variance in contemporary values and westernization that sees Saigon bustling with change. For a city more than twice the size of the nation’s capital, it’s not hard to fathom that so many high-rises, international hotels, sky-high bars and luxury housing developments are going up as far as the eye can see. The city is also bustling with new inhabitants from the north and inland Vietnam keen to land one of the many jobs on offer in the finance, retail and IT sector. Of course, you can still see sights of historic significance, but these take a back seat to the cosmopolitan atmosphere of a city that has visibly eschewed the “old ways” in favour of economic growth. Saigon Highlights HCMC by Motorbike We all know the old adage: “the best way to see a place is through the eyes of a local”. Well, Adam from Saigon Unseen Tours can do you one better. Not only is he an Aussie expat turned local, he offers tours through the city the way locals see it – by motorbike or scooter. Now, before you conjure up images of piloting your very own two-wheel contraption, constantly cheating death while darting amongst the infamous Asian traffic, just know that the bikes are driven by very experienced drivers who live in the area, so the only thing you’ll be doing is hanging on (and seeing the sights of course). The great thing about each tour is that they’re private, meaning that the itinerary is pretty much malleable to you and your travel buddies’ desires. Minimum one person. Cost: 900,000VND (approx.. 45USD) per person – Pay on the day. Cu Chi Tunnels The Cu Chi tunnels are tiny. And I mean like, really really miniscule. They are also quite fascinating: a three-level tunnel system the Viet Cong constructed and used as a base against the French and Americans in the…

The Truth About Halong Bay Junk Boats

December 1, 2016

A “Junk Boat” is still a Junk Boat, no matter how much you pay. Halong Bay Junk Boats are still Junk Boats even if the brochure the Vietnamese travel agent gave you makes it look like luxury incarnate. It is still a Junk Boat if, compared to other Junk Boats around you in the water, it looks like the veritable Sofitel of Junk Boats. Moral of the story? Junk Boats are in fact, rundown pieces of, well, junk. Granted, they’ve been given a lick of paint and a clean fit-out, but if you look closely enough the rust will reveal itself and the doors wont close properly. They’re simply a mere 2 minutes from being sent to the scrapyard. I’m not being negative, I just feel it is my duty to inform each and every one of you of this undeniable fact so that you can make an informed decision. Know before you go, right? The problem is, it’s pretty hard to experience Halong Bay without staying on one of these, let’s say, “interesting” old things. And the fact that the scenery is out of this world amazing makes this even more of a pickle. So, apart from being forewarned (you can thank me later) do yourself a favour and research, research, research! And don’t just look on Trip Adviser people, because those reviews are deceiving, pester anyone you know who’s been on a semi-decent Junk Boat in Vietnam and ask questions! There have been whispers (and don’t hold me to it) in travel circles that the Paradise Pearl and Paradise Luxury Boats from Paradise Cruises Halong Bay are both premium offerings, so you might want to start your search there. We spent two nights on the A-class Opera Cruise (fondly christened the “Ass Opera” by yours truly) in their best room known as “The Honeymoon Suite”. Pay close attention to the use of inverted commas! The food (which was included in the package) was some strange mix of Western/Vietnamese moosh of fries, frozen microwave fish and fried whatever. Needless to say we were disappointed. For $260USD per person for 2 nights we expected a little better. Especially when the amount didn’t even include beverages or snacks. The group itinerary for the trip was made up of numerous cave and beach romps which got a bit boring after a while. We wanted action! We wanted adventure! What we grew tired of…

Archives for December 2016

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