World Travel Update

Thank you for stoping by my blog. Our world trip has ended and I am back to work. Over the coming weeks and months I will try to get re engaged here. At this time, my focus has shifted to sifting through the thousands of photos taken on our world journey. For the latest photos and updates, please follow me Facebook:

Vibrant Singapore

Location

Singapore

Length of Stay

4 Days

Itinerary

Orchard Road – Singapore Zoo – Marina Bay – Clarke Quay

Highlights

> Shopping up a storm on Orchard Road.

> Spending a day at Singapore’s famous Rainforest Zoo.

> Taking in the panoramic view from the rooftop bar at Marina Bay Sands.

> Eating riverside at the magical Clarke Quay dining district.

Map of Places Visited

Photo Highlights

 

Steve’s Singapore Travelog

After having spent three weeks in exotic Bali, we were starved for some urban amenities. Upon arrival we quickly made our way to a backpacker hotel in Little India. This part of town is more affordable, but still central. The adjacent metro station made exploring the city a breeze. Singapore is best navigated by subway, as the system is both cheap and well laid out. The average fare is less than a dollar within the inner city. Air conditioning is prevalent not only in malls, but also all public transit facilities and this was a welcome relief after the Bali heat & humidity.

Our first day was spent running errands and doing some shopping on the famed Orchard Road. The collection of shopping malls is truly staggering and you quickly realize that shopping is a sort of national sport for this small island nation. We stopped off at the dramatically styled Orchard Ion, but quickly gravitated to nearby Lucky Plaza. This is where bargaining is the name of the game. Haggle enough and you can get some decent prices on camera equipment and electronics.

Our second day was spent at the acclaimed Singapore Zoo. It takes a little while to get out to the nature preserve (subway & bus), but the journey is well worth it. Set amidst a rainforest, the open design of the facility is superb and viewers are treated to unspoiled views of a wide range of exotic species. Most fences are hidden and there's an impressive sense of integration with the natural landscape. This gives the place a very open and airy feel. One part of the Zoo even has free ranging Orang Utans. Singapore Zoo is truly one of the world’s great Zoos and I would highly recommend a visit.

Over the remaining two days we spent exploring the densely populated inner city. Our explorations took us to the newly constructed Marina Bay Sands, a multi-billion dollar real estate development. The complex is set amidst the newly emerging Marina Bay waterfront district and the scale of the building is immense. The integration with the city is excellent too, with a dedicated pedestrian bridge linking the harbour with the development. Hopefully the metro stop opens soon so that access will be even quicker! Our highlight in Marina Bay was the incredible experience of sipping a few drinks on the amazing Sky Terrace. The views of the city down below are truly breathtaking.

Another highlight of our Singapore stopover was the lively Clarke Quay dining area. Set on the side of Singapore River, the area is comprised of an old warehouse district that was re-converted into a waterfront restaurant area. The way the dining pods line the riverfront is something that has to be seen to truly appreciate. The colourful lighting creates a terrific ambience and the busy restaurants instil a sense of liveliness that is matched in few places around the world.

That’s all for Singapore. Catch my next blogpost from Vietnam! 

Destination Bali

Location

Bali, Indonesia

Length of Stay

3 Weeks

Itinerary

Kuta – Ubud – Gili Trawangan – Sanur – Nusa Lembongan – Sanda

Highlights

> Watching the wild monkeys in Ubud’s Monkey Forest.

> Biking through small rural villages in inland Bali.

> Taking in the classic beach bungalow vibe on Gili Trawangan.

> Renting a scooter to explore the laid back island of Nusa Lembongan.

> Retreating to a beautiful mountainside resort in Sanda. 

Map of Places Visited

Photo Highlights

 

Steve’s Bali Travelog

Having spent a month exploring the wonders of Australia, the next leg of our trip took us to Indonesia. We decided that Bali would be a perfect introduction to the country since it is easily traveled and offers so many diverse attractions.

Our leg of this trip began in the popular beach resort town of Kuta on Bali’s West coast. Kuta is actually a suburb of greater Denpasar (Bali’s major city) and is the epitome of mass market tourism. As such, the noise, pollution and general lack of character quickly drove us out of this tourist hub and into the heart of inland Bali. We quickly settled down in Ubud, a charming and immensely popular vacation spot for those looking to acquaint themselves with Balinese culture.

Ubud is easily worth a few days of your time, if not more. Great restaurants, idyllic resorts, a unique geography and countless ways to immerse yourself in the local culture all make Ubud a terrific place to visit.  We opted to splurge and stay in a midrange hotel. Sixty dollars got us a beautiful room in a tranquil resort with a lush garden. You can easily spend several times this much, but this range of accommodation arguably nets you the best value. We spent a week exploring the town by foot, relaxing at the resort and doing a bike tour through the villages in the area. In fact, the eco bicycle tour was by far one of the top highlights of our stay. You start at a higher elevation and then slowly work your way through remote and untouched villages. This perspective of Bali is one many visitors never see and I would highly recommend it.

Having spent a week away from the Ocean, we decided to head east to the remote islands of Western Lombok. The Gili Islands, of which there are three, are becoming immensely popular with backpackers. The reason for their popularity probably has to do with the numerous fast boats providing direct service from Bali. All it takes now is a few hours on the bus & boat. I can imagine the islands having been more pristine prior to the arrival of these fast boats, but there is still ample opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle. Like most places in Bali, the islands are small. You can walk around the largest of the three, Gili Trawangan, in less than two hours. Despite this, walking only fifteen minutes North allows you to escape the hustle and bustle. The scene is classically beach – basic wood bungalows and laid back beach bars. This is the Bali you’ve been waiting to find.  We enjoyed a few more days on Gili Trawangan by relaxing on the beach, renting bikes to tour the island and snorkelling the azure waters.

Having enjoyed the more sedate side of Gili Trawangan, we were searching for more idyllic island time. We made our way to Nusa Lembongan, a laid back island off the East coast of Bali. It is only a half hour boat ride from the mainland, but it might as well be days away. Unlike Gili, Nusa Lembongan’s economy is not tourist focused. It has less tourist oriented infrastructure but considerably more character. This is the place to go for quiet, peace and authentic island living. The highlight here was renting a scooter, which allowed us to see the way the locals live on this beautiful island. There are a few small towns, some hidden coves & beaches and that classic travel vibe that seems to have gone missing in so many popular beach destinations. Spend at least a few days.

The last leg of our Bali experience ended on a high note. A little luck and a lot of emailing netted us the opportunity to spend a few days in Bali’s mountains. At about 800m, the small town of Sanda is much cooler than the coast and we enjoyed spending some time in a more moderate climate. We stayed at a beautiful resort overlooking lush valleys and rice terraces. Our luck further improved when we learnt that we had the entire resort to ourselves for two days. Walks through the on-site coffee plantation and nearby rice terraces are highly recommended. If you have the opportunity, hire a driver for your journey up to the resort and turn it into a daytrip. We were able to see the wonderful rice terraces of Jatiluwih (a UNESCO world heritage site) as part our resort transfer.

Our Bali leg proved to be everything we expected and more from this small island state. For anyone traveling there, I would highly encourage venturing into the inland areas. Hire a driver for the day to see the sights you just won’t be able to experience on an organized tour. Also, take the opportunity to venture a bit deeper and stay longer. While it’s totally possible to spend only a week in Bali, having had three weeks really allowed us to dig deeper and find those magical spots. If you’re planning a trip to Bali, please don’t hesitate at all to send me a message. I am more than happy to recommend hotels and places of interest.

Our world journey continues – watch for my next blog on Singapore.

Venturing Into Australia’s Great Outback

Having explored some of Western Australia’s scenic coastlines, fertile wine regions and lush forests, we decided to head into the heart of the country. For me, a trip to Australia wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Ayers Rock (Uluru) and one of the best ways to do this is by organized tour. We opted for a camping style experience with a small group of adventure seekers.

 Outback Campsite

The tour set out from Alice Springs, a small and very remote community in the heart of Australia’s vast outback. That night we headed to our first campsite and soon found ourselves captivated by a magical starlit sky. Sleeping was done without a tent and all of us made it through the night unscathed by the resident spiders, scorpions and other creepy crawlers that reside in these parts.

Long Exposure Star Capture

The following day we set out early and soon discovered that all our mornings would to start well before sunrise. Due to the incredible heat, we registered 46 degrees at one point, you really have to make the most of the early mornings. The day’s hike took us into the heart of Kings Canyon and after a jaunt up the hillside, we were greeted by the warm glow of a rising sun.

Kings Canyon Sunrise

The limestone formations, deep red soil and blue skies made for some incredible vistas. Halfway through the hike we discovered a pristine watering hole where we enjoyed a refreshing swim.

Kings Canon

Although the landscape can seem barren at times, there is an incredible abundance of plant and animal life. Before the road trip, we had made a quick detour into a local reptile museum to get acquainted by the many types of snakes, lizards and spiders that can be found in the countryside. The image below shows a Bearded Lizard, one of many species that has adapted itself to the harsh environment of the outback.

Bearded Dragon

After a few days, the group started coming together and we soon discovered our combined passion for sunrises and sunsets. In fact, I can’t recall any other time that I’ve seen so many consecutive sunrises.

Jumping At Ayers Rock

The morning started early and we headed into a famous area called The Olgas. Only a few kilometres from Ayers Rock, these limestone formations are stunning  to see from afar, but even more impressive to witness up close.

The Olgas Rock Formations

After a quick morning photo session at a distant lookout, we soon headed to the base of the Olgas to complete a stunning nature hike. The path winded its way through the valley’s of the giant rock formations and provided some fantastic vantage points to take in the vast desert landscape.

The Olgas Up Close

Our timing to see Ayers Rock was quite unique. In fact we came at a time where record rains in early January made the landscape around the rock look unseasonably lush. Plants were thriving and many species of birds that had long been absent, made a dramatic return to pick the fruit laden trees.

Resident Bird

Naturally one of the main highlights of the Outback is to see the Rock. Luckily we had several mornings and evenings to capture this rare experience. The photo below taken from a distant lookout was one of my favourites from the trip. It is hard to describe the beauty of the vast landscape, but seeing the sun rise over the horizon was truly a breathtaking experience.

Ayers Rock at Sunrise

Later we had the opportunity to get up close to Ayers Rock and complete a walk around the perimeter, which at 8km is not so insignificant. The lush forest around Uluru was unexpected and really made the walk interesting.

Ayers Rock Walk

Our journey continued on from Ayers Rock and it was quite something to see the vast open landscape. Since most of the communities are so isolated, they have to be serviced by large trucks, that by way of their length, are more akin to freight trains.

Truck Trains

After a long ten hour drive through the barren desert, we made our overnight pit stop in Coober Pedy. This small town is known as the Opal mining capital of the world. The landscape is bleak and the town is rather stark, but the underground homes have a certain charm. It is intriguing that right from the early days, residents continue carving their homes into the solid rock walls. Our hostel was built right into an old Opal mine and none of us complained about having a cool place to rest our eyes.

Coober Pedy Hostel Accomodations

The next morning we took in a tour of a working Opal Mine and I was just about convinced to stay for an extra week to find some Opal for myself!

Mining for Opal

The journey from Alice Springs completed after another long drive to the charming city of Adelaide. In total we had traveled over 1,500km through some of the hottest and most inhospitable landscapes on the continent. But we found that the great outback is beautiful, interesting and exotic. I would highly recommend a visit to the centre of Australia - it truly is like no place on Earth.

Journey Through Western Australia

Having escaped the rains of Melbourne, our journey took us to the far West Coast of Australia. We flew into the bustling city of Perth, one of the most isolated capital cities of the world. There are many similarities here to the thriving oil economy of Western Canada. Australia’s resource boom has transformed this city into a thriving and bustling metropolis. The city also boasts an excellent transportation system and the downtown core has some great pedestrian streets.

Downtown Perth 

We opted to stay in one of Perth’s coastal suburbs to take in some of the great weather the area is known for.  The sleepy suburban township of Scarborough made a great pit stop and we enjoyed watching the locals partake in the popular sports of Windsurfing and Kitesurfing.

Windsurfers in Scarborough

After spending two nights in Perth, we decided to rent a car and take to the road. Our planned journey would take us south through the port city of Fremantle all the way down into the famed Margret River wine country. On the way we enjoyed a night in the city of Rockingham where we enjoyed an excursion to Penguin Island. This is one of the only spots in the country where you can see the miniature Blue Penguins in the wild.

 
Blue Penguins on Penguin Island 

Our journey continued with a trek down to Margaret River, a picturesque town situated in the heart of Western Australia’s wine country. The area is known as a premium wine production area and boasts over 100 wineries.  We decided the best way to experience this part of the country was to partake in one of the local winery tours. The area rolling hills, arid climate and picturesque forests make for a charming and intriguing landscape. The wines were quite nice too! You can find all manner of estates, from the humble mom and pop operations to the exquisite corporate owned wineries.

 

Margaret River Wine Tasting

Our journey continued on to the South-westerly most point in Australia, Cape Leeuwin, on the outskirts of Augusta. The Leeuwin Lighthouse occupies a strategic position on the very edge of the peninsula and makes for a great place to see the merging of the Indian and Southern Oceans.

Leeuwin Lighthouse

The view from the Peninsula is terrific and we quickly seized the opportunity to take in one of the famed sunsets.

Cape Leeuwin Sunset

The next day we spent exploring the area around Augusta. One of the main highlights was the immaculately preserved Jewel Cave which took us 60 meters underground. The limestone formations within the cave were impressive and it was amazing how the tour snaked through the caves deep underground.   

Jewel Cave Near Augusta

Our adventure continued with a quick trek East to Pemberton, home of some of Australia’s largest trees. The giant Tingle Trees reach over 60 meters in height and we quickly jumped at the opportunity to climb to the top of the Gloucester Tree.

 

Gloucester Climbing Tree

Our drive then took us Eastward towards Walpole, in the heart of the Walpole-Nornalup National Park. The varied scenery of rolling hills, lush forests and undulating farmland kept us interested all the way to the sleepy town. Walpole is like many remote Western Australian towns, featuring a small main street, a few shops and a couple of places to stay. On this trip we are staying mostly at backpacker accommodations as they provide the best value and a great place to meet fellow travelers.

Scenic Forest Drive

The following day we made our way to the popular Treetop Canopy Walk in the Valley of the Giants, just outside of Walpole. That morning we met a fellow traveler who joined us to see the giant trees. The Canopy Walk is well engineered and meshes seamlessly with the forest canopy. Reaching some 40 meters into the sky, the views give you a great Birdseye perspective of the forest below.

Treetop Walk in the Valley of the Giants

The day continued as we headed further East towards Albany. On the way we encountered some amazing roads that winded through lush farmlands, arid wine producing regions and scenic coastal areas. 

Exploring the Countryside

One of the most amazing places we encountered was the strangely named Conspicuous Cliff. The bay was one of the most pristine coastal landscapes we’ve encountered thus far and it was mesmerizing to watch the waves of the Southern Ocean roll in on the white sand beaches.

Conspicuous Cliff Near Walpole

This post briefly recapped some of the highlights of our Western Australia tour from the bustling city of Perth through to the Southerly port city of Albany. We are planning to spend a few more days taking in the beautiful landscapes of Western Australia before we head to the famed town of Alice Springs, in the middle of Australia’s great outback. Stay tuned for more stories from the road.