Jan 22
Over the years, the 3 Gili Islands in the north-west of Lombok have been famous with backpacker tourists.
White sand, crystal-clear cyan-blue waters, no police on the islands and a carefree attitude and tolerance of the locals drew budget tourists in droves.
Recently, the islands also attract a different crowd, disco or party seekers who didn’t find their place at the Full-moon parties of Thailand and even upscale developments change the face of those gems in the Lombok straight.
Is it already too late to let your hair down here?
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written by Chris
Dec 25
Can you really grasp a whole country by just staying a couple of months there? For sure not. That’s even more the case with the Philippines, guess I never felt the time passing faster than here – or is it maybe that I’m getting older? 
Either way, the Philippines is a beautiful island nation, a bit off the usual tourist trail of the rest of Southeast Asia. That is not necessarily a bad thing, more the opposite is true. You will meet less fellow travelers and have more chances to immerse yourself in a country with all its own values and characteristics. Let’s have a more detailed look at that:
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written by Chris
Oct 05
When I moved away from Singapore on to Thailand and Bali a few years ago, I also gave up on desktop computers.
Until then I mainly used self-customized desktops with the graphic cards, mainboards and components I wanted.
Asus always was close to my techie heart then, so I didn’t waste too many thoughts, when I made the switch from desktop to laptop computers just to be more mobile and flexible.
Big mistake!
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written by Chris
Jul 19
Sounds strange? The Taal Volcano definitely is. Readers, who follow this site a bit longer, probably know that I’m a fan of Volcanoes.
So far I’ve visited quite a few of them around Indonesia; the famous Krakatau, Lake Toba on Sumatra (a huge volcano crater lake), Mount Rinjani on Lombok and Mount Batur and Agung in Bali.
Every volcano is unique. The Taal Volcano on Luzon is again different than all the others. It’s very small and located on its very own island in a lake (probably the crater lake of a much bigger volcano) on the island of Luzon.
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written by Chris
Jun 12
If you chose a base in a host country you basically explore the surrounding area only in a certain radius. That means, even if you have a rented motorcycle, you always have to return to your point of origin.
Of course you can do a daytrip or even multiple daytrips, but still you are limited to an area of close proximity for exploration.
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written by Chris
May 20
Is there anything that isn’t said already about Manila? The Capital of the Philippines, once dubbed the “Pearl of the Orient” or “City of our Affections” (I prefer the latter, hehe!), has all the right and wrong ingredients to star in its very own city-flick thriller.
Asked anyone who’ve been there about this city and its either a hate or love affair.
It is after all just another big city bustling with activities, filled with millions of people, cars, bikes, fumes, colors, smells – almost like any other metropolis in Asia. Or isn’t it?
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written by Chris
Apr 23
6 months here in Goa are coming to an end; wow – the time was really flying! The season is ending also, many shops and restaurants shut down already, while the temperatures are rising every day. The coming monsoon is showing its hot side.
Everyone is waiting for the rain to fall. Time for a wrap-up, as done previously before the departure from Bali.
As this was the first time in Goa (and India) for me, I could only rely on what other people described on forums and by word of mouth:
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written by Chris
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