Next Island

Koh Rong Samloem is One of those place that should be visited within the next decade. This is small island in the gulf of slam, just off cambodia's northern coast. With internet exposure this alluring island is gaining a lot of attention with its beaches and picture postcard serenity that remisces the best beach area of Thailand twenty years ago. Imagine the picturesque scenery of tropical greenery meeting lonely white sandy beaches with crystal clear ocean water lapping their edges - a place far from modern civilization and crowded cities. In our fast changing world this is a scene that is disappearing rapidly. Here on Koh Rong Samloem Island however, these images are still the real picture. The island measures approximately nine kilometres in length and five kilometres at its widest p...

  Bunaken, an Island in the Bay of Manado is Located at The Northern tip of Sulawesi in Indonesia. The Island has Attracted serious divers from all over the world due to its rich marine biodiversity, which includes over 70 different varieties of coral, five different species of sea turtle and seventy per cent of all fish species that exist in the Indo-western pacific ocean. Established as a national park in1991, the exemplary co-operation between national and local governments, conservation groups and business owners has allowed the 890sq km of Indonesia’s natural marine treasure to be magnificently preserved. Biologists believe that part of what makes Bunaken National Park such a treasure trove is the abundance of hard corals that are crucial in maintaining the high levels of di...

For those looking for a paradise island that is home to isolated beaches, Enchanting waterfalls and large looming volcano then a quick hop over to Bali's neighbouring island of Lombok is the palce to go.   Just a short flight or ferry ride away; Lombok enjoys the rich and enduring indigenous culture of the Sasak people whose quiet and restrained nature have kept the island free from overdevelopment and mass tourism. Contrary to popular beliefs, the origin of the name ‘Lombok’ is actually derived from the Sasak language, ‘Lum-book’ meaning ‘straight line’. It has no connection whatsoever with a variant of the Indonesian name for chilli as thought by many visitors and some Indonesians from other parts of the archipelago. With a few  exceptions, the natural landscape and tradit...

Bali is Blessed with a captivating range of stunning vistas to all points of the compass. The Island's eastern side is well known for its pristine dive spots of underwater wonders, some of them remnants of the past. On land here in the east, green pastures meet the blue of the oceam while mountaints take the horizon to make memorable sunsets. There is a lot of very pleasant island here that will please those wanting to escape the crowded tourist destinations on the island’s southern side. I had decided to take a really good look at this quieter aspect of Bali’s eastern edges. It was time to take some time out from my busy schedule.   My first stop of the trip was Jembrana, the vast regency covering most of the eastern side of Bali as it stretches down from its northern boundaries...

From Bali, I headed to Kuala Lumpur and continued the next day with a 2-hour flight to Siem Reap. Siem Reap International Airport is a resort like building with a colonial and Chinese influence to its architecture. Here a delightful tuk tuk transport system ferries people from the airport to their destinations. A 15-minute ride took me to the Amansara. This resort’s name originates from the Sanskrit words for peace aman and apsara, the heavenly nymphs of ancient Hindu texts. The property itself has its own interesting history. It was once known as Villa Princière or Villa  that was used as the guest villa of King Norodom Sihanouk. Here several dignitaries including former French President Charles de Gaulle, Jacqueline Kennedy, and former Yugoslavian President Josep Broz Tito stayed...