Destinations
Kyoto – Japan
Kyoto is known for its abundance of temples, shrines, and the Imperial Palace, which harks back to the Heian period. In 1855, the palace was rebuilt after severe damage from fires on several occasions. In 1868, the imperial family relocated…
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Tokyo Part 2
Tokyo – From Tokyo's Narita Airport, the underground Metro Station is the best option to reach the city center. It's a good idea to contact your hotel and ask which metro stop is closest to their hotel. (We neglected to…
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Penang – Malaysia
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion/ Boutique Hotel, known as The Blue Mansion, is the finest example of a Chinese Courtyard house. It was built in the late 19th century in collaboration with Penang’s master of feng shui. Over the years, it…
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Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia
We had no idea what to expect of Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. Sometimes, the unexpected turns out to be so much more than one anticipates. It's a one-hour drive from the airport to the Trader's Hotel in the…
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Borneo – Indonesia
After an overnight stay at Anara Hotel in Jakarta’s International Airport, we flew from the domestic terminal to Pangkalan Bun. We were met by Arif, the founder and owner of Orangutan Applause, a boutique tour boat company. His smile and…
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New Zealand – South Island
After a three-and-a-half-hour smooth crossing from Wellington to Picton – South Island, we headed for Kaikoura, a small coastal town. Like most small towns in New Zealand, the wide main street is home to a variety of inns. We checked…
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