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Author: Renata Green
The world is my oyster: I'm Renata, founder and editor of this travel blog.
bye:myself - no, that's not a typo, it's referring to me saying bye to my comfort zone and heading for new shores solo.
Having been a solo traveller, flashpacker, and poverty jet setter for ages made me an avid and savvy planner and organizer of worldwide travel. Since I've been an author and journalist practically all my life, I love to put my travel experience into writing to encourage, inspire, and assist you.
Looking forward to meeting you somewhere on this planet!
So here comes a Guide to Ipoh, Malaysia’s third-largest yet probably most underrated city and a two-hour train ride north of the capital. However, it is mostly considered a gateway: To the Cameron Highlands in the east or to Pangkor Island in the west.
Ipoh welcomes its visitors at a colonial building – the railway station, opened in 1917.
Still, Ipoh’s own attractions should not be underestimated: The Hakka Chinese heritage, mysterious cave temples, and bustling Asian city life.
This is a guide to George Town on Pulau Penang, after all, one of my favorite cities in all of Asia.
What makes it so special? I don’t even know where to start. It was the first British settlement in Southeast Asia and became – together with Singapore and Malacca – a British crown colony in 1867.
View of the modern part of the city of Georgetown from the Kek Lok Si Temple.
George Town, counting about 710,000 inhabitants, is Malaysia’s second-largest city and the capital of Penang Island.
Guide to Pulau Langkawi, Malaysia’s northernmost island and actually geographically closer to its neighbor Thailand. Hence, it’s the same turquoise waters, white sands, swaying palms, and enchanting long tail boats as in Krabi and on the Andaman islands.
Lots of space for anyone on Pulau Langkawi.
But there are so much fewer tourists that you can actually enjoy it.
While the most popular islands like the Perhentians or Tioman are on the otherwise very conservative and religious east coast, Pangkor is in the west, three hours from Kuala Lumpur, and even less from Ipoh.
Secluded Coral Beach.
So hop on the ferry in Lumut and half an hour later, you’ll find yourself in a tropical paradise.
Pulau Perhentian – where a tropical paradise awaits divers and snorkelers alike with islands in two sizes.
My corner of the Perhentian Islands.
Perhentian in Malay means stopping point. It is pronounced perhentee-yan and refers to the once thinly populated islands having been a waypoint for traders between Bangkok and Malaysia.
In Malaysia, it is very easy and comfortable to travel between touristy hot spots such as the Cameron Highlands or the Taman Negara. There are shuttles and connections, in short people practically carry you from place to place.
Sultan Ahmad Shah State Mosque, the state mosque of Pahang.
It’s getting far more complicated and time-consuming as soon as you leave these beaten paths. It’s not impossible, nevertheless, it takes some detours and a little more time.
This is a guide to the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia’s Fruit Bowl, that should be on every visitor’s itinerary. This mountainous part of Malaysia is famous for tea farms, vegetable fields, and flower nurseries – and the fabulous Rafflesia Arnoldii.
A visit to the beautiful tea plantations is not to be missed when visiting the cool highlands.
While we poor Europeans are travelling to Asia seeking the tropical sun, the Colonialists – no matter from which motherland – were desperately looking for cooler places in higher regions. Here, they were building settlements and mansions to take a break from….being wealthy and having servants.
Borkum – all the way in the West of East Frisia – is the last stop of my tour of German islands. I’ve taken you with me from the former easternmost isle in the Baltic across the North Sea to the Dutch border. Here we’ll spend a couple of carefree summer days on the unique island of Borkum.
Doesn’t this beach with colorful chairs and cabanas just look like the perfect summer destination?!
The island of Borkum is one of the seven East Frisian Islands off the coast of Eastern Friesland. It is not only the largest, but also the westernmost one. Therefore, it’s geographically actually closer to the Netherlands than to the German mainland.
The island is located between the Westerems Strait and the Osterems Strait, respectively between the North Sea and the Wadden Sea to the south. This grants some distinctive and fascinating features.
Ljubljana mon amour: In fact, already the city’s name sounds like a tender song and derives from the word ljubljena which translates to beloved. Various charming bridges are crossing the picturesque river Ljubljanica. With an amazing number of captivating buildings from the Renaissance, Baroque, and Art Deco, onion-domed churches, and an imposing fortress high above the city, Ljubljana absolutely lives up to her lovely name. And since Ljubljana is small but definitely mighty, you can explore the city’s most iconic spots and landmarks easily in just two days.
Like in every decent fairy tale, you have to make it past the dragon to get to the beautiful princess. Ljubljana is no exception.
Although the city is no secret anymore and can actually get quite busy in the high season, Ljubljana has kept its sleeping beauty charm and is a sparkling gem.
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