In the 12th century, when the Khmer gained its independence from Java (present-day part of Indonesia), their king (Suryavarman II) instructed the construction of a religious monument which also serves as a national capital (and later becomes the world’s largest religious compound). At that time, […]
When I booked the flight to Bangkok about seven months prior to the date of departure, I intended to go to Thailand’s neighboring countries as well, which makes Cambodia and Vietnam as perfect choices. However, that time when I booked the flight, I thought a […]
Tired of scams and touts in Bangkok’s favorite landmarks? Golden Mountain might be the place that you want to go to. Located not too close from The Grand Palace, but still walkable (about 30 minutes walk from The Grand Palace), Golden Mountain is an oasis […]
Wat Arun, which is located across the Chao Phraya river from Wat Pho, is also one of Bangkok’s most distinguishable landmarks. It was named after Aruna (The God of Dawn) and has some features of a Buddhist temple, such as the existence of a central […]
Wat Pho is one of the most iconic places in Bangkok, notably for its giant reclining Buddha statue, which is also the world’s largest reclining Buddha. There are some popular positions for depicting Buddha, such as: meditating, walking and reclining, which the later symbolizes Buddha’s […]
The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew are arguably Bangkok’s most precious jewels. Both are confined within the walled area of Ko Ratanakosin near the bank of Chao Phraya River. It was once a royal palace built by King Rama I when the capital of […]
Bangkok has become a magnet for tourists from all over the world who want to experience Southeast Asia. Many people also make it as a starting point for their travel or adventure on the region. It is a city of paradoxes, where we can see […]
After some travel-crave weeks, finally last weekend I had an excursion to Kepulauan Seribu (literally means Thousand Islands), a group of approximately 300 islets just north of Jakarta. I went there with a friend of mine as backpackers instead of travel-agent-arranged tourists. Before going to […]
Indonesia was once a Dutch colony for about 350 years. Yes, three and a half centuries! So, no wonder there are many Dutch remnants in this country, notably the buildings. Jakarta (formerly Batavia) was the center of the Dutch East Indies and now serves as […]
Dvarapala is a guardian statue which can be found in many Hindu and Buddhist temples/holy sites. In Indonesian ancient temples, usually a pair of dvarapala statues guard the entrance to the temple. Traditionally they are portrayed as scary-looking creatures, holding a club and with fat […]
I have to admit, until the end of December 2010 India was never in my list of countries to visit. I have always thought that India is a filthy and very crowded country. Indonesia is already too crowded for me, so why bother going to […]
Manila’s Chinese Cemetery in the northern part of Metro Manila is the place where rich Chinese people are buried or cremated. Each tomb shows different style and often includes a specific ornament related to the man’s business. For example, a steel magnate’s tomb was made […]
What an Amazing World! 