Midway into our cruise, we participated in an excursion that remains our favourite. It did not offer the iconic landmarks or symbols of this diverse society or definitively explain its history and culture as most of our other excursions did. What it did was allow us to really interact with the people of this island….
The Reality of Shore Excursions
We choose a cruise as the best way for us to explore Indonesia. It wasn’t our only option but we had never been to this part of Asia before, our time was limited and our wish list of what we wanted to explore was extensive, especially for Ken. He has been fascinated by the geography,…
Icons of Indonesia
Before setting off on our Indonesian adventure I did a fair amount of research, as I usually do, about our destination. Ken however, relied on his existing knowledge of the region and helped direct our choices to ensure that we hit all of the important sites. Following are two of his favourites. The most visited…
Bali Heritage
We spent a mere two days on the island of Bali in December. Although the lure of beautiful beaches and calm resorts was strong, we chose instead to discover more about the history of this island during two full-day excursions. Our first day explored the eastern side of the island from the port of Denpasar,…
Jakarta, A City of Millions
Located on the island of Java, Jakarta is the capital city of Indonesia. In 2025 the population was estimated at 11,634,100. I’m sure we met most of them on the road during our tour. We arrived in the crowded, dirty, wet and impoverished port. By our standards the area surrounding it would be considered slums….
Chasing Komodo Dragons
We have all seen pictures of Komodo dragons. They are the stuff of legends – dinosaurs that still walk among us! When we had the opportunity to visit Komodo National Park, and perhaps see a dragon or two in person, we leapt at the chance. The only way to access the park is on a…
Impressions of Indonesia
My first impression of this island nation was damp. Indonesia has only two seasons, the locals loved to tell, wet and dry. We were there during the wet season. It rained everyday, just not all day. When it did the culverts overflowed, water poured from the rooftops and the streets flowed. Motorists pulled over to…
What We Loved About Holland America Line
Trying a new cruise line can be a bit stressful, from the uncertainty around the booking process to check in and embarkation. Even so we have always stressed that the itinerary should be the driving factor in your choice. As such we sailed with Holland America Line for the first time in order to see…
Florence In The Rain
Like anyone I hope for the best weather when I travel. At times my wish is answered and we will have sunny skies and temperate climate the entire time. However that is the exception. Rain happens. When it does there are two options; stay inside until it passes or get out and embrace your destination…