Next Destination - Tropical Life

Dec142014 by Tropical Life10 Comments

Surabaya

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_blockquote type="type1" border_color="#00e3ff"] I had just taken an enjoyable tour through Surabaya’s heritage buildings and this followed an astounding scenic drive through some dramatic countryside to my next destination not too far away from the city. [/vc_blockquote][vc_column_text] Around 4 hours drive from E. Java’s capitol Surabaya, the capital Mount Bromo towers through sky and cloud. Bromo sits atop the massive 10-kilometre diameter Tengger caldera. Mt Bromo is surrounded by a desert like area of fine volcanic deposits known as the Sea of Sand. Bromo Sunrise Tour was my guide for this trip, recommended to me for its spectacularly powerful visuals of nature in the raw. Mount Bromo is centred in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park covering a massive 800...

Dec142014 by Tropical Life2 Comments

Hanoi

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_blockquote type="type1" border_color="#00e3ff"] Regarded by many as the “Paris of Asia”, Hanoi displays its French colonial past alongside a distinctive localized cultural identity. Here the influence of both can be seen and felt throughout the city’s buildings and restaurant cuisine. [/vc_blockquote][vc_column_text] I landed at Hanoi’s international airport in the early hours of the morning and from there made an almost 2 hour journey through hectic traffic to my hotel. Vietnam’s capitol city has transformed itself from war ravage to a sophisticated metropolis and over the past years, tourist visitors to Hanoi have increased significantly. High-rise buildings now dominate central Hanoi where modern shopping malls, art and innovative architecture support a range ...

Dec142014 by Tropical Life8 Comments

Tokyo

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_blockquote type="type1" border_color="#00e3ff"] Japan’s vibrant capitol offers visitors far more than high-rise and high-tech modernity. This is a city steeped with the culture of its long history and exploration here will show that the sum of the parts will appear to total more than the whole. [/vc_blockquote][vc_column_text] Here some 88,000 restaurants make up the city’s dining choices and within them are more Michelin-star restaurants than any other cities of the world. Variety is the spice of life and of course and Tokyo will not disappoint in this regard. Japan has a reputation for immaculate care and presentation for food preparation and it is no accident that Tokyo has been declared the culinary capitol of the world. Visitors should not miss the opportunit...

Dec142014 by Tropical Life1 Comment

Kuala Lumpur : Great Shopping Destination

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_blockquote type="type1" border_color="#00e3ff"] Absolutely nobody talks about Kuala Lumpur without using the word ‘shopping’ at least once in every sentence. This is not surprising really when one considers the reputation this city has as the shopping Mecca of SE Asia. [/vc_blockquote][vc_column_text] It would not be true to say everybody loves shopping but I certainly like to be there when my better half is at the wheel of a shopping mania trolley. Just to carry the bags you understand. So, if there’s going to be a shopping spree, there can be no better place to have it than Kuala Lumpur. In fact a super-doper-shopping spree will take place there from November 15th this year to January 5th 2015 to mark Malaysia’s Year End Sale. I’ll be there of course as a caddy ...

Dec142014 by Tropical Life1 Comment

Singapore Shop and Dine

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_blockquote type="type1" border_color="#00e3ff"] The recognition of Singapore as Asia’s food capitol is almost certainly an understatement. This dynamic island state is in my opinion a ‘world food capitol’! Not only that, shopping opportunities, entertainment venues and accommodation facilities are all up there with the top ten cities around the world. This is the place for families, gourmets and bargain hunters to really enjoy themselves. [/vc_blockquote][vc_column_text] For shoppers, Singapore has to be the ultimate destination. Singapore’s tenacity to turn itself into a modern state after independence has paid dividends on a Microsoft scale. There is not an international brand that has not seen the advantages of being involved at a retail level there. Why? Becau...

Nov152014 by Tropical Life2 Comments

Yogyakarta

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[vc_row][vc_row][vc_column ][/vc_column][/vc_row] [vc_row] [vc_column width="1/1"][vc_blockquote type="type1" border_color="#00e3ff"] It has not surprised me to learn that Yogyakarta is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Indonesia. My experience with previous visits here has already shown me that these claims are credible. I had arrived off a short AirAsia Flight from Bali and was more than ready for my weekend break. [/vc_blockquote][/vc_column][/vc_row] [vc_row] [vc_column width="1/1"][vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row] My first visit was to the Keraton, Yogyakarta’s royal palace. The Sultan of Yogyakarta and his Queen still reside in the palace but allow visitors into the grounds to view traditional Javanese dance performances. I am always pleased to see traditional cu...