Photo report from a trip around the world – part 1

It's been six years since I came back from travel around the world. It was an incredible journey in every way, a journey that I will remember for the rest of my life: the people I met, the places at the end of the world and beyond, the delicious food and the extraordinary adventures. Our journey lasted almost four months, during which we visited 10 countries, we took about 40 flights. Six years since our return is a great opportunity to reminisce and share photos and impressions with you.

We started our adventure in Asia. First stop – Singapore! We spent a few days in the Lion City. I think we liked the districts of Little India and China Town the most. Why? First of all, because of the cuisine, of course! Plastic chairs placed on the street, and around it numerous stalls with aromatic and fresh food – the perfect introduction to travel around Asia.Of course during Singapore tours our list could not be complete without such attractions as the city's symbols, such as Marina Bay Sands, a five-star hotel in the shape of a boat or the fairy-tale Gardens by the Bay.

Singapore – where modernity meets tradition

Singapore - Sri Mariamman Temple

Singapore – 5* Marina Bay Sands

Typical view in Singapore

Chinatown

Singapore is a paradise for Asian food lovers!

After Singapore we went to power of Tajlandii. Although Bangkok did not welcome us with beautiful weather, it only got better later on. We had the opportunity to taste delicious street food, indulge in the pleasure of a foot massage on Khao San Road and see the biggest attractions of the capital of Thailand – including the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Arun, local fruit and vegetable markets. During our trip around Bangkok, of course, we could not miss a canal cruise and a trip to the famous floating market. Since returning from our trip around the world, we have returned to Bangkok many times, on the occasion of inspecting hotels or vacationing on the beautiful islands of Thailand.

Our stay in Chiang Mai, which we reached by night train from Bangkok, was a great success. The journey itself was a great adventure, even though the journey was very long and quite tiring. The journey to Chiang Mai was an opportunity to get to know Thailand from a different side. On the way we passed small villages and towns, rice fields, small temples - places that we certainly would not have seen if we had chosen to fly.

We probably drove around all the temples in the city center with our rented scooter. Chiang Mai and the surrounding area, even though the weather wasn't the best. We were impressed by Wat Chiang Man - the oldest temple in the region, built in the 13th century. When in Chiang Mai, it is worth taking a cooking course and definitely trying hot pot (huoguo), a traditional Chinese cauldron in which you prepare the broth yourself by throwing selected products into it, e.g. seafood, vegetables, meat. Be sure to go to the night market in the city center, where you can buy delicious Thai food, fruit, spices and souvenirs. Chiang Mai is also an ideal base for trekking in the jungle, during which you can spend the night in a local village and learn about the life of tribal minorities living in the region. There are many elephant sanctuaries in the vicinity of the city - most often these are places focused only on profit, where the welfare of these animals is of secondary importance. We do not recommend such attractions, however, if during holidays in Thailand you want to have contact with these animals - be careful with such places, check them out carefully, read the reviews. We can recommend one place, Elephant Heaven, where animals are treated with respect and tourists are not allowed to ride them.

Thailand delights with beautiful beaches, so we decided to visit several of them, located on the islands of Koh Ngai and Koh Lanta, located on the Andaman Coast, and Koh Samui and Koh Phangan in the Gulf of Thailand. Koh Ngai is a beautiful, small island, where there are no cars. It is an ideal place for those who want to relax away from civilization - there is not a large choice of pubs or hotels, there is also no "center", and the biggest attractions are the beach and snorkeling. Koh Lanta, Samui and Phangan offer much more - towns, jungle, temples, parks, restaurants. Koh Phangan should especially appeal to party people, because it is the place where the famous Full Moon Party is organized.

Our first stop in Thailand is Bangkok

A canal cruise is a great way to explore Bangkok

Bangkok Canal Cruise – A Perfect Way to See the City from a Different Perspective

While in Bangkok, it is worth taking a trip to the floating market.

You can buy souvenirs and delicious food here

Train journey to Chiang Mai

In Chiang Mai we rented a scooter and took a tour of the most beautiful temples

Buddhist temple – Wat Lok Moli

Cooking Course in Chiang Mai

Our favorite hot pot spot in Chiang Mai

In Koh Lanta, we learned how to make typical pancakes with bananas and chocolate.

On the way to Koh Phangan

Koh Phangan - Haad Rin Beach

Haad Rin Beach – the water here was hot as soup!

The next place on our route – Koh Ngai

Koh Ngai

During our vacation in Thailand we went out for a few days a trip to Burma. Unfortunately, because we didn't have much time, we only visited Yangon and the surrounding area. People in Burma are not yet contaminated by mass tourism, they are as curious about visitors as they are about them. They are cordial and helpful. What is striking is the enormous poverty that prevails here. These few days in Burma made me want to come back and see Bagan, Mandalay and Inle Lake.

A great way to explore Yangon is to take the train, which circles the city, passing local villages, and then returns to the station in the city center. For $1, you not only get a two-hour ride, but you also get to observe the ever-smiling Burmese people in and around the city. Our fellow travelers are men chewing betel nuts, dirty children frolicking, and women selling fruits and Burmese delicacies.

During our short trips to Burma my attention was drawn to the appearance of women and children, and especially to what they had on their cheeks and noses – a characteristic yellow goo. It turned out to be traditional makeup – thanaka, which is not only meant to decorate, but also to protect against the sun and repel insects. Thanaka is a paste obtained from powdered wood from Murayya Exotica trees. Interestingly, in order for it to be suitable for making a paste, it must be at least 35 years old.

Why is it worth visiting Yangon? First of all, because of the huge, gold-covered Shwedagon Temple (it is actually an entire temple complex) – the most sacred place for the Burmese. It is really impressive! But there are more interesting places in the former capital of Burma. The colonial past of the city can be felt at every step – architectural gems – a remnant of the British rule, unfortunately currently in a deplorable state. It is worth seeing the Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda with a 65-meter statue of a reclining Buddha, the Sule Pagoda, which is probably 2000 years old and houses Buddha's hair, Karaweik – a palace on the water in the shape of a traditional boat and the Bogyoke market. Of course, we liked what was happening on the street the most… Numerous food stalls, a huge selection of fruits and men rolling betel leaves (if during travel to Burma you may have noticed red spots on the sidewalks, that's betel). Another element of local color are the numerous teahouses, located literally on every corner. Small, plastic chairs are the perfect place to observe life going on around you.

Burma - Yangon

Typical makeup for women in Burma

Betel – the most popular drug in Burma. You can buy it everywhere in Yangon

Public phone

Yangon – a pile of fruit at every turn

Yangon – Shwedagon Temple – a must-see!

Shwedagon Temple

Shwedagon Temple

Traveling by train is a great way to see the Yangon area

Train in Burma

At one of the stations

Train ride

View from the train - Yangon area

Our map of travels around the world could not be missing Malaysia. From Thailand we set off on a several-hour journey by local bus to Kota Bharu. This journey, although very tiring, was amazing. Chickens were riding with us, local music videos were playing on a small TV, and through the window we could observe the life of the Thais – their homes, fields and small towns. We left Kota Bharu the next day, to get to the Perhentians by boat before noon.

Perhentians are actually two islands – Besar and Kecil. Besar – small, but more developed than Kecil. What to do during holidays in the Perhentians? In addition to total relaxation, you can dive and snorkel right from the beach and eat fresh seafood. There are not many opportunities to spend time here, so these three nights were more than enough for us. A total reset, delicious food and water - something we needed after a few weeks of intensive travel around Asia.

During Malaysia tours we arrived in cosmopolitan Kuala Lumpur. Our hotel was located right on Jalan Petaling, in the heart of Chinatown, by the street market where you can buy literally everything, from Louis Vuitton, Prada and Chanel, through Rolex watches, sunglasses, suitcases, to fried chestnuts, seafood and bubble tea, beloved by Asians, in various forms.

Kuala Lumpur is totally addictive! A melting pot of three cultures: Malay, Chinese and Indian, makes this city very diverse, in every respect. In addition, the colonial past and the fact that it is the fastest developing city in Asia attract millions of tourists from all over the world every year. For us, it is above all a mecca of Asian cuisine! Street food that will make your head spin (e.g. at Jalan Alor) - everyone will find something for themselves here, from a declared meat eater to the most restrictive vegan! What is worth seeing in Kuala Lumpur? Certainly the symbol of the city – Petronas Towers, a beautiful old train station that looks like a mosque, a botanical garden or the oldest Hindu temple in Malaysia – Sri Mahamariamman. It is also worth taking a trip outside the city, for example to the Batu Caves – a place of pilgrimage for Hindus from all over the region.

After a few days of exploring the city, we went to Cameron Highlands. The Tea Hills are one of the biggest attractions in Malaysia. Our base for exploring the area was the small town of Tanah Rata. The town itself doesn't offer much - there is a bus stop, a few shops and restaurants in the centre. The accommodation base is also not the most diverse, but that's of course less important. Just 15 km from the town is the BOH tea plantation and factory - the largest and most popular in the region. We get there by hitchhiking - clinging to a delivery van, and we return, also hitchhiking, with the owner of the factory sewing for the Polish company LPP. So the journey itself was great. On site, we learn about the subsequent processes of creating the infusion, walk around the plantation and do some shopping in the shop. At the end, we relax sipping tea on the terrace overlooking the hills covered in tea. Another place worth visiting is the so-called Mossy Forest – a rainforest covered in moss that looks like a scene straight out of “The Lord of the Rings” or “Avatar”. In Tanah Rata, you can buy guided jungle tours, which seems like the most reasonable option – it’s very easy to get lost here. Interestingly, Rafflesia, a parasitic plant that has the largest flower in the world, grows here (and also in Sumatra). So if you go trekking to Mossy Forest, you’ll definitely have a chance to see it!

Perhentians

Perhentians - Besar Island

You can really relax here!

Besar Island in the Perhentians

In the Perhentians you can take a diving course at a good price

Kuala Lumpur

In the photo: Sultan Abdul Samad Palace and Petronas Towers

Kuala Lumpur – KLCC Park

Delicious food on every corner!

Our hotel is located on Jalan Petaling. Food and clothing stalls open in the evenings

Food stall on Jalan Sultan

Our next destination is Cameron Highlands

We visited here, among others, the BOH tea plantation

BOH Tea Plantation in Cameron Highlands

We have always dreamed of journey to Borneo. We decided to take advantage of the opportunity and "jumped" for almost a week to the state of Sabah, located in the north-eastern part of Malaysian Borneo. The biggest attractions of the island are orangutans, which can be observed, among others, in Sepilok. In Sepilok there is a simple eco-lodge – Panadakan Dii, where we had the opportunity to spend a few nights. It is an ideal starting point for exploring the area. The lodge itself is very nice, it offers relaxation in nature, in simple, wooden houses with a view of the jungle. From here, only a few minutes' drive separates us from the orangutan sanctuary. This is where mutilated individuals or those taken from poachers find shelter. In addition to rescuing animals, this center deals with adapting them to independent life in the jungle. In the sanctuary, we had the opportunity to see orangutans at feeding time and while walking along the jungle trail. Unforgettable impressions!

The area is home to a rainforest – one of the oldest ecosystems in the world. The forest is covered with 50-meter-high trees, and you can see over 15 different plant species. In addition to trekking through the rainforest, we had the opportunity to sail along the Kinabatangan River. This is an amazing opportunity to see endemic species of animals, such as proboscis monkeys and dwarf elephants. I think it is a “must see” during trips to Borneo!

Trip to Borneo - rainforest view from our room at Panadakan Dii

Sepilok – Orangutan Feeding Time

Sepilok in Borneo

Borneo Rainforest

Borneo

Sandakan – base camp for Sepilok and other attractions in Borneo

Indonesia – we were probably here the longest! We visited Bali – the length and breadth, we entered the active Bromo volcano in Java, we relaxed on Lombok, the Gili Islands and the less popular island of Lembongan. However, probably the biggest adventure we had was during a cruise on Komodo, but more on that in a moment.

Holidays in Bali This was one of my favorite stages of my trip around Asia. First of all, because – as I mentioned earlier – we traveled the longest in Indonesia. So we had the opportunity to discover the island, but not only this one, calmly, without rushing. Seminyak, the tourist center of Bali, welcomed us with traffic jams and a lot of tourists. Interestingly, the vast majority of vacationers spend their entire vacation here, treating Seminyak as a base for exploring the area. We spent only two nights here and quickly escaped to explore the rest of Bali. First, we jumped to Ubud. It was already October, the end of the season, so there were no crowds in this part of the island. Ubud is a pleasant town, called the cultural capital of Bali. There are numerous shops with local handicrafts, markets, a spa center and restaurants. It is also worth taking a cooking course here, which is combined with a visit to the local market. From here we set off for a short trek around the area and to Sidemen, a Balinese village.

Sidemen is a small village in the heart of Bali. Life here goes on at a leisurely pace. We are delighted by the landscapes, the ubiquitous rice fields, and the fact that you can see the life of the island's inhabitants here. Walking around the area, we often came across Balinese working in the fields, children playing on makeshift playgrounds or local craftsmen, other tourists - rarely. This place is conducive to total relaxation in the midst of exotic nature!

One of the biggest attractions of our trips to Indonesia it was Komodo. It was an extraordinary experience, I highly recommend it to all those who are planning their trip to Indonesia. Komodo delights above all with its nature. Uninhabited islands, empty bays covered with snow-white sand, the enormous richness of the Flores Sea, and of course the Komodo dragons, or giant lizards. The cruise itself is an attraction. On board we had a great team from Portugal, Poland, Germany, China and Papua. We spent a few days on the ship diving (including at night!), relaxing on board, swimming in the calm waters of the Flores Sea, trekking around the Flores National Park and eating really delicious dishes prepared by the boat crew.

Seminyak Beach, Bali. No crowds early in the morning 🙂

The famous Tegalalang rice terraces. Bali

Bali – somewhere in the center of the island

Kehen Temple in Bali

Monkey Forest – Ubud

A village in the heart of Bali

Cruise to Lembongan

Lembongan – the so-called Yellow Bridge between Lembongan and Caningan Island

The inhabitants of Lembongan Island are engaged in the cultivation of seaweed. Such a view in the morning is the norm

The simple, 3* Dream Beach hotel is located on one of the most beautiful beaches on the island

In the background the Bromo volcano

The area around the Bromo volcano

Java - Bromo

Komodo – our international crew from the ship

Komodo National Park and our lovely companions met on the cruise. Greetings!

Komodo

Komodo

Komodo

Komodo

Komodo

Gili Air

Gili Air

On the way to Gili Trawangan

Gili Trawangan

It's time for some incitement with Asia. Our next targets are Australia and Fiji, as well as the United States, Cuba and Mexico. But more on that in the next part!