Category Archives: Uncategorized

Phu Quoc Island is Vietnam’s largest island and has industries based around fishing, agriculture and more recently, tourism. Beautiful white sand beaches, clear water and fresh seafood attract visitors from around the world. Infrastructure to accommodate this interest is catching up, with hotels and resorts finding their space along the waters edge. The island is locatedContinue reading “TUESDAY 30 SEPTEMBER – Phu Quoc Island”

Phu Quoc Island is just off the southern coast of Vietnam near the Cambodian border. If you were to continue the Vietnam/Cambodian southern border straight out into the ocean, Phu Quoc would easily fit into Cambodian territory. Through some quirky bit of administration, it falls under Vietnam control (I’ve since read that there is tensionContinue reading “MONDAY 29 SEPTEMBER – Phu Quoc Island”

I only have one day in Singapore and I have a task to do. I haven’t organised my rail pass for Japan yet so I have to visit a travel agency. There are some in China town. The subway is fantastic here, very logical and easy to use. And if I do hesitate in frontContinue reading “FRIDAY 26 SEPTEMBER”

PHOTOS TO FLOOW SOON Over 10 million people live in inner Jakarta but if you include the outer reaches, around 30 million call it home. It is Indonesia’s administrative heart from where this very diverse nation is governed. What a job that must be. What a history it has endured to get to this point.Continue reading “WEDNESDAY 24 SEPTEMBER”

PHOTOS TO COME WITH GOOD WIFI I’m still weakened and a feverish from flu. I’ve got a map showing that the Monument Nasional is within walking distance so that is my plan for today. I’ve only come to Jakarta to exit Indonesia for Singapore. I don’t think many people come here as tourists. There areContinue reading “TUESDAY 23 SEPTEMBER”

PHOTOS TO FOLLOW Arrived in Singapore. Australians do t require a visa for Singapore. And there are no inconvenient arrival and departure taxes to pay. That may be buried in the price of the ticket. Indonesia was constantly asking for departure taxes whether you were flying international or domestic. It’s an inconvenience to ensure youContinue reading “THURSDAY 25 SEPTEMBER”

PHOTOS TO FOLLOW WITH GOOD WIFI I start the day with no real agenda apart from visiting an old Dutch fort, Fort Rotterdam. The Dutch used this fort to oversea the harbour. There is a magnificent museum here that explains the history of Sulawesi and it’s many cultures. It tells of how Islam was introducedContinue reading “SUNDAY 21 SEPTEMBER”

Jakarta Jakarta Jakarta… I hit this city feeling low and it didn’t get any better. My last night in Makassar was a shocker. Complaining sinuses from a persistent head cold and indigestion for the second time in my life made sleep hard to come by. If it wasn’t for previous experience of indigestion I wouldContinue reading “MONDAY 22 SEPTEMBER”

Makassar is at the opposite end of Sulawesi to Manado. It sits on the southern tip of this strangely shaped island and is the capital of Sulawse with a population of over 1.3 million peoples. And it is the fifth largest city in Indonesia. Makassa is in complete contrast to Manado. It’s population is largely Muslim and asContinue reading “SATURDAY 20 SEPTEMBER”

I don’t see any evidence of Dutch architecture here in Manado. The Dutch did rule here as they did over all of Indonesia but perhaps Monado wasn’t significant enough for them to apply much building effort. Today just looking around, you get the sense that this place is going ahead rapidly. There is much constructionContinue reading “THURSDAY 18 SEPTEMBER”