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South East Asia & New Zealand
  • Juliet Edwards
  • Juliet Edwards

South East Asia & New Zealand

A 168-day adventure by Juliet Read more
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  • Juliet EdwardsSouth East Asia & New ZealandTraveler

    Sunrise at Angkor wat

    November 20, 2019 in Cambodia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    We were up hideously early to queue for our tickets and be in position with the hundreds of other tourists in time for sunrise. It was worth it. Ankgkor is one of the 7 Ancient Wonders of the World; built in the first half of the 12th century, it is one of the oldest and largest temples in the world. It is truly amazing that they built such a huge complex and in such intricate detail all by hand and with basic tools.Read more

  • Juliet EdwardsSouth East Asia & New ZealandTraveler

    Bali

    November 22, 2019 in Indonesia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    We have four days to do nothing before the tour starts and the hotel is near the beach, has a pool, sun loungers and a gym so we're set. Seminyak is very touristy, even most the restaurants are western, but we found a little Indonesian place which we visited a few times for their delicious food.Read more

  • Juliet EdwardsSouth East Asia & New ZealandTraveler

    Uluwatu temple

    November 27, 2019 in Indonesia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    We met the tour group last night for our first introductions and drink session. Today we went to Uluwatu on a quiet peninsular of the island. Bali is predominately Hindu and the temples are different from the Buddhist and Taoist we'd seen already. The key feature of this one, is the beautiful hilltop location and the small temple only accessible during low tide. Our local guide protected us from the monkeys and told tried to teach us some Balinese. We spent sunset on Double Six beach lounging on beanbags (a very popular activity in Bali).Read more

  • Juliet EdwardsSouth East Asia & New ZealandTraveler

    Canggu surfing

    November 28, 2019 in Indonesia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    We left the super touristy Kuta for chilled surfer hangout Canggu. On our way we had a surf lesson; just about managed to stand up a few times but spent most the time falling off. We had a teacher each who pushed us over the wave but still it was hard but fun. The worse part was getting out the water and crossing the burning hot sand. The evening's activity, another night watching the sunset on the beach.Read more

  • Juliet EdwardsSouth East Asia & New ZealandTraveler

    Tanah Lot, Gitgit fall & Luwak coffee

    November 29, 2019 in Indonesia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Busy day touring a temple, rice fields and a waterfall. We started the day at Tanah Lot, a temple dedicated to a sacred snake and there were several real ones around that you could touch for a blessing. The temple also features a small temple on a rock only accessible at low tide. After the rice fields we went to Gitgit waterfall. As we arrived the monsoon began, the locals were thrilled as the rainy season was late, we were less so. The waterfall was filthy thanks to the rain and we took our pictures and hurried to the coffee hut. They grow their own coffee here and have a Luwak to hunt out the best beans and we got a chance to taste the world's most expensive coffee.Read more

  • Juliet EdwardsSouth East Asia & New ZealandTraveler

    Jatiluwih rice fields

    November 29, 2019 in Indonesia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    With our very smiley rice enthusiastic tour guide we spent a couple of hours walking around the rice fields, admiring the views, learning about rice growing, different types of rice and rice snacks. Our guide provided many rice songs and rice puns to keep us entertained.Read more

  • Juliet EdwardsSouth East Asia & New ZealandTraveler

    Lovina dolphins

    November 30, 2019 in Indonesia ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    After a full breakfast sitting right on the beach, we divided into small groups to hop on traditional outrigger boats that took us out to find the dolphins. We were so lucky there was a massive pod of dolphins, even the tour leader was surprised by how many there were. We could sit on the boat stabilisers and float over the water as we sailed after the dolphins. The dolphins didn't hang around to have a swim with us in the perfect water.Read more

  • Juliet EdwardsSouth East Asia & New ZealandTraveler

    Lovina farm & basket weaving

    November 30, 2019 in Indonesia ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    This afternoon we went to a beautiful garden farm up in the mountain. On the drive up we passed through small villages and everyone had immaculate front gardens with decorated doorways. We had a tour of the garden, where they grow a little of all kinds of fruit and veg to eat and sell at the market. They also grown coffee and we got to taste the home brew along with getting a coffee facial. We attempted basket weaving, luckily the baskets were already half made to make it easy for us. The wife lady who was teaching us was incredibly quick at turning them out and had won local awards for her work. Finally, they finished off the trip with the most amazing homemade lunch buffet.Read more

  • Juliet EdwardsSouth East Asia & New ZealandTraveler

    On the road to Gili T

    December 1, 2019 in Indonesia ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    Today we made the long trip from Lovina on the west over to the east via the Mt Batur viewpoint to catch the ferry over to Gili Trawangan. We spent the afternoon chilling by the pool and exploring the beach. Gili T is the party island of the three Gili islands, although there was just one bar open late each night. The beach is short but the water was beautiful. They also have the best seafood night market on the island. So delicious and cheap.Read more

  • Juliet EdwardsSouth East Asia & New ZealandTraveler

    Diving, cycling & beach frolic on Gili T

    December 2, 2019 in Indonesia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    First up, more diving! Gili T is hugely popular for diving and there are over 20 dive shops on the tiny island, luckily there were only 20 people on my boat. The dive crew were fun and the diving was amazing. I saw a massive turtle, so large and still I floated over the top thinking he was a rock before I saw him. The sea was teaming with fish and loads of turtles gliding about. There aren't any motor vehicles on the island so in the afternoon we cycled round the circumference of the island.Read more

  • Juliet EdwardsSouth East Asia & New ZealandTraveler

    Gili Air & snorkelling

    December 3, 2019 in Indonesia ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Today we went over to Gili Air (known as honeymoon island as there's much less partying!). Beautiful waters over at this island and we hand lunch and shakes on the beach. We had three snorkel stops on the way over and swam with the turtles and under water statues. I love being under water!Read more

  • Juliet EdwardsSouth East Asia & New ZealandTraveler

    Ubud Monkey Forest

    December 5, 2019 in Indonesia ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Yesterday we returned to Bali and travelled to the inland sanctum of Ubud. The town is small but popular due to it's laid back vibe and you feel closer to the "real" Bali. Top attraction, the Monkey Forest. It's a protected space for the monkeys to live and there are keepers to feed them, protect the tourists and rescues people's stuff. The monkeys are little thieves and will take everything and have no problems going into people's backpacks or stealing from local temple offerings.Read more

  • Juliet EdwardsSouth East Asia & New ZealandTraveler

    Ubud town

    December 5, 2019 in Indonesia ⋅ 🌧 29 °C

    Spent the afternoon exploring the town of Ubud, including the small old Ubud palace. Our hotel has beautiful gardens and a huge handsome rescued fruit bat called Charlie, which was a real highlight.

  • Juliet EdwardsSouth East Asia & New ZealandTraveler

    Mount Batur

    December 6, 2019 in Indonesia ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    It's the final day of the tour and it's a slightly early start at 2am. The sunrise hike to the top of Mt Batur is one of the busiest attractions on Bali, sitting with the monkeys, enjoying the sun rising over Mt Agung is truly spectacular. We had an hours drive to the bottom of the mountain where we picked up our guides. It's compulsory to have a guide so there's a snakey trail of tourists and guides hiking up the mountain by torch light in the dark. Once at the top, you need all your layers to keep warm as the sun rises and you enjoy your banana sandwich breakfast. It took us around 2 hours at a slow pace to walk up. We were back at the hotel by 10.30am and were treated to a Balinese massage.Read more

  • Juliet EdwardsSouth East Asia & New ZealandTraveler

    Ubud cooking class

    December 7, 2019 in Indonesia ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    Spent an amazing last day in Bali creating (and eating) seven traditional Balinese dishes at a cooking class in the Ubud countryside. We also went shopping veg at the local market, visited the family's rice field and spent time at their beautiful home.Read more

  • Juliet EdwardsSouth East Asia & New ZealandTraveler

    Philippines

    December 8, 2019 on the Philippines ⋅ 🌧 29 °C

    We've come to the Philippines to sit by the pool, go to the beach and dive. Panglao is our first stop. It's right on the bottom of Bohol island and the tourist area is focused around two main streets near the beach. All the hotels are aimed at divers and it's nice and quiet on the beach.Read more

  • Juliet EdwardsSouth East Asia & New ZealandTraveler

    Two days diving Bohol

    December 10, 2019 on the Philippines ⋅ 🌧 28 °C

    The diving is amazing. As the most junior diver in our group of eight, I get my own dive instructor and we spend a happy couple of days bobbing around the sea. The rest of the divers are all English which is fun and there is as much recovery pineapple and coffee as we need. The visibility is great, the sea is warm and there are more fish than I can remember. We spotted squid, turtles, a baby shark, octopus, large fish, tiny fish and lots of starfish.Read more

  • Juliet EdwardsSouth East Asia & New ZealandTraveler

    Morning on the Bohol countryside tour

    December 11, 2019 on the Philippines ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Spent the day seeing the highlights of Bohol with a small and nice tour group. Unfortunately not much information but we did get to see lots and the countryside and local villages are very pretty. I rode the giant zip line over the river gorge which was fun, and a great photo op. We also saw the ancient Baclayon Church, the Bilar Manmade Forest and Loboc River.Read more

  • Juliet EdwardsSouth East Asia & New ZealandTraveler

    Camotes Islands

    December 14, 2019 on the Philippines ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Bit of a trek to get here from Bohol; taxi to the pier, ferry over to Cebu, taxi over to another part of Cebu (where he tried to drop us in the correct place but there were no signs that it was the correct place, so asked him to drop us at the google address but that was wrong and then back to the original place), just in time but then the ferry was late, ferry over to Camotes and then taxi to the hotel. Took most the day. We did get to enjoy some Christmas songs from the staff on the boat. We're staying at one of the few hotels on the island. There's pretty much nothing touristy here just a little resort and a massive shallow bay and sunsets galore.Read more

  • Juliet EdwardsSouth East Asia & New ZealandTraveler

    Underwater caves tour

    December 16, 2019 on the Philippines ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    We didn't really know what we were signing up for on this private tour but thought we should see something of the island. Our driver took us around various hotels and random spots to go to the underwater caves. They have the clearest (and cold) water in them as the water is many times filtered as it drips through from ground level. The caves also have stalactites and quartz inside. They're fun for a little splash around in. We also got dropped at a lake for lunch where we took a sinking pedalo out for a spin.Read more

  • Juliet EdwardsSouth East Asia & New ZealandTraveler

    Moalboal

    December 18, 2019 on the Philippines ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Yesterday we made the lengthy trip to Moalboal; taxi, ferry, taxi and then a five and a half hour bus ride, which gave us another chance to see all the colourful modes of transport in the Philippines. Moalboal is popular, again for diving, but it seemed to have a bit more life to it than Panglao although the beach is smaller. There is a small road/walkway which runs between the beach side building and the hotels and this houses all kinds of small gift shops, restaurants and bars. I had a day out diving, which was of course excellent.Read more