Destinations

6 Dazzling Attractions in Singapore to Photograph at Night

April 27, 2016 by Bino 4 Comments

A city with sleek infrastructure, tall buildings and manmade wonders; Singapore is an urbanite’s dream. By day, many of the city state’s attractions gleam in the sun but it is at night that they show their sleeker and more sophisticated side. Many of Singapore’s most iconic buildings and attractions present a whole new dimension when viewed after the sun sets. This is due mainly to the fact that the government here has invested a lot in putting in accents such as flood lights and laser shows to delight the ten million or so tourists that visit each year.

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Nan, Thailand – Sleepy Town in the Thai Far North

February 11, 2016 by Bino 16 Comments

I had stumbled upon Nan, in Thailand’s far north upon the recommendation of a traveler I had met when I was in Chiang Mai. Supposedly steeped in tradition, with national parks such as Doi Phu Kha at its doorstep and opened up from isolation fairly recently, I was quite keen to explore a slice of this heavily touristed country that had not yet been trampled by mass tourism.

From Bangkok, my flight arrived in Nan on a crisp Saturday morning. For a town of less than 20,000 inhabitants, I was taken aback by the airport terminal which seemed too modern for a town supposedly steeped in traditional ways.

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Phrae – Thailand’s Hidden Gem

February 6, 2016 by Bino 3 Comments

Wandering through the streets of Phrae in Northern Thailand, I could not help but get a sense of deja vu as I surveyed the walled old town and the many photogenic temples, teakwood mansions and museums dotting the enclosure. My guidebook described Phrae as having similarities to Luangprabang in Laos and surveying the sights around me, I’m inclined to agree. Phrae to most is a rather unknown place, even for Thais as its namesake province only came into Thailand’s (then known as Siam) control around a century ago and its relative “isolation” is part of the charm.

the unusual structure of wat chom sawan

With a population of slightly less than 20,000, Phrae is a rather quiet town with its tourist attractions concentrated mainly inside the walled city. I had visited during a weekend but found other tourists sparse, local weekenders included. After getting off the bus from my 2 hour journey from Nan, I immediately walked towards Wat Chom Sawan which is just a few blocks away. I was struck by the unusual architecture of the main prayer hall. departing from the Lanna style that I see all over these parts. Most guidebooks describe the style of Wat Chom Sawan as Burmese, but having visited Burma a couple of times before, I really could not see the similarity. The temple is noted for the heavy use of wood and multi-tiered roofs, a style which is pretty unusual for Thai temples.

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Impossibly Scenic Landscapes in Italy’s South Tyrol

October 31, 2015 by Bino 12 Comments

In the northern part of Italy close to the border with Austria lies a group of mountain ranges called the Dolomites. Although it’s been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this portion of Italy remains relatively unknown to people from outside the region. It is just around 200 kilometers from Venice but the autonomous province of South Tyrol or Alto Adige seems like a world apart from the Latin heritage of Italy. German is the lingua franca rather than Italian while the alpine landscape makes the area look like a scene from neighboring Austria or even Switzerland. Sometimes, the sight of a single picture is all it takes to inspire me to go somewhere. This was exactly the case with South Tyrol. I had encountered a picture of some unreal scenery some months back and I knew instantly I had to go there no matter what it took. When I next had a chance to visit Europe, I made sure I allotted some time to venture to South Tyrol.

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Let Me Tell You About Krakow – Poland’s Historic Gem

October 14, 2015 by Bino 2 Comments

While personally, my preference is for Wroclaw’s old town attractions, Poland’s star is undeniably its second largest city, Krakow and that is where the bulk of visitors to this deeply fascinating country flock to.

I arrived in Krakow on a wet and misty spring afternoon from a 5 hour or so drive from Poland’s capital, Warsaw. While the latter is noted for its skyscrapers, Krakow remains mostly low-rise and past the Soviet apartment buildings lining the suburbs, I could glimpse a bit of the Stare Miasto or the old town, with its walls, cobblestone streets and turn of the (20th) century buildings. For the casual tourist, there are two districts which are of interest in the city. Aside from the obvious old town, the other is the neighborhood of Kazimierz, the traditional Jewish enclave, which is fast emerging as a hip and happening locale.

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Visiting the Romantic Niagara Falls

August 11, 2015 by Bino Leave a Comment

If you are looking for a romantic getaway, a long weekend at the Niagara Falls is a great option. It has been a favourite destination for couples since the 1800s, and there is a good reason for that. rainbow over the niagara by diana robinson | by CC 2.0

The falls are exciting, spectacular and, most importantly, memorable. They really are special, so they are perfect for a couple looking for a way to enjoy something unique together and create lasting memories of this mystical natural wonder.

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Things to Do in Kuala Terengganu – More Than Just a Transit to Redang & the Perhentians

July 26, 2015 by Bino 2 Comments

They say that those wishing to experience a more traditional Malaysia should head out to the states of Terengganu and Kelantan at the peninsula’s quieter east coast. Filled with a distinctly Malay character and fringed with excellent beaches, it’s the side of Malaysia that remains relatively unknown to most travelers, save for the beach resorts at the Perhentian Islands or Redang.

As I wanted to experience something different than the usual Kuala Lumpur this time, I headed out to Kuala Terengganu, the capital of Terengganu state for a short trip. Using the excellent Tanjong Jara Resort as my base, I explored the easygoing seaside capital known for its excellent seafood and impressive mosques and found it filled with interesting places and worthwhile as a destination in its own right.

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Solo Trip to Cotabato City and Maguindanao

July 19, 2015 by Bino 8 Comments

I almost didn’t make it to Cotabato City.

It was not because something untoward happened while I made the trip by land from General Santos City nor did I chicken out last minute.

It was because no one was willing to go with me on this trip. It was kind of like my trip to a couple of dodgy countries some years back. Only difference is that the danger associated with Cotabato seemed more compelling. Traveling by land meant that I would pass by towns such as Mamasapano or Ampatuan where people were massacred as recently as 6 months ago. I could have traveled by air directly to Cotabato which seemed to be a safer option but that was not a luxury I had at the time.

After obtaining assurances from the helpful DOT-ARMM folks, I pushed through with the trip to explore the tourist attractions of Cotabato City and Maguindanao. It’s been something like 3 years since I first got the urge to venture to Maguindanao and I didn’t want to waste this window to go. A picture of the Grand Mosque somewhere online pretty much sealed the deal.

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