The reasons why you should travel to East Timor

When we think of South-East Asia the obvious things that come to mind are the beaches of Thailand, full moon parties, Aussies getting drunk in Bali, or sunset drinks on sunset islands in the Philippines. South-East Asia is very much way on the beaten track but there are still a few fairly untouched gems out there, and one of them is East Timor.

Pristine beaches and sacred sites

Closer to the capital there are a plenty of white-sand beaches that remains pristine and unspoiled. Areia Branca and Dollar beach are some of the famous beaches. There are some east and west of Dili which usually does not see much crowd. For a swim, the south coast is best avoided owing to the presence of giant saltwater crocodiles. To spend some night time at the beach, opt for one of the night tours that include dinner on the beach.

The first National Park of East Timor called Nino Santana National Park comprises of forested mountain ranges (known for its many species of orchids), Lake Ira Lalaro and Jaco Island. A trip to this park will also make accessible the many sacred sites, limestone caves, and ancient rock arts. The reef system that is adjoining the Park is part of the world-renowned Coral Triangle. Divers here can spot high diversity of coral species and marine wildlife.

Breathtaking biking

If the driving is too hair-raising, or expensive car rentals are not cheap, starting at around $70 per day, partly due to the sketchy state of the roads and often erratic local driving, then it is time to get on your bike. You will need to be fit, as there are the steep climbs and steeper temperatures (around 30 C most of the year, though it is cooler at night in the mountains).

The upside is that you will have more opportunity to take in the views than you would if driving, when vigilance is needed.
The Timorese roads are sometimes a challenge for even the most robust four-wheel drive, so no surprise, then, that the Tour de Timor has already acquired the reputation for being one of the world's most arduous bike races.

Best diving spots

The tropical marine water of Timor-Leste, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Solomon Islands are roughly in the shape of a triangle and is called the Coral Triangle. It is home to approximately 500 species of corals and the sites in East Timor are undisputedly one of the best for diving.

The untouched reef and marine life is any diver’s dream come true. Atauro Island is considered one of the top diving spots in East Timor with abundant sea life such as reef sharks, frogfish, turtles, whales, and more. Many Dili based diving companies offer international standard diving courses ranging from recreational to technical for the interested. If you are in scuba diving, then you should definitely check fantastic diving sites around East Timor. Another great news is that the country is not filled with tourists, so you can expect to have diving tours only for yourself.

Calm life and silent nights

East Timor does show that there is such a thing as too laid-back. Taxis often potter along at 20 kph despite empty roads, putting the mission-(beach) bound among us at risk of an embolism.
But this does also mean that East Timor is less crowded, less hectic and less built-up than the rest of Southeast Asia, partly down to the country's troubled past and slow pace of economic development a decade after independence.

Great street food

In case you had the missed the memo YPT kind of like street food a lot, and Dili has something even better than street food, it has BBQ located conveniently on the beach. Come here and kick back at the weekend to see how the Timorese like to knock a few back.

Read more: Do not miss these fascinating destinations around Asia in 2019

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Tips to have safe trip in South Korea

Traveling on a holiday to a country for the very first time can be very exciting. You have a whole new adventure waiting for you, but the idea of planning and being in a foreign land can be a bit distressing. You have completely no idea what is awaiting you, the kind of people, the culture and the laws governing the country you are visiting.

The Korean Alphabet is easy as A-B-C

Hangul (which translates to “great script”) is the official alphabet of the Korean language. Unlike Chinese, it is phonetic, meaning it is made up of letters that can be sounded out rather than characters that have to be memorized. At first sight, the script may come across as incomprehensible, but the alphabet itself is actually quite easy to learn. For some, it can be mastered in just a day. Knowing the alphabet will make traveling in Korea much easier, even if you do not speak Korean, as you will be able to recognize food names on menus and destinations on street signs.

Public transport

Trains arrive on time and on a frequent basis. If you purchase the Korea T-money card, which is our ez-link card equivalent, each ride would mostly cost KRW1, 250 (~SGD1.50) unless you go slightly further, then it will add another KRW100-300. You have to tap in and out of the gantries when you board the train.

Public toilets and hygiene

There are quite a number of public toilets wherever we go, and to my pleasant surprise they are generally clean. You can also often find toilet paper in public toilets. On the other hand, it is extremely difficult to find dustbins around so you may have to carry your trash for quite a distance before you find one bin.

Korea, a land of wi-fi

Not only does Korean possess the fastest Internet connection in the world, at 28.6 Mbit/s to be exact, it is also the dreamy land for social network lovers, as there is wi-fi almost everywhere. There is wi-fi coverage relatively everywhere you go in Korea, in shops or even on the metro system. Most of the time, it is free. However, there are places that charge for internet access via wi-fi.

Shoes off

If you ever have the chance to visit a Korean house, then you will probably be intrigued by the no-shoes-indoor policy. As a matter of fact, upon entering the threshold, you will have to take off your outside footwear and put on a pair of slippers. The same goes for hotels. Most of which will have a pair waiting for you in every room. Some families even have specific slippers for specific sections of the house.

How to tip in Korea

In fact, you do not have to tip in South Korea. With many unspoken but widely agreed upon rates of tipping, around 18-20% for an exceptionally good service, many visitors are taken aback by this practice. As opposed to North America, where tipping is expected, you do not have leave a tip in Korean nor do servers expect you to. With this knowledge, you will be able to have a much more affordable trip to Korea.

Read more: Explore the city of art Changwon in South Korea

Travel and Korea metro apps

For first time travelers, travel apps are really useful. The train maps might look daunting because it is so complicated, and it surely doesn’t help when there are Korean words on it, making it look even scarier. You will be glad to know that train line map apps like Seoul Metro and Busan Metro Map will save your life here in Korea. For more travelling and food tips, they also have a Visit Korea app that is pretty useful too.

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8 useful ways to earn money while traveling

Have you ever asked yourself, “How will I possibly make money while traveling?” or “How will I survive on the road?” or maybe “How can I cannot start traveling when I don’t have much money?”.

Chances are that these very thoughts have indeed crossed your mind and there is also a chance that you have not found any answers. As a result, you have still yet to take that first step and start traveling and as time passes by, you start to wonder if you will ever achieve your travel goals.

Teaching English abroad

For native speakers with a bachelor degree, teaching English is one of the easiest ways to work abroad. It offers you the ability to spend a significant amount of time in a country, while making good money. There are job opportunities almost everywhere, many companies will pay your flights and apartment. South Korea and Japan are well paid countries for English teachers.

Teach English Online

Teaching English online is a consistent, very accessible way for backpackers and nomads to earn an online income. You don’t need any special coding, tech, writing, or photography skills to become a digital nomad these days. Thanks to the power of the internet, the world of teaching English online has opened new doors to native English speakers wanting to work from—well— anywhere with a solid internet connection.

Work in Hostels and Hotels

Many hostels, hotels and resorts are looking for staff, either for short time (during high season) or long-term. Jobs vary from reception staff, house-keeping, driver for airport pick-ups, etc. Some of these jobs are paid, others are on a voluntary basis. Work in exchange for a free bed and food is quite common. Not ideal if you want to earn money, but at least a way to save money for travel.

Online Freelance Work

Whether you have a background or interest in web design, programming, illustration, writing, marketing, consulting, legal work, engineering or able to do any type of admin work, you should definitely look at websites. These are platforms that connect freelancers with people and companies who need work done. Even if your background is in something else, have a look anyway as there is freelance work to be found in dozens of different fields.

Travel Blogging

It is not easy to earn a big income with a travel blog. The amount of time/effort required to do so is much more than most people imagine. But if you are looking for some extra cash to help fund part of your travels, while keeping the world informed of your adventures, starting a travel blog might be your answer.

Scuba Instructor

Being a certified Scuba Diver Instructor takes a bit of investment, but can be one of the most fun ways to work and travel the world. You need a handful of courses and certifications, as well as having logged in a amount of hours underwater yourself.

If you are already certified, get excited. If you are not, you can do it at home, or take advantage of many programs that exist in countries like Thailand and The Philippines.

Yoga Teacher

You have been doing yoga for some time and it became an important part of your life? Why not teach yoga and inspire others to do so? Yoga is more popular than ever and studios are all around the world. You could teach at a yoga retreat (so many of them in Bali!) or just apply for a yoga teacher job at a resort.

Translator

If you can write and speak more than one language fluently, you could look for translating jobs. Spanish, Chinese, French and Japanese are very popular right now. Even if you speak another language than the ones I just listed, check out the links below, you might find a translation job for the languages you speak.

Read more: Best travel guide books on budget travel you should get

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