A short trip to Batam, Indonesia

Batam has been famous for short escapades from neighboring countries such as Singapore and Malaysia. This island is one of the busiest ports in Indonesia as the entrance gate of tourism in Indonesia.

Batam has been popular for many things like shopping centers, spa, and massages. Aside from the urban entertainment. Below are the best things to do in Batam especially for you!

Visit Maha Vihara Duta Maitreya Temple

This temple is one of the more serene ways to enjoy Batam and is the place to come if you want to find some inner peace. Devotees here usually burn incense for good luck and you can enjoy the colorful and elegant Buddha statues here as well as the carvings of twelve zodiac signs which lie opposite the temple.

One of the best things about the temple is that there is also a cafe here and you buy a range of delicious vegetarian food including buns and snacks in the shape of cute animals.

Play at Sea Forest Adventure

Sea Forest Adventure is a unique theme park. Here you can play all kinds of floats and water slides. You will have a chance to experience nature, survival science and adventure with four main sections for you to discover.

You can bounce, slide, climb and roam around the available playground, for kids and adults alike. Life vests will be provided by the sea forest adventure throughout your stay there.

Try Watersports

Watersports are one of the obvious highlights of Batam. One of the places to visit in Batam for water sports is the Cabana Club. The park offers canoeing, jet skiing and snorkelling. Name it and they probably have it! Another recommended places to visit are Batam Wake Park and Waterpark Ocarina.

Shop at Nagoya Hill Shopping Mall

Enjoy your day by shopping in the largest mall in Batam, Nagoya Hill. This vast area of shopping has complete retail goods, and importantly their price is reasonable. The name itself is taken after the region in Batam, Nagoya (which is also known as Lubuk Baja) and its location in hilly areas.

Watch Beautiful Sunset at Barelang Bridge

Although not comparable to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, Barelang Bridge is Batam’s very own iconic pride. It has a unique architectural design that makes it an ideal spot for some artistic landscape photos and selfies. The spectacular scenery from and around the bridge alone is worth the trip here.

Visiting this bridge has always been and will continue to be one of the top things to do in Batam. Within two hours’ drive from here, you can visit old Vietnamese refugee camps.

Visit the Stilt Houses of Batam

In old Batam many of the houses were built above water on stilts. You can still find some of these stilt houses in the older parts of the city and the villages that surround it. One of the most well-known villages for this type of architecture is the fishing village called Tanjung Uma.

See more: Beautiful places in Indonesia you should not miss

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Top luxury hotels in Da Nang, Vietnam

Da Nang, Vietnam’s fifth largest city, has no shortage of hotels catering to different travelers’ needs. In fact, it can be a little difficult for first time visitors to decide where to stay, given the abundance of options. Here are five hotels and resorts in Da Nang that are a cut above the rest.

Fusion Maia Resort

Located on the beautiful My Khe Beach, Fusion Maia Resort offers complimentary spa service in the most extensive spa facilities in Central Vietnam, equipped with steam baths and sauna facilities. This beachfront resort boasts 5-star villa accommodation in Da Nang and an outdoor pool with a waterfall. Boasting private courtyards with stunning sunset views, each modern Vietnamese-style villa has spacious layouts and an open-plan living room. Large bathrooms have oversized windows and separate bath and rain shower areas. Guests can enjoy a dip in the villa's private pool.

All-day breakfast can be served on the beach or at the spa area. Five restaurant offers Pan-Asian dishes while Fresh serves up seafood by the pool side. Light refreshments are available at Tonic lounge. Fusion Maia Resort is within a 15-minute drive from Hoi An Town and Da Nang International Airport. It is easily accessible from nearby attractions like Thu Bon River, Marble Mountain and Japanese Bridge.

InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort

With a stay at InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort in Da Nang, you will be near the bay, within a 15-minute drive of My Khe Beach and Linh Ung Pagoda. Featured amenities include a business center, complimentary newspapers in the lobby, and laundry services. Guests may use a train station pick-up service for a surcharge, and free self-parking is available onsite.

Samdi Hotel

Samdi Hotel has one of the best locations of any Da Nang hotel, right in the middle of the city on the lively Nguyen Van Linh Street, but also only a few minutes away from the beach and airport. There are a wide range of accommodations, including standard rooms (ideal for business travelers), fully-equipped apartments, and the spacious Samdi Studios. The centerpiece of the hotel is the lavish 19th floor pool and bar, where guests can lounge or swim under a massive skylight.

Pullman Danang Beach Resort

With a stay at Pullman Danang Beach Resort in Da Nang, you will be a 5-minute walk from My Khe Beach and within a 5-minute drive of Museum of Cham Sculpture. Featured amenities include complimentary wired Internet access, a 24-hour business center, and limo or town car service. Planning an event in Da Nang?

This resort has facilities measuring 18762 square feet (1743 square meters), including a conference center. A roundtrip airport shuttle is provided for a surcharge (available on request), and free self-parking is available onsite.

Naman Retreat

Naman Retreat, located on a beach roughly halfway between Da Nang and ancient Hoi An, is five-star resort that promises a thoroughly relaxing and calming stay away from the bustle of the city center. Spend a day at Naman Retreat’s Pure Spa, which offers multi-day wellness programs in addition to the usual spa treatments, or indulge at one of their four beautifully designed, bamboo-clad restaurants and bars.

Guests have the option of staying the spacious Babylon Rooms, which come with private balconies and luxurious fittings, or in the large pool and beach villas. Service is detailed and personalized, and you can request anything from a personal DJ to hiking trips in the surrounding countryside.

See more: Most beautiful temples to visit in Da Nang

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Philippines Travel: 3-day Boracay itineraries

One of the most popular beach destinations in the Philippines, Boracay Island is famous for its fine white sands and lush tropic scenery. Tourists from all over the world have found solace in this tiny piece of paradise, making it a place people come back to again and again. Below are the perfect 3-day Boracay itineraries for your next trip.

Swim like a mermaid

It is only on Boracay Island where you will actually get to fulfill your dreams of becoming a mermaid. Let the Philippine Mermaid Swimming Academy teach you the basics, complete with a glittering fish-tailed outfit. Be warned that it is a bit of a workout as it teaches swimming techniques that involve a lot of core movement and upper body strength. If that is something you are not ready to try yet, you can simply have your picture taken on the shore while wearing your favorite mermaid tail.

Dare to jump off a cliff at Ariel’s Point

A 45-minute ride from Boracay Island, Ariel’s Point is an unspoilt eco-adventure paradise, it is even recognised as one of the world’s best cliff diving destinations! Apart from cliff diving, Ariel’s Point also offers other activities such as kayaking, paddleboarding, and snorkelling. A day tour package gets you a boat cruise, BBQ buffet lunch, unlimited drinks, and island activities, plus a whole new set of friends!

Take the reverse bungee ride

Challenge yourself by taking the G-Max reverse bungee experience on Boracay. Originally from New Zealand, this thrilling ride is the first attraction of its kind in the country. Experience what it feels like to be shot up into the sky as the capsule reaches up to 60 feet above. While the entire ride only takes less than 10 minutes, this adrenaline-pumping activity will definitely be one of the main highlights of your trip.

Go parasailing and get a bird’s-eye view of Boracay

How about getting a bird’s-eye view of Boracay? Hopefully, you are not afraid of heights like I am! But if you are, I still recommend that you try it out, the view is worth it! You are usually given around 30 minutes to stay up in the air, but feel free to have them bring you back down when you are satisfied.

Visit Puka Shell Beach

Located on the north of the island, Puka Shell beach offers something that the other popular beaches do not, privacy. Maybe it is because this beach does not have bright white sand or maybe it is because this beach does not offer enough food and drinks- but Puka Shell beach sees far less tourists than White Beach.

You will not find more than a couple guesthouses and cabanas for lounging on Puka Shell Beach. Play in the sand to discover shells and crabs, have a long walk, or take a quiet swim and enjoy the moment.

Witness the sunset on the island

Do not leave Boracay without seeing its picture-perfect sunset view. Apart from the spectacular sunset view seen along Manila Bay, Boracay is another top location in the Philippines where you can catch sight of a stunning sunset. Head over to Diniwid Beach to watch the sun dip below the waves from an elevated point or go to Manoc-Manoc Beach for a gorgeous backdrop of Caticlan’s mountain ranges. The most popular view is in White Beach, where you will get a silhouette of boats and people amongst the waves.

Get a henna tattoo

As you walk around Boracay, you might notice a lot of people sporting tattoos. Chances are, most of them are actually henna tattoos. They are great practice for the real deal, or just cool “accessories” to flaunt when you are in your beach wear! Just ask around, and any local will be able to point your way to one of the talented henna tattoo artists around the island. You can trust them to bring almost any of your most interesting tattoo ideas to life!

See more: A getaway with most luxury resorts in the Philippines

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