Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: What to do for a day or two?

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is a mix of the old and modern times.  The government has done a tremendous job when they decided to preserve old buildings built by the colonizers from the 19th century.  I first came here when I was 7 years old, when I thought their mosques and buildings were very similar to those of the movie, Aladdin.  So, when my mom decided to book a short trip to this lovely country, I couldn't help but feel nostalgic about the heritage sites I've seen before.

If you're a fan of history and culture, Malaysia should be your destination.  But what can you do when your days are limited to a day or two?  Here are some tips to make your stay worthwhile:

Explore Singapore

I was 7 when I first came to Singapore. Back then, everything felt larger than life because of its tall buildings and busy-looking people. This year, my family and I decided to visit this country to explore its beautiful landmarks, authentic Singaporean cuisine, and the fast paced multi-culture of this first world country.

Here is a summary of my 3-day visit to the Lion City. Enjoy!

Explore Singapore from Justine Galvez on Vimeo.

What amazed me most was their diverse culture. You could see it in each district, the way each dish was cooked and presented in every hawker, or the way people interact while waiting for their train stop. Everything felt like it was in motion. That when you stop and observe, you get every piece of Singapore's culture.

In these 3 days, I felt that there was so much too see, and yet I had so little time. This trip felt like a day full of non-stop walking. My feet was sore... and it was worth it.

Check out the Boho Travels' interesting take on Singapore.
http://thebohotravels.com/southeast-asia/singapore/

Bali, Indonesia: 10 Reasons Why Bali is the Perfect Cure for Burnout

There is so much to see in Bali other than the beach. For one, it is a melting pot of culture, people, sights, and of course, food. Let me take you to a journey around and the other things you need to know before visiting the beautiful island of Bali, Indonesia.

Find out why Bali is the perfect cure for burnout

Yogyakarta, Indonesia: 15 Things to Do When You Only Have 60 hours

I had this conversation with a friend a year ago about temples and how I enjoyed my trip in Cambodia. She told me about her current trip in Yogyakarta and mentioned another set of interesting temples adjacent to the likes of Angkor Wat. That same night, I told myself that I want to see Borobodur and Prambanan myself. But, getting there isn't as simple as booking a direct flight to Bali or Jakarta. In case you're interested in visiting this sleepy town, here are some tips on exploring Yogyakarta in a breeze:

What do you do when there are so many places to see, but with so little time?

Hanoi, Vietnam: The Layover Tour pt. 2

Xin Chao! We took a break from our Hanoi city tour and had lunch at this restaurant called the Blue Butterfly. Our meals were already paid since it was part of the deal we got at Groupon. At this point, we've already made friends with our tour mates.

Lunch time!

Hanoi, Vietnam: The Layover Tour pt. 1

Like any other city, Hanoi has it's own distinct personality. It's calm and charming atmosphere is a huge contrast compared to the busy streets of Ho Chi Minh. This was our last stop for our week-long Cambodia-Vietnam trip. We weren't able to see Halong Bay due to limited time, but we still enjoyed this laid back city (compared to Saigon) even just for a day. In case you're visiting Hanoi for a day, make sure to include these places in your itinerary.

I'm gonna need longer broom sticks if i'm gonna have a place like this.

Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam: When the City Became our Playground

We had hours left before our next flight so we decided to tour the city by ourselves. It was pretty interesting to see, try and taste anything local. Plus, crossing the streets of Ho Chi Minh was no biggie to us anymore.

Chasing Pigeons

Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam: On CaoDaism and the Cu Chi Tunnels

Another way to get a slice of Vietnam's culture is to head out to the countryside and journey to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. If you have more time to kill, include Tay Ninh's Cao Dai Temple in your itinerary, too. If these don't spring out excitement, I don't know what else will.

Enter the Great Divine Temple

Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam: An Explorer's Guide to the City

Exploring the city of Ho Chi Minh (formerly known as Saigon) is a challenge one must perfect. For one, crossing the streets will give a thrill-seeker a run for its money. The city's colorful culture comprises good food, popular historical sites, French-inspired Architecture, friendly owners of hidden hostels, countless bazaars, clean parks, extremely fit people, and not to mention, its wonderful exotic coffee. But, there is also a flip side. Let me share with you some tips on how to survive the city without getting lost, hit, or scammed.

Our guide to the city (Thank you Ms. Vy!)

Siem Reap, Cambodia: 6 Must-Visit Temples

Cambodia isn't Cambodia without it's temples. To give you a brief, 'Angkor' means city, Wat means temples. Siem Reap is known for its temples, built by Ancient kings, located in the heart of the city.

Siem Reap, Cambodia - Angkor What?

There is a local bar in Siem Reap that promotes irresponsible drinking. It may often be mistaken as the iconic temple, but the Angkor What? Bar claims to be the coolest party place in Pub Street. 

The perfect watering hole

Siem Reap, Cambodia - Beng Mealea and the Floating Village

So you've been to Siem Reap, ran to every temple in Angkor, and thought you've seen them all? If you want to maximize your stay, take a tour to the east and head to Beng Mealea Temple and the Floating Village at Tonle Sap Lake, Mechrey. These are two of the offshore excursions that Kyla, Patricia and I took before hitting the Temples of Angkor at Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Let the temple games begin!

Siem Reap, Cambodia: Same Same But Different Tips

Last October of 2013, my friends and I scored a promo flight via Cebu Pacific, and decided to fill our inner Indiana Jones/Tomb Raider at the beautiful kingdom of Cambodia.

Siem Reap is known for it's ancient ruins, rich with history, and is perfect for those who want to tick off a box from their bucket list. There are so many temples you can visit, bars that do not sleep, kids who would never get tired on offering you to buy their $1-postcards, and other activities that could literally take your breath away.

When was the last time you had an adventure?

So before I post our memorable experience, let me share to you some tips on how to prepare or what to expect in Siem Reap:

Chiang Mai, Thailand: Temples and Pandas

Chiang Mai is known for mountain trails and trekking but being the newbie, we chose to explore more on the cultural side. The reason why we picked it in the first place was to discover things that we don't (or we won't) see in the PH. For one, temples. I have always been fascinated with temples because of the rich history behind it.

Played with pigeons while practicing our Segway

Chiang Mai, Thailand: Exploring with Confidence

Kop Khun Kha!! That's how you say 'How are you?' to a girl in Thai. Due to the train's 3-hour delay, our estimated time of arrival at Chiang Mai was moved from 11am to 2pm. But that doesn't mean we didn't enjoy the trip! :)

Bangkok, Thailand: The Hangover

My mind became hungry, filled with 'what ifs', regrets, and the fear of growing up without actually growing. My soul was itching for that freedom. My body was lusting for life. These alone gave me enough strength to overcome my fears. Last September 2012, I finally took the plunge and booked my first ticket to the center of Indochina: Thailand.

This is how you end your 23rd year, with style!