Mai and Chris Travel

Does Grab Advance Booking Really Work in Jakarta? City Centre to Airport in Early Morning

I went to Japan by plane leaving Jakarta at 7.15 am. In Jakarta, I stayed in the city centre and needed to get to the ai

2025/01/18 11:40

Restaurants and Food around Amed Beach in Bali

We stayed at a guesthouse near Jemeluk Bay, Amed Beach, Bali, for about 10 days. Here are some of the restaurants we use

2025/01/15 18:08

Bali Snorkelling Spots Review: around Amed Beach in Rainy Season

In Bali, we stayed close to Amed Beach. We used this as a base to visit several snorkelling spots. The following is an i

2025/01/15 18:03

Biak Island: Snorkeling and Sightseeing

Unfortunately, we only stayed on Biak Island for two nights. Biak Island is a charming island where you can enjoy not on

2025/01/11 08:35

Trip from Sorong to Biak via Manokwari and Jayapura

After a little over three weeks in Raja Ampat, we decided to go to Biak Island, which we had never visited before. It is

2025/01/10 08:07

From Jakarta to Raja Ampat via Sorong

This year's Christmas and New Year's holidays will also be spent in Indonesia: we left Canada at the end of No

2025/01/02 14:59

How to Get an Indonesian Arrival Visa (e-VOA) Online from your Smartphone

When entering Indonesia, Japanese and British nationals need to obtain a visa, but you can now apply for an Arrival Visa

2023/12/10 10:54

How to fill in the Indonesian customs declaration form online from your smartphone

When entering Indonesia, a customs declaration form is required. This can be done on a paper declaration form, but you c

2023/12/10 09:57

Train Journey from London Heathrow to Norwich Using the Two Together Railcard

WecamebacktoLondon,UK,arrivingatTerminal4ofHeathrowAirportandthentravelledtoNorwichwheresomefriendslive.Inthispost,Iwrit

2023/09/26 20:29

Flying from Bucharest to London with Romanian Tarom Airlines!

Ourone-yearbackpackingtrip,whichbeganon14September2022,iscomingtoanend:on7September2023weflewfromBucharest,Romania,toLon

2023/09/23 18:52

Bus journey from Sibiu to Bucharest Airport

AfteronenightinSibiu,wetravelledtoBucharest.WewereflyingfromBucharesttoLondonthenextdayandhadalreadybookedaccommodationn

2023/09/22 18:12

Walking around Sibiu: Free Sightseeing and Attractions

WespentonenightinSibiutoexplorethecity.Sibiuisamedium-sizedcity,butthesightsareconcentratedintheoldtownareaandcanbeexplo

2023/09/21 20:15

Sighişoara to Sibiu Romania Train Journey

AftertwonightsinSighişoara,weheadedtoSibiu.Inthispost,we'dliketoshareourtrainjourneyfromSighişoaratoSibiu.

2023/09/20 20:08

Biertan Fortified Church Highlights and How to Get there from Sighişoara: Visiting World Heritage Site Hitchhiking

WewentforadaytripfromSighişoaratovisittheBiertanFortifiedChurch.ThevillageofBiertan,includingthefortresschurch,isaUNESCO

2023/09/20 20:04

Walking Tour highlights in Sighişoara: Free Sightseeing and Attractions

We spent two nights in Sighişoara and spent a lot of time walking around. Sighişoara has many sights and historical buil

2023/09/11 16:31

Braşov to Sighişoara: Train Journey

After two nights in Braşov, we travelled to Sighişoara.This post reports about the train journey from Braşov to Sighişoa

2023/09/06 14:39

Visiting Hărman Fortified Church: Day Trip from Braşov, Part 2

We stayed two nights in Braşov, so we spent a day of touring the outskirts of the city. In the morning of this day, we v

2023/09/06 14:38

Visiting Bran Castle: Day trip from Braşov, Part 1

We stayed two nights in Braşov, so we had a whole day to explore the sights around Braşov.The most famous tourist attrac

2023/09/06 14:34

Visiting Peleş Castle and Other Attractions: Sightseeing in Sinaia

The reason for coming to Sinaia was to visit Peleş Castle. Peleş Castle is the medieval palace of the Romanian king and

2023/09/05 12:36

Braşov Highlights: Sightseeing and Attractions

We spent two nights in Braşov sightseeing. With historic buildings dotted around the city and medieval castles and forti

2023/09/05 12:35

Sinaia to Braşov: Train Journey

After one night in Sinaia, we travelled to Braşov. Buses also run from Sinaia to Braşov, but we took the train as it was

2023/09/05 12:31

Bucharest to Sinaia: Train Journey with Romanian Railway

We crossed the border from Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria, to Bucharest, Romania, by international train. Our first destinatio

2023/09/03 15:02

Veliko Tarnovo to Bucharest: Border Crossing by Train

After two nights in Veliko Tarnovo, we crossed the border towards Bucharest, Romania. This time, we crossed the border b

2023/09/03 14:59

Veliko Tarnovo Highlights: Sightseeing and Attractions

Veliko Tarnovo is a small town in the mountains. We spent two nights here sightseeing. Here are some of the sights we v

2023/09/03 14:53

Sofia to Veliko Tarnovo: Bus Journey

After one night in Sofia, we travelled to Veliko Tarnovo. The bus journey from Sofia to Veliko Tarnovo is shared in this

2023/09/03 14:45

Sofia Highlights: Sightseeing and Attractions

We spent one night in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria sightseeing. We saw many historical sights in Plovdiv, but Sofia al

2023/09/02 15:46

Plovdiv to Sofia: Bus Journey

After two nights in Plovdiv, we travelled to the capital Sofia.Although it is possible to travel from Plovdiv to Sofia b

2023/09/02 15:42

Day Trip from Plovdiv: Vachkovo Monastery and Asen’s Fortress

The city of Plovdiv has many attractions within the city, but there are also attractive sights on the outskirts.The seco

2023/09/02 15:40

Plovdiv Highlights: Sightseeing and Attractions

Bulgaria's second largest city, Plovdiv, is a historic city that has been settled for more than 6,000 years.On the

2023/09/02 15:37

We Bought a Bulgarian SIM Card in Plovdiv

We crossed the border from Turkey to Bulgaria and came to the city of Plovdiv. We intend to stay in Bulgaria for a week

2023/09/02 03:54

Erdine to Plovdiv via Kapıkule: Border Crossing from Turkey to Bulgaria on Foot

We crossed the border from Turkey to Bulgaria at Kapıkule checkpoint. This is a major border crossing between Turkey and

2023/08/30 23:27

Behramkale (Assos) to Edirne: Hitchhiking and Minibus

After a night in Behramkale (Assos), we headed to the Bulgarian border town of Edirne.The journey from Assos to Edirne i

2023/08/29 18:44

Behramkale (Assos) Highlights: Sightseeing and Tourist Attractions

We spent one night in Behramkale, a town that flourished in Greek times under the name 'Assos'.It has ancient

2023/08/29 18:41

Hitchhiking from Bergama to Behramkale (Assos)

After an overnight stay in Bergama and a visit to the World Heritage Site, Pergamon Acropolis, we travelled to Behramkal

2023/08/29 18:36

Highlights of the World Heritage City of Bergama: visit the ruins of the Greek-Roman city

The city of Bergama is dotted with spectacular sights, including the Pergamon Acropolis, with its ancient Greek and Roma

2023/08/29 01:19

Pergamon Acropolis World Heritage Site Highlights: We Walked from Bergama

The reason for coming to the city of Bergama is to visit the Pergamon Acropolis,an ancient Greek city ruins.There are se

2023/08/28 19:04

Manisa to Bergama: Hitchhiking and Minibus (Dormuşh) Journey

After a night in Manisa, we travelled to Bergama. There is a bus service between Manisa and Bergama, but the time did no

2023/08/28 14:25

Manisa Highlights: Sightseeing and Attractions

There are several historic buildings in Manisa and the sights are clustered within walking distance of each other, so it

2023/08/28 01:38

Adana to Manisa: Night Bus Journey

After a night in Adana, we travelled by long-distance bus all the way to Manisa. Manisa is a town beyond Izmir, but ther

2023/08/27 23:35

Adana Highlights: Sightseeing and Attractions

In Adana, we stayed one night at a friend's house. We had a few drinks in the evening and a slow start the next mor

2023/08/24 13:55

Sivas to Adana: Bus Journey

After one night in Sivas, we travelled to Adana by bus. We have friends in Adana, so we went there to meet them.This tim

2023/08/24 13:52

Sivas Highlights: One Day Walking Sightseeing

We spent one night in Sivas and had half a day sightseeing. Sivas has been an important city since Roman times, so its h

2023/08/24 13:49

Tokat to Sivas: Bus Journey

After an overnight stay in Tokat, we travelled to Sivas, about 100 km to the south-east.This article is about the bus jo

2023/08/24 13:45

Tokat Highlights: One Day Walking Sightseeing

We spent one night in Tokat sightseeing. The sights in Tokat are concentrated and easy to get around on foot.Here are so

2023/08/23 02:37

Boğazkale to Tokat: Hitchhiking and Minibus Journey

After visiting the ancient Hittite city ruins in Boğazkale, we moved directly to the next town without an overnight stay

2023/08/23 02:34

Hattusa and Yazılıkaya Highlights: Visiting the Ruins of the Hittite Empire Capital from Boğazkale

Boğazkale, reached by bus and hitchhiking, is a small village with a population of 1,200. But it is home to the ruins of

2023/08/23 02:22

Ankara to Boğazkale via Sungurlu: Bus & Hitchhiking

After one night in Ankara, we headed to Boğazkale. There is no direct transport to Boğazkale so we decided to take a bus

2023/08/22 00:17

Ankara Highlights: Half Day Walking Tour

We went to Ankara, Turkey, which is not a city with particularly amazing sights, but does mean that there are almost no

2023/08/20 12:30

We Flew from Almaty to Ankara with Pegasus Airlines

After a relaxing stay in Almaty recovering from sickness, we decided to fly to Ankara, Turkey.The number of internationa

2023/08/19 00:05

We Bought a Kazakhstan SIM Card in Almaty

We bought a SIM card in Almaty. In this post, I am going to share our experience on how to buy a Kazakhstan SIM card and

2023/08/17 17:42

Walking in Almaty: Sightseeing and Attractions

The following are some of the sights we visited walking around Almaty.

2023/08/16 10:43

Bishkek to Almaty Border Crossing: from Kyrgyzstan to Kazakhstan

After two nights in Bishkek, we crossed the border into Kazakhstan and travelled to Almaty.The border point on the Kyrgy

2023/08/10 12:23

Bishkek Sightseeing and Attractions

We came to Bishkek on the way to Kazakhstan and spent two nights here.There is not too much to see in Bishkek, so a quic

2023/08/09 12:30

Toktogul to Bishkek: Mashrutka Journey

The day after we had come all the way from Arslanbob to Toktogul, we decided to change our plans a little and head for B

2023/08/09 00:16

Arslanbob to Toktogul: Mashrutka and Shared Taxi

After four nights in Arslanbob and enjoying hiking, we headed to Toktogul. Going to Toktogul is only to break up the jou

2023/08/08 00:39

Hiking in Arslanbob, Day 3: Country Roads to Three Lakes

This was the third day of hiking in Arslanbob. This time we tried to reach the three lakes southeast of the town centre.

2023/08/06 21:04

Hiking in Arslanbob, Day 2: to a Large Waterfall

Arslanbob is a small village in southern Kyrgyzstan. We stay here for a few days to enjoy some hiking. It is a cosy plac

2023/08/06 10:40

Hiking to the World’s Largest Walnut Forest: How to Get there from Arslanbob

Arslanbob is a town in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan. One of the reasons to travel from Margilan in Uzbekistan all the way

2023/08/05 21:24

Uzbekistan Registration: This is What We Experienced with in 2023

Foreigners staying in Uzbekistan as tourists are required to register their stay. If you are staying in a hotel or guest

2023/08/04 22:14

Border Crossing from Margilan to Kyrgyzstan Via Izboskan: Final Destination is Arslanbob.

After an overnight stay in Margilan and a visit to silk factories, we crossed the border from Izboskan into Kyrgyzstan.T

2023/08/03 20:52

Visiting Silk Workshop and Other Attractions in Margilan

From Kokand, we travelled to Margilan for an overnight stay. Margilan is famous for its silk industry and several silk w

2023/08/02 19:41

Kokand to Margilan, Yandex Taxi Journey and an Accident happened on the way: Driving in Uzbekistan is Not Safe

After three nights in Kokand, we went to Margilan to visit some silk 'factories'.It was an easy trip using a Y

2023/08/02 19:30

What to Do in Kokand: 5 Places to Visit and One Trip to Do

We spent three nights in Kokand sightseeing. Here are some of the highlights of Kokand.

2023/08/01 13:56

Day Trip to Rishtan from Kokand to Visit Pottery Ateliers

We spent three nights in Kokand, and we spent a day visiting Rishtan.Rishtan is famous for its pottery and we went to th

2023/08/01 13:45

Uzbekistan ATM with International Bank Cards: Maximum Withdrawal Amount and Can We Get US Dollars?

In Uzbekistan, international cash cards are used to withdraw Uzbek currency, Som, from ATMs.However, it's not clear

2023/08/01 13:40

Uzbekistan Railway Journey: Tashkent to Kokand

We travelled from Samarkand to Tashkent the day before, spent one night in Tashkent and then travelled by train to Kokan

2023/07/31 13:02

Uzbekistan Railway Journey from Samarkand to Tashkent

After two nights in Samarkand, we returned again to Tashkent. We stayed one night in Tashkent and took the train the nex

2023/07/29 20:55

16 Places You Could Visit in Samarkand (Samarqand)

We spent three days and two nights in the city of Samarkand sightseeing. The following is a summary of the main attracti

2023/07/29 20:49

Border crossing from Panjakent to Samarkand: Tajikistan to Uzbekistan

After one night in Panjakent, we crossed the border into Samarkand. The distance from Panjakent to Samarkand is approxim

2023/07/28 23:27

SIM Card in Tajikistan: Expire in 10 Days without Registration?

We crossed the border from Uzbekistan to Tajikistan by land. We bought a SIM card in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan

2023/07/28 23:23

Tajikistan ATM, the Maximum Withdrawal Amount and US Dollars

We wanted to withdraw cash from ATMs in Tajikistan using our international cash card and we walked around looking for ba

2023/07/28 14:37

Panjakent Sightseeing: 8 Spots We Visited by Walking

We stayed for a night in Panjakent and had a good walk around the town. Here are our sightseeing highlights in Panjakent

2023/07/28 13:44

Sary-Tag Village / Lake Iskanderkul to Panjakent: Transport by Shared Taxis

After two nights in the village of Sary-Tag, we travelled to Panjakent. It is possible to arrange a taxi directly to Pan

2023/07/26 22:30

Dushanbe to Iskanderkul Lake and Sary-Tag Village: Shared Taxi + Hitchhiking

After two nights in Dushanbe, our journey continued north-west to Lake Iskanderkul.Our original plan was to spend two ni

2023/07/26 22:27

14 Sightseeing Spots in Dushanbe: Kitsch Soviet Architecture

We spent two nights in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, walking the streets and sightseeing.The city of Dushanbe has

2023/07/26 22:21

Denau to Dushanbe Border Crossing: from Uzbekistan to Tajikistan

After a night at our friends in Denau, we crossed the border into Tajikistan to Dushanbe.The border crossing points we u

2023/07/22 22:59

Shared Taxi Journey from Termez to Denau

After two nights in Termez, we travelled to Denau, a town about 145 km away.Buses seem to run from Termez to Denau, but

2023/07/22 22:52

What to see and do in Termez

Termez borders Afghanistan. Stone Age sites have been excavated in the area, making it a fascinating city for those inte

2023/07/22 22:50

Shared Taxi Journey from Qarshi to Termez

After one night in Qarshi, we headed to Termez. We took a shared taxi to Termez.This is about we shared a shared taxi fr

2023/07/20 10:55

Highlights of a half-day tour of Qarshi (Karshi).

We spent one night in Qarshi (Karshi) to do some sightseeing and break up the journey to Termez. The city of Qarshi is r

2023/07/20 10:53

Shared Taxi Journey from Bukhara to Qarshi

After three nights in Bukhara, we headed to Qarshi. This is a stopover on the way to Termez.Here is the story about our

2023/07/18 13:10

17 Tourist Attractions which We Visited in Bukhara

Bukhara is a former Silk Road oasis city. It is a large city with a current population of approximately 230,000, but mos

2023/07/18 10:23

Khiva to Bukhara Train Journey in 2nd Class Sleeper with Uzbekistan Railway

After three nights in Khiva, we headed to Bukhara, a city in the Bukhara Region. The journey from Khiva to Bukhara was m

2023/07/15 19:23

Khiva World Heritage Old Town: Sightseeing and Attractions

Khiva is an historic city whose foundations were laid in the 1st century AD. Its old town, Ichan Kala, was inscribed as

2023/07/15 19:06

What to do in Nukus? Sightseeing and Activities

Nukus is a small town in western Uzbekistan, from which several tourist attractions can be accessed. There are not many

2023/07/14 13:31

Nukus to Khiva and Karakalpakstan Fortresses Tour: One Day Trip Visiting 6 Ancient Castles

After two nights in Nukus, we organised a tour to Khiva, a World Heritage-listed historical city, visiting six fortress

2023/07/14 13:12

Ship Cemetery in Muynak (Moynaq): A Day Trip from Nukus

We took a day trip from Nukus to Muynak (Moynaq).Muynak was once a fishing town on the Aral Sea coast. The Aral Sea used

2023/07/14 12:43

Tashkent to Nukus on a First Class Sleeper Train – Uzbekistan Railways

Nukus is a small town in western Uzbekistan. After two nights in Tashkent, we travelled to Nukus by train.Uzbekistan Rai

2023/07/12 21:44

Tashkent Metro Tour: Museum worthy Station Designs for Only 14 Cents!

Tashkent has a metro system, which is an important means of transport for its citizens.But it would be a shame to use th

2023/07/11 12:07

What to Do in Tashkent? Sightseeing and Tourist Activities

Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, has a population of approximately 2 million.We entered Tashkent from Kuala Lumpur a

2023/07/09 11:55

We Flew with Uzbekistan Airways! Immigration in Tashkent, Currency Exchange and Buying SIM Cards at the Airport

We flew from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Tashkent, Uzbekistan. This is the first time we have flown Uzbekistan Airways. My

2023/07/09 11:46

Kuala Lumpur One-Day City Sightseeing

We stayed in Kuala Lumpur for five nights. Initially, we were not going to stay that long, but we had friends who live i

2023/07/08 21:35

Half-day tour of Kuala Lumpur: visit to the Botanical Gardens

We are here in Kuala Lumpur. We've been to Kuala Lumpur many times before and we've been around the sights, bu

2023/07/04 09:39

Kota Kinabalu to Kuala Lumpur: Do We Need to Go Through Immigration?

After two nights in Kota Kinabalu, we flew to Kuala Lumpur.As the journey was within Malaysia, we thought it would be si

2023/07/01 15:23

Free tourist attractions in Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu is on the Malaysian island of Borneo. Our visit to Kota Kinabalu was more for transit and sightseeing was

2023/06/30 15:09

We Took a VIP Bus from Semporna to Kota Kinabalu

After two nights in Semporna, we decided to travel all the way to Kota Kinabalu.Flights are available from Semporna to K

2023/06/29 19:11

We Joined a Snorkelling Tour from Semporna and a guest ‘lost’ their money on the boat!

We joined a day trip snorkelling boat tour from Semporna.There are many companies offering diving and snorkelling tours

2023/06/29 09:19

Getting to Semporna from Tawau by Bus: the Cheapest way

From Nunukan, Indonesia, we crossed the border by boat to Tawau, Malaysia. From here, head towards Sipadan, another worl

2023/06/28 09:39

Nunukan to Tawau, Border Crossing by International Boat from Indonesia to Malaysia

International boats cross the border from Nunukan, Indonesia to Tawau, Malaysia. It's an interesting way to cross t

2023/06/28 09:37

from Tarakan to Nunukan: We Took another overloaded Speedboat

Wanting to cross the border from Tarakan to Malaysia, we took a speedboat to Nunukan, the border city on the Indonesian

2023/06/27 07:48