Roverista (2024)

09/03/2022

Sarawak, located on an island Borneo is by far the largest state in Malaysia and it packs in a host of national parks which showcase everything from coastal swamp forest to vast cave systems, and help preserve some of the world’s richest and most diverse ecosystems. 🌺🌼

Kuching and Miri are two of the most popular cities for tourists. You could stay there for a few weeks just soaking up the diverse atmosphere and enjoying the old colonial charm.

While exploring the city look out for shuttle vans with a yellow roof. These are shared taxi vans with their destinations written on the side of the vehicle.

06/03/2022

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is a 400-hectare heritage site located in Bagac, Bataan. It features over 20 heritage houses from the Spanish Colonial Period, including restored originals and replicas. 🏘️

However, be prepared to do a lot of walking while visiting Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar. While all the houses are still within walking distance of each other, there are also trams that guests can use to get around easily. Basically, it’s easy to spend a whole morning or afternoon just exploring the entirety of the resort. Wear comfortable, easy-to-remove footwear. During guided tours, you’ll be asked to enter houses barefooted.

05/03/2022

Seoraksan is South Korea's most picturesque national park. It is home to over 2,000 animal species, not to mention some epic panoramas. There are verdant pine forests, jagged mountain peaks, and crystal clear bodies of water you can pause to rest at. 😌

Seoraksan is especially beautiful during Spring and Autumn. Checking out the cherry blossoms and autumn foliage at Seoraksan should definitely be on the top of your to-do list. 🌸

03/03/2022

Jerash, Jordan is known for the impeccably maintained Greco-Roman ruins situated outside of the city. Among the ruins, there are the columns of the Temple of Artemis and the Hadrian’s Arch. Jerash offers an exciting look into the past and history of the region. 🇯🇴

Beyond the city's urban history, Jerash is known for the region's fertile soil. When you head out of town, take advantage of the bountiful fresh produce stands you'll see along every road, making sure to sample the region's famously delicious plums, figs, and olives. 🤤

02/03/2022

Galle Fort is a small town two hour drive from Colombo, Sri Lanka. 🇱🇰 Because of its extraordinary history, the fort has enormous cultural and architectural value. As such, it’s recognized as a UNESCO heritage site to preserve the area’s beauty.

You can only enter Galle Fort from the main gate side, and it takes about two hours to walk around the whole fort. To avoid busy streets, make sure to visit Galle Fort in the morning. 🌅 However, don’t miss out on sunset as this is one of the most beautiful times of the day!

27/02/2022

Udaipur in Rajasthan, India, is popularly known as the City of Lakes. It has many beautiful palaces, forts, museums, gardens, and places of sightseeing. Lake Pichola and Lake Palace are the most popular attractions in the city. 🇮🇳

Keep in mind that most of the restaurants and places of sightseeing only accept cash and only very few places accept credit cards. So come equipped with sufficient cash! 💵

26/02/2022

The Kumano Kodo is a diverse mountain route with a mixture of unpaved, uneven trails, ancient cobblestones and stairs, and paved roads through villages. There are many steep climbs and ascents. The route is not technically difficult, but it is physically challenging. 😰

The amount of preparation needed depends on which sections you walk, the season you visit, and your personal level of experience and fitness. So choose the route that fits your ability wisely! 🥾❕

24/02/2022

Koh Lipe, Thailand, is the perfect island if you’re looking for a quiet, laid-back alternative to some of Thailand’s more popular island destinations. This walkable Andaman Sea islet might just be your ticket to paradise with shallow waters and white sand making it ideal for laid back vacations. 🌊🐚

Keep in mind that the longer your stay, the deeper the discounts you can get! When booking online there are often special discounts when staying longer like 3 or 5 nights. 😴

22/02/2022

Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet, is known for its architecture, particularly the Potala Palace, which was the residence of the Dalai Lama until 1959. It’s also one of the highest cities on earth, with an altitude of 3,656 meters. 😍

Traveling to Tibet is still quite limited. Keep in mind that all non-China-passport holders need a Tibet Entry Permit to visit Tibet, and the only way to enter Tibet is to travel in groups.

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20/02/2022

Jalan Alor is the food mecca of Kuala Lumpur that is lined with seafood restaurants and hawker stalls. 🍲🇲🇾 It is the favorite spot of food lovers, cultural enthusiasts and the locals. This is also touted as one of the busiest food streets in the entire world where you can sample out a vast range of delicacies at the best price. 🤤

Don’t worry If you don’t know the local language of the city! Most of the restaurants have an English menu, or they display an image of the food for the convenience of visitors.

19/02/2022

Nuwara Eliya, also known as ‘Little England’ is nestled in the hill country of Sri Lanka. With its own colonial charm and tea fields all around Nuwara Eliya will make you feel as if you have stepped into a completely different world. 🫖🌿

To get around Nuwara Eliya, you can take a tuk. However, the typical chilly weather isn’t really tiring, therefore, walking around is highly recommended. 😌

17/02/2022

The Gobi desert is a vast region of desolate land covering from northern China to southern Mongolia. 🏜️ Due to its vastness, traveling around the area and seeing all the cool attractions can be quite challenging. It is almost impossible to see the land without going with a tour.

If you would like to experience this wild place, come prepared! Pack toilet paper, wet wipes, head lamps and power banks as you will probably be staying in a ger with the nomad families everyday in the middle of nowhere. 🌌

15/02/2022

Petra, the rose colored city in Jordan, is one of the world's most known attractions. 🇯🇴 The intricate facades cut into the stone as early as 300 BC are fascinating and catapult you back to the days of the Nabataeans. 🤩 Petra is a huge compound. But it’s most famous part is obviously the so-called “Treasury”.

If you want to experience Petra and The Treasury in solitude you’ll have to be one of the first to enter in the morning. Petra usually opens at 6 am and it’s worth getting up early for it!

13/02/2022

One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal is the jewel of India. Built by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz, it is an iconic symbol of love and an instantly recognizable architectural design. ✨

When visiting India, Taj Mahal will definitely be on your itinerary. However, keep in mind that the Taj is closed on Fridays, so do not make any plan for this day. 🧘

12/02/2022

Tokyo Tower is a symbol of Japan's post-war rebirth as a major economic power. 🗼 In addition to being a popular tourist spot, Tokyo Tower serves as a broadcast antenna.

Visit Tokyo Tower on a clear day as you might be able to see Mt. Fuji in the distance! 🗻

10/02/2022

Dragon Bridge in Da Nang is the longest bridge in Vietnam, offering a dazzling display of lights, fire, and water. 🐉 If you want to see the most beautiful Dragon Bridge, you should come here at night. When it gets dark, the bridge is brightened by 2500 smart LED lights that change colors constantly.

On weekends and during festivals around 9 p.m. the bridge closes for traffic because of the Fire and Water Performance.🔥💦 Make sure not to miss it!

08/02/2022

Traveling Oman gives a rare chance to experience the Arab kingdom without the distorting lens of excessive wealth and modernization. In the face of modernity, Oman’s sleepy fishing towns, spectacular mountains and wind-blown deserts remain at the heart of the Omani spirit. 🇴🇲

If you don’t drive, it can be difficult to travel around Oman due to the lack of public transportation. 🚌 ❌ Buses go to the main cities but not to the wadi, deserts or mountains. Consider booking a multi-day tour of Oman instead.

06/02/2022

Grand Mosque or Sheik Zayed Mosque, is one of the most jaw-dropping architectural places in the Islamic style. 🤩 The beauty of the white marble, the gleaming gold filigree, and colorful precious stones carved into flowers seems like something out of a dream. 🕌

As this is an Islamic mosque, women are required to cover their head, arms, wrists, ankles, and legs. If the attire you’re wearing doesn’t fit these standards you will be given a full abaya (dress) by the mosque. 🙏🏻

05/02/2022

Koh Tao is a small island located in the gulf of Thailand, 70 km East from the mainland. Over the last decade or so, this tiny jewel has become more and more popular, especially among divers. 😍

As the water is pretty still in Koh Tao, a fun activity to do around sunset is SUP (stand up paddleboard). 🌅 It’s a great way to enjoy the views and appreciate the turquoise waters all around you. You can rent your SUP in many shops around Sairee Beach.

03/02/2022

Nara, Japan’s first permanent capital, located near Kyoto and Osaka, is a city with a perfect blend of modernity and tradition. 🗾 The abundance of temples and shrines in Nara is indicative of the city’s position as one of the key spiritual centers of Japan.

Nara is also a proud home of over 1,200 freely roaming sacred deer. 🦌 If you want to feed them, you can purchase some deer crackers, but beware! Although they are not aggressive, the deer can get quite pushy when they see you with their treats.❗

01/02/2022

Jaipur, India, is affectionately referred to as the Pink City because of the pinkish color of its Old City. The city is full of fascinating royal heritage and well-preserved buildings. 🇮🇳

The constant summer heat is very draining, so it's important to take measures to avoid getting dehydrated if you visit during the hottest months. 🥵🌡️ Make sure you drink plenty of water and avoid staying out in the direct sun for too long!

30/01/2022

Taejongdae Park is a recreation area in Busan, North Korea known for its beautiful rock beach, historic lighthouses, sacred temples and the South Port Viewing Point. 😍 Make sure to dress in layers as it can get colder, wetter and windier the further up you go!

29/01/2022

Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital, has a number of sights to see, and it is also a great place to simply settle in and get a sense of what local life is like. 🇱🇰

With jazz clubs, rooftop bars, boutique stores and internationally acclaimed restaurants you will for sure enjoy your stay there. 😌

Take your time while in Colombo. Traveling from one destination to another can take hours and hours as the roads can be extremely busy, especially along the coastal belts. Keep that in mind when planning your itinerary.

27/01/2022

Most visitors to Pokhara stop here before starting or after finishing the "Round Annapurna" trekking route. Because of its popularity with travelers, the city itself has relatively modern hotels and restaurants, but you’ll also find pristine nature and majestic views of the Himalayan Mountains. 🏔️

However, keep in mind that electricity isn’t stable there. 🔌⚡That means lights will flicker and your internet access will slow down. Sometimes the lights go off all together for a few minutes in your hotel, but it’s nothing to worry about. And it doesn’t last more than a few minutes at a time.

25/01/2022

Goa is the smallest state of India. It is a perfect travel destination as it has a bit of everything! From architectural landmarks, sun-kissed beaches, water sports, bustling flea markets, lively nightlife, delicious food and laid back vibe.

While relaxing on beautiful beaches stay cautious! Some of the beaches in Goa (mainly, North Goa) have strong rip currents, especially during monsoons. 🌊 Such beaches are marked with red flags, which mean that swimming in these can be dangerous, as the high tide can sweep you out to sea. 🚩

23/01/2022

Marble Mountains is a group of five limestone peaks located near Da Nang, Vietnam. The five karsts are named after the five elements: Kim (metal), Thuỷ (water), Mộc (wood), Hoả (fire) and Thổ (earth).

We recommend you take your tour of Marble Mountains in the morning at 7 am, when the air is cool for climbing and you can have the paths and pagodas all to yourself. 🌄 🎒

22/01/2022

Tian Tan Buddha is situated on a mountainous area of Lantau Island, Hong Kong. 🇭🇰 Po Lin Monastery was initially a small temple constructed in 1924, but over the years, more structures including the big temple and the world's largest Big Buddha were built there. Nowadays it has become one of the top must-go destinations for visitors to Hong Kong.

The Tian Tan Buddha statue measures 34 meters in height and is the world's largest bronze Buddha statue. There is a stairway that you have to climb with about 260 steps up to the top of the hill. After the hike we recommend you to take a break and try the monastery’s delicious vegetarian food! 🌿 Don’t miss trying this cheap and humble food.

20/01/2022

Binhai Library located in Tianjin, China is a unique library like no other. 🤯 Its vast atrium space features floor-to-ceiling bookcases and the all white design gives you an otherworldly experience. 📖

Keep in mind that the dress code to enter the library is quite strict so prepare accordingly!

18/01/2022

Lazarus Island is nestled south of mainland Singapore. Also known as Pulau Sakijang Pelepah, Lazarus Island will surprise you with its breathtakingly beautiful surroundings, the sandy beach and an ideal spot to soak in the rays and have a picnic. 🧺 🌴

Lazarus Island is connected to the nearby St Johns Island by a concrete walkway. However, keep in mind that the only way to reach St John's Island from the mainland is by ferry. So do not lose track of time! ⏱️ If you miss the last ferry, you will be stranded on the island.

16/01/2022

Bagan is a collection of 2000 Buddhist pagodas, stupas and temples scattered across a flat area near the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar. Some advise to visit a pagoda or temple every sunrise and sunset while in Bagan. 🌅 🤩

While visiting all these temples you will have to take off your footwear, including socks. So wear sandals or something that can be easily taken off and put back on later.

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