nateniale's travels

The best trends, destinations, journeys and experiences for the upcoming year.  That was what the Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2011 was all about. Flipping through the pages brought out the wanderlust in me ( not that it wasn't already there before ). It inspires me to visit more places this year and put more places into my travel wish list . There are some places that I had been in the last few of years... Japan - Top 10 Countries Cappadocia, Turkey - Top 10 Regions New York City - Top 10 Cities and a couple of places that I am planning to go this year... Italy - Top 10 Countries Chiang Mai - Top 10 Cities and many more that I would love to go one day.  In the list of top 10 best things to do in 2011 was "write a postcard". In this day and age, writing with a pen on a postcard with stamp is fast becoming a lost art. I would like to do more of this, although the last time I sent postcards (from Turkey), only 2 out of the 6 postcards I sent out actuall...

{ Brooklyn Bridge, New York City in October 2008 } It has been a couple of years when I walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, but I could still remember it pretty well. The sun was shining brightly and the walk was uneventful, but the mere thought that I was in New York City walking on the Brooklyn Bridge raised my spirit. I couldn't help thinking that I was actually walking on a bridge that has been used for more than a hundred years in a city right across the globe from where I was from. Can't wait to be back in New York!  - nateniale - { Click here for a list of my travelogues }

Every dreamer knows that it is entirely possible to be homesick for a place you've never been to, perhaps more homesick than for familiar ground. - Judith Thurman { Photo is from Etsy }

"Another suburb in Singapore" - That is what they call Bintan Resorts which is a section in Bintan Island in Indonesia. That was one of the reason why I had been reluctant to go to Bintan after more than 5 years in Singapore, although it was just a 45-minute ferry ride away. When we suddenly found ourselves free one of the weekends in between many hectic weeks, we decided to plan a 3-day getaway in Bintan. (Well, it was mainly because all the flights to elsewhere were expensive at such short notice!) There are various resorts to choose from in Bintan, but we decided to go for Nirwana Gardens and spent three days of doing nothing! We walked around the beach, had long coffee breaks in between, and lie down by the swimming pool reading under the sun. There were flowers and greenery throughout the resort, and even a small area with various exotic animals. Apparently, the animals were confiscated by the custom. For those looking for more things to do, there are sea sports, e...

The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey Although being from a predominantly Muslim country, I had never stepped inside a mosque. The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey was the first time I had ever been in one. I did not know what to expect, but seeing that there were so many tourists queuing up in the rain, I expected it to be just another tourist spot. Once I stepped in, I could see the huge space inside the mosque. Visitors are only allowed to be in one small section as the remaining area are for prayers. The second thing I noted was the amazing carpet. As we had to take off our shoes, I could feel the softness of the carpet under my feet. After walking around for a moment, we decided to sit down on the amazing carpet and absorb everything in. Be it a Buddhist temple, a Christian church or a Muslim mosque, I love the energy and the warmness that are accumulated from all the prayers. And I love how, after more than 400 years, the Blue Mosque is still being used on a daily bas...

Penang's Traditional Joss Stick Maker Next to the oldest temple in Penang, the Goddess of Mercy (or Kuan Yin) Temple, resides Mr Lee, a traditional joss stick maker. He makes joss sticks by hand, which is a disappearing craft as most joss sticks are now machine-made. Penang's status as a UNESCO's World Heritage Site would not mean as much without people like him and that's what I love about my hometown. No matter how long I have been away, there are things that still remained the same after all these years. missing home, - nateniale - { Click here for other posts on Penang and a list of my travelogues }

{  Vientiane,  Laos - August 2010 } If you read my post on my exciting and adventurous journey to and from Vientiane , you would come to the conclusion that Vientiane is unexciting and unadventurous. And, you would be right. I read this quote somewhere that says, “The Vietnamese plant the rice, the Cambodians watch it grow and the Lao listen to it grow". Having been to all three countries, I would agree with the analogy. Well, maybe I do not have the full picture of Laos since I was only in the capital Vientiane, but it was a holiday in a city that we soon realised, we did not have enough activities to fill the three and a half days that we were there. And so, we took it slow, covering a few places each day, taking our time during meals and having lots of coffee breaks in between. Here are some of the places we went in Vientiane. Patuxai At the northeasatern end of the LaneXang Ave. arises a huge structure resembling the Arc de Triomphe. It is the Patux...

"... they are human beings seen in their agony. This is not art, it is not imitation; these are their bones, the remains of their flesh and their clothes mixed with plaster, it is the sadness of death that characterises body and form. I see their wretchedness. I hear their cries as they call to their mothers, and I see them fall and writhe..." Luigi Settembrini (1813-76) The haunting words described the emotions and struggles of the Pompeiians that had been frozen in time since 24 August 79 AD when Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried the city of Pompeii. The plaster casts of the victims of the volcanic eruption evoke a sense of helplessness, and it seemed appropriate that we shared some thoughts for the victims that died almost 2,000 years ago - for the volcanic eruption that buried their city, their homes and themselves provided a snapshot of Roman life in the first century. The National Museum of Singapore presents a special exhibition, Pompeii: Life In ...

  A new year is always a time when one reflects and considers what has been achieved the year before and what one aims to achieve the next year. I did a reflection of my year in travel and the places I wish to go this year . So, here's another challenge for myself this year: to increase the number of readers to my blog! It started off about one and a half year ago as a place for me to jot down my thoughts, especially on my travels. I have started countless journals over the years, and was never organised or disciplined enough to continue. I figured, if I put everything on a website, I would have all of them in the same place. One and a half years and 85 posts later, I wished to put my blog "out there" (so to speak) for all to read and see. With just one problem - I have no idea where to start! Well, I did manage to get into Lonely Planet 's Featured Blogger program, so that's a start. So, when I read about this 1000-1000 Blog Challenge , I decided to put mys...

   2010: In Reflection The list of the places I went in 2010 is, unfortunately, quite short. Due to work, I was unable to travel as much as I want this year. Most of them were also short weekend trips around Singapore, and all were in and around Asia.  Phuket , Thailand  Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Kyoto and Himeji in Japan Shanghai , China Vientiane, Laos East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia Bintan , Indonesia The highlight of my travel in 2010 would be Japan - the country that I have heard so much of, and finally had a chance to see. Simply love all the contradictions and juxtapositions in the country . There had also been lots of beach holidays , which is weird for someone who doesn't like water! Well, goes to show that I needed lots of breaks where I can relax in 2010. 2011: In Anticipation Promised myself a year full of travels for 2011! Here are some holidays that I am planning and (finger-crossed) that I am going... Italy - For at least two week...