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Dieng Plateau Day Trip from Yogyakarta
When people think of Indonesia, their imaginations usually take them straight to Bali and its abundance of ornate Hindu temples. But high up in Dieng Plateau of Central Java, a much more off-the-beaten path adventure awaits that can be equally rewarding. The name “Dieng” means Abode of the Gods and there are clusters of ancient temples—most dating back to the 8th and 9th centuries—that sit nestled in the area’s verdant hillsides. In the Dieng Plateau, the cultural and geographical riches rival those you’ll see in Bali. But there’s one major…
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Visiting the Temples of Borobudur and Prambanan
Though Indonesia is the most populous Muslim country on Earth, the archipelago nation has a deeply-rooted, multi-religious history. It is a place where minarets share space with Buddha-clad temples and richly-decorated Hindu shrines. Indonesia’s rich religious heritage is particularly apparent in the cultural capital of Yogyakarta (also known as Jogja), where the iconic temples of Borobudur and Prambanan rise from the bottle-green hills of central Java. THE YOGYAKARTA TEMPLES Bali may be the land of 1,000 temples, but Yogyakarta is arguably home to Indonesia’s most impressive religious monuments. Dozens…
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Top Singapore Attractions and Highlights
Organized, efficient and squeaky clean, Singapore is a small island nation that packs a lot of punch into its neat and tidy borders. In a country where littering, jaywalking and forgetting to flush the toilet can incur hefty fines, the sense of cleanliness and discipline is palpable. Yet, despite its order, Singapore is not sanitized or sterile. Instead, it is colorful and vibrant and culturally diverse. Singapore’s world-class attractions and architecture give the city a feeling of being both forward-thinking and modern, yet also deeply rooted in its multi-layered history. …
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One Day in Shanghai
This past March, I spent one day in Shanghai as part of a work trip that took me to China, Japan and Guam over the span of a week. Trips to Shanghai are difficult to come by for junior flight attendants like me, so I made sure to visit as many sites as possible during my short stay and take advantage of my mini work-sponsored vacation as best I could. With a population of over 23 million, Shanghai is the world’s seventh largest metropolis and one of Asia’s leading economic and financial hubs. Yet, despite its global prominence, Shanghai is a challenging destination to…
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How to Spend 24 Hours in Tokyo
With a population of nearly 40 million and over 6,000 residents packed into each square kilometer, Tokyo—the world’s largest city—is teeming with people. Crowds are everywhere in Tokyo—crossing the streets in hoards, packing udon houses to the brim and swarming in and out of metro stations at all hours of the day and night. And yet, though the city is nearly bursting at the seams, the metros are punctual, the streets are spotless and the city runs like a well-oiled machine. Even Tokyo’s residents seem to move about the city…
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Hong Kong’s Past and Present: A 24 Hour Layover Itinerary
When crew scheduling assigned me a 24 hour Hong Kong layover, I was ecstatic. Hong Kong is, with out a doubt, one of the world’s most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities. Its modern architecture rivals that of New York, while its culture is deeply rooted in Buddhist tradition. To add to its appeal, Hong Kong houses world-class restaurants, renowned tourist attractions and a vibrant mix of people from all corners of the globe. When I visited Hong Kong as part of a larger trip to China with my family in 2005,…
