Before this trip, I've been contemplating if I should go for this short photography trip to Batam. It turns out to be one fruitful trip where I get to put my photography skills into practice and learn from the experts through Canon Photo Fiesta. We stayed one night at Batam View Beach Resort and visited a local kampong to shoot. Here are some of the programme highlights of this trip! 1. Photo Competition During this trip, we were taken to a mystery location to shoot. Our photo theme was 'creative', and we were given about two hours to READ MORE »
Kampung Terih (Batam, Indonesia): An Eco-village
A Photostory Our mystery photo spot was at a Kampong village called Kampong Terih. This village is developing into a tourist attraction for tourists visiting Batam to have a glimpse of what Kampong life is all about. We are tasked to take creative shots for this photo competition. It is a simple village by the sea with several stalls selling food and drinks. There are some nicely decorated photo spots within the kampong too. Just Me and My Camera To me, it was challenging as I often take photos to document my story and experiences. At the READ MORE »
Canon Photo Fiesta’18: Batam View Beach Resort (Review)
"Selamat Datang!" The friendly staff at Batam View Beach Resort greeted us with a welcome dance. They also served us ice teas the moment we arrived at the resort. I was there for Canon Photo Fiesta'18 event in Batam which was organised by Topliners Club in collaboration with Canon Imaging Academy, Wonderful Indonesia and Julian W.Photography and Batam View Beach Resort. It was an intensive 2 Day 1 Night Photography trip where we got to attend photography workshops and take part in a photo competition to win prizes. It was my first READ MORE »
Tirtha Bridal: A Nature-Inspired Wedding Resort in Bali
There must be a reason why there's a growing trend of couples heading over to Bali to exchange wedding rings and vows. Even celebrities across the world are joining the bandwagon to get wedded in this little paradise at the southern tip of Bali overlooking the Indian ocean. I get the gist of this phenomenon as I often visit Bali for vacation, but I haven't been to a wedding resort in Bali until during my recent trip. I had the amazing opportunity to visit the wedding resort grounds by Tirtha Bridal. Before this visit, I've seen beautiful READ MORE »
Mercure Bali Sanur Resort: A Lush Tropical Garden Resort
It was my first time exploring Sanur. This sunrise beach at the Southern part of Bali has its unique charm. I got to experience what Sanur has to offer during my stay at Mercure Bali Sanur. It is beautiful and lush tropical resort by Sanur beach, and it spans across 5 hectares. As a guest, you will be staying in rooms housed in traditional Balinese cottages. And if you're a Le Club AccorHotels member, you'll be in for a treat here at Mercure Bali Sanur as they have recently relaunched their MyResorts program which is exclusive to READ MORE »
5 Places to Eat in Bali
My recent trip to Bali has been a fruitful one as I get to cover most of the places which I had wanted to visit. During these five days in Bali, we have been using TripAdvisor as our food guide to lead us to the best cafes and restaurants in Bali. The list of recommended place always changes from time to time, so it kept me updated on what's the newest and most popular restaurant in town. I would also read the comments left by the TripAdvisor contributors to find out what to order. It is all about being resourceful! Here are the restaurants and READ MORE »
A Visit to Sanggar Bedugul Education Centre by AccorHotels
Bali holds an exceptional place in my heart because I did my first solo travel to Bali years ago. The sights and sounds in Bali intrigued me and very soon, I found myself loving this place so much that I would visit this place time and time again. It's one of those places where I felt genuinely welcomed and safe to visit. The Balinese are the most down-to-earth people who respect not only their gods but also the environment. If I were given a choice to build a second home, I would choose Bali. And I was hoping that one day I could help serve READ MORE »
ibis Styles Bali Petitenget : Your Modern-day Hotel in Bali
Bali has been kind to us. It's my fifth time here in Bali, and I still enjoy every single moment of my time spent here. This trip is somewhat unique and meaningful as we get to visit one of AccorHotel's education centre in Bedugul. I will save all the juicy stories for my next blog post. As of now, let me take you on tour around one of the swankiest hotels in Kuta - Ibis Styles Bali Petitenget. It launched in February 2016. It might not be your dream Balinese-style resort or villa, but this hotel still encapsulates the essence of Balinese READ MORE »
Mutiara Beach Resort : An Eco-friendly Getaway to Bintan
I've always been on the lookout for hotels and resorts follow eco-friendly and sustainable practices. There are several luxurious resorts that support ecotourism and sustainability but many of them aren't full-fledged eco-resorts that adopt a minimalistic approach to minimize waste and lower carbon footprint. Would any hotel guests, like yourself, be willing to exchange comfort for a zero-waste and eco-friendly travel experience just to protect our environment? I guess that's a huge hurdle which stops most leading hotels and READ MORE »
Moksa Ubud: Plant-based Cafe in Ubud, Bali
"Why Moksa?" " In Hinduism, it means liberation." It all stems from the concept of freedom that has propelled the creators of this restaurant, Made Janur Yasa and Chef Made Runatha, to idealize their hopes and vision. No more fears or destruction imposed on our environment when food is served on our plate. No lives are killed and no other sacrifices are made due to our eating habits. There's a way of eating sustainably and consciously which at the same time, protects our environment and keeps the earth rotating. Both creators have found READ MORE »