Keep Calm And Wander - Page 3 of 33

Labuan Bajo’s Rangko Cave – Keep Calm and Wander

June 6, 2022 by J. Scott Coatsworth

Rangko Cave in Labuan Bajo was the first place I went to as soon as I settled myself in a hostel. I arrived at Labuan Bajo a day before the 3-day tour and I had the whole afternoon free with no agenda. A fellow hosteller told me to explore Rangko Cave and she was raving about it. She showed me photos of the cave and I was wowed! So, without thinking twice, I hopped on a gojek (Indonesia’s Uber) motorbike.

Directions to Rangko Cave

Going there is pretty easy – that is – if you drive a motorbike. If you don’t, like me, here’s what you are going to do: Take a gojek that brings you to Rangko village. The trip should be around 45 minutes. Remember that this is a very small village and it’s very rare to get a gojek so it is wise to ask your driver to wait for you. Negotiate for a reasonable price.

From Rangko Village, there are outrigger boats that you can rent. As a solo traveler, I rented it for 250k rupiah ($20) for the whole trip. The “captain” also became my photographer. From the shore to the cave, the boat ride took us 15 minutes. When we arrived, we were the only people there + the ticket master. The water was very clear but the shore where we disembarked was full of plastics. Tourists pay 50k rupiah to enter but no one really cares about cleaning the site. It’s heartbreaking to see those floating plastic bottles and boxes.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Indonesia Gay Travel Resources

Incredible Hikes to Take Your Breath Away – Keep Calm and Wander

May 30, 2022 by J. Scott Coatsworth

These 6 incredible hikes will take your breath away. It did to me and I could still remember how these hikes changed me as a traveler. I was never a fan of hiking, especially when the scorching sun is unforgivable. But I learned to adapt to harsh weather conditions and make sure I wear appropriate clothes.

Nature is therapeutic. In fact, in Canada, doctors can now prescribe trips to National Parks to enjoy nature. And what better way to enjoy nature than go on a hike? It doesn’t matter how long or how physically-demanding it is. A walk in the woods or enjoying silence by the lake is a break from the topsy-turvy world out there. Of course, for the adventurous and physically-fit souls, the mountains, the cliffs, the deep oceans, and other natural wonders are waiting.

Let me show you these 6 amazing hikes that really blew me away.

Incredible Hikes #1 – Great Wall of China

While I was living in Beijing for 5 years, I had opportunities to climb and hike the Great Wall of China so many times. I even attended the first ever electronic dance rave held at the Jinshanling part of the Great Wall. It was chaos but fun

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

China Gay Travel Resources

Bali Waterfalls – Keep Calm and Wander

May 13, 2022 by J. Scott Coatsworth

These 11 Bali waterfalls will add to the excitement when visiting the famed Island of the Gods. Whether they’re big or small, these waterfalls can surely delight your adventurous spirit. All of these waterfalls involve a bit of hiking, some are a bit exhausting and others are easy peasy. But once you see/hear the raging or calming sound of these waterfalls in a middle of a lush jungle, all worries are gone. Not to mention the sounds of birds, insects, and other living creatures that harmonize with the cascading water.

Bali Waterfalls – Sekumpul

I have no doubt this is Bali’s most beautiful waterfall. Sekumpul Waterfall is way up north of the island right in the middle of a jungle. I was speechless the first time I saw it. It was just beautiful from afar and much more stunning when I was at its base.

The hike down was easy but you’ve got to be wearing shoes to make it easy to wade in the water and to protect your feet from sharp objects/rocks. Going back up can be challenging as it would test your physical limits.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Bali Gay Travel Resources

Indonesia’s Padar Island – Keep Calm and Wander

April 12, 2022 by J. Scott Coatsworth

Padar Island is one of the more than 17,000 islands in Indonesia. I’d say that it’s one of those views that you have to see, to believe it! Describing it as incredible is somewhat short of an adjective to fully express the feeling the first time I saw it. Man, it’s so hard to put them into words. Standing from above the island, it felt like you were on another planet – away from the vicious cycles of humankind.

Padar Island Morning Hike

As soon as our small outrigger boat dropped us onshore, we started our hike to the top. Despite the pleading of our guide to be together as a group, I went ahead because I didn’t want to miss the sunrise. It was still dark but the horizon was beginning to show glowing embers of the sun ready to rise. As I hiked alone, I understood why the guide wanted us to be together – the path, though easy to follow, can be dangerous to tread if you’ve never been on that before. There were areas where the rocks were sharp and one false move will bring the hiker rolling down to the deep ravine. I used my cellphone flashlight to keep me on track and out of danger.

The hike was of average difficulty. The pathways were clear but when you’re almost at the top, you have to watch out for the sharp rocks and make sure you’re on the right path. There were other small paths that were confusing, perhaps, made by a few hikers who can’t wait to be on the summit.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Indonesia Gay Travel Resources

Gay Malaka, Malaysia – Keep Calm and Wander

December 22, 2021 by J. Scott Coatsworth

I did a self-guided Malaka Walking Tour as soon as I arrived in the UNESCO-World Cultural Heritage city. I had a whole day to spare, so I decided to do it on my own. The blistering sun didn’t really dissuade me from walking. Having a hat and bottled water were enough for me. But, if you can afford, experience being “chauffeured” around with one of the colorful rickshaws. It would be a fun thing to do in gay Malaka.

Where to start? Well, I began at the heart of the postcard-perfect old town. I know that’s where the crowd goes, but you can’t avoid tourists wherever you go. Besides, it’s always good to start a walking tour at the heart of history, right?

The order of these places are based on how I discovered them. You can exactly follow the route in order to save time. You’re welcome.

Gay Malaka – Stadthuys

In Dutch, this building means “City Hall” and it’s been standing there since 1650. There’s a museum inside if you are into that sort of thing. One of the first things you’ll notice is its red structure – and so are the rest of the other old buildings around. Thus, they also call it “Red Square.”

Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Melaka Walking Tour – Keep Calm and Wander

October 27, 2021 by J. Scott Coatsworth

Malaka Walking Tour - Keep Calm and Wander

I did a self-guided Melaka Walking Tour as soon as I arrived in the UNESCO-World Cultural Heritage city. I had a whole day to spare, so I decided to do it on my own. The blistering sun didn’t really dissuade me from walking. Having a hat and bottled water were enough for me. But, if you can afford, experience being “chauffeured” around with one of the colorful rickshaws. It would be a fun thing to do in Melaka.

Take a Melaka Walking Tour

The order of these places are based on how I discovered them. You can exactly follow the route in order to save time. You’re welcome.

Stadythus: In Dutch, this building means “City Hall” and it’s been standing there since 1650. There’s a museum inside if you are into that sort of thing. One of the first things you’ll notice is its red structure – and so are the rest of the other old buildings around. Thus, they also call it “Red Square.”

Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Mexico City’s Palacio de Bella Artes – Keep Calm and Wander

August 27, 2021 by J. Scott Coatsworth

Inside Palacio de Bella Artes, you will find the grandest arts in Mexico City, or perhaps, the whole country. Its lavishly-ornamented facade combines Neo-classical and Art Noveau.

Murals and paintings that were created by Mexico’s finest artists like Jose Clemente Orozco, Diego Rivera, and more are the most visible here.

From the outside, you’ll never find a building as beautiful as this all over Mexico. Its iconic colored dome has graced thousands of tourism promotion brochures, books, and travel blogs.

You can’t just look at it from outside and admire its marbled facade. You’ve got to go inside and discover the beauty that’s hiding there!

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Mexico City Gay Travel Resources

Prague’s St. Vitus Cathedral – Keep Calm and Wander

August 6, 2021 by J. Scott Coatsworth

St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague looked so familiar to me the first time I laid my eyes on its massive Gothic structure. I was pretty sure I’d seen it somewhere but I had a hard time remembering it.

Standing and staring outside its facade, I really tried hard to remember where in the world I saw this cathedral before. Then it hit me – it looks like it’s the smaller version of the Cologne Cathedral in Germany. Both are impressive and great examples of Gothic architecture with historical importance.

This beautiful church is inside the complex of Prague Palace, the world’s largest palace complex. Inside, you won’t just find breathtaking arches, flying buttresses, and scary gargoyles but also tombs of royals and saints of Bohemia.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Pura Lempuyang Indonesian Temple – Keep Calm and Wander

August 3, 2021 by J. Scott Coatsworth

Pura Lempuyang (or Lempuyang Temple) is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Bali. It is also one of the oldest and holiest Hindu temples worth going to when traveling to this tropical island.

This sacred temple is two hours drive away from Canggu. The picturesque ride on your way up there is one to be enjoyed with such delight.

Visiting Lempuyang Temple during the pandemic has its good and bad side. There were only very few people (close to none) when we were there. On the other hand, not every temple was open.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Indonesia Gay Travel Resources

Indonesia’s Floating Temple – Keep Calm and Wander

July 27, 2021 by J. Scott Coatsworth

Indonesia’s Floating Temple

Pura Ulun Danu Beratan Temple in Bedugul, in the highlands of Bali, gains its monicker as Indonesia’s Floating Temple as it is on the edge of Lake Beratan. However, the structure is not literally floating on the lake. It depends on where you stand, the temple, at a far distance, looks like it is buoyed up.

On the day I visited it, the water was so low that it didn’t really look like I expected it to be. It was disappointing to me because I already knew how/where I want my photos taken. Backdropped with a gorgeous mountain, the complex reveals its beauty on a sunny day. As it is on the highlands, the weather changes from time to time.

I was lucky that on the day I visited it, the sun cooperated. But as soon as I was done, a thick cloud revealed, and rain came.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Indonesia Gay Travel Resources