The scenic village of Senaru is one of the gateways to climb the mighty, Mt. Rinjani – Lombok’s tallest volcano peak. After a relaxing stay on the Gili Islands, Jimmy decided it was time for something a little more energetic and to do some trekking.
Around 22 miles (35km) east of Bali lie three small islands that make up the Gilis. Fringed with white sand beaches, surrounded by clear blue waters and beautiful sunsets with two distinct volcanoes in the horizon – there is something for everyone in the Gilis, each island offering its own charm and appeal.
A once thriving trading port in South East Asia between the 15th and 19th centuries, with a mixture of well preserved European, Japanese, Chinese and Vietnamese architecture – Hoi An has a unique heritage and an atmospheric splendour that draws many visitors. It’s gentle river setting combined with its narrow streets in the Ancient Town are lined with small shops, tailors, boutique style hotels, cafes and resturants. It is a place best to be savoured and not rushed, we spent a good ten days here (the longest time we have stayed in one place in Vietnam).
A decade ago, Phong Nha was a sleepy riverside village and easily dismissed off most travellers’ itinerary. Beneath the surrounding mountains and the dense green jungle lies some of the world’s largest caves; discovered in 2009, Hang Son Doong is currently the biggest cave system ever found. It is believed there still many more caves yet to be explored, an uncharted underworld waiting for the next speleologist to unearth. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (where these natural wonders sit) is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the village town is changing fast to accommodate the increase of visitors.
Known as the “Halong Bay on land”, Ninh Binh features impressive limestone karsts combined with picturesque rice paddies and villages that can be easily reached by bicycle or motorcycle. Located 60 miles south of Hanoi, the sleepy mountain backdrop was used to film a number of films including the recent King Kong movie (which drew my attention to come here).
The largest island in the Halong region, Cat Ba was our next stop after spending a couple days exploring the impressive bays. Half of the island is protected National Park, providing hiking opportunities and a stunning karst coastline to the south. It was a strategic military outpost during the Vietnam War, with many of it’s wartime relics still intact and interesting to see. The lively Cat Ba Town is the main tourist centre, lined with hotels and resturants along the busy sea front promenade.
