Destinations

Destination news and reviews.

The image shows a series of intricately carved stone statues, likely of deities or mythological figures, arranged in a row. The statues are adorned with detailed patterns and ornaments, and they appear to be part of a temple or a historical site. The background includes stone steps and some greenery, with a metal railing visible on the right side. The statues have a weathered appearance, indicating their age and exposure to the elements.

The Bachelor in Bali

I shared earlier this year that watching The Bachelor is my guilty pleasure when I’m stuck in hotel rooms.  I still think that it’s an unrealistic show that mirrors the troubles of vacation romances (with the added intensity of a compressed timeframe, extra alcohol, and lots of bystander crew members.  But this season has been particularly…

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Mount Bromo & Probolinggo (or Jen Versus the Volcano)

I’m irrationally afraid of a few things.  Included on that list – horses, heights, and sudden geologic activity.  So when we were planning what to do in the port of Probolinggo on a recent Indonesian cruise, why not just throw all three of those into one activity?  The sleepy port of Probolinggo is a great…

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Exploring Jakarta with Tours By Locals

Our first port of call on Seabourn Odyssey was Jakarta. I’ve only briefly visited the city previously and had no time to tour so I’d only seen one of their high-end shopping malls. We researched the tours available through the ship and while all were appealing, each had elements of interest. In the end, my…

The image shows a close-up view of a stone Buddha statue at the Borobudur Temple in Indonesia. In the background, there are several large, bell-shaped stupas with intricate lattice designs. The sky appears overcast, adding a serene and contemplative atmosphere to the scene.
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Hotel Reviews – Manohara Resort Center of Buddhist Study

Sometimes it becomes necessary to go far from my typical hotel path. A unique visit to Borobudur was one of those occasions. Yogyakarta is the nearest city to the 8th century Buddhist temple site and over an hour away. One of the unique experiences for this UNESCO World Heritage site is to climb up pre-dawn…