We've finally dragged ourselves away from chilling on one of our favourite Thai islands (yes, there is a limit- even for us!), and after seven weeks, have made the break gently back into "real" life. It's actually really nice to be out of the bubble of holiday bliss and into Thai society again.
Since a similar summary of the last two month's swimming, sunning, reading, eating, and socializing can pretty much been seen on this previous blog entry, I've instead decided it's time to publish our thoughts on last year's travel destinations.
Here goes- the second annual Sal and Rich's Best/Worst List:
Best beach experience- Tie- Ko Libong, Thailand/Eden Resort,Thailand
Best Buddhist monument- Wat Phra Mahthat, Nakon Si Thammorat, Thailand
Best Muslim monument- Raya Baiturrahman Mosque, Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia
Best colonial architecture- Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia
Best village architecture- Lake Toba, Sumatra, Indonesia
Best festival- Tie-Thaipusam, Penang, Malaysia/Dayak festival, Long Bangun, Kalimantan, Indonesia
Coldest weather- Berestagi, Sumatra, Indonesia
Hottest weather- Southern Kalimantan, Indonesia
Most rain- Ko Fruitopia, Thailand (July)
Best wildlife experience- Orangutans, Bukit Lawang, Sumatra, Indonesia
Best western food- Krabi, Thailand
Best seafood- Kalimantan, Indonesia
Best local food- Phattalung night market, Thailand
Best overall food- Liberta Guesthouse, Lake Toba, Sumatra, Indonesia
Most unusual “sight”- Long eared woman, Kalimantan, Indonesia
Cleanest guesthouse/hotel- Swallow Guesthouse, Krabi, Thailand (second year running!)
Homiest guesthouse/hotel- Birdnest, Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia (second year running)
Best value guesthouse/hotel- Tie-Liberta, Lake Toba, Sumatra, Indonesia/Ko Dod Resort, Khanom, Thailand
Best social guesthouse/hotel- Tie- Ko Fruitopia, Thailand/Eden Bungalow, Thailand/Birdnest, Kuala Lumpar
Worst guesthouse- Hotel Santosa, Kandangan, Kalimantan, Indonesia (bedbugs)
Cheapest guesthouse/hotel- Eden Resort, Thailand (100 baht/AU$ 3.50)
Most expensive guesthouse/hotel- Tirta asri-l Homestay, Batulicin, Kalimantan, Indonesia (175,000 rup/AU$17)
Best hike- Gunung Sibayak, Berestagi, Sumatra, Indonesia
Best museum- Islamic Arts Museum, Kuala Lumpur
Best market-Tie- Songkla Sunday second-hand clothes market, Thailand/Sidikalang, Sumatra, Indonesia
Best snorkelling- Pulau Weh, Sumatra, Indonesia
Friendliest people- Tie- Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia/Muara Kaman, Kalimantan, Indonesia
Best boat trip- Mahakam River, Kalimantan, Indonesia
Best motorbike ride- around Khanom, South-east Thailand
Most scenic road trip- Gayo Highlands, Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia
Best public transport- Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia
Worst road- Takengon to Blankejeran, Sumatra, Indonesia
Scariest experince- 8.7 earthquake, Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia
Hope it's an interesting read- it was fun for us to look back at 2012 and remember our best (and some not so good!) experiences.
The next three months will be something different for us, with February, March and April spent in our favourite haunt in Kuala Lumpur, helping out our good friend, Will, with his newest hostel, Birdnest 2. If anyone is passing through, we would love to see some familiar faces! It's a great place to hang out, and as we enjoy KL, it should be a lot of fun.
Since a similar summary of the last two month's swimming, sunning, reading, eating, and socializing can pretty much been seen on this previous blog entry, I've instead decided it's time to publish our thoughts on last year's travel destinations.
Here goes- the second annual Sal and Rich's Best/Worst List:
Best beach experience- Tie- Ko Libong, Thailand/Eden Resort,Thailand
Best Buddhist monument- Wat Phra Mahthat, Nakon Si Thammorat, Thailand
Best Muslim monument- Raya Baiturrahman Mosque, Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia
Best colonial architecture- Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia
Best village architecture- Lake Toba, Sumatra, Indonesia
Best festival- Tie-Thaipusam, Penang, Malaysia/Dayak festival, Long Bangun, Kalimantan, Indonesia
Coldest weather- Berestagi, Sumatra, Indonesia
Hottest weather- Southern Kalimantan, Indonesia
Most rain- Ko Fruitopia, Thailand (July)
Best wildlife experience- Orangutans, Bukit Lawang, Sumatra, Indonesia
Best western food- Krabi, Thailand
Best seafood- Kalimantan, Indonesia
Best local food- Phattalung night market, Thailand
Best overall food- Liberta Guesthouse, Lake Toba, Sumatra, Indonesia
Most unusual “sight”- Long eared woman, Kalimantan, Indonesia
Cleanest guesthouse/hotel- Swallow Guesthouse, Krabi, Thailand (second year running!)
Homiest guesthouse/hotel- Birdnest, Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia (second year running)
Best value guesthouse/hotel- Tie-Liberta, Lake Toba, Sumatra, Indonesia/Ko Dod Resort, Khanom, Thailand
Best social guesthouse/hotel- Tie- Ko Fruitopia, Thailand/Eden Bungalow, Thailand/Birdnest, Kuala Lumpar
Worst guesthouse- Hotel Santosa, Kandangan, Kalimantan, Indonesia (bedbugs)
Cheapest guesthouse/hotel- Eden Resort, Thailand (100 baht/AU$ 3.50)
Most expensive guesthouse/hotel- Tirta asri-l Homestay, Batulicin, Kalimantan, Indonesia (175,000 rup/AU$17)
Best hike- Gunung Sibayak, Berestagi, Sumatra, Indonesia
Best museum- Islamic Arts Museum, Kuala Lumpur
Best market-Tie- Songkla Sunday second-hand clothes market, Thailand/Sidikalang, Sumatra, Indonesia
Best snorkelling- Pulau Weh, Sumatra, Indonesia
Friendliest people- Tie- Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia/Muara Kaman, Kalimantan, Indonesia
Best boat trip- Mahakam River, Kalimantan, Indonesia
Best motorbike ride- around Khanom, South-east Thailand
Most scenic road trip- Gayo Highlands, Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia
Best public transport- Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia
Worst road- Takengon to Blankejeran, Sumatra, Indonesia
Scariest experince- 8.7 earthquake, Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia
Hope it's an interesting read- it was fun for us to look back at 2012 and remember our best (and some not so good!) experiences.
The next three months will be something different for us, with February, March and April spent in our favourite haunt in Kuala Lumpur, helping out our good friend, Will, with his newest hostel, Birdnest 2. If anyone is passing through, we would love to see some familiar faces! It's a great place to hang out, and as we enjoy KL, it should be a lot of fun.