3 Travel Secrets

December 4, 2009 · 14 comments

I recently got messages from Shannon at AlittleAdrift and JoAnna at Kaleidoscopic Wandering about a Tripbase (from Katie) idea of sharing travel secrets to the world.

So here are mine, from my experience of travelling this year:

Vientiane, Laos

View from Arc de Triomph in Vientiane

View from Patuxai in Vientiane

Vientiane is the capital of Laos, not exactly a secret, but often overlooked and quickly passed through. A city with a desire to develop is what I found, the centre has modern cafès serving fantastic French food, inexpensive guesthouses, a long religious history and there is a strong sense of future about the place.

Sandakan, Malaysia

Seafood served in Sandakan

Seafood served in Sandakan

Sandakan is far east on Malaysia’s half of Borneo Island and was a strong role for the Japanese during WW2. It’s developed yet keeps its heritage almost untouched, hosts a world class orangutan rehabilitaion centre, beautiful countryside and has excellent food everywhere.

Labuan Island, Malaysia

Boat to Labuan Island

Boat to Labuan Island

The connecting island between Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia and Brunei is often quickly passed through, but this tax free island is a great place to walk about, get some good food and cheap alcohol for a party on the beach.

The people I have tagged for this is The Travel Tart, Richard Stupart, DirtBag Writer, Neha’s Web, TravMonkey.

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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }

Amiee December 4, 2009 at 2:18 AM

Thanks for the tag. Your photos are gorgeous as usual. I so need to add Borneo to my life list.
.-= Amiee´s last blog – Best of 2009 – And I Am Quitting My Job Why? =-.

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Abbie December 4, 2009 at 3:13 AM

Now I have to add Vientiane, Laos to my list!

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Mary R December 4, 2009 at 7:22 AM

I love these kind of “insider” posts. I’m heading in that direction next year, so I will check them out.

Do you recommend the orangutan center? I’m crazy for anything like that…
.-= Mary R´s last blog – Suzhou, city of gardens and canals =-.

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Shannon OD December 4, 2009 at 3:02 PM

Great tags Rob! I really do need to get myself to Malaysia :-) I’ve only heard really good things about it so I’ll add the island to my list!
.-= Shannon OD´s last blog – A little insurance…Travel insurance with World Nomads =-.

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AdventureRob December 4, 2009 at 4:14 PM

Borneo and Laos definitely recommended! Don’t miss Sandakan out, it’s small and out of the way, but worth the trip. The proboscis monkey sanctuary is nearby too, I met people who visit borneo and spend weeks there and get annoyed at not seeing a proboscis monkey, I saw 100s!

Mary – Orangutan rehabilitation center is worth going too, it’s the real deal, I met a girl on the plane flying to Sandakan who worked there, Hayley her name was, they get the orangutans back into nature very well.

Shannon – Unfortunately I passed through that island quickly, but would stay a night or 2 if going back, it’s not usually seen as a destination, the cheaper goods is unexpected, I thought the island would be more expensive (being an island and all) so was pleasently surprised.
.-= AdventureRob´s last blog – A Day in Luang Prabang =-.

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Candice December 4, 2009 at 5:10 PM

Sweet tips, Rob.
.-= Candice´s last blog – Candice Does the World Goes Live =-.

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Boring Life Rob December 5, 2009 at 4:06 PM

Awesome, I am going to Indo on Tuesday and was considering Borneo… Think I just may have to check it out now!
.-= Boring Life Rob´s last blog – Thinking With Head, Eating With Hand =-.

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neha December 7, 2009 at 1:02 PM

Neat list Rob!
.-= neha´s last blog – My Three Travel Secrets =-.

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Debbie December 17, 2009 at 7:58 AM

Thanks for sharing! Your blog makes me want to leave behind my life of tweaking job board software, take a backpack and travel all over Southeast Asia.

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confused? February 5, 2010 at 4:30 PM

Laos is great, man i’d love to go back there. Will have to wait thou, back out the states this year for a bit of a rout 66 road trip!
.-= confused?´s last blog – Flights to Australia – Whatever happened to the Ten Pound Poms? =-.

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Farmville Secrets March 11, 2010 at 6:42 AM

Hi,

I think all the places are so exotic and interesting. I believed that the most overlooked and underrated places comes out to be the most interesting ones to visit and tour. I promised myself that if I have saved enough money, I will travel to all the places that I have in my list. I will definitely include these 3 spots on my list.
.-= Farmville Secrets´s last blog – Farmville Valentine’s Day Decorating Contest Winners =-.

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israel travel March 31, 2010 at 11:03 PM

I’ve been always scared of that part of the World, but who comes from where I do, learn to live with fear :) nice places

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Mi Horoscopo de Hoy September 25, 2017 at 8:22 PM

It’s a wonderful travel. I wanna do it.
Thank you!!!

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