Follow The Backpacker

New ebook on Malaysia itineraries and backpacking route planners

2011-10-27T03:31:00.001+05:30

Two days ago I created another short ebook (22 pages) on how to create itineraries for Malaysia. It's detailed and simple, and contains itinerary suggestions with maps and a time table, how to travel around in the country by different means of transport and much more.

Click here to read more about the Malaysia ebook

Amanda :)))

Create the perfect itinerary with Map Your Adventure!

2011-09-09T02:45:00.000+05:30

On Sunday I released my second ebook called Map Your Adventure! :-) It's about how to create a successful itinerary for Southeast Asia and/or India. The idea is very simple, broken into seven steps which is easy for anyone to follow. The eBook contains 76 pages and over 50 different itineraries with different time frames.

On top of this, there's a chapter that covers how to travel around in Southeast Asia and India. The point here is to give you the heads up on the means of transport. Thailand for example is a country with good infrastructure, so traveling from A to B is more efficient and easier. That also means that you will have minimal problems backpacking around Thailand.

I've been writing on this ebook for a long time. Frankly I had breakdowns once in a while since creating a GOOD itinerary isn't always easy.

But since my goal was to create realistic itineraries, I poured everything I had in me into these route planners. I've even added recommended days to stay at each destination, to make it even easier to create an itinerary.

Price: $ 9.95

Read more about Map Your Adventure

I also offer country or region booklets for my readers. You don't need to buy the whole book if you're just interested in a particular country. For now, I've created booklets for Southeast Asia, Thailand, Malaysia and India. I chose Thailand, Malaysia and India since these are typically visited countries in Asia (and also good hits on Mother Google).

Price: $ 7.95 or $ 3.95

Map Your Adventure Booklets

Ticket to Safe Backpacking

2011-07-19T02:02:00.000+05:30

Today I released Ticket to Safe Backpacking: it's a guide containing 98 pages of useful safety advice.

You'll learn about scams in SE Asia and India -- and how to avoid them, how to survive a border crossing, what to expect as a first-time traveler, responsible travel, health safety, money safety and about potential dangers in SE Asia and India.

To help you further in your planning, I've added three free resources which you can use:
1) 60 ways of backpacking cheap
2) A Master Backpacking Checklist (a revised one)
3) A detailed guide on how to find the right accommodation

I'm excited that my book has received good travel reviews from online travel experts.

You should check it out! :)

For more information, visit
Ticket to Safe Backpacking

Amanda

ONLINE PHOTO CONTEST!!!

2011-07-01T22:17:00.000+05:30

We've just started an online photo contest. By submitting one photo, you already get free publicity. If your photo wins, it will be posted throughout Backpacking Tips Asia.com and exposed for over a month.

We will also link to your site, blog or whatever :-)

Have in mind that our website receives over 21,000 visitors a month -- that was just last month. In June, there were nearly 74,000 page views... you can just imagine how much exposure your work gets!

Check out online photo contests!

School work versus Backpacking

2011-05-17T20:39:00.000+05:30

It has be non-stop ride ever since I got back from India. If you have noticed little activity on Backpacking Tips Asia.com -- you're right!

I'm writing an exam paper, which is very interesting :-) I have to deliver an exam paper containing 65 pages of the data I collected during my field work in Kerala. Am I done after that? - No. I still have an oral presentation the week after, and then oral exams in mid-June. What am I trying to say?

Not much articles and updates will be done to the site until after mid-June.

Please be patient ;-)

Amanda

Backpacking Tips Asia.com taking a 2 months break!

2011-02-02T21:06:00.000+05:30

In 2 days I'll be on my way to Kerala, India :-)

So no new articles between Feb 4 and March 31. I'll have access to internet, but the only thing I will be answering during my travels will be SIMPLE questions from the travel forum, and SIMPLE emails ;-)

So if you send me an email, don't expect to get an answer right away. I'll do my best, but I can't promise anything. I'll be very busy working with our field project, which lasts for 5 weeks.

Amanda

Amanda's Bucketlist

2010-12-19T02:41:00.002+05:30

Everyone has a bucketlist. I thought I would care to join the club and make my very own list of things I want to do before I make my way to heaven.

Travel:
~~- Experience Northern India (Varanasi)~~
- Get serious in Rishikesh, India
- Drink tea and enjoy the view of Himalayas in Darjeeling, India
- Go beach bumming in Bali and Lombok
- Travel to Langkawi and Pangkor (Malaysia)
~~- Gorge in Kuala Lumpur's nasi dishes~~
- Trekking and caving in Sarawak, Borneo
- Ride horses and camels in the steppes of Mongolia
- Visit my sister in South Korea
- Spend a night in a desert
- Snorkel in the waters of Oman, Middle East
- Visit Great Wall of China and Xi'an (Terracotta Army)
- Eat dim sum in the streets of Yangshuo, China
- Go caving in Vietnam (Hang Son Doong)
- Complete an open-water diving course in Palawan Island, the Philippines
- Visit the pyramids of Egypt
~~- Go shopping, beach bumming and partying in Barcelona~~
- Let my hair down in Berlin's electronic night clubs
- Watch the Northern Light in Northern Norway
- Mountain trekking to one of Norway's largest tourist attractions: Geiranger
- Shop till I drop in New York
- Hike to Macchu Picchu
- Enjoy the beaches of Mexico

The Balance Art in life:
- Get a meaningful job
- Pay off my debts
- Get involved in a conservation project on Galapagos, Ecuador
- Get involved in a turtle preservation project in Malaysia
- Buy an apartment in OSLO

Business:
- Run a successful online business
~~- Publish an ebook~~
~~- Reach out to 1000 visitors a day~~
- Reach out to 2000 visitors a day
- Reach out to 5000 visitors a day
- Reach out to 10000 visitors a day
~~- Google PR 3~~
- Google PR 4
- Google PR 5
- Google PR 6

Hobbies:
- Master 5 languages including Norwegian and English (Arabic, Spanish and French)
- Take a photography course and learn how to take great photos
- Make gorgeous macrame necklaces and sell them
- Go to the opera
- Watch more interesting art exhibits
- Attend a fashion show
- Fly in a helicopter

India in Feb and March 2011

2010-11-19T07:33:00.000+05:30

So here it goes...

It's all set. Tickets are bought and I'm leaving for Kerala, India on
February 4 (2011)! :-)

Basically, we're going to do our field work in Kerala, working our way from Trivandrum and northwards. We have decided to focus on how tourism affects small players in Kerala, and it's going to be interesting to interview local Indians and wear traditional Indian clothing called churidar :-)

After that, we're taking the flight from Kochin to Varanasi, via Delhi. That flight ticket is bought as well, and we're leaving Kerala on March 12.

I don't know quite yet where my journey goes after Varanasi. Since I only have two weeks before I have to head home, I have to restrict the itinerary. I'm looking forward to reading IndiaMike's tips on train information because booking a train ride and surviving it is what worries me the most! :-P

It would be awesome to catch the Elephant festival in Jaipur on March 19th and the Holi festival on the 20th. If I make it, it would be great to stop by the rat temple at Deshnok outside Bikaner. But we'll see ;-)

So this means that I will be adding my destinations to Backpacking Tips Asia.

Kerala and Varanasi are of course on the list!

Only thing that's missing now is applying for a visa, and getting a travel insurance. I always buy my travel insurance through Gouda, a company cooperating with Kilroy Travels (which we bought the tickets from).

We're not going to apply for a regular tourist visa because technically we're not there as tourists/travelers. According to our teacher we have to get the 'Entry Visa' (800KR) which cost a lot more than the tourist visa (400KR).

Hmmm... this is going to be exciting! :-D

Amanda

Going Back to School! :-D

2010-08-05T01:39:00.000+05:30

Hey!

Hehehe I just got accepted to "Høgskolen i Oslo" and for the next year, I'm going to read about development studies. It's about the north/south relationship and some of the hot themes is how we can help poor countries to exploit their natural resources. I'm an environmental gal, so hopefully I will learn more about the global environmental issues! :-D Looking forward to it!

But this means that I won't be able to write that many articles for Backpacking Tips Asia.com in the future! I have to at least pass the exams you know :P

My main focus is to keep writing on my e-book. Yes, you heard me a very detailed e-book about how to plan a backpacking trip. Hopefully it will contain 200 pages and I will sell it to an affordable and reasonable price! :-)

Amanda

TRAVEL STORY CONTEST!

2010-06-16T03:16:00.000+05:30

Hey,

it's been a long time since you last heard from me. Lots of things have happened, the trip to Cambodia and Thailand was amazing -- learned a lot! ;-)

I'm still holding a travel story contest on Backpacking Tips Asia.com! Do you want to miss on great travel goodies...?

This time, it's a Lonely Planet book: A guide to taking better pictures. A great book with a lot of benefits for you. Great memories require great pictures, don't you agree? :-)

Share Your travel secrets and stories

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Amanda

Editor of Backpacking Tips Asia.com going on a long vacation!

2010-04-02T16:27:00.000+05:30

Hey hey,

tomorrow I will be sitting on a plane on my way to Bangkok! :)

We (me and bf) will be traveling in Thailand and Cambodia until May 6!

So no new articles during this period...!

I cant wait to share my adventures with you when I come back... hihihi

Bye!

Amanda

Share Your Tips, Reviews and Stories about Other Places in Asia

2010-03-21T18:04:00.002+05:30

The goal of this page is to cover backpacking tips, reviews and stories for Asia (other than Thailand, Malaysia, India, Laos, Cambodia and the Philippines).

Do you have backpacking advice for Asia, such as:

* where to find cheap/mid-priced accommodation

* where to find delicious food

* exciting activities

Or maybe you own a local business (ex. tour company, restaurant, hostel/hotel/guesthouse) and want to promote it? Then this is the perfect place for you to tell the visitors of Backpacking Tips Asia.com about your services!

Go to Share Your Recommendations and Stories right here (opens in a new window)

Amanda

Announce Festivals and Events on Backpacking Tips Asia for FREE!

2010-03-19T05:31:00.003+05:30

So many events going around in Asia, but so little time to cover them all! :-P

If you know about an event, please write a message right here:
Announce Festivals and Events

If you own a local business, this is the PERFECT opportunity for you to promote it!

What kind of events can you announce?
It's only limited by your imagination! It can be museum openings, art exhibits, volunteer events, workshops, courses, parties, concerts, festivals etc.

What are you waiting for? Start typing! ;-)

Have a good one,

Amanda

Researching for new articles....

2010-03-07T20:06:00.002+05:30

Hey, hey!

I'm finally using my knowledge for something good. These days I've been working on articles about travel safety, crime and terrorism.

It's a HUGE project, and it's going to take some time -- but it will be good! :-)

Every traveler has their worries, whether if the travel destination is safe or if they will have enough money for the trip.

Now, SAFETY is of course a large issue when traveling, and I get regular e-mails about "How safe is it there?" "My mom is worried since I'm traveling to Asia, what should I say to her?" and etc etc.

To ease the pain for YOU, as my reader, and your family (who probably won't stop worrying even if they're going to read the articles, but at least you will get the hard facts about reality), I'm doing the dirty work for you ;-)

The themes of the articles will be anything from petty crime (theft, robbery) to larger issues like terrorism, trafficking, local conflicts etc.

The question is: "Should you really worry?"

And most importantly, how can you try to avoid it?

I'm going to try my best to introduce you the common potential dangers in Asia. To fully understand them, you need to know why they happen.

For example: I'm going to tell you about the conflict in Kashmir (Northern India), why there is a conflict and how travelers to this region can be affected/or not affected.

I appreciate your patience! :)

Amanda

TRAVEL STORY CONTEST!!!!

2010-02-24T22:00:00.002+05:30

Share your best travel story and you can win amazing travel goodies! :-D

For more information, go HERE! (opens in a new window)

Share Your Travel Secrets and enter this COOL competition

Start typing! :-)

Amanda

Submit Your Backpacking Tip and/or Most Memorable Travel Story!

2010-02-13T03:38:00.002+05:30

Hey,

a couple of weeks ago, I released a page where you can share all your best backpacking tips, memorable travel stories or if you just want to share a story where you committed your dumbest backpacking mistake...!

You'll get the credit for it, and what's better to share your tips with fellow travelers?

Go here and share your travel secrets! (opens in a new window)

PS! I'll be sitting in Spain next week, so no new articles until the end of February!

Adios!

Amanda

Busy Bee...

2010-01-20T19:27:00.003+05:30

Hey guys,

this month has been crazy for me. I have to move out again. So I've been damn busy with apartment-looking. I'm picky, and it's expensive to rent a room/apartment in Oslo, so this will take some time.

The last article I wrote was on Jan 4. I will try to write an article this weekend, but I can't promise anything. And my mom turns 50 on Sunday :-P

Please be patient! Remember that I'm human too ;-)

Amanda

New Personal Blog...

2010-01-04T04:14:00.001+05:30

Hey,

I've added this cool personal blog. This way, you can get to know the editor of Backpacking Tips Asia.com a lot better!

I'll be blogging about my everyday life in Oslo, and discuss relevant political and environmental issues! ;)

Visit Amanda's Telegraph

Amanda :D

Christmas is on...

2009-12-26T21:32:00.002+05:30

Hey guys,

Merry Christmas!!! :D Hope you've eaten well :P

It's Christmas, and I've been a bit lazy these days. To be honest, I really enjoy doing nothing during the holidays... Haha. So new articles will come after New Year's :D

It's kind odd that I'm celebrating Christmas in Norway again -- I haven't done so the last two years. Christmas 2007, I was in Koh Pha Ngan (Thailand). Christmas 2008, I was in Pampanga in the Philippines. It feels strange to celebrate it at home again, but in a good way! ;)

Enjoy your steaks, Singhas or whatever! :D

Have a Happy New Year as well!

Amanda

Newsletter & e-book LIVE!!!

2009-11-21T01:55:00.004+05:30

Hey guys,

puh, what a finish!

The newsletter and e-book have just gone live on Backpacking-Tips-Asia.com!

To get the free e-book, sign up for the newsletter!

In the monthly newsletter -- I will gather all the latest articles for Backpacking Tips Asia.com, relevant backpacking news and other travel information, plans for the website and my personal traveling plans! :D YEAH!

You just can't miss this!!!

It's all FREE!

Here's the link:
Backpacking Newsletter

Have a nice weekend!

Amanda

Flu Attack

2009-11-13T23:42:00.004+05:30

I've just recovered from a flu attack which lasted a whole damn week. So I haven't been able to write articles and update the blog (and no, it's not the swine flu... ;)

Right now the newsletter and the e-book are the most important things to be done, so I'm busy with this. So you won't be getting new "ordinary" articles before November 20.

But I can give you sneak peak on future articles! YEAH!

-- Review of Mount Pinatubo, Philippines

-- Reviews of places visited on Bohol Island in the Philippines

-- Laos Culture

-- Sipadan Scuba Diving

Please be patient...

Amanda

Adding Philippines & Hong Kong to Backpacking-Tips-Asia.com!

2009-10-26T18:38:00.003+05:30

My plan before 2010 comes into force, is to start releasing articles on the Philippines and Hong Kong.

BUT...

I didn't go backpacking here!!! (it was a family trip in Dec/Jan 2009) But I feel like I still caught a lot of good things that should be useful to you as a backpacker!

An example is the Mount Pinatubo Tour which I think is cool activity to do in the Philippines.

Many travelers coming to Philippines go straight to the beaches in south, but they somehow forget or don't want to visit the beauty of the north! My parents are from the province of Pampanga (in the north) and it's just beautiful up there!

My boyfriend walked all the way to Mt Pinatubo, and he's going to help me write this article! ;-) I caught fever during this trip, so I couldn't enjoy it myself.

Other things I will be writing about are:
-- Reviews of the attractions we visited on Bohol Island
-- Review of Alona Kew Beach (Bohol)
-- Shopping in the Philippines
-- Lantau Island of Hong Kong

And since I'm technically a Filipina, I will write about the exciting (but sometimes strict) culture of the Philippines!

I've started writing these articles, but the newsletter (which will be released on Nov 20) is priority nr. 1!!!

So after this, I will hopefully be serving you fun reviews of Philippines and Hong Kong! ;-)

Amanda

Releasing Monthly Newsletter for Backpacking Tips Asia.com

2009-10-14T00:32:00.002+05:30

Hey guys,

My plan is to release the first newsletter for Backpacking Tips Asia.com on its
1 year anniversary: November 20!

You will then have the opportunity to sign up for the monthly newsletter, and get the latest articles, get the latest updates, and get the inside-scoop on what's new for Backpacking Tips Asia! ;-)

But the BEST part of it: If you sign up, you get a FREE e-book called "Start your Footprints" -- a guide to how to start your backpacking trip.

What's so special about this e-book is that I've gathered the "getting started"-tips in one place, and added a chapter about "What is backpacking?" A very important question that needs to be answered...

I've started writing, so hopefully it will be ready for November 20. Can't wait!

Stay tuned!

Amanda

NEW articles of Sep/Oct 2009!

2009-10-01T00:19:00.005+05:30

Reviews of the guesthouses/lodges we stayed at in KK Borneo!
Come come!

Interview with a Backpack-Expert about the Osprey, Eagle Creek and Lowe Alpine backpacks!
NOT to be missed!

About Semporna on Borneo + How to Get There

CLICK!

Our review of Skuba Junkie in Semporna

CLICK!

About KK on Borneo
-- How to get there

CLICK!

Personal reviews of the restaurants, Filipino market and food stalls in KK!
Also prices for food & Alcohol

Come over here!

GOING TO CAMBODIA! ;-)

2009-09-28T16:47:00.004+05:30

Well, what can I say...

I just bought tickets for me and my boyfriend to Bangkok in APRIL 2010!!! WOHOO!

We will be away for a whole month! ;-)

From Thailand, we will cross the border to Cambodia -- starting from the south (Sihanoukville, Kampot and Kep).

My plan with this trip is to explore the rest of Cambodia (because I didn't get to see the rest of the country back in Nov/Dec 2007), gather FRESH information and hopefully create new articles on Southern and Eastern Cambodia (Ban Lung and Sen Monorom). Trekking in the east and sunbathing in the south are the things we want to experience.

Another thing is that I will revisit Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
When writing about my experiences for Backpacking Tips Asia, I have to admit that writing about something that happened for almost 2 years ago can be tricky. That's because I can't remember ALL the details (both good and bad), and sometimes that makes the writing hard!

I only had one day at the Angkor Temples and have decided to explore the other temples (my boyfriend is so excited... He has never been to Cambodia)!

And since we're starting and ending the trip in Bangkok, I will gather more practical and relevant info about this capital. A hope is to take a fast trip to Eastern Thailand (but I don't want to raise my expectations too high). CAMBODIA is the real goal of the trip!

It's still 6 months left, but I just can't wait. Right now I'm trying to save money for the trip ;-)

Amanda

Backpacking Tips Asia taking a BRIEF pause...

2009-09-06T17:25:00.004+05:30

... I need to be out of the apartment by September 30.

In other words, instead of using my precious time on writing articles, I have to use that time on selling furniture, moving my stuff and finding a new place to stay!

Sorry about the inconvenience...

Amanda

NEW ARTICLES!

2009-08-08T18:41:00.008+05:30

Click onto the links!

About KK -- how to get there

About the beautiful islands of Perhentian -- how to get there, where to sleep, where to eat and drink and cool stuff like snorkeling and diving

Malaysia History!

Cambodia History!

Prepare yourself before backpacking in Malaysia: Learn the basic customs

Read some interesting Malaysia Facts

What to consider in your Malaysia Budget: Prices and all!

How To Find the right Travel Guide book

Where to get a tattoo in Malaysia + review of Tattoo city art studio in KL

The fab shopping in KL!

Kuala Lumpur Nightlife --
Nightlife

The food in Kuala Lumpur --
Malaysia Food

Welcome! :D

See you there!

Amanda

READY-SET-GO!

2009-08-05T03:23:00.004+05:30

Here are the new articles of Backpacking-Tips-Asia.com!

Click onto the links! :)

About Cambodia

Cambodia Culture

About Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur Accommodation

ENJOY!!!!!!! :D

Amanda

The Exciting Up-Coming Articles

2009-08-01T18:34:00.003+05:30

Hey!

I know that I haven't released any new articles the last 2 months...

After I came home from Malaysia in the beginning of July, I was in "vacation mood," or whatever you call it.

And I've gone through this severe writer's block which occasionally strikes web writers like me... :S My sister who owns and successfully runs the website thechicfashionista.com was like: "Ah, don't worry! That happens to me too! Just take some time off." And so I did.

... I'm back -- stronger than ever!

I just finished:

About Cambodia
Cambodia Culture
Kuala Lumpur Accommodation

And I'm ready to finalize and release the articles on Monday August 3!

Be sure to follow my updates on Backpacking Tips Asia BLOG !

Backpacking in Malaysia

2009-07-03T04:30:00.005+05:30

I just got home from Asia and I'm already longing back to Malaysia! *sigh*

Here's a taste of it:

Kuala Lumpur is the BEST (better than Bangkok I have to admit).

Before we left, my friends who already visited Malaysia told me that Chinatown was shitty and unbearable. I disagree -- well, it's shitty alright.

But Chinatown is the place to soak real culture -- the smells of Malay food and sewage/methane gas hits you when you arrive in the heart of it. There are loads of local restaurants where you can eat CHEAP delicious food and it's packed just like Khao San Road in Bangkok.

And the atmosphere... very relaxed! No one was stalking us to sell some piece of wood (compared to e.g. India). There are millions of people in KL, but it still feels that you have space around you.

And I got my 6th tattoo! A very nice sea horse (4 inches tall). Hurt like hell, but it was worth it. And it cost like nothing. Kelvin charged 180 RM (that's like 45 US dollars) -- professional and talented guy. He knows what he's doing.

Then we went to Borneo...

Gosh... we loved Kota Kinabalu (at least the nice part of it). If you're going to KK, taking a stroll along the harbor is a must! Relax and have some cold cold beer while you're enjoying the ocean, the breeze and the friendly local people.

At night, the harbor comes alive... The Filipino Market was heavily packed with starving people... eating anything from fresh fried fish to Halal BBQ chicken on stick to mouth running soups!!

Diving in Semporna...

Skuba Junkie was our first choice and it really lives up to its reputation. I already booked a Open Water Course in March, and was glad that I did...

When we got there we heard that the next available date for diving on Sipadan island was August 22... We got there on June 11th... Two frigging months of waiting! So book ahead if you can!

We had to fill out forms and a complex medical declaration honestly. So I did.

But they sent me to the doctor because of my minor asthma problem. The local doctor checked my lungs and my ears. He was like: "I can see your eardrum is ruptured..... Still, he said that I was fit for diving -- I believed him of course..cause he was a doctor!

On the 2nd day of the course, my right eardrum erupted/popped badly...

Could I complete the course? -- Sorry, Amanda you can't.

Disappointed? -- YES.

SUCKS! :(

If you want to go diving: PLEASE SEE A DOCTOR in your home country. Even our diving instructor told us that the some of the local doctors in Semporna didn't do their job right (that was after my eardrum popped).

So I was just sad and we left Semporna the next day. Couldn't handle all the "divers talk" like "Ahh, we saw a frog fish, and a shark and a leatherback turtle" when I couldn't even complete the course... SUCKS!

Our next stop was Perhentian Kecil on the east coast of Malay Peninsular...

We stayed on Long Beach at Panorama. If you're planning on visiting Perhentian from June-August, I suggest you get your ass over there the earliest you can (first boat leaves Kuala Besut at 07.30 am). We got the last bungalow at Panorama and we arrived around 8 am...

Around noon more backpackers came in, but they had to take the boat to another beach cause there were NO bungalows/rooms left on Long Beach by that time. Not even at the only resort (BuBu's) on Long Beach...

Perhentian is beautiful! It's picture-perfect: white sand beach, crystal clear water, tall palm trees and blue skies. And before I forget: the cute monitor lizards (the largest we saw was 1,5 meter long) running around the island looking for food -- they're awesome!

The only downside is the garbage floating around the bungalows. It didn't seem like they cared about removing it. It's a shame though..

Well, we didn't get to visit Melaka but otherwise it was a great backpacking trip! Me and my boyfriend miss Malaysia, and we're definitely going back next year.

Some practical info:

I will be releasing the first articles on Malaysia at the end of the summer (August). As you've probably noticed, I have to finish up Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and India.

There's a lot of work with backpacking-tips-asia.com, but I love the work so I don't mind at all! ;)

Amanda

Adding Malaysia to Backpacking Tips Asia

2009-05-12T23:14:00.006+05:30

Guess who`s going backpacking in Malaysia this summer?

-- Me and my boyfriend! Wohoo!

So, here`s the deal.

Three months ago we booked a 4 weeks trip to Kuala Lumpur.

My goal is to add Malaysia to the Backpacking Tips Asia this summer!

... I can`t wait to share new and exciting experiences with you!

Want a quick peek in our itinerary? ;-)

This is our temporary itinerary --

First we land in Kuala Lumpur on June 6 (2009). We want to snorkel and dive on the Sabah, so we`re going to take Air Asia to Kota Kinabalu.

We booked a diving class in Semporna on June 11th (FINALLY getting the PADI!) so
we`re just going to hang there for a while and just enjoy the underwater and say hello to the turtles and sharks. My boyfriend has never snorkeled or gone diving before.........!!!

In fact, he hasn`t been in the water for years! And jokes about moray eels that will bite his ass. But he wants to jump into the ocean with me, so he obviously loves me :-p

Then back to Kuala Lumpur and chill there for some time. We want some culture, so we`re going to Melaka and sample the Southern Malay food and visit some museums.

From Melaka to Perhentian Kecil (the east coast) we go! The Perhentians is our next stop -- it`s supposed to be a popular backpacker`s place so we have to check it out. Maybe we`ll stop by Pulau Tioman as well.

Then back to KL -- and get a new tattoo! Can`t wait! I`ve heard about this professional tattoo place located in Chinatown, so I`m definitely going there!

This trip means that:

--- I will not be able to add/update
Backpacking Tips Asia for 4 weeks!

BUT...

-- in exchange you will get to know Malaysia from a backpacker`s perspective, get the best reviews and the best photos (just bought a new camera)...

Does this sound amazing or what?!

Stay tuned!

Amanda ;-)

PS! If there`s a specific place (restaurant, cafe, tattoo shop, diving shop or whatever) you want to know more about -- I will research it for you (if I can find it of course)! :p

Feel free to contact me at Contact me on backpacking-tips-asia.com

New Backpacking Blog!

2009-05-12T22:40:00.002+05:30

Welcome to my Backpacking Blog!

This blog is meant to give you the latest updates on
Backpacking Tips Asia , as well as providing you with fresh and relevant information on backpacking.

I also created this blog so you can get to know the author and the creator of --
Backpacking Tips Asia.

Yes, I`m real! And I`ve actually gone backpacking in Asia -- so you will only get first hand experiences and tips. On-the-point and accurate information. Nothing more and nothing less.

The last year, I`ve gathered a very long list of personal backpacking tips and researched it heavily. I have also interviewed some of my friends who are experts in backpacking. And while I was traveling, I got to know locals in Thailand, India, Laos and Cambodia -- their tips are valuable!

Among my friends and colleagues, I`m known as a perfectionist. I will not publish something until I`m satisfied with the content. And I`m very good in researching -- you won`t believe how much we learn at the government office!

So stay tuned!

Amanda ;-)