Travel Letters

One thing that I can cross off my to-do list this year is travelling solo overseas. When someone asks me why I chose Bali, I really can't pinpoint an exact reason why I wanted to go. Truthfully, I overheard a conversation that a friend had an amazing time over there and wanted to check it out for myself. When I googled Bali, it was widely known for its rice paddies, religious temples, beaches, islands, and night life. And those were more than enough reasons for me to go.  The flight from LAX to Ngurah Rai International Airport  wasn't unbearable but it took a toll. Total flight time was 22 hours with a long layover in Guangzhou, China. But the airline was gracious enough to offer free hotel accommodation during the transfer. I arrived late night in Denpasar, the capital city of Bali and checked into my hotel at The Grand Walon in Kuta. Reviews of this hotel were very good and the hotel was only about twenty minutes away from the airport.  At first glance, Kuta can...

I had an absolute blast this Labor Day Weekend, and did something I've always wanted to do - white river rafting. The accommodations and planning were all thanks to Action Water Adventures company. We camped with them for two nights and did a half-day rafting tour. Everything was taken care of by them from the meals, tents, sleeping bags/pads, firewood, and camping chairs. Camp Lotus is a clean and awesome campsite. There's drinking water, and well-maintained showers and restrooms.  We met friendly adventurers at our camp site too. I recommend buying the Groupon Deal for Half-Day Gorge Trip (or Full-Day) and booking your camping reservation with AWA. I picked the Gorge trip because it has more class II and III rapids but both trips are fun and safe. If you have a GoPro or an action camera, you could bring it on the trip. Just make sure you bring your mount to secure it while you're rafting. Also during the trip, try your best to stay hydrated and reapply sunblock. No matte...