The temples of Angkor in Cambodia

Angkor Wat and surrounding temples in Cambodia, believed to be the largest religious structure in the world, are a must see for whoever travel South East Asia.

Three full days were barely enough to visit the most important and impressive ones and they definitely haven't disappointed in their breathtaking grandeur.

Sulawesi

It's a funny story how I ended up there, but it was worth every effort and money. This remote Indonesian island is hiding impressive underwater treasures, full of untouched coral landscapes and encyclopedic variety of fish. I could explore it up to 30 m deep since I've been brave enough to pass my Advanced Dive Certificate there :)

On my way to my dive resort on Tongean islands...

Malaysia

I crossed Malaysia twice:

- first, the Malaysian part of Borneo on my way to Philippines to have a look over few remaining orangutans in the Kuching sanctuary and to check some remaining jungle in the Gunung Mulu national park, where the most impressive were hundred of thousand bats leaving a big cave every evening for a nigh hunt,

- and second, the Malaysia penisula as a long stop over between Philippines and Sulawesi. And since I haven't planed or expected anything for this part of my trip, it happened that I really enjoyed spending time in the Petronian towers in Kuala Lumpur, chilling out among tea plantations on Cameron Highlands and yes, challenging my biggest fears of dip waters on Perenhian Islands. The first morning upon my arrival to Perenhian Kecil, I stopped at the first Dive school on my way to the beach and left it only six day later with the Open Water Dive Certificate in my pocket. I still can't belive I did it!!!

Philippines

A Latinoasian country with distinctive "latinofilipino" vibes, colors, sound and smells, 7000 islands, uncountable numbers of overloaded jeepneys, tricycles, ferries, bangkas and other kinds of transport, fast food chains of every kind at every corner, loud karaoke everywhere at anytime, basketball playgrounds everywhere - in every village, in the middle of rice paddies, palm plantations, on the streets and roads, roosters waking you up in the middle of the nights no matter where you were spending the night - town centers, remote beach resorts, ferries and night buses included, obsession with cock fights and gambling in general, beaches, beaches and more beaches dotted with palm trees and surrounded by reach coral reefs boosting with marine life and much more...

But the most important- there were hundred of thousands of smiling Filipinos waving at you all the time :))

In six weeks time I traveled to the remotest villages in Northern Luzon Cordillera region, then all the way down to Donsol to swim with whale sharks, took a short rest on the Negros' remote beaches, visited a shaman on Siquiour - the witch island, had a look over chocolate hills and the the smallest primate tarsier on Bohol and finally reached Pallavan - the remotest but most beautiful of the islands with its spotless beaches and amazing corral reefs.

Not easy to capture the real vibe on photos though...

Gili islands

The ultimate challenge... am I able to lie on the beach, read a book in the shadow and walk only as far as the first restaurant with fresh barbecued fish for lunch and diner for two weeks?

I successfully passed the test on Gili Islands :)