Retreat in Manado

INDONESIA

I planned a getaway to Manado after finding out I’d be rolling off a 3-year project, but after booking it, I discovered I had to stay on for another two months. Yep—that’s me. Still, the trip is on!

Bobocabin Bunaken Hills (2 nights at the mainland)

We didn’t make any plans for the mainland. I was initially considering a day trip to Tangkoko National Park since I love wildlife, but I’ve decided instead to stay in and catch up on some work with the best views.

The cabin was comfortable and made for a relaxing getaway. The only area we felt could be improved was the food selection. Since the property is located about 20 minutes away from the city, having more dining options on-site would have been a huge plus. In the end, we ordered most of our meals through Grab throughout our stay.

If you’re planning a visit, it might be a good idea to prepare some BBQ ingredients beforehand and bring them along. We were initially interested in purchasing the property’s BBQ package, but the selection was quite limited and didn’t really appeal to us. Despite that, we still enjoyed our stay and appreciated the peaceful atmosphere.

Bobocha Siladen (3 nights at the island)

I hadn’t been diving in over a year, and even though I didn’t have a dive buddy on the same trip, I decided to go for it—and I’m really glad I did. I ended up on a private dive trip, which made the whole experience feel relaxed, comfortable, and incredibly enjoyable. It was also a unique dive compared to those I’ve done before. We drift-dived alongside a massive coral wall, allowing us to take in the stunning underwater scenery while moving effortlessly with the current. It was both exhilarating and peaceful at the same time, and a dive I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.

Of course, it wasn’t on the cheaper side, but I was okay with that. Siladen Island was a beautiful, quiet little island with direct beach access and snorkeling available anytime. The sea visibility was incredible, and the corals were healthy and vibrant. The only downside was that the currents could get quite strong at times. We even spotted turtles and a pufferfish puffed up in defense!

Exploring Komodo with Le Pirate Explorer

INDONESIA

Experiencing a liveaboard trip had always been on my bucket list, and I finally had the chance to do one in Komodo last December. Although the weather wasn’t ideal due to the rainy season, with occasional choppy seas, we were still lucky enough to enjoy beautiful sunshine during the mornings and afternoons.

Despite the unpredictable conditions, the experience was unforgettable — waking up to stunning island views, spending days out at sea, and exploring the beauty of Komodo was truly special. I would absolutely do another liveaboard in the future, and next time, I’d love to experience diving in Komodo as well!

We were also lucky enough to spot majestic manta rays, baby sharks, and the famous pink beaches that Komodo is known for. Seeing these incredible marine creatures up close and relaxing on the stunning blush-coloured shores made the entire experience even more unforgettable.

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5 Days in Bali, Indonesia

INDONESIA

Bali, it is definitely one of the most overrated holiday destinations I know. I finally had the chance to visit this paradise everyone was raving about last October. Not going to lie though, it was not the best beach vacay I have ever had. I guess this is the aftermath of experiencing an epic trip in Cebu – it is hard to beat that experience. You know what I would love to do in Bali next time? Experience living in the sea for a couple of days. Anyone up for the adventure, let me know. Anyway, here is what I did in Bali in 5 days!

Day 1 – Exploring Nusa Ceningan

We had book a return pick up service from Airport to the hotel and it cost us $53 SGD per person. At the island itself, we explore the land by foot. Blue lagoon and secret beach is about 15 minutes walk away from the hotel. Le Pirate is definitely a cute and simple hotel, with an outdoor shower. It was a decent stay other than the fact that the roosters were making noise all night. I would not mind coming back here just to get away from the bustling life.

1. Le Pirate Hotel

📍 Nusa Ceningan, 80361 Lembongan, Bali, Indonesia
Cost: About $50 for 2 nights (Per pax)
Website: https://lepirate.com/

2. Blue Lagoon

📍 Jl. Nusa Ceningan, Lembongan, Kec. Klungkung, Kabupaten Klungkung, Bali 80871, Indonesia

3. Secret beach

📍 Jalan secret beach, nusa ceningan, Lembongan, Nusapenida, Kabupaten Klungkung, Bali 80771, Indonesia

4. Dream Point Ceningan

📍 Jl. Nusa Ceningan, Lembongan, Nusapenida, Kabupaten Klungkung, Bali 80771, Indonesia

Day 2 – Exploring Nusa Penida

We have made a booking to Nusa Penida from our hotel, and it cost us about $100 SGD which includes land transport at Nusa Penida and snorkeling. I was most excited about today, over the fact that I get to swim with manta rays which is my bucket list but ended up getting disappointed because it was not manta season. I would definitely recommend getting a driver to explore Nusa Penida because the roads are very bumpy, also this island is huge!

5. Snorkelling at Gamat Bay, Crystal Bay

6. Kelingking Beach

📍 Bunga Mekar, Nusapenida, Klungkung Regency, Bali 80771, Indonesia

7. Angel Billabong

📍 Sakti, Nusapenida, Klungkung Regency, Bali 80771, Indonesia

8. Broken Beach

📍 Bunga Mekar, Nusapenida, Klungkung Regency, Bali 80771, Indonesia

9. Crystal Bay Beach

📍 Unnamed Road, Sakti, Nusapenida, Kabupaten Klungkung, Bali 80771, Indonesia

10. Paluang Cliff

📍 Bunga Mekar, Nusapenida, Klungkung Regency, Bali 80771, Indonesia

Day 3 – Exploring Ubud

We had booked 1 day private chauffeur with Klook which cost us $42 per car. I was looking forward to visit the rice terrace however was kinda disappointed upon arrival. I think I have seen way too many pinterest worthy pictures of this place that I have high expectations. Maybe I didn’t had the best experience because to be fair, we did not explore the whole place due to the heat. I do recommend trying out their teas and coffees at Uma Pakel!