After our stay in Ubud we went farther north to Gobleg. Our next destination was Munduk Moding Plantation where Bali’s skies blend with the water of their infinity pool, the Bali sea and the towering volcanoes in Java where nature creates art. Incomparable views serenaded by birdsong and a choir of crickets. A hideaway nestled in a working coffee plantation surrounded by jungle. Here the real Bali is alive. I’m so glad we decided to go to this hidden place and I got to explore another side of Bali. The location was just breathtaking, the food incredible and the staff very friendly. We stayed at a villa, nestled into the jungle and surrounded by the resorts’ own coffee plants. This atmosphere changed my mind and I felt finally welcomed on the island.

Bali. Bali is a tiny island in Indonesia, a ton of people visit this place every year and I have to say writing a post about it is going to be tough. After I’ve visited the island I noticed this is not my place on earth and it’s okay. Not everyone is the same, we all have different opinions, different mindsets and especially we all want different vacations. My expectations for Bali where pretty high right from the beginning. I saw a lot of documentaries and read a few blog posts but at the end, it was different. Yes, it is most of the time different than expected but it was absolutely not what I had pictured in my mind. The locals were so different, I didn’t feel welcomed and I had lots of problems with their food. Yes, I’m aware that everyone is different, but Bali, well I would say I just didn’t feel it at all.

Kuala Lumpur was our next stop after Cambodia and we only spent one day there. Kuala Lumpur’s dynamic, high-rise City Center is known for upscale fashion malls, luxury hotels and expansive views from the futuristic Petronas Towers. Overlooked by skyscrapers, the green expanse of the Kuala Lumpur City Center Park offers walking paths and musical fountains. Dining options range from stylish bistros offering Asian and European fare, to elegant rooftop bars serving innovative cocktails. We didn’t do a lot of things in Malaysa due to our tight schedule. Early in the morning we left our hotel and walked to the Petronas Towers. Before we booked a hotel we made sure we are in a walkable distance to the towers. After spending a while outside in the surrounding park area with our morning coffee we walked into the mall, purchased a few goodies and looked for a nice lunch spot right after. We found a nice place outside the park and sat there for a few hours. Later that day we went back to our hotel for drinks and canapés, followed by a romantic dinner. Our day basically flew by and it felt like only a few hours since our last airport visit, we sat in another plane and flew to Indonesia, Bali was our next stop.

Angkor Wat! As long as I can remember I have always wanted to go there and explore “The Lost City” myself. Known from movies, documentary films and books this place is magnificent. I’m still blown away when I look at the pictures we took there and have to pinch myself. Cambodia was our second country which we explored during our Asia trip and I can say this without a doubt it was my favorite one. Our arrival was very well planned, we got our visa at the airport and our driver from the hotel was already outside waiting for us, the whole process went super smooth which I didn’t expect. After our arrival at the wonderful hotel Lotus Blanc, The Privilege Floor in Siem Reap, we decided to unpack a little bit for the first time during this trip because we stayed longer in Cambodia as originally planned. We spent a whole week there and canceled our original plan which included a trip to Thailand. At that time the situation was a bit uncertain and we decided it might be the best to skip Thailand for now. The hotel was super nice and we asked if it is possible to extend our stay and keep the same room as well. They seemed happy that we enjoyed ourselves and gave us the opportunity to stay longer, which was phenomenal. After almost 12 days running from city to city we took a break for the first couple of days and did nothing besides relaxing, eating and resting by the pool. Our hotel was super quiet and not crowded, especially not during the day since most of the tourists come to Siem Reap and explore the temples.