Destinations Archives - Travel Mishmash

Luang Prabang – When travel gets messy – Part 1

Sonia August 11, 2023 0 Comments

In my previous thirst-provoking post I hinted at one of my trips. From the photo you surely guessed I was in Laos. While sampling local beer was fun, the same couldn't really be said about the trip itself. Though it wouldn't be me if I didn't find silver linings. So, in these two upcoming posts, I will reveal both the good and the bad of my trip to Luang Prabang, though in reverse order. Let's...

Nusa Lembongan – Bali or Unbali?

Sonia August 4, 2020 35 Comments

I was never really keen on visiting Bali. I had been told it had nothing to do with Indonesia and I kind of believed that without needing to see it for myself. And yet, in February 2020, when I ran out of ideas where to spend Chinese new year and also celebrate my birthday, I did. But instead of Bali, completely wooed by beautiful photos and uniform boasting reviews, I decided to travel to Nusa...

Phu Quoc Bicycle Frenzy

Sonia May 21, 2020 20 Comments

My time on the island is limited and so far I have only seen dirty beach. But I am resolved to do better than that. So, I start frantic search online. It looks bad as reviews of supposedly pristine beaches contain dozens of negative comments on dirt, rubbish and murky waters. ‘Seems there won’t be any beach then,’ I tell myself disappointingly when Google suddenly shows me something...

How (not) to enjoy Phu Quoc

Sonia April 26, 2020 21 Comments

“Fringed with white-sand beaches”, “a must-visit beach escape for Western expats and sun-seeking tourists”, “idyllic beaches, romantic sunsets, evergreen forests, and a serene atmosphere, making it an ideal holiday destination” - that’s how the internet swears by Phu Quoc (further referred to as PQ). As you can see, superlatives follow one another. Well, my first piece of advice...

3 weeks in a weird country – Philippines – Part 2

Sonia March 20, 2020 15 Comments

When I divided my post about the short trip to Myanmar into two parts, it was because of the Ngapali beach. This beach is so spectacular that it deserved a separate post. By the same token, I am writing separately about Cebu city since it’s such a spectacular dump that it deserves an individual post too. But don’t expect overtly ugly photos here either. You see, I’m an optimist, glass is...

3 weeks in a weird country – Philippines – Part 1

Sonia March 9, 2020 22 Comments

Let me just say that planning the trip to Philippines was a real nightmare. OK maybe that’s a bit exaggerated but it certainly wasn’t easy. The thing is that I like to have a plan when I travel. For someone like me whose leave is always allocated in advance it’s absolutely unthinkable to go somewhere and wing it. Therefore, I always buy return flight tickets in advance also within the...

10 days with my love – Myanmar – Part 2

Sonia January 19, 2020 19 Comments

There is a reason why I have divided my trip to Myanmar into two posts and it’s called Ngapali. Definitely one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever been to, no kidding. And trust me, I have been to a lot of them, indeed. The beach owes its uniqueness to several factors - unspoilt by mass tourism, white sand with pristine waters, spectacular sunsets, friendly locals selling fresh produce,...

10 days with my love – Myanmar – Part 1

Sonia January 6, 2020 11 Comments

Myanmar is just another world to which I will hopefully be returning so that I can explore more places and meet more wonderful people that Burmese certainly are. It's just a dream. Yangon itself feels like going back in time. In a good way. It’s a place with a charm and vibe that is hard to find anywhere else, at least to me, of course until Myanmar gets discovered by mass tourism, which I...

10 days in Kampuchea aka Paradise Found Paradise Lost – Part 2

Sonia November 22, 2019 8 Comments

Obviously, if your intention is to visit Koh Rong or other islands in the area, then it makes complete sense to hang out in Sihanoukville, often also called just 'Sihanouk', too since your flights will be from there. There are a couple options available but most travellers decide between Otres 1 and Otres 2. I chose the latter because it’s less developed. And while I almost never ever travel to...

10 Days in Kampuchea aka Paradise Found Paradise Lost – Part 1

Sonia November 3, 2019 19 Comments

Cambodia stole my heart the minute I first set foot in this land. It's the kind of experience I had deeply longed for. The kind of thing my soul had always craved. My first steps took me to Siem Reap, then Phonm Penh and then Sihanoukville. Each of the trips was done separately and for a different length of time. And each of them carved their name in my heart in their own way. However, as much as...