Torres Novas is a pretty town in Portugal’s central Ribatejo region, guarded by the fearsome walls of a medieval castle. The town’s big cultural claim to fame is the revered Portuguese painter Carlos Reis, who was born here in the 19th century. He made a name for his depictions of bucolic scenes, and the municipal …
West of Braga, Barcelos is a cute medieval town with a strong cultural identity. This comes from artisan traditions like pottery, as well as the Galo de Barcelo, the ornamental rooster that became an emblem for Portugal. The weekly market on Thursdays is one of Portugal’s largest, and together with the usual fresh produce it’s …
This sleepy town is embedded in Alentejo’s fertile farmland and commanded by a marble castle tower. Beja has existed in some form since the Celts, and in Roman times it was named Pax Julia after the treaty that brought western Iberia under the imperial yoke. With some help from the tourist office you can hunt …
Possibly the prettiest town in the Algarve, Tavira is a seaside getaway that has taken tourism in its stride and kept hold of its old character. The town straddles the banks of the Gilão River as it enters the Atlantic at the Ria Formosa natural park. You can take your time on the old streets …
A gorgeous old city in two parts, Bragança’s high ground is ruled by the citadel and castle, while on the banks of the Fervença River below is the new town. Truth be told, the new town isn’t very new either, as the former cathedral here is from the 1500s. The medieval citadel and castle above …
Sumbawa is located in sunny West Nusa Tenggara in Indonesia and is separated from neighboring Lombok by the Strait of Alas. It is separated from Komodo Island by the Sape Strait and has the Indian Ocean on its south side and the Flores Sea on the north. Sumbawa is the largest island in West Nusa …
Kalimantan is part of Indonesia and is located on the island of Borneo (which incidentally is Kalimantan in Indonesian). 73% of Borneo is covered by Indonesia and the rest is made up of Malaysia and Brunei. Kalimantan actually means ‘Burning Weather Island’ and derives from the Sanskrit for Kalamanthana as it is located close to …
Bogor, located in Java in Indonesia, is known locally for its cool weather and its relaxed charm. As such, many domestic visitors make the trip here; however it has not attracted much attention on the international travel scene. Travelers who do make the trip here however rave about Bogor as a scenic alternative to crowded …
Batam is just across the water from Singapore, so if you are looking for a weekend break to Indonesia then this is a great place to come. From Singapore it is a 40 minute ride to Batam on a speed boat and once you are there you can enjoy a huge range of activities far …
The city of Surabaya in East Java is not as well known on the tourist trail as other places in the country although it is actually the second largest city in Indonesia after Jakarta. It is also one of the most important parts of the country historically and there are a range of interesting attractions …