In order to sail around the islands you first need to fly to Labuan Bajo, a quaint fishing town located at the western end of East Nusa Tenggara Flores. Garuda Indonesia, the national airline of Indonesia, offers direct flights from Jakarta to Labuan Bajo. Other budget airlines such as Sriwijaya Air and Lion Air have flights from Jakarta that require a transit in Bali before reaching Labuan Bajo. So if you have plans to go to Bali you can easily reach Labuan Bajo from there.

The heat in this area can be quite tough and harsh so don't forget to drink a lot, apply at least a sunscreen that is spf 80, bring an instagrammable hat and some aloe vera in case you end up with a sunburn - #Ouch.  For those who need to be constantly connected with the online world purchase a mobile card from the provider Telkomsel that offers 4G even in the middle of the ocean. Bring some snack for your fellow boat friends because you will be staying with them for quite some time so it's good to get to know each other via food -#FoodieForLife. If you are someone who is sensible to the sea waves then bring motion sickness medicine, but honestly speaking none of us on the boat got sick - #SmoothRide. The trekking of Kelor Island, Rinca Island, Padar Island and Gili Lawa Darat can be quite tough but once on the top, for those who love to capture pretty pictures, you can definitely change into a more instagram worthy attire.

* Indonesia Juara
* Flores Runaway
* Le Pirate Explorer Cruise
* Lazy Pirate Cruises
* Ocean Pure Charter
* Komodo La Marina
* Plataran Private Cruises

I landed in Labuan Bajo a day before the sailing tour and whilst I did a few things around the city I realized that there was more to do that I actually did not know about.

First of all there is no legal taxi company in Labuan Bajo so in order to get around you need to bargain with the cars along the road that act as taxi drivers. Or if you know how to ride a scooter then hire one maybe via the hotel.

As I was a bit ignorant of what Labuan Bajo has to offer I actually only did two things there. One was to trek the Love Hill / Bukit Cinta to get a glimpse of a pretty view and the other thing was to admire the magical sunset at Paradise Bar which I highly recommend to do. It was just so relaxing to sit there and witness the beauty of nature.

Other things that I wished I knew there was to do in Labuan Bajo are Mirror Rock / Batu Cermin,  Rangko Cave,  Cunca Wulang Waterfall and Wae Rebo Village.

So there you go that was my Komodo island travel guide I hope it inspired you to pack your bags and land in this paradisiac corner of the world.

I was blessed enough to had the opportunity to live in Beijing and seriously wanted to move there for another year or so but life took a different route.  It was seriously one of the best experiences I could ever ask for and I cherish every moment of it. From historical architectures to modern open rooftop bars, Beijing offered a variety of authentic places that made this fast paste city so vibrant and full of hidden gems. So here are eight places to visit in Beijing or should I write my all time favorite places in Beijing - oh well you decide.  

Located in Dashanzi of the Chaoyang Dristrict, 798 Art District is an art complex that used to be a military factory. It has it's own unique vibe compare to other zones in Beijing and I highly recommend going if you love anything artsy. Local artists showcase their artwork in different galleries and the whole district is full of modern art representations. Yes there are installations, paintings and hidden graffiti scattered around this district. And if I am not mistaken they change them up quite often. Every street you turn too has it's own aesthetic and the different shops around there have unique concepts. There are local fashion designers showcasing their latest fashion items as well.

Do I really need to dedicate one paragraph to this national symbol of China? This historical square is absolutely stunning. Its wide open air arena makes every historical monument around the area look impressive - skyscrapers are prohibited to be build around the area. 

Summer Palace

Being such a foodie, this post would not have been perfect without at least mentioning my favorite dim sum restaurant in Beijing. Jin Din Xuan located in the Dongcheng district is a four story high restaurant that serves delicious Cantonese cuisine twenty-four hour seven days a week. Let me write that again twenty-four hour seven days a week without fail. There is constantly a queue and you can't escape the waiting list, just be patient because the food is EPIC. Everything is so delicious and well seasoned. I constantly dream of their dim sums - #TakeMeBack. 

One of the seven wonders of the world, it would be absolutely devastating to not set foot on this massive fortress. It might be quite a hustle to go there and is definitely a one-whole day affair. The little uneven human handmade steps aren't really enjoyable to walk on but well anything for the experience because boy was it worth it. I would advise to go there as early as possible so that you can personally have a peaceful moment with it and take everything in. The views are absolutely breathtaking and again how on earth did they manage to make such a statement. It blows my mind every time I see my Great Wall of China album.

Hutong

The Hutong in Beijing used to be a traditional Chinese residency neighborhood. It is composed with little narrow alleys that are quaint and also cute. Nowadays it has multiple curated shops, delicious restaurants and adorable little hostels. It has definitely a younger vibe to it, as many teenagers as well as young adults love to hang out there. The atmosphere is quite unique on weekends as it is jam packed with humans. It is a great source of entertainment for locals and foreigners.

Fragrant Hills

Well this is again another huge park type of garden situation in Beijing. I mean what's new the city of Beijing is seriously filled with beautiful massive parks. I would recommend going to Yuyuantan or Jade Lake Park during the cherry blossom festival month. There are so many types of cherry blossoms that all you want to do is dance and twirl below the trees. I went there on a weekend and I remembered that it was filled with so many people that capturing one single picture was a fight in itself but definitely worth it. If you are on a holiday during springtime - late march - in Beijing visit this park during weekdays and early so that you can escape the human flooding.

That was my eight must go to places to visit in Beijing. I hope that my pictures transported you all to Beijing and that this post inspires you all to pack your bags and experience the diverse culture of China. I believe that one must at least visit China once in their life! 

Tanjung Bira or Cape Bira, located in South Sulawesi, is truly a hidden gem in Indonesia. If you don't believe me just scroll and look at the pictures I took two years ago. I have to admit that even these pictures don't do justice on how really beautiful Cape Bira is.

If you are a fan of white sandy beaches, love crystal clear blue seas and secretly hate crowds whilst you are on a short escape, I would highly recommend to travel to Sulawesi and spend a night or two at this paradisiac place. 

Whilst I know that this hidden gem is a place for diving fanatics, it is also a tranquil location to escape the hustle and bustle of Jakarta, to unwind and especially to have some sort of a technology detox time in order to clean body, mind and soul. What I am trying to say here, is that wifi won't be your best friend on this trip.