Nepal: Paragliding in Pokhara

Getting to Pokhara from Kathmandu, Nepal by land is no joke. We had to endure nine hours of mountain road to travel from Nagarkot (two hours west of Kathmandu) to Pohara. This beautiful lakeside town is visited for its picturesque views of Annapurna. But it's also a popular place to go paragliding!

You can easily book paragliding in Pokhara itself. Prices start at about US$70 but best to check the inclusions. We paid a little bit more. The service includes a trip up Sarangkot Hill, the jump-off point for all flights. It's a tandem flight and you'll be guided by a licensed pilot. It's quite easy for as long as you follow the instructions.

An extra service are the photos and a video of your trip with is a must. I paid Rp.1700 (US$16) for it but it was definitely worth it since my pilot was really good. The camera lens was really clear and he knew how to angle the shots.

The views, especially of Fewa Lake and the Himalayan foothills, are spectacular! It was worth every dollar we paid. Make sure you don't eat too much before you fly. And if you are motion sick, tell the pilot not to do acrobat flying.

We have another tour to Nepal next year! Here is our schedule.

Thailand: Phuket's old town

So what else is there to see in Phuket, Thailand? If you love old architecture, you might want to walk around Phuket's old town. I hired a car to visit the beaches of Phuket. And since I had a car, I made sure to drop by the old town to see its historic mansions and shop houses.

Most of the old mansions of Phuket town are well-maintained. Although some of the commercial buildings need attention. But it was definitely an interesting visit. Too bad I could not see the inside of the mansions since most are still private residences. The Chinese-influenced architecture is quite similar to those I've seen in Malaysia and Singapore owing to its close proximity to places like Penang as well as its shared history with the Straits Settlements.

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Sri Panwa Phuket

Thailand: Sri Panwa Phuket

Sri Panwa Phuket is no doubt one of the best resorts in Phuket, Thailand! I spent two nights in one of their luxurious pool villas one rainy September. Although I couldn't explore much since the weather was gloomy, the pool villa definitely was more than enough reason to stay indoors. The sprawling resort is nestled on a hill in Cape Panwa, the southeastern end of Phuket.

From the main reception area, resort transportation took me to my villa facing the ocean. Every villa has a gate for added security and privacy.

One of the main features is your own infinity pool which connects from the sun deck, bed room and living room all the way to the large bathroom (which has its own jacuzzi and sauna) at the opposite end of the main bedroom. A sound system provides relaxing pipe-in music all throughout the villa.

The room is no doubt spacious, with glass walls that offer a beautiful view of the sea. There were so many corners where I could work or relax and just look at the sea, depending on my mood.

For dinner, I'd eat at Baba Poolclub where a larger infinity pool provides more relaxation to guests.

Pizza is one of their specialties and I obviously choose something different: Tom Yam Pizza and Parma Ham Truffle Pizza. I also tried the Massaman Curry with Pork.

Breakfast was at the main reception area. Aside from the usual offering, they have local Phuket dishes. But these have to be pre-ordered the night before which I made sure to try: Phad Se-Ew with Chicken, Phuket Style Dim Sum, Roti with Chicken Curry, and Phuket Style Soya Milk.

The resort also has its own private beach if you want to stay away from the crowds in Phuket's public beaches.

My stay at Sri Panwa Phuket was extremely pleasing! How I wish I could visit again. Definitely highly-recommended, especially for those who want to spend their honeymoon in Phuket.

Bookings can be made through the Sri Panwa Phuket website.

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