Asia
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The Best Time to Visit Kochi (And When I’d Go Again) 2026
I spent almost three months in Fort Kochi, from the end of October through Christmas, and if there is one thing I learned pretty quickly, it’s that the weather in Kerala does not work like the seasons I’m used to in Europe. There is no real winter in Kochi. You are not choosing between freezing January and hot July. You are mostly choosing between hot, humid, rainy, very rainy and slightly less humid. And yes, that makes a difference. For me, the best time to visit Kochi is between December and February, when the worst of the monsoon is over and the weather is much easier for spending your days…
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How a Random 4-Day Stop in Kochi Became an Entire Chapter of My Life
I was supposed to spend four days in Kochi. That was it. It was my first stop in India, somewhere I had picked mainly because I was terrified of India and Kerala looked like the least terrifying place to start. Three months later, I was still there. By then I wasn’t sightseeing anymore. I had my own room, my favorite cafés, people I saw every day, a bar where I knew everyone, a street dog waiting outside the hostel every night, and somehow even a group of people rescuing street dogs had become part of my life. Visiting Kochi was supposed to be the beginning of a much bigger trip…
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The Hosteller Fort Kochi Ocean Edge Review: My Experience Staying for 3 Months
I originally booked The Hosteller Fort Kochi Ocean Edge because I needed somewhere cheap to stay in Fort Kochi. Three months later, I was still there. During that time, I somehow managed to try almost every dorm in the hostel, spent a month in one of their private rooms, made some of my closest friends from my India trip and reached the point where the hostel genuinely started to feel like home. So this review is definitely not based on one night. I stayed long enough to experience the hostel when it was quiet, when it was completely full, when I had to keep moving between dorms because I refused…
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How Many Days in Kochi Do You Really Need? My Honest Recommendation
When I first arrived in Kochi, I was only supposed to stay for a few days. Somehow, I stayed for three months. That wasn’t because I still had tourist attractions left to see after week seven. Kochi just became one of those places where I stopped traveling the way I normally do. I made friends almost immediately at The Hosteller Fort Kochi Ocean Edge, found cafés and food places I kept going back to, and suddenly had an actual routine. Most evenings I would meet friends for drinks at Cochin Fort, and after spending so much of my India trip constantly moving, Fort Kochi started feeling weirdly like home. That…
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Where to Stay in Brunei: Best Areas + Hotels
Figuring out where to stay in Brunei is actually a little more important than it might seem at first. Bandar Seri Begawan doesn’t have a huge selection of hotels, and the best area really depends on whether you want to be close to the main sights, near restaurants and shopping, or stay somewhere more resort-like. When I visited Brunei, I stayed at The Capital Residence Suites in Bandar Seri Begawan, which gave me a really convenient base for exploring the city. In this guide, I’ll break down the best areas to stay in Brunei, where I stayed myself, and a few other hotel options depending on your budget and the…
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The 4 Best Hostels in Kochi, India
I spent 3 months living in Kochi, India. What was supposed to be a quick 3–4 day trip ended up with me staying until my visa finally forced me to leave. As someone who has been traveling for 10+ years and has now visited 62 countries, I’ve managed to travel this much by keeping things on a budget, and hostels have been a huge part of that. In this guide, I’ll share the 4 best hostels in Kochi, including the one I stayed at during my time there and the others I’d recommend to anyone visiting the city. Best Hostels in Kochi: Quick Picks I wrote this post to help…
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Brunei Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting
Brunei became my 36th country during my first backpacking trip around Southeast Asia. I wasn’t actually planning to visit Brunei. A friend convinced me to book a last-minute flight from Kuala Lumpur, and suddenly I was heading to a country I knew very little about. After traveling through some of the busiest places in Southeast Asia, arriving in Brunei was a completely different experience. The first thing I noticed was how quiet everything felt. Bandar Seri Begawan was calm, spacious and nothing like the crowded capitals I had been used to. During my visit, I spent two days exploring the capital, visiting Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, seeing Kampong Ayer, checking…
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Brunei Itinerary: How to Spend 2 Days in Bandar Seri Begawan
If you’re planning a trip to Brunei, you might be wondering how to create the perfect Brunei itinerary and how much time you actually need. Brunei is one of the least visited countries in Southeast Asia, and unlike many destinations in the region, it is not a place where you need a packed schedule. The main highlights are concentrated around Bandar Seri Begawan, making it easy to experience the country in just a couple of days. I visited Brunei during my first backpacking trip around Southeast Asia, and it became my 36th country. I wasn’t originally planning to visit, but after a friend convinced me to book a last-minute flight…
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Things to Do in Brunei: Best Places to Visit in Bandar Seri Begawan
Brunei is one of the least visited countries in Southeast Asia, and for many travellers, it is a destination they know very little about before arriving. Since most people only spend a couple of days in Brunei, one of the biggest questions is what is actually worth doing and which places should you visit with limited time. I visited Brunei during my first backpacking trip around Southeast Asia, and it became my 36th country. I only had a short time there, but it was enough to explore Bandar Seri Begawan, visit the main landmarks and experience a completely different side of Southeast Asia compared to the neighbouring countries. In this…
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How Many Days in Brunei Do You Need? My Honest Opinion After Visiting
If you’re planning a trip to Brunei, one of the first questions you’ll probably ask is how many days in Brunei do you need. It’s a fair question because Brunei is one of the smallest countries in Southeast Asia, and many travellers only include it as a short stop during a bigger trip around the region. I visited Brunei during my first backpacking trip around Southeast Asia, when I was traveling alone and Brunei became my 36th country. I spent two days in Bandar Seri Begawan, which gave me enough time to see the main highlights without feeling rushed. In this guide, I’ll break down whether one, two or three…
