I was recently nominated to participate in Tripbase’s “3 Best Kept Travel Secrets” game by my Twitter pal Monica (please read her contribution to the game). “The aim of this game is to unite travel bloggers in a joint endeavor – to create an amazing list of top travel recommendations across the globe to share with the entire online travel community.” – Katie from Tripbase.com.
So here we go. These are my 3 best-kept travel secrets. Enjoy! 
1. Lang Tengah island, Malaysia
I visited this island for the first time last year and I was absolutely blown away by its beauty from the minute I stepped onto its pure white, powdery shores. The best part is: not many Malaysians even know of this little gem in the South China Sea, a 45-minute boat ride from Merang, a hamlet in the state of Terengganu, north-east of Kuala Lumpur. The island is rather small: it’s lined by brilliant white sandy beaches while the waters that lap its shores harbour some of the most stunning marine life on the Malaysian East Coast. The island’s core is covered with virgin rainforests that are home to a variety of wildlife. Most tourists choose to visit Lang Tengah’s larger neighbours, Perhentian and Redang islands, making Lang Tengah wonderfully secluded. You can laze on the beach, under the swaying palms, with a good book, or grab your snorkelling or diving gear. I had my very first shark encounter just ten meters off the beach: an adrenaline-infused experience I shall never forget.
2. Printing a boarding pass
Here’s one of my favourite tips. E-tickets are the norm nowadays. It’s easy to check in online for a flight before heading out to the airport – it sure saves you a quite a bit of time, especially if you don’t have any luggage to check in. If you’ve just checked in for your flight using your laptop or mobile phone at your hotel, and you have no access to a printer, save the link or the pdf file of your boarding pass, then check out the hotel stationery at the bedside table for the hotel’s email address. Send them the link or the pdf file via email and ask them to print it for you. Call the reception to let them know and for them to have your boarding pass ready when you check out. Works like a charm!
3. Put your camera down for a sec
Courtesy of Miles (http://www.hazardouspaste.com/)
When I’m travelling, I sometimes get so taken up by a place that I try to take snapshots of the place from every angle imaginable, usually for my blog, but sometimes out of fear that I’ll somehow forget the magic of the place. Capturing images of the place does help to conjure memories of a certain place, however, I’ve learned that the best memories of a place are the ones which were captured by our senses. Nowadays, I always remind myself to put down my camera and experience the place using my five senses. I’ll find a place to sit, then take a deep breath and close my eyes. What do I hear and smell? What does the ground under my feet feel like? After several moments, I open my eyes to allow the grand images of the scenery before me to flood my mind. Trust me, you’ll remember the experience a lot better. Each time you look up the photos you took, you’ll be reminded of the scents, the sounds and/or the feel of the place.
Ok, as part of the game, I now have to nominate five other bloggers to share their 3 best kept travel secrets. Here are my nominations:
Thank you Fida. I still get carried away sometimes and have to remind myself to put down the camera and just enjoy the scenery.
Cheers,
Keith
I love all of them – but your last tip beats everything. Sometimes we are so busy clicking away that we don’t really “see” the place. It’s funny – I was sitting on a beach in Vietnam and the glow of the sunset brought the rocks alive. I didn’t have my camera with me and thought, what the heck, just enjoy it you can take a pix tomorrow. Well, the last two evenings the ‘glow’ just didn’t happen anymore, but the beauty of that scene is edged into my memory for eternity (or at least as long as I still have my marbles
I just revealed mine over at my blog
Hi,
I still have to share my secrets. Working on it now. Only, I feel like everyone has been to so many exotic places, and the places I’ve been to are so…plain. Will post soon.
By the way, thought maybe you can help me spread the word about a giveaway at my blog…Giving away one brand new Lubitell 166+ Lomo camera. Rules are posted on my blog. Hope you or your readers can join. Million thanks and kisses.
xo,
Jen
I love the third one – putting down the camera.
I also get carreid away and take so many pictures, but then I realize I have to stop and enjoy the moment!
Thank you Celine & Katie for your comments. A special thanks to Katie for organising this game. Really cool way to get some fab tips!
Cheers,
Keith
I also loved Tioman Island. Was there during the SARS outbreak so the island was pretty empty… glorious!
Thanks for sharing your secrets!
never heard of lang tengah but i like your description. how’s the accommodation there like?
Typical! Everyone will come up with a different system and many years down the road, there will be a consolidation and the best system may not always win. sigh…
@Keith, indeed Air France / KLM is also working on that.
Problem is: As most of travel actors today, they are trying to develop their own system instead of thinking about inter-connections and data portability.
–> Ended up being able to do it in Barcelona because it was Vueling but couldn’t in Paris. On the other side, could do it with Air France in Paris but not in Barcelona… Kind of a joke if you think about it!!
But when it works, lovely! Online check-in / no printing, you can almost arrive at the airport 20 minutes before take-off!
Hi Antoine,
Thanks for your comment. Good joke!
Yes, I’ve read about using iPhones or Blackberry’s to check in. Super handy. You get the code on your phone and hold it up against the scanner at the airport and you’re through. Fast and green! Not sure how many airlines/airports have implemented it yet though. I know Air France/KLM is one of them that has.
Cheers,
Keith
Totally agree on that one, especially the Third one. There is a joke about it:
A Japanese asking to his friend who just came back from vacations in Europe:
“How was it?” – “Can’t tell, I haven’t checked my pictures yet”…
Travelling is a great experience, worth sharing but, first of all, that’s a feast of the 5 senses
and should stay that way if you do not want to miss the purpose of it!!
Regarding the printing of your boarding-pass, I consider that you shouldn’t even have to do it. I recently travelled from Barcelona airport and experienced the check-in at Vueling via my Iphone, loved it and green as it can be!
Thank you Zoë and Audrey for your lovely comments. Yes, the third tip is closest to my heart.
Cheers,
Keith
Love these tips. Beautiful, practical & inspiring. Not heard of the Malaysian secret – gorgeous. (Spent 1 week on Tioman in the 90s – very relaxing) Handy hint for printing out ticket and of course love the last one – it is at the heart of Quirky Travel!
See you on Twitter …
Zoe
My husband and I spend so much time behind the camera, either for photo projects or to try and “document” a place or country, that I now really appreciate the value of putting the camera down. It’s a treat when we leave the camera at home and just walk around a place enjoying it without thinking of images.