The Next Great Escape

Well, I already had my Hajj trip - so basically I don't owe any other compulsory religious trip. I already had my trip to Japan that I always wanted. I already went to Sampireun for my honeymoon. And I'm not too keen on Bali. So for quite sometime I honestly don't really know where to go for my next vacation.

I think vacation IS important. Without any escape from your usual routine, it'll be just boring living the same thing day by day. It's not always have to be expensive, I think even going camping or even stay at home can be an escape (yeah, just don't open that laptop to retrieve some working emails no more ha ha).

And then a friend of mine mentioning about this place. Maldives. I browse and I fell in love. I just GOT to go there, someday. You know when sometime the advertisement agent retouch the pictures with Photoshop just to make it look gorgeous - well Maldives don't need any retouch! It's really, really, really drop dead gorgeous...

First of all, I did want to go to a beachy place - which obviously Maldives have a lot *additional point*. And now I already have a legal partner to spend time with *additional point*. When I browse, it turns out the Maldives native is moslem, so halal food should not be too difficult to find *another additional point*.

But when looking on the price tag. Waks! The W Hotel rate is 3250 USD per night. And that's not including the airplane ticket, fiscal, snorkling, etc. Yeah right. That's just too much. Immediately browsing for budget travel in Maldives. 600 USD for 3 days, 2 nights - so it's about 200 USD per night. Hmmm...

After a lot of consideration, I think Maldives plan should be deprioritized for the time being. Who knows, maybe in 3-5 years from now we can go there *taking the budget budget packet - i mean*. But going now will be just too pushy - I mean, camping on the beach to save money and get drifted away at night and wake up in the middle of the sea doesn't sound too romantic ha ha...

So after discussion, we're thinking about going to Umang Island. About 4 hours away from Jakarta. Way cheaper than Maldives. Not as common as Bali. Errr although I do admit that from the photo it's not even anywhere near with Maldives in quality. *Sigh*

But I think I'll always have Maldives in my heart, and hopefully someday can go there. Anyone willing to pay for the trip???