Lying off the coast of Dili, Atauro Island is a great getaway destination. Either for a full exploration or just a day trip on Saturdays when the ferry goes. There are good walks and, of course, excellent snorkeling, but else the main thing is just chilling out and tuning in to the simple life. The village of Makili, at the southern tip, is known for its wood carvers. If you can not make it here, you can usual find a few carvers in Dili, selling their pieces in front of Castaway bar at the waterfront.

Tucked away in a cove on the backside of the hoovering Jesus statue lies one of the best beaches around Dili. It goes under the precise but utterly uncharming name of Jesus Backside Beach. It is a long stretch of white sand with gentle aqua blue water. Even though its close proximity to Dili it is untouched and has some very good snorkeling right from the shore – maybe even some of the best in East Timor.

Check the photo gallery for more Timor beaches along the northern coast.

Lombok has also a Kuta Beach, which not surprisingly is called Kuta Lombok. The place remind Bali fans of Kuta Beach Bali thirty years ago. Investors have now started to buy up seafront estate, so maybe in a couple of years it will turn into another tourist ghetto. But until then, Kuta Lombok is a getaway for surfers and travellers with a crave for easy living and nightly acoustic performances. During the day fishing boats outnumber sunbathers on the long stretch of white sand. Kuta bay is protected by rough hills to both sides and the outer reef makes sure that the waves break a long way from the shore, leaving calm waters for those fancy a swim. It is a tranquil place with a friendly vibe, but only God knows for how long.

Sengigi is Lombok's sad attempt of a resort area. Though the stretch of beaches has a few fine hotels and eateries, the whole place has an abandon feel to it. Never finished hotel projects lies side by side with overgrowing land slots and pretentious concrete malls with vacant shops. The fairly nice palm fringed beach is patrolled by bored looking beach boys and friendly vendors. So use Sengigi for what it is good, namely as a base. Eat some nice food, rent a scooter, and then explore the rest of Lombok - or go straight to Gili Islands.

The Petronas Twin Towers are the icon of Kuala Lumpur. To fully appreciate the grand scale of this set of illuminated rockets, you need to see them from a bit of distance, and no place is better than Sky Bar from (almost) the top of Traders hotel at the 33rd floor. This super chic bar slash spa offer amazing views of the Twin Towers along with rest of the skyline of Kuala Lumpur and, of course, a swimming pool to have an excuse to wear bathers while drinking a Martini.

By reputation Ko Phi Phi is the iconic beach paradise with sparkling white beaches, rugged mountains, and excellent snorkeling in aqau blue water right at your bamboo bungalow. Reality is however a bit less glossy. Phi Phi has been solid on the tourist map for decades. What started out as a true backpacker hideaway is now taken over by Scandinavian families and Japanese package tourist in matching orange life vests. Hordes of daytrippers from Phuket are descending on the popular beaches and fill the bays with tour boats. But yes, Phi Phi is still darn nice. So if it fits your wallet, please join the crowds on this slice of commercialized paradise.