The Backpack Adventures

With a territory that measures 330,803 square kilometers more than half of which are forest lands that are home to numerous endemic species of plants and animals,  Malaysia is one of the 17 megadiverse countries on Earth.  Malaysia 's territory consists of thirteen states and three federal territories. These federal territories consist of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Labuan. The country is multi-ethnic and multi-cultural. The majority of its population are Malays, its minority consists of people of Chinese or Indian descent. There are also numerous indigenous people that live in different parts of the country. Regardless of these differences, its local inhabitants are collectively referred to as Malaysians. Malaysian Flag Map of Malaysia The name Malaysia came from a combination of the Malay word " melayu " and Latin-Greek suffix "- sia ". The word melayu in Malay was derived from the Tamil word malai which means mountain and ur which means city. 

Located in the Southern part of Singapore , Sentosa Island is a popular island resort of the country that is visited by millions of local and foreign tourists annually.  Sentosa Island Sentosa Island Details The island was once known as  Pulau Belakang Mati . The island was fortified by the British in the 1880s because of its strategic location in terms of protecting the passage into Keppel Harbour. By the 1930s, the island was already heavily fortified and was the base of the Royal Artillery.  Sentosa Island - Singapore Resorts World - Sentosa Island Despite heavy defenses, Sentosa Island fell to the Japanese during the Second World War. It was then turned into a prisoner of war (POW) camp for the Australian and British POWs in 1942. The island was returned to British rule after the surrender of the Japanese in 1945. It was then transformed into a military training ground for locally enlisted men from Singapore.  Check out the Sentosa Island map The island was handed

Vigan City is located in the province of Ilocos Sur. It is some 405.3 kilometers north of Manila. Despite its distance to Manila, it is actually possible to have a 2N 1D tour of it without needing to check in a hotel. Here's how you can have a DIY: Vigan in a Day . DIY: Vigan in a Day Your adventure begins in Manila. Head to one of the bus terminals* below and board the "midnight"/ sleeper buses to Vigan City . Partas Bus Cubao Terminal : 816 Aurora Boulevard, Cubao Quezon City ☎ +63 (2) 7278278 Pasay Terminal : Aurora Boulevard (Tramo) Corner Edang St. San Roque, Pasay City ☎ +63 (2) 8528194 Dominion Bus Lines Dapitan, Sampaloc, Manila ☎  +63 (2) 7414146 *You should book for a reservation during the Holidays/ Weekends because these terminals usually get crowded during these times. Vigan City Arch The trip to Vigan City takes about 8-9 hours depending on traffic. I highly recommend that you bring a packed breakfast and lunch to cut the cost of food

Ilocos Norte is the northwestern-most province in Luzon Island. Despite its distance from Manila, the province offers a lot of beautiful natural and man-made attractions that would surely make one come back for more.  Top 10 Things to Do in Ilocos Norte If you're planning to visit Ilocos Norte for the first time, here's something that might help you plan your trip: Top 10 Things to Do in Ilocos Norte 1. Buy locally made souvenirs. 2. Take a selfie or a couple shots with the picturesque  Patapat Viaduct  as your background. 3. Visit  St. William the Hermit Church  and the sinking bell tower. 4. Check-in at  Fort Ilocandia Resort . 5. Visit and take a refreshing dip at  Kabigan Falls . 6. Take an Instagram perfect shot of  Bangui Windfarm . 7. Visit and learn sandboarding in  La Paz Sand Dunes  /  Paoay Sand Dunes . 8. Enjoy the view from  Cape Bojeador Lighthouse . 9. Spend a day at any resort in  Pagudpod . 10. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage  Paoay