Hidden gems: Mui Ne, Jojakarta & Manila

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GET SAND IN STRANGE PLACES IN MUI NE

Parched desert sands and South-East Asia are not a natural combo, but Mui Ne, statistically the driest part of Vietnam, comes close to recreating a Saharan wilderness in the tropics. Forget about heading to the beach for kitesurfing or windsurfing, the Binh Thuan desert is the place to go for some adrenalin-fuelled action. Vast dunes melt from warm reds and golds to pure white as they meander through the landscape in the south of the country.

It’s possible to make the 65km trip from local town Phan Thiet by motorbike, but hiring a jeep is a better option. This allows you to enjoy the scenic drive, with options to stop off at the local ‘fairy springs’, dunes and red-sand canyons, and to test your mettle with some 4WD off-road action. Remember to pack your bathing suit – the Bao Trang (‘White Lake’) area has three lotus-bedecked lakes: Bau Ba (‘Lady Lake’), which is the largest, Bau Ong (‘Gentleman Lake’) and the smaller Bau Xoai (‘Mango Lake’). The surrounding ponds offer the opportunity for a refreshing dip. At many spots you’ll find a small battalion of kids keen to rent you a tea tray-style sled and point you towards some of the steeper sandy slopes. They’ll also flog you cans of ice-cool soft drinks once you’ve exhausted your legs, and sense of adventure, as you climb back up the dunes after each speedy trip down. Photographers should try and catch sunrise (5.30-6.30am) or sunset (6-7pm) for the most spectacular shots.

From Singapore: Fly Tiger Airways (www.tigerairways.com) to Ho Chi Minh City. Mui Ne beach and Phan Thiet town are located between Nha Trang and southern hub Ho Chi Minh City. Hire a car for the four- to five-hour drive, or take one of the twice-daily north-south buses from either direction (around US$6).

By Gemma Price

GET SOME RED-HOT ACTION IN JOGJAKARTA

No trip to Jogjakarta is complete without paying homage to the world’s most-watched volcano, the 2,968m-high Mount Merapi. Just half an hour’s travel north of the city and constantly monitored by volcanologists, Merapi has erupted 68 times since 1548. Deadly eruptions in 1930 and 1994 saw a total of 1,360 people killed, and the volcano’s last violent flare-up in 2006 saw some 15,000 people evacuated from surrounding villages.

So why on earth would you want to climb this volcano? Well, other than the chance to see some bubbling lava, Merapi is couched in some pretty cool folklore – so much so that, in 2006, many of the thousands of residents asked to evacuate initially refused to budge, believing they would be in no danger until lightning struck around the peak. Today, locals maintain that the volcano, which incidentally is believed to have a magical kingdom upon its peak, continues to protect the city of Jogjakarta, ensuring peace and prosperity for its people.

As you climb the still-active volcano (a guide is necessary) you’ll see a few unnerving signs: ‘Danger Zone’, ‘Level 3’, and ‘World’s Most Watched Volcano’. You’ll also be told that under no circumstance should you climb to the peak: it’s been banned since 1994 and presumably for good reason. Unscrupulous guides will offer to take you, but it’s at your own risk, and the last point you’re likely to reach has signs that translate as: ‘Highest Risk, No People’. But more importantly, you’re probably not dressed for entry to the magic kingdom anyway.

From Singapore: Fly Lion Air (www.lionair.co.id) direct to Jogjakarta. Take a taxi, bus, pedicab or minivan to the town of Kaliurang and book yourself into Vogel’s Hostel on Jln Astamulya No 76, Kaliurang, Jogjakarta (Tel: +62 2 7489 5208).

By Sarah Porter, Trish Anderton, Yousuf Rangoonwala & Alex Terry

GET SPOOKED IN MANILA

For an unforgettable combination of intriguing local history, urban mythology and an unexpected take on the present, pay a visit to the Manila Film Center. A large Marcos-era building located near Manila Bay, it’s said to be haunted by some unfortunate spirits. As the story goes, the structure was being rushed into completion when a scaffolding accident led to a number of workers drowning in a floor of quick-drying cement. To save time, the dead workers were supposedly left in place and their bodies simply entombed in more cement.

Since then, there have been reports of ghost sightings in the building. The site was abandoned after the Marcos dictatorship ended and it has since been condemned, as the structure is no longer safe. Today, the locals still won’t go near it, but ironically a partially renovated portion of it is now being used to stage gay cabaret shows for Korean tourists. 

From Singapore: Fly Cebu Pacific Air (www.cebupacificair.com) direct to Manila. Once there take a taxi to the site (CCP Complex, Senator Gil Puyat Avenue, Reclamation Area, Manila). Visitors can explore the grounds without restriction, although the main entrance is often locked. Or check out Manila-native Carlos Celdran’s walking tours of the CCP Complex. Email celdrantours@hotmail.com for more information.

By Lester Ledesma

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