The Restless Earth
Beyond the Dot

The Restless Earth

We like to think of the Earth as stable and still, but volcanoes tell a different story. I’ve realised that I’ve visited three active volcanoes in my travels, and this post is a way of looking back at what each one revealed about the restless Earth. Standing on an active volcano, I’m reminded that the ground is constantly shifting, breathing, and remaking itself. There is a quiet sense that something is happening just out of sight below the surface, and that calm can always be broken by one of nature’s most violent events.

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Doi Mae U Kho: Fields of Gold
Beyond the Dot, Doi Mae U Kho, Thailand

Doi Mae U Kho: Fields of Gold

Our Journey on the Mae Hong Son Loop continues. Leaving Mae Hong Son City, we continue on Highway 108 southwards towards Khun Yuam town where we will then turn east on Route 1263. A chance Whatsapp conversation with a friend in Thailand convinced us to detour to Doi Mae U Kho to catch a fleeting annual event; fields of sunflowers blooming and turning the mountain sides a golden hue for only 2 weeks in November. This sounded like a detour that we should not miss.

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Mae Hong Son City: A Peaceful Respite
Beyond the Dot, Mae Hong Son City, Thailand

Mae Hong Son City: A Peaceful Respite

Mae Hong Son City may be the capital and administrative centre of Mae Hong Son Province, but it hardly feels like a city. Instead, it comes across as a sleepy town, with a laid back vibe, quiet streets and low rise buildings, and none of the heavy tourist crowds found in places like Chiang Mai or Pai. We made our way here after leaving Ban Rak Thai. The distance is only less than 40 km but it still takes about an hour’s drive due to the winding mountain roads.

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Travelling the Mae Hong Son Loop
Beyond the Dot, Thailand, Travelling the Mae Hong Son Loop

Travelling the Mae Hong Son Loop

There are road trips, and then there are Road Trips. These are the road trips that offer fantastic scenery, unique stop overs and a drive like no other. Some of them are even world famous like the Great Ocean Road in Australia with its rugged coastline and scenic bends.

In Southeast Asia, the Mae Hong Son Loop is probably one of Thailand’s greatest road trips. Especially popular with motor cyclists, its a circuit of more than 600 km winding its way through the mountains of Northern Thailand. The route starts and ends in Chiang Mai. Along the way, you will see misty mountains, quaint villages tucked in valleys, cozy home stays and esoteric cafes. Being a loop, you can travel in any direction; clockwise or anti-clockwise.

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East Java – The Road Less Traveled
Beyond the Dot, East Java - The Road Less Traveled, Indonesia

East Java – The Road Less Traveled

With a touch of regret I left Mt Bromo for the next stage of the photography tour. I wished I could have spend more time at Mt Bromo for a more in depth exploration of Mt Bromo’s crater, Tengger Caldera and the Sand Sea. As the journey continued, winding mountain roads and misty views gave way to emerald green padi fields as we descended the slopes of Mt Bromo and headed eastwards towards Banyuwangi town on the east coast of Java.

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Mt Bromo: Sulfur Clouds and Sand Seas
Beyond the Dot, Indonesia, Mt Bromo

Mt Bromo: Sulfur Clouds and Sand Seas

Rising from the heart of East Java, Mt Bromo is one of Indonesia’s most iconic volcanoes. Named after Brahma, the Hindu god of creation and standing at 2,329 meters above sea level, Mt Bromo may not be the highest volcano in Indonesia, but it is definitely the most impressive with its raw volcanic beauty.

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Melbourne Memories
Australia, Beyond the Dot, Melbourne Memories

Melbourne Memories

Last year, I finally had the chance to visit Melbourne, a city I’d always wanted to visit. Although my stay was brief, as Melbourne was just a stopover on my way to Tasmania, the city left a strong impression in just a few days. With no direct flights from Singapore to Tasmania currently available, Melbourne serves as the most convenient gateway, offering easy connections by domestic flight or even ferry to Hobart and beyond.

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