Browsing "Older Posts"

Malang Nightlife: Best Bars, Clubs and Spas (Updated 2021)

By Tibs →
Malang is one of the nicest cities I've been to in Java. It is a mid-sized mountain town just 2 hours from Surabaya, relatively clean (for Indonesia standards) and with pleasant weather (though it can be rainy). As you would expect, Malang nightlife is not the most happening. The current hotspot is actually the brand-new Starbucks, in front of which you may surprisingly see a couple of Ferraris. If you want to party, you have a few good bars and nightclubs though, enough to keep you busy for a weekend. Most bars are laid-back beer houses or live music cafés that are popular with students. These venues are not so sophisticated and their prices are as low as they can get. There are some reputed universities in the city (Universitas Negeri Malang in particular), so the crowd is rather educated and you can easily make friends if you are not shy to socialize. Clubs are more diversified. The best ones are modern, with a rich crowd, sexy girls and decent entertainment (DJs

9 Best Things to Do at Night in Jakarta (2021)

By Tibs →
I recently wrote about the best things to do in Jakarta . In the following review, I will be more specific and focus on night-time activities. A cliché used to describe Jakarta is that of "a city that never sleeps." While this could apply to any major capitals in the world, I think it is particularly accurate here. There is always some kind of life in Jakarta, whatever the time and whatever the location. It is quite logical considering the city has one of the highest population densities in the world. Another reason is that there are a lot of Indonesians working long shifts or night shifts, especially small business owners and independent workers. As long as money can be made, they won't close shop or go home. This is why you can always get food, cigarettes, or a taxi ride at any time of the night. For the traveler, the advantage of this situation is that there are a lot of things to do at night. Even better, if you go out after 9pm, you'll also enjoy less t

Are VPNs legal in Indonesia?

By Tibs →
Within the past two weeks, both China and Russia have made VPNs illegal. This has made people worry that other countries might soon forbid them as well. In particular, we can wonder if Indonesia, where thousands of websites are blocked (because of porn, streaming, gambling, hate speech, terrorism, etc), will follow the lead. First, let me remind you quickly what VPNs are and why so many people are using them in Indonesia. VPN, an acronym for Virtual Private Network, is a technology that allows you to bypass internet censorship and to remain anonymous on the web. Basically, it connects your computer to a protected server in another country, from where you will be free to visit any sites you want. The best VPN companies do not keep track of your activity on their servers, meaning nobody will ever know what you did online.

Lima Nightlife: 20 Best Bars and Nightclubs (Updated)

By Tibs →
The capital of Peru and the 3rd largest city in Latin America after Sao Paulo and Mexico, Lima has a huge nightlife scene. I was very surprised to discover that there is an endless number of bars and nightclubs, not only in the center, but in all the districts and suburbs of this sprawling megalopolis. You will find a bit of everything: High-end nightclubs filled with socialites, retro 80s and 90s discos, cheap backpacker watering holes, swanky beach clubs, trendy rooftop bars, packed salsotecas, and even several red-light districts.

Cartagena Nightlife - Best Bars and Nightclubs

By Tibs →
Note: This Cartagena nightlife guide was written by my friend Sam who lived for several years in Colombia. I invite you to read his other guides Bogota Nightlife and  Medellin nightlife . Thibaud. Cartagena is a coastal Caribbean city, probably one of the most popular with foreigners in Colombia. You have a lot of backpackers, retirees, American cruise ship passengers, as well as local tourists. The main attractions are the old town, with its Spanish colonial architecture, the beaches, and what will interest us here: the nightlife . Nightlife in Cartagena has a fantastic Caribbean vibe, but there are a few things to pay attention to. Ripping off tourists is an art form in this city and all the unsavory characters come out at night here. You’ll need to be on the lookout for scammers, drug dealers, hookers masquerading as normal girls, and more.  That’s where I come in! After spending 3 months in Cartagena, I know where to go and when. I hope my recommendations will h

Kuala Lumpur Nightlife - Best Nightclubs and Bars in KL (Updated)

By Tibs →
I would not recommend going to KL specifically for partying, but if you happen to be in town, there are enough good venues to have fun. The following review will guide you to the best bars and nightclubs in the city as of 2019. Comments, criticism and questions are much welcome, just write them below at the end of the article. If you don't have time to read the whole review, here is a summary in 50 words: - If you are a backpacker, party on the street Jalan Changkat Bukit Bintang (near Havana Bar). - For something more sophisticated, try the TREC complex and especially the mega-club Zouk. - If you are an expat, try Kyo in Mandarin Oriental. - Recommended good value hotel for nightlife:  MOV  (50$ per night) KL Nightlife Nightlife in Kuala Lumpur has a poor reputation as Malaysia is considered one of the most conservative countries in Asia. Authorities often cancel high-profile concerts due to religious and cultural issues, such as Beyonce in 2007 or Ke$ha in 2013.