Travel Better and Smarter with NobelApp

The surprising thing I take with me on my travels

If you were to guess what I take with me on almost any trip you would probably mention stuff like a backpack, a toothbrush, a map, a tablet, a notebook, a smartphone, or something like that. These are things that are very useful when you travel abroad but what I found after going away from home for weeks and even months at a time is that what matter most is to be able to communicate whenever I want and with whomever I want, no matter the country. So on my “to bring along” list you will always find the NobelCom calling cards and the International Calling App NobelApp. The reason is simple, it allows me to call anyone I want at very low costs.

Do you know how much hassle you can avoid if you can arrive in a completely new country with your own smartphone or tablet and be able to call your hotel, your host or your local friend? It’s hugely helpful and it gives me even more confidence to travel alone as a girl.

Finding your way with NobleApp

There are times when I need to find my hotel or my AirBnB host and the only thing I got is a vague address and a phone number. Calling the hotel or the host to ask for directions in English will surely save you even hours of wandering on the dubious streets of a new city. With an app like NobleApp that allows me to use any WiFi connection, local 3G connection or even any phone to call whomever I want for just a few cents per minute you feel so free. Most travelers don’t even know they have this option and they miss out on so much. 

Keeping in touch with friends and family

Another thing I noticed after traveling in the past few years is that I tend to miss my friends and family in Indonesia and that I feel the need to share what I discover with them. Not everyone back home has reliable Internet all the time or have time to Skype with me so it is super convenient to be able to call them on their mobile phone with no worries about the cost, no matter where I am in the world.

Whenever I arrive in a new country where I know I will stay for at least one week I get a local SIM card with a convenient data plan. This allows me to use the data connection for NobelApp in order to call my friends in Indonesia. I can even purchase NobelApp calling cards for my friends and top up their account so they can also call me whenever they have news or want to know where I am and how I am doing.

One of my goals is to inspire more women to travel and explore the world and I know that many of them are afraid to do it. One way to make it easier and gain more confidence is to have an easy way of getting in touch with the people you love and trust. So just give NobelApp a try and follow your dreams!

New Orleans

"...Of all the books in the world, the best stories are found between the pages of a passport"

Apologize for the delayed blog post about New Orleans. I'm trying my best to post regularly but what can I do when traveling schedule kept me busy on the road ? I was writing an article when I saw a good friend of mine posted on facebook about the best stories of life are found between the pages of a passport. I couldn't be more agreed with that. Then I took my passport, open every single page and each stamp there from different countries just like a time machine took me back to those good old days where I felt simply feel free, happiest and sexiest just being on the road. 

There’s a story behind every stamps, not only in my passport...but also yours. Do you remember those mix feelings between happy, sad, excitement, angry, love, nervous, disappointment, love, including lots of decisions you've made when you visiting new places in the past ? You reunited with someone you haven't seen for ages and it felt so good but then you had to say goodbye again, you kissed your parents goodbye and start a whole new adventure overseas, business trip, first-trip-ever overseas, or those holiday flings you had when you're backpacking in Asia, the amazing feeling words can't even describe when you enjoyed the beauty of nature and diversity makes life more interesting. I got my very first ever passport stamp when I was in high school,  won free trip to Singapore for 3 days. I jumped like crazy - really excited to experience what's Singapore like in my own eyes. And then you know - it changed the way I see life overall. As I grow and travel more often, I became curious, independent, open-minded, love myself better and confident on my own skin, but talk about the best story so far behind the passport stamps ? Man, it's really hard to choose but I'd say my birthday trip to Vietnam - Cambodia few years ago left really special mark in my heart. What about you ? It's funny to look back on those days where I had no idea what to do with my life but I knew I just wanted to see the world and then we found ways and next thing we knew... we're back on the road again, catching flights, capture all the good moments, etc, etc,..

So it's almost A YEAR now I live in Florida. Life's good, I'm glad I did my best to manage visiting other cities, and here's another unique and pretty little city New Orleans that you must experience while visiting USA - a 12 hours bus journey from Orlando by Megabus, stayed for 2 nights with India Hostel at 123 South Lopez Street ( $20 / night for dorm rooms ), strategically located close to the city and New Orleans main attractions. You can purchase one day pass RTA bus or streetcar for $3, explore what they called oh-so-New Orleans.. very rich of culture, color, food and music ( even New Orleans doors are too pretty to ignore ), take your time gettin lost and fall in love with every details you'll find from French Quarter, Jackson Square, City park, Canal Street,  the museums, bars at Bourbon street, delicious beignet  et cafe au lait at Cafe Du Monde  , voo-doo and vintage shops, and many more. 

Porto Colom, Spain

Back in Porto Colom, Spain. Well not physically, but mentally yes. I've spent 2 wonderful months in Mallorca this summer, it was everything I saw in the movie or magazines where European people went on summer holidays and they went crazy after months dress up  in layers like an Eskimo. I could totally understand that. While for me, born and raised in a tropical country like Indonesia where we're lucky to have the sun almost all year, it seems we don't really appreciate the summer heat, oh well..grass is always greener. I only have been to few places in Europe but I can convince you Mallorca is one of the best summer destinations, period. A lot bigger than Ibiza, the island has so many hidden paradise to explore, whether you just want to party or relaxing ( or both ), getting off from the plane or ferry in Palma, you can take TIB buses from Placa De' Espanya to different towns. I loved Porto Cristo because it's pretty busy and touristy, they have Saturday market, with various of beach bars and restaurants and we were lucky to live in an apartment next to the famous Cuevas Del Drach and only short walking distance to the beach, town center, my favorite secret bay, possibly everything I ever dreamed about summer in Europe. We visited Cala Rajada too, I found this town was more energetic and dynamic, saw a lot of young people. Then we moved to Porto Colom, less crowded but it was perfect to relax, they have few restaurants, unfortunately not a beach bar but I didn't complain as we met bunch of nice people, the beach Cala Marcal was just 15 minutes away from home and taking an excursion to explore the sea cave, kayaking or diving with Skualo could always be nice option to do. Always love dancing on the beach while watching sunset, now scroll down for few photos I took in Porto Colom, also read  How I Afford Travel for 6 months non-stop.