Another short girls’ trip with my mom. I’ve been seeing all these photos of trullis on Instagram, people visiting and I fell in love with it. My mom also had it on her bucket list for a while. At first the plan was to go with the car from home and do a road trip. But then due to good connecting flights, we made it a short trip. We spent a couple of days in September when I didn’t have to work.
The trip started rather funny. I booked a rent-a-car at Felirent. Without a rental it is impossible to get around Puglia. It was one of the rare agencies, where you didn’t need a credit card. No, I don’t have one. And I think rental agencies should really change their game. Anyway, the place was filled with Fiat Pandas and really sketchy looking. It took us probably more than one hour to get a car. Of course, they charged us something extra, just because they can. Luckily, everything was good, also upon returning the car.
Anyway, let’s start the trip. We arrived early, so our first stop of the day was Polignano a Mare. We have prebooked a boat tour of the caves. We were more interested in seeing the place from the sea than from land. They took us to see many different caves – grotta.
Ponte BorbonicoPhoto by our guide
After the boat ride we continued our journey. We had a short stop in a quaint town – Locorotondo. We had a snack stop at Il Re dei Panini – the King of Sandwiches. It was so big, the two of us only ate half.
In late afternoon we finally arrived to our home away from home – B&B Salita Delle Pere. The cutest place with the nicest lady host and delicious breakfast. You actually stay in a trulli, if you book so. For an affordable price and with a great location.
Breakfast at B&B Salita Delle Pere with many different home-baked pastries.
The next day was the most exciting one – we visited Alberobello. We were just wandering the whole day around, getting lost among all the trullis. My one thing to do beside visiting Alberobello, was to try orecchiette in Coppino. I would go back just to eat that again!
Photo by strangerPhoto by momThe most delicious orecchiette.
I really enjoyed Alberobello. But since we still had some time in the day, we decided to check out Ostuni.
Finishing off the day with a proper Italian dinner.
Our last day we saved for Matera. It is around one hour drive from Alberobello, but a must to visit. Matera is a UNESCO World Heritage site with its rich history and interesting architecture. In modern times, it was used as a filming location. It served as a backdrop for films such as The Passion of the Christ, Wonder Woman, and many others. We joined one of the walking tours to find out more about its history. On our own it would be very difficult to actually find the Sassi cave dwellings.
Air vent – functional and decorative
After many steps we treated ourselves to a panini at L’Antica Credenza – La Paninoteca.
After refueling we decided to visit Palombaro lungo – the largest public cistern in the city. It was brought to life during the construction of Piazza Vittorio Veneto in 1991. Being roughly fourteen meters deep and fifty meters long, it had a capacity of over five million liters of water.
We finished our visit to Matera with a view point spot.
Found some more orecchiettes and called it a day. The next day we returned the car, they took us to the airport and said ciao, bella!
I have wanted to try diving for a very long time now. Then Rick finally said ok, let’s do this. So we went straight to Raja Ampat, Indonesia, one of the top diving locations. Many people said we will be spoilt from now on.
We stayed in a homestay for about 10 days. No wifi, no alcohol, no choice of food. We ate fish, rice and veggies every day for 3 times a day – my tummy loved it! Once in a while we had something different, like dadar gulung – pancakes made of coconut & pandan. We had this whole beach, like from a screensaver, just for ourselves. It was picture perfect.
The island was very small, we would walk all around it in about 45 minutes. There was a school and the local men were fishing every day.
On our arrival, we had some problems finding our homestay. The boat left us at the main jetty. We found out later that ours was broken. The locals don’t really speak English. After some time using gestures and attempting to pronounce the name of our homestay, we made it.
We started our OWD at the resort of the dive center. After we passed it, we of course joined their other dives. They picked us up every day at the jetty. Every dive was special, since we were experiencing something new really. At the time, I was not taking photos yet underwater. However, our guides were so kind to take them for us. They sent us all the photos from all the dives we did.
Between the 2 dives we always had a surface interval on one of the islands. On one of them we got a chance to see fruit bats.
On another one we went to see the view of Piaynemo. It was beautiful to see it.
We had some friends trailing us around the island all the way to our homestay.
Our hosts were very kind. One day we had a privilege to get fresh coconut, straight from the palm. Our host climbed up so easily, cut it off and made it ready for us to eat. He even made a little spoon out of the peel. Amazing. Another day he came home on his narrow boat with the biggest swordfish ever. He was very proud of his catch. I forgot to put the case off of my phone, so I’m not really proud of these photos. Still, you get the picture.
Jalovec (2,645 m) is often called the king of the Julian Alps and it’s easy to see why. Rising sharply above the valleys, its pyramid-shaped peak dominates the skyline. It captures your attention long before you ever set foot on the trail. It’s a mountain that feels powerful and elegant at the same time.
The routes to the top are demanding and exposed in places, making it a true challenge even for experienced hikers. This isn’t a casual walk; it’s a mountain that asks for respect.
For many mountain lovers, Jalovec is more than a destination—it’s a symbol of freedom and endurance. It reminds you how small you are, but in the best possible way. Standing beneath it or on its summit has a way of quieting the mind and grounding you in the moment.
Photos by Rick of me starting the climbing part.
The glorious view of Jalovški Ozebnik.
Walking the main ridge just before the top, photos by Rick.
We made it to the top.
The King’s crown
Recap of the activity.
From the summit, the views are breathtaking. On a clear day, the Julian Alps stretch endlessly in all directions, with Triglav standing proudly nearby. Below, you can spot valleys carved by time. There are alpine meadows and rugged rock faces. These features make this part of Slovenia so special.
Having the top to ourselves, what a reward.
Jalovec has always stood out to me — powerful and impossible to ignore. Making it up there was far from easy, humbling and incredibly rewarding. I was proud, tired and completely in awe.
Now, every time I see Jalovec again — before or after — it feels different. It’s no longer just a mountain in the distance, but a reminder of effort and respect.
Another adventure in peak summer – 14 and 15 August. It is a famous Italian holiday on the 15th of August – Ferragosto. Since it was Monday and Tuesday, we were off. And my friend was also off, because it is a holiday in Slovenia as well. We decided to hike up Mangart and to visit one canyon in Italy – Rio Malimberg.
In summer, there is a hop on hop off bus. It takes you from Bovec to Mangart Saddle. More precisely, it goes to the last parking lot just underneath it. So, from there to the top of Mangart took us around 2.5 hours on the “Slovenian” way. Down we went on the “Italian” way in around 2 hours. Both ways are pretty demanding, you have to be careful and have proper gear, also in summer. It is smart to go early, to beat the crowds and hot summer sun. When we were going down, there were crowds going up. Many of them not properly equipped.
Going up the “Slovenian” way.
Photo by A. M.Photo by A. M.Photo by A. M.Photo by A. M.
Getting to the top and the views from Mangart.
Photo by random hikerPhoto by A. M.
The views are superb already from the Mangart Saddle. It is Slovenia’s highest lying road. In summer is crazy busy with cars, motorbikes and bicycles. In winter is fun for sledging or tour skiing. We were just in time for sunrise and it was magnificent.
Edelweiss flower symbolizes alpinism, rugged beauty and purity. I am always happy when I see one. They are short-lived and only grow in mountainous areas.
The views on the way down and delicious lunch at the hut. I had “ričet”, which is traditional Slovenian barley and bean stew. In 2025 the hut was not operating anymore, unfortunately. From 2026 probably new caretakers will take over.
The next day we did a canyon, called Rio Malimberg. It is a short canyon. It took us 2.5 hours car to car. It is beautiful, with clear water and nice rappels.
Photo by RickPhoto by RickPhoto by A. M.Photo by A. M.Photo by Rick
It is a fun canyon, also appropriate for beginners. And my favorite, it doesn’t have any long walking passages. Great two adventurous days with my people.
If you are hungry, skip this post of my diary! After spending my 5 days in Los Angeles my next destination was the fabulous Hawaii. I decided to join 2 friends who already had their flights booked. It seemed like a much more convenient way to travel from Slovenia to Australia on my WH visa. This was easier than doing it all in one piece with more than 30 hours of traveling to down under. Hawaii it is! There are 5 major islands and many many more smaller. I only did a small research at the airports on the Hawaiian food I must try.
We started and finished our journey on Oahu, most known by Honolulu and Pearl Harbor. My first impression of Oahu was as a very much urban island and I wasn’t really impressed. Once we sat in the car, things started to change. We drove around, especially out of Honolulu and Waikiki. It was a bit different story. We made a round day trip starting from Honolulu. We visited Dole Plantation, Pipeline, and Kualoa Regional Park. Then we headed to Nu’uanu Pali Lookout. To be honest it is not worth spending more than 4 days there and definitely not without a car. Maui is much much much more beautiful. Oahu is very crowded with mostly Asian tourists. Anyway, let’s see what we ate. We indulged ourselves with some pineapple ice cream and pineapple at the Dole Plantation. If you’re not too crazy about seeing pineapples growing, you don’t have to buy the tickets. You’ll already see enough of them.
Photo by VanessaPhoto by Vanessa
On this day trip we found the very famous Romy’s Kahuku Prawns, food truck known for their shrimp and prawns. We waited 45 minutes for their famous butter garlic shrimps or prawns, and we were lucky. The garlic is all over, but it still doesn’t kill the delicious flavor of the seafood. They gave us chilled pineapple while waiting. Awesome gesture. Not sure what is coated or sprinkled with, but it’s delicious. They don’t accept cards as you might be used to all around the US.
As we were staying in The Beach Waikiki Boutique Hostel we were located right at the Waikiki beach obviously. We got free breakfast with fresh waffles. The manager and the rest of the staff are super nice. When staying somewhere in Waikiki, it is also easy to get to Diamond Head. Not demanding, but really crowded with tourists. Another reason why I liked Maui more. Just at the end of our hostel’s street there was a food truck with Colombian food, called Mami’s Empanadas. We got a chance to try it the last evening – all the empanadas, Cuban sandwich and arepa with cheese. Tiny food truck, authentic and delicious food, quite affordable as well, especially if you compare it with other Hawaiian spots.
Going back from Diamond Head towards Waikiki, there are a few cafés. We stumbled upon this lovely gem, called Sunny Days. As per usual in American restaurants, bars or other places, the staff was very kind.
Photo by Vanessa
The next must-stops on Oahu are Leonard’s Bakery and Liliha Bakery. We bought not only coco puffs at Liliha Bakery, which they are famous for, but also malasadas. It is actually Portuguese dessert, their version of donuts. Well, we weren’t really enthusiastic about it. We tried them at Leonard’s Bakery. That’s where we should have tried them in the first place, so I’ve heard. We were left speechless and drooling in our rental car. It was delicious!
Another very hidden gem in Oahu is Ahi Assassins. Pokés are just the best, so I had to find this place. They actually originate from Hawaii. I try to eat as much pokes as I could. Of course I could find them almost anywhere, even in the supermarkets. None of them were really bad around here. Even a cheaper one from the grocery store was still good. The fish and other ingredients are being soaked in all the sauces so much time. This place is a bit hard to find. It’s actually on the second floor with tiny door. It’s a funky lil’ place with delicious poké!
Photo by Vanessa
Before going there that day we visited Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail.
Another funky place at the Waikiki beach is Steak Shack. As the name says, we had steak. There are different sizes or better said amounts, also good for sharing. The meat was just fabulous. Tender and very delicious with rice and a house salad, for which you can choose the dressing. Definitely recommended!
When visiting Pearl Harbor, I took my time to see the Battleship Missouri. It’s truly amazing, it’s like traveling back in time when you step on that ship. It left me speechless.
Enough about Oahu, let’s move on to the prettier island – Maui. Again, having a rental car is very convenient. To fully explore Maui, it’s best to have at least a week. Snorkeling with the turtles was very fun. We were very lucky and swam with a turtle one meter away. Just amazing! After a week I had problems leaving this place.
I was really impressed by Road to Hana. The nature is gorgeous. The road’s most amazing features are random stands by local farmers. They put their fruit there along with a money box. You leave the money and take the fruit you like. There is also a small food truck Halfway to Hana, where they have some snacks and fresh fruit. Homemade banana bread and pulled pork sandwich – YUM!
Photo by VanessaPhoto by VanessaPhoto by Vanessa
However, the one you can buy at the Nakalele Blowhole (West Maui) was even better. It just melted in my mouth!
There are some more food spots in West Maui region that we visited. Hawaii has the freshest fish and other delicacies from the sea. One of such places is Lahaina Fish Co. So many good options, it was very hard to choose from. I’ve had this beautiful dish Ahi “Katsu” Rice Bowl, which was just delicious. After we were craving gelato. Right there is a nice place, called Ono Gelato. It has this beautiful terrace in the back, similar like Lahaina Fish Co. actually, there are just next to each other. Lots of gelatos to choose from, but they are a bit expensive. If we are being honest, the whole Hawaii is.
To try some local beer, we visited one of the Maui Brewing Co. restaurants or the brewery itself. They have a big selection of beers and also delicious food with a big number of choices. There are a few locations.
In North Shore are in Maui, I liked Paia a lot. It is a quaint little town with adorable shops and food spots. We visited original Paia Fish Market. It has many options of different kinds of dishes with fresh fish or the daily catch. While we were there we also had some delicious açaí bowl. Paia Bowls is the place to go. We got there just 5 minutes before closing time, but they were still kind enough to serve us. The small cup looked small at first, but it was more than enough of açaí, fruits, granola and other toppings of your choice.
Photo by Vanessa
In South Maui we visited Coconut’s Fish Cafe. They are known for their delicious fish tacos. We tried also the limited edition kalua pork taco. Kalua pork is traditional Hawaiian and it means a specific kind of cooking the pork in an underground oven. On both tacos they had really tasty sauce with mango, which went really good with both of the tacos. The fish was very tasty and soft. Before going there we also visited the amazing Makena beach.
Sansei Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Bar is more like fine dining place with various locations around Hawaii and even Seattle. This means that the dishes were very nicely plated but also the prices were much higher. The shrimps were a real dynamite! They have quite a big menu and award winning plates. It gets quite busy, but we were lucky enough that someone canceled their reservation.
Hawaii is special and each of the islands have something unique. Many beautiful things to see and lots of fresh fruit and seafood. Quite a paradise. Maybe one day I will go back for diving.
LA was definitely something special. There are so many places to see. There’s Santa Monica Beach, Venice Beach and Hollywood with its walk of fame, of course. Besides mentioned I also visited Beverly Hills, Melrose Avenue, and Little Tokyo. Each part of it has its own character and soul. 5 days went by quickly. I was lucky enough to see a taping Will & Grace and it was an amazing experience! One of the most impressive moments was definitely the sunset at Santa Monica Beach.
For hip things and street art a visit to Melrose Avenue is a must.
In addition to street art like graffiti, there is also the Hollywood Walk of Fame. You can try to find your favorite artists there.
Cruising with a bike through Venice Beach definitely made me feel like a local there. It was like a movie scene.
Photo by H.Photo by H.
I also did the popular Runyon Canyon Park walk with some friends I made at the hostel. It is located in the heart of West Hollywood. There are some nice panoramic views of the city.
To get some nice views of the Hollywood sign we went up to the Griffith Observatory. It is also a good spot to wait for sunset.
Photo by A.
LA is a place where you can eat anything you want. It has a big influence from Latino America, but also a lot of Asian influence. So it is like a whole world in one city.
I adore markets. And usually they are the best spot to eat cheaper and better. The same applies to Grand Central Market, Downtown LA. I had this huge taco for only 4 $ and it was delicious. If you’re not used to American Coke, then I recommend you take the Mexican one, it’s not as sweet. They sell it in a half a litter bottle. There is plenty of different types of cuisine for everyone’s taste.
When in Rome … It is mandatory to have a cheesecake at The Cheesecake Factory, Santa Monica. Until now I couldn’t even imagine that so many kinds of cheesecakes can exist. It was very hard to choose only one. One cost around 9 $, but it is more like a meal. There are around 200 spots around the US, so if you see one, go and have that cheesecake!
Blue Plate Taco, Santa Monica is located just on the Ocean Ave. It has a nice view and a very Mexican touch of interior. I was craving for lobster for a while, so I decided for lobster tacos, which are also the most expensive. With it I got delicious rice and beans. For the dish you see in the photo, I paid 24 $ and plus tax and tip of course. Tortillas were crunchy, which I prefer and the sauce was delicious and not spicy, which I like as well. When waiting for the food, I received tortilla chips and some spicy sauce.
Right next to my HI LA Santa Monica Hostel, where I also found out about it, is HiHo. I loved their menu and interior, all in a keep-it-simple style. I had their double cheeseburger with fries and it was yummy! Fries were crunchy and full of flavour. Their 100% grass fed wagyu beef was tender and delicious. Also their fountain drink is not a regular one, but filled with crafted drinks only.
This one was discovered basically the same way as before. When I got back from Universal Studios, watching the taping of Will & Grace, it was pretty late. I was looking for some spots around the hostel, that were still open and I found KazuNori. Since I adore sushi the decision wasn’t hard. I found this hand roll bar, which was very nice. The staff were very friendly and service was quick. Just as it says on their website: crispy nori and warm rice, making these rolls mouthwatering good.
My obsession with dim sum started probably in Vancouver, when I actually first tried it. My friend from San Diego took me to ixlb – DimSum eats, LA. Too bad I wasn’t that hungry at the time, because I would’ve eaten more for sure. The menu sounded fantastic and everything looked delicious.
Pink’s Hot Dogs are famous hot dogs in LA, which started back in the 30’s. Paul and Betty Pink definitely made their way from a pushcart to a successful hot dog stand. People are stacking up in line to try one of the famous hot dogs. The variety of the hot dogs is crazy. I tried the La La Land hot dog with fries. The serving is American big, although in the photo may not seem so.
Salt’s Cure, LA is one of more trendy, hip spots with a modern style of cuisine. They have different lunch, dinner or brunch menus. It’s more on the pricy side and the portions are not really American big. The dishes were plated nicely and both were very delicious, especially the salmon.
LA is definitely a place to find some good food spots. The variety is immense. I had a short but sweet stay there and met some nice people. My next destination after LA was Hawaii, so I was not too sad about leaving anyway.
Anjability 