Author Profile: Danial Ariff Bin Ahmad Nordin

Dan On The Road

When he’s not busy putting his son to sleep, Danial dreams of hitting the road and exploring anything he hasn’t seen or tasted yet. From hiking lush national parks to indulging in endless street food, this Malaysian is up for all kinds of adventures.

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Labuan, Malaysia – Unraveling a Colorful Past

Labuan, Malaysia – Unraveling a Colorful Past

Labuan, Malaysia

Sometimes the smallest of places can pack the most punch. That thought befits Labuan, an unassuming island tucked in the Bay of Brunei. Labuan is tiny compared to the behemoths of neighboring Sabah and Sarawak but it is also rich culturally, economically and...   view more


5 Fabulous Hometown Foods in Taiping, Perak

5 Fabulous Hometown Foods in Taiping, Perak

Taiping, Malaysia

The recent Hari Raya Aidilfitri holidays gave me a rare opportunity to revisit the sleepy town of Taiping of which I first went on a four-day road trip with a bunch of friends five years...   view more


Kuantan, Pahang – My Top 10 Eats

Kuantan, Pahang – My Top 10 Eats

Kuantan, Malaysia

There’s something special about hometown cuisine – its originality is as close as you can get to a home-cooked meal while its timelessness ensures that nostalgia will never be lost from our...   view more


Muar, Johor – 5 Meals That Embody “Southern Comfort”

Muar, Johor – 5 Meals That Embody “Southern Comfort”

Muar, Malaysia

After almost a year of planning and countless postponements, it has finally been realized – I have walked the streets of Muar to hunt for her delicacies and plundered I...   view more


Tumpat – Finding Buddha in the Backwaters of Kelantan

Tumpat – Finding Buddha in the Backwaters of Kelantan

Tumpat, Malaysia

The 95% Malay population qualifies Kelantan as part of a northern Malay heartland but its past links with Thailand is inextricable as it is home to a number of aesthetically exquisite Buddhist...   view more


Kuching, Sarawak – Food Hunt

Kuching, Sarawak – Food Hunt

Kuching, Malaysia

Sarawak is always a joy to visit. My first ever trip to Kuching was way back in 2006 where I first started to grasp the idea of backpacking while my second trip was last year where I was on official duty during the fun-filled Malaysia Day...   view more


Singapore – My First Food Hunt

Singapore – My First Food Hunt

Singapore, Singapore

Malaysia and Singapore are two countries that differ greatly in terms of political ideology and economic policies after separation in 1965. Besides sharing a common history, one cultural component that is inseparable between these two nations is their love of...   view more


Kansas City, MO – Kool Kat of the Midwest

Kansas City, MO – Kool Kat of the Midwest

Kansas City, USA

Beaux-Art architecture aside, we were now in the American heartland of Kansas City where “strangely wonderful” seems to be its badge of...   view more


Boston, MA –Understanding America’s Fight for Liberty

Boston, MA –Understanding America’s Fight for Liberty

Boston, USA

Americans are very proud of their history and they take great measure in preserving the most important parts of it. As a history buff, Boston is a mecca of artifacts from skull and bones tombstones to statues of the...   view more


Albuquerque, NM – Southwestern Sling

Albuquerque, NM – Southwestern Sling

Albuquerque, USA

If you ask me to sum up Albuquerque in one word, it’ll be “chile.” It is one of the states in the Southwest where the locals take their hot and spicy...   view more


10 Food We Ate in Japan's Kitchen, Osaka!

10 Food We Ate in Japan's Kitchen, Osaka!

Osaka, Japan

As we made our way down into the subterranean network of fast-moving trains and colorful subway lines, it dawned upon us that we have traded the steep history and tradition of Kyoto with the bright lights and exuberance of...   view more


5 Delectable Desserts to Savor in Cameron Highlands

5 Delectable Desserts to Savor in Cameron Highlands

Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

Cameron Highlands is one of the few travel destinations in Malaysia you can escape from the searing tropical heat to cooler and greener climes. This plateau was discovered by William Cameron, a British surveyor and subsequently developed by the colonial government into a hill...   view more


10 Things You Can Do In Palembang, Indonesia

10 Things You Can Do In Palembang, Indonesia

Palembang, Indonesia

At first glance, Palembang looks like any other Indonesian provincial capital – meandering streets burdened by cars, motorcycles and angkot, dusty blocks of shop lots pockmarked with shiny new malls, and rows of street stalls coughing up plates of local favorite...   view more


10 Uniquely Kelantan Dishes To Digest

10 Uniquely Kelantan Dishes To Digest

Kota Bahru, Malaysia

In a recent interview with Fienuts of Travel Chameleon, I was asked about the best place to find awesome street food in Malaysia. Penang was the (obvious) pick but I also slipped in Kelantan as another destination worth looking...   view more


5 Palate Pleasing Foods to Try in Palembang

5 Palate Pleasing Foods to Try in Palembang

Palembang, Indonesia

Palembang owes its food from the Musi River where fish holds more prominence over meat while its former status as a maritime kingdom attracted many migrants to live here and eventually brought a part of their culture from their...   view more


7 Exciting Experiences in Siem Reap Other than Angkor Wat

7 Exciting Experiences in Siem Reap Other than Angkor Wat

Siem Reap, Cambodia

I’m happy to announce my first guest writer on Dan On The Road, Alia Wahidin! She recently went to Siem Reap and had a splendid time traversing the endless temples of Angkor Wat but she was also impressed by what this city has to...   view more


Arashiyama, Kyoto: Romantic Bamboo Forest

Arashiyama, Kyoto: Romantic Bamboo Forest

Kyoto, Japan

Our journey ended at Arashiyama Torokko station and we continued on foot to witness one of Kyoto’s most iconic images – Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. It took us a solid 10 minute walk up a hill and we arrived at a junction that marks the entrance of the...   view more


A Brief Encounter with a Geisha at Gion, Kyoto

A Brief Encounter with a Geisha at Gion, Kyoto

Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto has five hanamachi, or geisha districts, and we decided to visit the most recognizable hanamachi at Gion. We ventured out during the evening about an hour or so before sunset so that we could try to catch at least a glimpse of the elusive geiko and...   view more


6 Foods for a Full-Course Meal in Langkawi, Malaysia

6 Foods for a Full-Course Meal in Langkawi, Malaysia

Langkawi, Malaysia

Langkawi is an island that doesn’t rest on its laurels. On a recent family trip, I decided to go cafe hopping around Langkawi to sample the most raved-about eateries by locals and visitors...   view more


Penang - 7 Dishes To Try For The Uninitiated

Penang - 7 Dishes To Try For The Uninitiated

George Town, Malaysia

Penang has and always been a food haven for both Malaysians and foreigners alike. Penangites pride themselves over their tasty street food while cafes with their delectable treats are mushrooming around...   view more


Lombok - Rediscovering Indonesia's Forgotten Islands

Lombok - Rediscovering Indonesia's Forgotten Islands

Mataram, Indonesia

Better book your flight and hotel now before Lombok gets inundated with people wanting to experience Bali during its pre-boom...   view more


Breezing The Coast From Chennai To Pondicherry

Breezing The Coast From Chennai To Pondicherry

Pondicherry, India

We flew to the capital Chennai for a city adventure on a tuk-tuk before embarking on a day trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mahabalipuram and the former French colony of Pondicherry. Here’s what you can do while in Tamil...   view more


Jelebu - A Drive To The Other Minang Hinter

Jelebu - A Drive To The Other Minang Hinter

Kuala Klawang, Malaysia

This route passes by a scenic dam, gorgeous valleys and a couple of recreational falls before exiting into two interesting forgotten towns that are unique on its own. Here’s a recap of our journey to the “other” Minang...   view more


Boracay, Philippines - Island That Has Fun For Everyone

Boracay, Philippines - Island That Has Fun For Everyone

Boracay, Philippines

Here are 6 reasons you need to visit Boracay at least once in your lifetime. Pristine white sand and azure blue skies are all you need at the pulse of...   view more


Bukittinggi and Padang - 7 Exquisite Cuisines To Savor

Bukittinggi and Padang - 7 Exquisite Cuisines To Savor

Bukittinggi, Indonesia

A trip to West Sumatera is never complete without indulging in its wide array of delicacies starting with the famous Nasi...   view more


Bukittinggi, Sumatera - Deep In The Minang Heartland

Bukittinggi, Sumatera - Deep In The Minang Heartland

Bukittinggi, Indonesia

One word that greatly sums up the interior highlands of Western Sumatera, Indonesia. It’s not just the coexistence between human and nature striking harmonic balance but the strict adherence of the Minang people to their “Adat...   view more


Perlis - A Northern Spectacle

Perlis - A Northern Spectacle

Kangar, Malaysia

Imagine reaching the end of the road, be it at the shores of the Andaman Sea or the bustling border towns knowing that a step further leads to the Thai frontier and beyond. This is what Perlis, the northwestern-most state of Peninsula Malaysia, has to...   view more


A 3-Day Itinerary to Luang Prabang, Laos

A 3-Day Itinerary to Luang Prabang, Laos

Luang Prabang, Laos

Luang Prabang is a picturesque town along the banks of the Mekong River known for its eclectic mix of French and Lao influences, stunning natural scenery and an endearing laid-back...   view more


How To Maximize 3 Days In Istanbul, Turkey

How To Maximize 3 Days In Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul, Turkey

Puffing, panting and sweating. This was the first memories I have of Istanbul as I adventurously walked up the hilly and winding streets of Beyoglu, a somewhat quiet neighborhood that seems to wake up only after...   view more


From Jungle To Oven: A Guide To Luang Prabang Food

From Jungle To Oven: A Guide To Luang Prabang Food

Luang Prabang, Laos

This is by no means a comprehensive list of food we ate in Luang Prabang but it should help you anticipate the taste and texture of these delectable dishes that makes them stand out from other Southeast Asian...   view more


Travel Guide: Koh Lipe, Thailand

Travel Guide: Koh Lipe, Thailand

Ko Lipe, Thailand

It’s quite amazing to learn that very few travelers have heard about Koh Lipe. The island’s general obscurity might be due to its geography – Koh Lipe is located out on the Andaman Sea together with Koh Adang and Koh...   view more


Making the Most Out of Manchester: Top 10 Things to Do

Making the Most Out of Manchester: Top 10 Things to Do

Manchester, England

Manchester used to be a powerhouse during the Industrial Revolution and a hotbed for so many legendary bands throughout the decades. We spent three nights here and these are the top 10 things we did in...   view more


How To Spend 48 Hours In Liverpool

How To Spend 48 Hours In Liverpool

Liverpool, England

Today, Liverpool has moved on from its maritime past but still celebrated by the rejuvenated Albert Dock and Pier Head. Liverpool also holds sway as one of the cultural capitals of the world by being the birthplace of The Beatles and Liverpool...   view more


4 Things to Do in Abu Dhabi on a Layover

4 Things to Do in Abu Dhabi on a Layover

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Abu Dhabi is far less busy than its neighbor Dubai but still holds sway with its world-class attractions. While we took our time by spending a few days to visit these places, I feel all four of them can be done on a one-day or overnight...   view more


Travel Guide: Hua Hin, Thailand

Travel Guide: Hua Hin, Thailand

Hua Hin, Thailand

We spent four days in Hua Hin which we felt was good enough with our slower pace of travel these days. All the places of interest are mainly along Thailand’s Route 4 and I have divided them based on location – north, centre and south so you can plan your logistics...   view more