Category: Travel

As an archipelago, the Philippines provides literally endless experiences, opportunities and activities for the would‐be tourist. Offering a landscape comprised of mountains, rivers and lakes, breathtaking beaches and tropical forests spread across over 7,000 islands, the options for exploration and discovery are endless. Here are four of the most popular reasons for visiting the Philippines: The Ruins in Talisay City, Negros Occidental Sightseeing The Philippines can boast not only some of the most spectacular natural beauty the world has to offer, but also some of the most breath‐taking man‐made phenomena for you to explore. There are the Banaue Rice Terraces, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, ... Read more

When I hadn’t had a sight of the top, It was then I fathomed that it would be a tough climb. A friend told me that it’s around 750 steps. I had no expectations at first, because I had never tried a continuous steps before. I couldn’t even scale the difficulty level by merely looking at it. But then, we started the hike – we are climbing up the famed peak of Coron, Mount Tapyas. Appreciating Coron, Palawan When we reached the 100-step marker, we were proud of the milestone, but the sweats were dripping endlessly from our faces. On the ... Read more

I could feel the warmth of the morning sun. Bright rays transcend through the wooden shutter window. It was left open. No one minded to close it though, after watching the fireworks that lit the sky the night before. New Year’s Eve, that was. I was still sleepy at 07AM. However, inasmuch as I wanted to return to sleep—I couldn’t—I remembered I agreed to join a friend for a laid-back sojourn in Moalboal. The resort town is one of Cebu’s popular destination for diving, aside from Malapascua, Bantayan, Camotes, and Mactan. So after a quick fix, I headed to Moalboal on New Year’s day. ... Read more

Every January people come up with the New Year’s resolutions in which they make plans for the year ahead and promise themselves to do a lot of good things. Traveling is the item that is always on that to-do list. If you want to continue you travel experiences that you started last year or you are about to make your dream about traveling come true in the nearest 12 months, then you should take decisive steps right at the beginning of a new year. Even if you didn’t think about it in the winter, think about it now. Indeed, you ... Read more

Oysters, shrimps, and pork sausages are mainstays – that was the only info I have about Creole cooking. I never tried one either, and was never curious. Aside from being rare in the Philippines, only few restaurants specialize such cuisine – most of them are too pricey. Creole traces back to Louisiana, more particularly in Big Easy or New Orleans. You may think of haunted houses, vampire movies, all-night parties, and the Mardi Gras. My idea about New Orleans though is obscure, and tainted mostly with fiction. I must admit, the lowdown I have about the Big Easy is almost next to nothing. New Orleans interior features ... Read more

Downtown Bogor is bustling and the traffic is chaotic. But despite the city nuisances, there are simple gestures and amazing corners worth appreciating. The townspeople paint the city with genuine smiles and accommodating semblance. Historical and cultural monuments are preserved which give an interesting contrast with the city’s uncloaked terrain – modern and aged, opulent and indigent. “Welcome to Bogor”: A photo of Kujang Monument by Degi of Flickr.com Yes, Bogor is a metropolis, but green areas still exist and are protected. Since the Bogor seats on an elevated plain of Western Java, the city is noticeably cooler compared to ... Read more

Here’s what happened when I visited the Thiri Zaya Bumi Bagan Golden Palace: Jetavanna Hall of Thiri Zaya Bumi Bagan Golden Palace But before everything else, let us talk about the photo above. The first thing you’ll probably notice is the wet section of my shirt that formed a triangle. I couldn’t control my sweat, people! Perhaps, the RealFeel® is 45°C in ‪#‎Bagan‬. What I really wanted to share is the hall where I did the pose. That is the Jetavanna Hall of Thiri Zaya Bumi Golden Palace. The said hall was then used as a receiving hall for diplomats ... Read more

The red and orange tint of the sky was slowly turning blue. The sun just hid itself below the horizon. The lights started glimmering, changing the face of the Beach Road, Pattaya’s most popular avenue, into something neon, slick, and slinky. The lights of different colors exhibited good visual elements, making every dark corner of the city mysterious. A cruise ship looking A-One Pattaya, one of the city’s most popular hotel The once bland alleys transmogrify—yes, like a genetic mutation. Massage and other forms of entertainment were all opened for business. Huge tourist buses trooped the busy highway, bringing in ... Read more

My sweats were dripping fast. My shirt turned darker with the pretty obvious wet discoloration. Though it was late in the afternoon, the tropical heat radiated as if it was high noon. And so, I took a break from my stroll. It was almost two hours since I started exploring by foot though. I found this dessert bar along the riverbank just across Christ Church. I occupied a vacant seat with a good vantage point and ordered “Cendol Ais Cream” and fresh apple juice. I had no idea what cendol means. I just ordered it because it looked yummy in the photos. St. ... Read more