Go out and explore! And while you're at it, bring with you a dry bag that's waterproof, floats on water and folds flat. Wait, is there such a thing? Yes, there is! Such a bag exists and it's definitely a must-have for every globetrotter. It's ideal for people who travel with a lot of stuff (i.e. gadgets, planner, water canteen, etc.). Just like me, I never leave for trips without securing my essentials. That's why I'm happy that I found a product that suits this particular need in the form of an adventure pack called Hull & Stern.
With protocols and restrictions limiting public transportation, government-registered tourist vans are now offering regular trips to common provincial destinations. Extending an online booking service through http://booktouristvan.com, pre-booking to ride the trip is a requirement.
Our family in Florida gifted us with some moolah over the holiday's. So given our Christmas blessings, Kuya EJ and I decided to spend the money on an out-of-town trip. I initially suggested that we take the family out of town for his birthday instead of just checking-in at a hotel. After our talks, we finally decided to celebrate his 41st birthday at Loreland Farm Resort, Antipolo. The resort looked very family-friendly. Plus, it was just an hour's drive from Quezon City.
March marked the beginning of our unforgettable 11-day journey through the Land of the Rising Sun, with the first leg of our adventure unfolding in the bustling metropolis of Tokyo. Despite our late arrival on the first day, the city wasted no time enchanting us with its unique blend of tradition and modernity.
#THROWBACKTRAVEL | Bacolod is one of the cities in the Philippines that you should see. Not only is the “City of Smiles” a culinary haven (famous for its sweet treats and Chicken Inasal), it is also home to some of the most interesting spots and attractions. The best way to see this local destination is to make SM City Bacolod your jump-off point, as it's close to several tourist sites in the city.
My boyfriend works for an airline company and filing a vacation leave for the month of December is an impossible thing to do (peak month for work). And since our anniversary lies on the 12th month of the year, we decided to book a domestic trip on November instead. We were set to celebrate my post-birthday and our pre-anniversary somewhere far --- thus our first Mindanao adventure.
Anyway, I booked our group a 5D/4N trip. I had the first 2 nights booked in Camiguin, and the last 2 nights in Cagayan De Oro. I also suggested that the first 2 nights be spent in Camiguin so that we wouldn't have to go back-and-forth with all the traveling. So as soon as we landed in Cagayan De Oro's Lumbia Airport, we went straight to Camiguin.
I was recently invited to the VIP Media Launch of Lakbay Museo, an exclusive preview of a local museum that offered 14 unique experiences from 11 Philippine destinations. Excited as I was to attend, I couldn't since I'm based abroad. Fortunately, a blogger friend agreed to represent my blog for the event. Here's Franco's recount of his fun exploration in Lakbay Museo.
Dubai is a fascinating city. I've only been here for less than a year, and I've already enjoyed exploring this bustling emirate. With its magnificent and towering structures (it's not the City of Superlatives for nothing), this dynamic town doesn't fail to highlight its own culture and heritage, especially its ingenuity - all of the qualities that I absolutely admire about Dubai.
Below is a roundup of some of my personal and budget-friendly explorations in Dubai, along with some very interesting contributions from fellow travel bloggers.
It's always an enriching experience whenever I join Familiarization Tours. Not only do I get the chance to meet like-minded individuals, I also get to learn more about the locale, its culture, traditions and significant sites. And having been invited to explore Bataan for two days made me appreciate my country more.
I started my Starbucks Mug collection back in 2011 after seeing the same collection from a blogger that I used to follow. I was so amazed by her shot-glass-size souvenirs that I promised to get myself the same collectible after every visit to a new foreign country.
My first set was bought in Jeonju, Korea last year. I was also lucky since Jeonju only had one Starbucks shop, which was just a 10-minute walk from our hotel. Now, the shop wasn't selling an actual Jeonju-printed mug. They only had Korea and Seoul available. I guess I could consider Seoul since I had to pass through it on my way to Incheon. =D
Now, my second pair of Starbucks mini-mugs were purchased in Hong Kong. But the mugs that I have now are of Macau's and China's (been to Shenzhen so this counts). But I've been to both places too. I just need to get the ones that has Hong Kong printed on it. I actually had to ask my friend in Hong Kong to buy me the mugs since I kept forgetting during my two previous trips there.
I've also been to Singapore (twice now) and Thailand (Bangkok & Pattaya). But I didn't get the chance to visit any Starbucks stores then. Thus my still, incomplete collection. But my friend who is based in Bangkok recently updated me about a possible BKK mug sighting. So here's to hoping that I get my third set soon! =)
Ok, so I just read that there are also local icon mugs here in the Philippines (mugs from Baguio, Batangas, Boracay, CDO, Cebu, Manila, Tagaytay, and more!) I'm just not sure if these are still available. But if these babies are still out in the market, then I can't wait to get my hands on them too!
Anyway, what do you collect from your travels? Care to share your precious finds? =)
It's been three weeks since our 5-day trip around Ilocos, and still I miss the places that we visited and the people that we've met a long the way. Truly, Ilocos is an enchanting place -- one filled with lots of surprises! So in memory of our trip, let me share to you what transpired on our first few days there by starting out with Vigan City.
WHAT TO DO IN VIGAN
If you’re strapped on time like we were, try to put aside at least 2-3 hours for a city tour around Vigan. With us, we were able to arrange a tour with a nice tricycle driver named Roy, right after getting off the bus. We asked him to take us around town, wherein we arranged a 3PM pick-up at our lodging that same afternoon.
With Kuya Roy -- our nice tour guide/tricycle driver. :)
I own two kinds of absorbent towels. One is an Aquazorb, and one that has no brand (got it as a wedding souvenir). But in all of the times that I've used both, I would usually feel uncomfortable with the fact that neither doesn't dry my body as fast. Sure, both towels are absorbent. But I've been on a constant look out for that one absorptive cloth that will help soak up the moisture from my face and body in a jiffy. I'm also looking for that 'quick-dry feel' from a towel, but with an extra softness to it. Get it? Well, I just found one recently --- and it's all in a TOWELITE! No doubt that it's one of my favorite travel must-haves now.
Biliran and Ormoc are amazing places. As both areas made me fall more in love with my country. The waterfalls and the rice terraces in Biliran were remarkable. And the historical structures in Ormoc made me appreciate more of the Philippines' past hardships and achievements. So if you've already explored much of Visayas (or any part of the archipelago for that matter), then you will surely agree that "It's More Fun In The Philippines."
But my 4-day backpacking trip in Eastern Visayas didn't end in Biliran and Ormoc City. I continued to wander through Region VIII, and spent my last two days in Tacloban City --- Coreene's hometown. Cuks randomly asked me about plans on visiting her there. We haven't seen each other for so long since she worked abroad. So I decided to book a plane ticket without hesitation. I did it not just for the sake of traveling to a new Philippine destination, but to also spend time with a friend that I missed dearly. I actually thought that I wouldn't be able to make the trip since I broke my 5th metatarsal 3 weeks before the actual departure. But when I had the chance to rebook my plane ticket without being charged, I moved the trip to November. And in the most inopportune time, I left Tacloban a day before Super Typhoon Yolanda hit the Philippines. [You can read my short tribute HERE].
Super Typhoon Yolanda destroyed several areas in Tacloban --- a few of the sites that I will write about here. So allow me to pay tribute to this wonderful place by showing you its beauty before it was ruined by the storm.
Visiting the temples and sites within the Angkor Archaeological Park need real preparation like knowing when to book a guide for your tours or what type of park pass to purchase and what travel essentials to bring during your day explorations (amongst other things). You'll want to prepare yourself for the journey ahead to better appreciate the wonders of Siem Reap, Cambodia.
[TRIP from July 2010] I was in Cebu and Bohol last July 2010 for both business and pleasure. And since you won't ever catch me traveling alone, I asked my boyfriend to accompany me on this trip. We left MNL on the 17th of July and arrived in Cebu at about 9:35 AM.
WHERE TO STAY IN METRO CEBU
We chose to stay in this pension house that was located within the I.T. Park. Good thing it was within this well-known area, as we were able to look for it without much hassle. The place that I had us booked in was Alba Uno Residencia. It was a new building, with great interiors, beautiful rooms, and of course, a nice set of staff members. They were very accommodating and very warm towards us. They greeted us whenever we were around, and they would always have a smile that you can sense every time we would order-in some food. And speaking of their food! WE LOVED THEIR MENU and THEIR COOKING AS WELL! Our favorite meals were the Tapsilog and Hungarian Sausage. Their meals which were typically priced under P100, already included some Java Rice and Free Iced Tea. It was definitely a superb deal!
It's been over a year since my husband and I shared our first holiday as a married couple. Despite our circumstances then (he went back to work abroad, while I recuperated from a major surgery), we finally made it to our honeymoon a few months later.
I've lived in Quezon City all my life. But there are still so many places in my hometown that I haven't explored yet. Fortunately, I was recently invited by Microtel PH to join their City Media Familiarization Tour, along with several travel bloggers. I've actually been to a few of the city attractions that were listed on the itinerary. Surprisingly, several of the QC sites that we visited were new to me.
The plant box was a gift from the Tapia Family for Doña Aurora Aragon-Quezon.
I stopped using my luggage for a while now. And in those years, I’ve managed to explore with only a 55L rucksack and a sling bag in tow. But as time passed, I started to experience these intense back pains (due to a bad sitting posture at work), which eventually restrained me from having to carry heavy things on my spine. So I had no other choice but to use my trolley again. But on the upside, it gave me a reason to start looking for better bag alternatives, and eventually found CabinZero, “the suitcase on your back”. My mini, 28-liter, Urban Camo CabinZero is hardwearing, well-designed, stylish and more! What more can I ask for?
There are millions of people all around the world who dream of traveling the world. Unfortunately, many people will never fulfill their dreams. After all, traveling the world can be pretty expensive. While traveling can be expensive, it is also true that there are ways to minimize the costs. By learning how to do so, you’ll be able to find ways to travel even when you have little to no money. It isn’t impossible. Within this guide, you’ll learn how to do just that.
Budget Biyahera is about finding fun and distinct food and destinations, accommodations, products/gears and activities that people can enjoy on a ‘regular’ person’s budget and schedule.
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