Salzburg: A Sound of Music Tour

The hills are alive with the sound of music... 

For my 30th Birthday, I did a 4-day tour of Austria. The greatest travel that I have done so far to pay tribute to my 3 decades of existence. 

Barrio De Las Letras Tour in Madrid

Don Quixote de La Mancha is a book I haven’t read.

I remember we had this thin book with summaries of classic books and Don Quixote was one of those that I read which I was never interested in. 😅 I preferred Alexander Dumas’ Count of Monte Cristo, instead. 😉

Anyway, Cervantes wasn’t my go-to classic author despite being prominent.

Having the tour around Barrio de Las Letras is a good way to learn a few things about him if you care enough to know. 😅

A travel to Marinduque during the lull season

Anyone can still enjoy Marinduque even though it is not Holy Week. In fact, it is even better to plan a trip to the island in times when tourists are less. Because that means more me-time to some attractions that this island has to offer.

A wall art at The Boac Hotel.

For my 28th birthday, I planned for a birthday getaway in an island located in south-western Luzon - Marinduque. 

It was supposedly a trip for two but a friend of mine bailed out for personal reasons. Despite the loss of companion, I went on with it, besides, the trip had been long overdue already. Two years ago, I planned the same with another friend but, unfortunately, work got in the way so I wasn't able to go.

Travel to Taiwan: The Land of Meteor Garden and Milktea

If I visited this country ten years ago the purpose would be to rekindle my love for Meteor Garden (MG), which versions I have completed watching and the series that got me hooked on the whole Asian series shebang. People my age would definitely get what I mean. Hailed as the Queen of Asian drama, because it was what started it all in the Philippines, MG was a drug that people can't get enough of resulting for it to last for more than a decade. Honestly, I could still watch the whole series again and drool all over it - the only difference now is that, I'm older. And the whole teenage feels kind of sets me back from people younger than I am who would still look cute giggling and squealing. I feel like I need to forego those childlike acts now. LOL

Why I travel and how do I manage to

Whenever I meet people I know who might have seen my posts on Instagram, they ask about my travels and how I am capable of doing so. Sometimes they would ask me indirectly of how much money I make. I don't blame them for correlating traveling with money because it does require money. But the thing here is: It wouldn't have to require much if you're not a lavish or a picky traveler. As what other's say, the key is in saving and planning.

Rangoon Teahouse and why Yangon could be a place for milktea lovers

Food is what distinguishes one country from another. From street food to a typical household cooking, each country offers a different blend and taste that anyone shouldn't miss trying if they get to visit a place for the first time. Like many others, Asian countries have already established themselves globally when it comes to taste through their iconic dish. Among those are the Pad Thai and Tom Yam of Thailand, the Pho of Vietnam, the Nasi Lemak of Malaysia, and the Adobo of the Philippines. But I bet only few know of Burma's Mohinga (I prefer to call it by its old name since it sounds more lit hehe). 

Mohinga, a fish soup with rice noodles, is the national dish of Burma. Its main ingredients are fish paste, chickpea flour, lemongrass, ginger, fish sauce, and catfish broth. It is commonly garnished with coriander (see recipe). I have also seen a fried version of it at Yangon's street market.

Crossing Borders [Malaysia to Singapore]

It was my first time to cross a country border and the excitement that I had was undeniable. But it was my most unforgettable trip of last year because of the so many bloopers that we had. I can't help but laugh while remembering them.

And since mistakes teach us a lesson, I thought that I might just write about those that I have committed in this trip that other people may learn from.

Goin' astray in Malaysia (KL)

After my trip to Burma, I decided to stay in Kuala Lumpur for a few days with a friend to explore some of its known and unknown areas. Many told me that there's nothing to see in KL, but I beg to disagree. There's so much to see when you are in a different place - it is just a matter of perspective and the kind of adventure you are up to.

My Burmese Experience

It was months ago but it still feels surreal. Maybe that's the case when you unlock things that you thought you can't do but then did. Burma will always have a special place in my heart.

There are plenty of places to see in South East Asia, in fact, a lot cheaper to go to than Burma - yet I chose Burma. It wasn't intentional, but something I am very thankful for. Honestly, my choices were limited when I booked that zero fare flight ticket. The country is quite unheard of actually, so I wasn't really sure of what I am getting myself into. But the good thing about it is, when you are pressed with time and have not much option, decision is a lot quicker. And the least you know about a place makes it even more interesting to explore. 

Burma is not hailed of skyscrapers. One has to scratch off the luxurious city-vibe because you can't really have it here. But judging by my first impression of it - it sure has an intact culture and belief and an unexplored haven of authentic heritage tucked in its old villages and pagodas. Its people are interesting to get to know too! The country is not yet saturated with tourists, I presume, and I wonder why. 

My travel pet-peeves

Character matters a lot, actually, in all areas that require social engagement or human interaction. I would not delve deeper on that as it will be an unending argument of different perspectives. But I'll be talking about why traveling might be a way of knowing a person's character. 

Traveling, in a way, loosens up-tight and reserved people and that makes them vulnerable. By vulnerable, it means, one can see through them, like a transparent glass void of pretense. Normally, it wouldn't show at first, it'll just unravel in succeeding travels. Some though get the hint at the onset and decide from there whether to do it again or not.

Little things I noticed in Yangon, Myanmar

Though it may seem overrated for western travelers, I still consider Myanmar as an underrated country for the reason that it doesn't receive much recognition from an Asian like me. Over the years, many tourists flock to its neighboring countries like Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Not much is heard about this country. But Myanmar is a country worth a visit if you want to deviate from the flock. Fewer tourists mean less hassle and you can have some of the tourist attractions for yourself. One has to be patient with this country though because it is still a rising star in the tourism industry. You won't find everything as organized but that's just the kind of deal an adventurous type of person would want. 

Going solo in Ilonggo land

In my desperate attempt to go solo in most of my trips, I booked myself a ticket to IloIlo. Why IloIlo?

1) I have never been to Iloilo before. So, I thought that it would be nice to have a first impression of it based on personal experience.

2) A good friend, who happen to be based there at the moment, has been inviting me over.

3) I just really want to travel to places I'm not familiar with.

4) It was the best time of the year to unwind.

I want to come up with a better meaning to ILOILO, but nothing comes out of my brain as of the moment so ... let me just proceed with the details of how my trip went.

La Union: A trip to a grape farm

I still remember the fun trip we had up north which transpired out of boredom and urge to seek for something new.

Back in 2015, I decided to organize a day trip to a newly emerging grape farm in Bauang, La Union - the Gapuz Grapes Farm. The farm is owned by the Gapuz family who were once a worker of a large grape farm in the province and then decided to grow their own grapes after acquiring a land where they could plant on.

Can-umantad Falls in Candijay, Bohol

There is a great deal when you visit falls anywhere in the Philippines these days, unlike before when getting there is just a normal hike with friends skipping hours of class to enjoy whatever nature has to offer. Today social media makes everything intriguing, from travels to food, parks, and malls. 
Despite this generation's social media flare, I still think that rural areas are not overly infested of- the social-media fever - at least for now. That is probably why this fall is slightly known from outsiders. But recently a travel show featured it, and when they do, the place gets widely recognized and will later receive tourists popping out of nowhere. But before that happens, I visited the place, which is an unplanned visit by the way through hitching with my sister's friends. 

Boracay 2017

I, oftentimes, call it overrated and, probably, isn’t in my priority list for traveling - but being impulsive in most of my travels really gives more surprises than the planned ones.
My travels are dictated by promo fares, and last year there was a lot of it bound for Bora. I was one of the takers.

That promo ticket cost at most Php1, 800, and we got the one bound for Caticlan- which is the closest airport to Bora.

Like other prominent tourist destinations in Phil, Bora’s very tourist-friendly as everything is already organized from transpo to fees, there’s no need to ask anyone. And once you get to the island itself - everything is hassle-free.

HK: Land of Dimsum and Curry Fishballs Part 3

Hongkong is a place for first-timers and, I should say, a very good place to be in for anyone. Aside from being one of the cities to go for budgeted trips, it offers so much than what is expected (that's from a first-timer's perspective hehe). 

Viewing the best sunrise at Mt. Pulag

Climbing a mountain feels like climbing my mountain of fear. It was my resort after all the mess I was into both at work and in my personal life. I gave myself an opportunity to breathe and enjoy nature's beauty despite the very fact that the awful reality is pulling me down. 

I was in Hundred Islands, Pangasinan

My impulsive summer getaway was in Hundred Islands, Pangasinan. With the aid of a co-volunteer, Hyleen, my trip was carried out smoothly without worrying about accommodation, food, and arranging a trip to Hundred Islands.

How I made that possible was probably because all the stars aligned for me to make that happen. 

HK: Land of Dimsum and Curry Fishballs (Part 2: Day 1)

The very beautiful view of Hongkong City Lights from Victoria Harbour.

It was 8pm when we arrived at Hongkong International Airport. I think nighttime is way better than the day as we got to see the City lights - and Hongkong is really captivating at night.

Going back to NE

Last last weekend, I visited some friends in Nueva Ecija. Can't help it, you know, the place is very nostalgic. I stayed there for two days and two nights and enjoyed the conversation from morning to night.

Photo: Ate Mabel's FB account