The Kingdom of Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai is not a city you merely pass through; it’s a place you absorb, slowly and deliberately, letting each street and scent settle into memory. Arriving here for the first time, I had 48 hours to peel back its layers, an ambitious timeline, perhaps, for a city so deeply rooted in tradition and mystery. Yet, Chiang Mai’s unhurried pace and reverence for detail allowed me to settle in and explore with a rare intimacy in travel.

6 Flourishing Provinces That Remain a Stronghold of the Filipino Culture

The Philippine archipelago is blessed with a cornucopia of fascinating wonders that seem to never run out. Aside from the globally known destinations such as Boracay, Palawan, and Cebu, the rest of the Philippines promises a heartwarming experience in every province you go. With its rich wonderful culture and the kind gracious people, the country really leaves a mark in every traveler’s heart. 

If you want to experience more of the Philippines, here’s a list of provinces with exciting new developments and boasts true Filipino culture for you to discover. 

Hidden Gems Arising: New Philippine Destinations Worth Visiting

With a staggering 7,107 islands, the Philippines is undoubtedly packed with extraordinary destinations that would surely leave you in awe. And every month, newly discovered gems are frolicking all over the internet, inspiring travelers to see more of the astonishing beauty the county has to offer. 

Take note of these newest attractions that rightfully deserve a spot in your bucket list. 

4 Enticing Philippine Destinations For You To Book This Summer

The Philippines is not only well known for its breathtaking beaches and beautiful landscapes but also for its amazingly rich culture and history, making it always the best place to spend a vacation.

With summer fast approaching, it’s smart to start planning on where to spend your summer getaways. Whether you only got a weekend to spare or a month-long rejuvenation, you can always find a place to explore, recharge, and learn new things about the country. After all, that’s what traveling is all about.

To kick-start your planning session, here’s a list of fascinating spots and historical places in the Philippines you should visit this summer.

I Won A Free Trip To Bali... AGAIN!

While I was scrolling my IG feed, I came across with Wonderful Indonesia's ad - the Trip Of Wonders online quiz. Suddenly, a rush of memories came through. Two years ago, I won the same contest. Since it was a trip for two, my mom tagged along, and we had a great time touring around Bali. Who wouldn't? Our airfare and accommodation were all covered. Plus, the organizers gave us an allowance to fully enjoy our trip! This year, I took the chance. While it was more difficult this year, I still managed to score higher than the others. It was disheartening not to see my name at the scoreboard though. I kept my expectations low. Besides, I have nothing to lose!

A few days after my trip to Sydney, I received an email from Indonesia's Ministry of Tourism. Fast forward, I went back to Bali just two months after my previous visit. I never thought I'd be visiting this revered Island of Gods twice this year!

Travel Essentials when Travelling Around Asia

Asia is the world’s biggest continent. With the highest population on earth, Asia boasts of a startling mix of tradition and culture. Its enormity and diverseness make it hard to conceptualize as a single palatable travel spot. Right from the snowfields in the east to the gigantic mountains in the west, traveling to Asia can be an exciting adventure. Don’t forget that the highest mountain in the world Mount Everest is located within this remarkable continent. If you are planning on traveling to Asia for the first time, then it can be hard to know what to carry with you. However, below are the top travel essentials when traveling around Asia. 

Photo Diary: Sunny Singapore

Pardon if this post is almost four months late.

Last February, I was in Singapore with my PPSG (Philippine Planespotters Group) friends to attend the Singapore Airshow 2018. It only happens every two years and I missed the previous one in 2016. In 2017, my PPSG friends already planned to go through this trip. This is actually my first international airshow. To add the fun, I was with my friends who share the same passion for aviation.

5 Things You Should Know About Singapore Airshow 2018

Singapore Airshow 2018 is just around the corner, and I can no longer contain my excitement. Happening this February 6-11, 2018, the Singapore Airshow 2018 showcases both commercial and military fixed and rotary aircraft. Four years ago, I attended this event, and I was pretty much blown away by it.

For those who are watching this airshow for the first time, here are the five things that you should know about this event.

PHOTO DIARY: Indochina in Technicolor

Indochina is a geographical term referring to the large peninsula of Asia now known as Southeast Asia. Back in the olden times, ancient kingdoms emerged in some parts, creating alliances with neighboring kingdoms. This region has undergone several wars, peace treaties, and invasions from the West. As a result, it is an amalgam of various cultures, beliefs, and languages which make this region diverse. Today, it is home to more than 7% of the world's total population, with big cities scattered around.

I haven't fully explored Indochina. I still have to visit Myanmar and Laos, which I believe is one of the most underrated and most picturesque countries in the world. This In Technicolor photoset includes some of my favorite photos from my trips in this region from 2014 to 2016.

Photo Diary: City Lights x Neon Lights

I usually post-process my photos on Adobe Photoshop. Before I bought my new laptop (it's a Macbook Retina Pro 2015 model, and I regret nothing) two months ago, post-processing was a daunting task. Aside from the fact that I edit photos individually, my previous laptop worked very slow that sometimes, it can no longer open Microsoft Word. I can't blame it, the laptop's already seven years old, and the hardware's already outdated. It can no longer catch up with today's technology.

Ever since I installed Adobe Lightroom on my new laptop, post-processing became a breeze. I got hooked on the travel presets. There are so many presets available online, some costs around ten to twenty bucks, but the choices are endless. These Lightroom preset had helped me in curating my Instagram feed.

Train of Thought: A Beginner's Guide to Southeast and Far East Asia's MRT System

Like Sheldon Cooper of The Big Bang Theory, I love trains, well, except for Thomas the Train because I find him creepy. Whenever I travel, I always take the time to ride one. There's something about train rides. I don't know, maybe because we don't have a train system yet in Davao, making it an unfamiliar travel experience to me.

Today, I'm going to share my experiences and a few tips on how to navigate around starting from the simplest MRTs to the most complex system I have experienced.

PHOTO DIARY: Bangkok's Floating Market

Your Bangkok adventure is not complete without visiting their famous floating markets. Centuries ago, the banks of Chao Phraya River became a settlement area. The lives of the villagers depend on the river banks of Chao Phraya. The tributaries and canals were the primary transportation networks during that time. To answer their basic necessities, markets started to proliferate along the river banks. It canals became a center of trade.

As road and rail networks developed in the late 18th century, the villagers started relocating their markets on the ground, forcing some to close indefinitely.

Today, these floating markets still exist and became one of the famous tourist attractions in Thailand. When we visited Damnoen Saduak floating market in Bangkok, there were a lot of tourists, both local and international. I was really amazed by the experience because it felt like I was transported back to time, sans the selfie sticks, cameras, and smartphones.

Scam City: Saigon, Vietnam

One thing I learned about traveling is that you can't control everything. I am going to share a story about my bad experience in Saigon. Don't get me wrong, I love Saigon, but it's just the fact that not all things you see and read on my travel blog are pleasant.

It all started with a crazy weather disturbance in Manila. My flight to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) from Manila was scheduled to depart at 10:30 PM (PH time). The storm had just intensified after passing the capital, forcing airlines to cancel most of their flights in the domestic sector. Luckily, our flight pushed through, albeit the five-hour delay. We finally left Manila past three in the morning and arrived in Saigon a little past five in the morning, local time. Little did we know that our ordeal has just begun.

Q&A: What I've Been Up To Lately

Hey, y'all! Since it's my day off, I'm going to answer a few queries about traveling. Actually, I was planning to make a video blog about it, but I realized it's more complicated and time-consuming to edit and render videos than just to write a blog post. Haha!

Here we go!

7 Things I Learned About South Korea

Ah, Korea. The land of the morning calm. It's been four months since my Winter Sonata adventure and truth be told, I still can't get over with it. In fact, I miss the super cold weather there. Behind their towering skyscrapers and historical landmarks, South Korea has this character that is very hard to resist.

Here are the seven things I learned about South Korea.

Taipei Diaries: Elephant Mountain Trail

If there's anything that I don't like about traveling, it's definitely hiking. Don't get me wrong, I have scaled two mountains ever since I started exploring places - from traversing the lahar landscapes of Mount Pinatubo, to Osmeña Peak, the highest point of Cebu Province. Eventually, I turned down a lot of invites from my friends. Most of them have already conquered several peaks in the country like Pulag, Apo (the country's highest peak), and other mountains of the southern Luzon region.

During my recent trip to Taipei, I did not expect that we'd be hiking another hill. This time, however, was totally different. In a bad way.

The Sun Moon Lake Day Adventure

Hidden in the deep verdant jungles and towering limestone hills of Central Taiwan is a paradise literally shaped like a celestial body. Sun Moon Lake, with its varied landscapes, and rich cultural diversity has always been a favorite holiday destination for both local and international tourists.

PHOTO DIARY: If I Was You, Taiwan Be Me Too

I fell in love with Taiwan last year and made myself a promise to explore more of this underrated country in my next visit. Fast forward to October last year, we scored a low fare to Taipei. I never thought I'd enjoy Taiwan again, most especially if I am with eleven millennials who are a million times crazier than me.

Taiwan, you never fail to amaze me.

My First Winter Experience: Busan, South Korea

Winter is fun to look at, but I was really hesitant to experience it because (i) I might not survive the bitter cold; (ii) I need to wear at least four layers of clothes; and (iii) I need a bigger luggage allowance. In short, it wasn't part of my travel plans for this year.

When the ground staff of Ngurah Rai International Airport told us that they were going to bump us off from our flight to Manila, we got furious. Upon seeing our disappointed faces, she reassured us that we'd be upgraded on a flight later that day, avail of a free one-night stay at their airport hotel, and the best part: a free roundtrip ticket to any regional destinations valid for six months!

I initially planned to fly to Kuala Lumpur and book another flight to Kathmandu but the cheapest was around PHP15k. Plan B was to book a trip to Singapore, and then book another flight to Bhutan, but it's even more expensive. I considered other options like Vietnam and Kota Kinabalu and explored its neighboring countries and provinces, but I was itching to try something new. Eventually, Korea came across my mind. Fast forward, I booked a flight to the Land of the Morning Calm.

My South Korean Adventure: An Overview

South Korea wasn't part of my travel plans this year. I wasn't ready to explore this part of the country, especially in the middle of their frigid winter. But, the tables have turned when we got bumped off from our flight to Manila from Denpasar last year. I had no choice but to avail their free roundtrip tickets to any regional destination before January 31st.

Since I have been craving for a new adventure, I chose Korea despite their harsh weather. Well, it turned out to be an amazing experience.