The Old Town named Jiufen

Sleepy mountain.

Yehliu Geopark was quite a disappointment for us. There were too many tourists, most of them from mainland whose middle names are either 'I-Don't-Follow-Rules' or 'Who-Cares'. After our hearty lunch at Family Mart, we made our way near a convenience store. According to some reliable travel blogs, buses occasionally stop here and pick up passengers bound for Jiufen.

The weather was still cold and overcast, but it didn't dampen our spirits.

Sunrise at Kalanggaman Island

The sand and the waves, and you and me.

I never thought that I'd set foot on this famed island again. This trip, however, was totally different from the first one. Aside from the fact that it was my first time to spend a night with people whom I barely knew (but nonetheless, they're the coolest group I've met so far), the vibe of the entire island was also different.

Quick Eats: Ironwood Hotel Tacloban

Friday night is always my me time. Ever since I reside independently here in Tacloban City, I would always go out of the house and look for some good place to eat. Being alone in restaurants, coffee shops, malls, and in the movie house surrounded by people whom I barely know doesn't bother me at all.

I've been doing this for a long time ever since I moved here two years ago but laziness took a toll on me because I'm not a huge fan of uploading photos manually. Thank God for Google Photos, life got easier.

Carved by Nature: Yehliu Geopark

We woke up earlier and braved the cold breeze of the capital city. It was past eight in the morning when we got out of the hotel. We planned to take a bus to the town of Wanli and visit Yehliu Geopark, one of Taiwan's famous attractions.

But before everything else, FOOD!

Exploring Taichung City

On our second day, we decided to travel at our own pace. Well, these are the things you realize when you're getting old. LOL #TitoProblems. We set an alarm at around 7:30AM but no one bothered to get up no matter how annoying Toney's alarm was. I can't blame our lethargic behavior that morning because it was just really cold.

At 10AM, we were all set for our trip. We bought our train tickets to Taichung City at Taipei Main Station and we're scheduled to leave at exactly 11:10AM. Little did we know, we would encounter something along the road.

The 10 best destinations in Africa

Covering some 30.2 million square kilometres or 11.7 million square miles and being home to 15% of the world's human population - at 1.1 billion people - as of 2013, Africa is a truly fascinating land of sharp contrasts and incredible wonders. 

So, if you wish to experience this endlessly enchanting country, which destinations should you look to? It's a long list - here are our favourite 10. 

A Day in Taipei

Day 1 in Taipei, Taiwan

Let me tell you a secret: Taiwan is an underrated travel destination.

I never thought I'd enjoy this country. Honestly, it wasn't part of my 2016 bucket list. Filipinos are required to have an approved visa from their embassy before traveling to Taiwan. A lot get easily intimidated by their visa requirements and that includes me.

One thing that I know about Taiwan is the plethora of TV series and boy bands which were aired in Philippine TV back in the early 2000s. But, these weren't enough to convince me to visit Taiwan. Unlike Japan, Korea, or even China, the country wasn't charming at all at first glimpse. I once thought that it was just a typical industrialized country filled with towering skyscrapers and factories. I kept my expectations low.

As always, I was wrong.

Beyond the Four Walls

If there's one thing I love about traveling abroad, it's definitely the learning experience you'll pick up along the way. Books and other resources aren't enough. They say that when you travel, it allows you to be open-minded as you immerse and eventually accept the cultures of the country you've visited.

In my case, I have a severe case of separation anxiety in Vietnam and Cambodia.