The Boxes

The Boxes: A Restaurant Strip in Bacolod

The number one question I always get from friends visiting Bacolod City is what else are the good places to eat in the Philippine City of Smiles. There are the usual suspects and if you have been following my blog, you will find my posts about restaurants to try in my city, such as Eat …

First-time Travels blog giveaway

Blog Giveaway: Travel Mementos Up for Grab

The countdown has begun and in just a few days, the calendar will turn a new leaf, the world will celebrate the holidays (we celebrate both Christmas and New Year in the Philippines) and the world will welcome the year 2018. Allow me to highlight this occasion with a BLOG GIVEAWAY of my travel mementos …

Pesona Jogja Homestay

A Homey Stay at Pesona Jogja Homestay

As we were doing a budget travel, we took a long trip from Lampung in Sumatra Island, taking a 10-hour bus ride that was boarded on a ship that crossed the Sunda Strait and went further towards Jakarta, then riding an 8-hour train to Yogyakarta. We arrived in the city in the afternoon and ordered …

Cultural Heritage

Making a Difference: Preserving Cultural Heritage

This day that I’m putting out this article is United Nations Day. During this day, not only is the global organization commemorating its inception and honoring its mission to humanity, but it is also when schools let their students don national costumes from various countries. There are cultures that you can immediately identify by their …

Yogyakarta

10 things to do in Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta, or what we usually call as Jogjakarta or simply Jogja, was a place that I travelled to recurrently when I used to live in Jakarta, Indonesia. Though I was fortunate to have been there five or more times, those instances when I made my way there were usually just day trips or overnight stays. …

MassKara Festival

MassKara Festival 2017 and its ASEAN theme

The MassKara Festival of Bacolod: City of Southeast Asia The MassKara Festival 2017 theme focuses on “Bacolod: City of Southeast Asia,” which highlights the local culture as part of the larger ASEAN heritage as well as a look to the future towards a stronger ASEAN integration. It is understandable why this is the theme for …

Ampera Bridge Palembang

First-time in Palembang: The Enchanting City of Heritage

Coming from Singapore, we made an hour flight to Palembang, the capital of the province of South Sumatra, Indonesia. But with the one-hour time difference and since Palembang was behind an hour from Singapore, the clock barely moved when we touched down at the Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II International Airport. The long Musi River came …

El's Coffee

El’s Coffee and the Art of Brewing Coffee

The moment we entered the doors of El’s Coffee House in Bandar Lampung, Indonesia, the whiff of the coffee’s aroma filled my senses, evoking a juxtaposed feeling of calmness and excitement. Jars of coffee beans that are stacked three layers on one side of the wall immediately caught my eye. A map of Indonesia hangs …

Tangkil Island

First-time in Tangkil Island, Lampung

After our interesting first day in Lampung (READ: First-time in Lampung, Indonesia) where we had a morning of heritage surprises and an afternoon with nature, it was high time to hit the seas and ride ourselves to excitement and adventure. We first had breakfast at Emersia Hotel (READ: First-time in Emersia Hotel and Resort) before …

Seda Capitol Central, Bacolod Facade

Seda Capitol Central: A New Hotel in Bacolod City

Bacolod is seeing the rise of a new hotel in its locality. With the promising financial development in Western Visayas, Seda hotels, homegrown brand of AyalaLand Hotels and Resorts, is opening its 7th property in the Philippines in the City of Smiles — Seda Capitol Central. Business travelers will have something new to look forward …

Cikwo Coffee and Resto

Cikwo Coffee and Resto: Of Seruwit, Robusta and Siger

Seruwit. It was something new to my ears and to my taste. It was the first time I have tasted of this food when it was served to us at Cikwo Coffee and Resto in Bandar Lampung, Indonesia (READ: First-time in Lampung). It’s a mixture of many things and Tempoyak. Okay, another new Indonesian word. …

Emersia Hotel and Resort

First-time in Emersia Hotel & Resort Bandar Lampung

Spending the night on the train seating was quite an exhausting one. So, imagine our delight to find our home in Bandar Lampung, Lampung Province, Indonesia (READ: First-time in Lampung, Indonesia) perched atop a hill with a spectacular view of the city and the sea. The photos did not do justice with the breathtaking scenery …

Lampung

First-time in Lampung, Indonesia

Arriving on a Saturday morning at the Tanjung Karang train station, we drove through the almost deserted, swept-clean streets of Bandar Lampung until we reached Emersia Hotel (READ: First-time in Emersia Hotel and Resort), our home for two days, where we would be having our breakfast. I’ll tell you more about our hotel in the succeeding …

Borobudur Yogyakarta Indonesia

12 Days in Indonesia

Indonesia. The largest archipelago in the world. It is home to many natural wonders. It was also my home for almost a year in 2002. This 2017, I’m back in Indonesia to see more of it. And in only 12 days, I’m seeing more of this nation than I have seen it during my seven-month …

Scenezoned

8 Journeys to Wonderful Philippine destinations in Scenezoned Season 2

Scenezoned, a video series online that features eight famous personalities taking a meaningful journey to finest destinations in the Philippines, is gearing for a new round of adventures as Globe presents its season two. The second season will follow the trails of celebrity Solenn Heusaff, LA Aguinaldo, and model and TV personality Tommy Esguerra, who …