Author: Claire Algarme
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Holi Festival in Manila: A Colorful Celebration of Joy and Unity
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The Holi Festival transformed Manila’s Seaside Boulevard into a dazzling celebration of color, music, friendship, and fun. Braving the scorching Manila sun, my friends and I headed to the Seaside Boulevard of SM Mall of Asia. We were ready to discover a festival I had mostly encountered through Indian movies and television…
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MNL Boutique Hostel: A Backpacker’s Haven in Makati
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MNL Boutique Hostel is a backpacker’s haven in the Philippines that brings together fun and friendship into your travel equation. Backpacking in your own city — it’s not a new concept but it’s neither something that most people do. Recently, I tried being a backpacker in Makati, where I am…
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Solaire Resort: A Luxurious Oasis of Entertainment
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They are out to change the game. And I want to believe that they are a step into it. Solaire Resort opened its doors to the public today. Due to the hype, it was expected that a lot of people will troop to this casino resort. Solaire Resort and Casino…
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Suzu Kin: A Delicious Japanese Food Discovery in Makati
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Suzu Kin was not on my list of places to eat in Makati, yet a taxi driver unexpectedly led me there. I have always believed that some of the best places to eat come through local recommendations. Sometimes, the most memorable discoveries happen when someone simply says, “Try that place.” That…
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Chinese New Year in Manila Hotel: A Fan-filled Celebration
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Chinese New Year arrived with a bang, beginning with firecrackers that shattered the quiet and chased away evil spirits. Then came the dragons and lions, weaving through the crowd to a lively, unmistakable beat. Their colorful bodies moved with energy as they followed a trail of red envelopes and offerings. I…
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Farewell LP from a Blogsherpa
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For almost three years I have become part of Lonely Planet’s Blogsherpa Program, until recently when Lonely Planet has decided that the program has finally come to the end of the road. An e-mail that arrived in our inbox brought questions, more than answers, to us. Although we were saddened…
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A Peek into Manila Hotel’s Suite Life
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One hundred years seem to be a pretty long time. When you enter the grand lobby of the Manila Hotel, it gives you a feeling of nostalgia as you remember your childhood memories here or imagine Filipinos a century past donning their ternos and barongs, dancing under the same beautiful…
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Your Story: First-Time Travel to Morocco
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By: Thomas Hollowell Located on the northern tip of the Sahara, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, Morocco is an easy ferry ride from Spain, and frequent flights connect it to other European countries. Bustling markets, golden sand dunes and colorful rugs fulfill visitors’ expectations of a romantic and old land, while…
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First Solo Trip to Vigan
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A Facebook post from a fellow traveler caught my eye and piqued my interest. There was an international conference on cultural tourism that will take place to the historic city of Vigan, an eight- to ten-hour ride from the capital of Manila. As I was in between jobs and had…
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Your Story: My first time in Argentina
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Everything in one place by Jerrard Doran The 8th biggest country in the world. A country spanning seven different climactic zones. From the lowest point on the South American continent (that’s Laguna del Carbón) to the highest peak in all of the Americas (and that is Aconcagua). Home to the…
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The Nutcracker at the Manila Hotel
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Giant Nutcracker soldiers filing at the sides, wreaths hanging on the wall, candy canes set on table centerpieces – all these now fill the grandoise lobby of the Manila Hotel, bringing the Christmas spirit to every guest that enters its doors. At the end of the august hall is a Christmas tree with the Sugar Plum…
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First-time in Kamana Sanctuary
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The photo of their Casitas was enough for me to agree to a weekend getaway during the long holiday in observance of All Saints Day and All Souls Day. Kamana Sanctuary Resort & Spa was what I expected the weekend would be – full of relaxation and reassuringly stress-free. Kamana…
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Free Freedom Island
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…from trash and other ecological threats. Freedom. Such a powerful word, and something that is close to a traveler’s heart. For instance, I relate traveling to freedom – going beyond boundaries and being able to explore places, things and cultures. And, yes, traveling is getting free from the constricting space of…
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Dinner Cruise at Manila Bay
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Fascinating. This is how I describe our dinner cruise adventure at the Manila Bay. Onboard Prestige Cruises, my friends and I (we were about 20) decided to celebrate the July, August and September birthdays with pizzazz. Our party’s theme was fascinators, and we were dressed in the 20’s. The exciting…
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Travel Survival through Language
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It was midnight. My friend and I found ourselves at a bus station in Kuala Lumpur. We missed our flight to Langkawi so we opted to head to our destination by an overnight land trip. As we got off our taxi, we were surrounded by men who were trying to…