Gardens and Green Escapes: Nature’s Beauty in 10 Cities

As I pursued on exploring various countries and cities, my travels unveiled the beating heart of each metropolis. Amid bustling streets, verdant havens provide solace—a timeless narrative of culture, history, and urban-nature harmony. These are the parks and gardens found in modern and busy cities, providing refuge to the weary. Definitely, these green spaces aren’t …

Auckland

Five Days in Auckland and nearby areas

Five days. If you have only five days to spare in Auckland and you are visiting for the first time, what would you do? Time is of the essence, so it’s best to plan your trip very well. It was our experience, which you will find useful should you end up in the same situation …

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 …

Photo by Visit Guam

Philippine interconnectivity with Palau and Guam

There’s good news for Palau and Guam! And this is good news even for travelers heading to these places, too. There is  a recent development in terms of interconnectivity with Southeast Asia and the US that will create milestones on the services and communities of Palau and Guam. Things will get busier in Palau this …

Make Wanders Happen in Northern Mariana Island

For quite sometime now, I have been looking towards the east, from the Philippine perspective, hoping I would someday explore the territories just beyond my country. After my New Zealand trip, my curiosity of such territories was piqued when I encountered people from the Pacific Islands. Guam, Palau, Micronesia, and their neighboring destinations came to …

Rotorua

10 Things To Do in Rotorua

While you’ll never run out of attractions to see in Rotorua, you even have an endless list of activities to keep your active self preoccupied in this part of New Zealand. Sure, from geysers to lakes and woods, Rotorua is a place where you can just sit back and enjoy the scenery. But if you …

Auckland

10 Things To Do in Auckland

So, I have detailed the various attractions in Auckland that we have visited. Now, I have put together a summary of 10 things you can do in this city for a short period of time. You may opt to stay a bit longer in every landmark. Others, we totally missed out visiting but I’m including …

Lake Tarawera

Lakes and Redwoods of Rotorua

Apart from geysers, there’s more to see and explore in Rotorua, New Zealand. With about 18 lakes, a forest, several Maori villages, nearby dormant volcano, wildlife attractions, and adventure activities, Rotorua is a traveler’s haven. When we arrived in this city, Linda (guide #2 who picked us from the Hobbiton in Matamata) took us around …

Geyser Watching at Te Puia, Rotorua

Watching geysers and seeing them erupt are something I haven’t experienced before. I’m not sure if there’s one in the Philippines. I read there’s an El Minit Geyser in Mindanao but I haven’t encountered any blog post about it yet. But it was in Te Puia, Rotorua in New Zealand where I experienced the amazing …

Queen's birthday

Queen’s Day at Quay St, Wynyard Quarter and Queen St.

How fortunate are we to witness the Queen’s birthday celebration in Auckland, New Zealand while we were still there. In fact, it was the day we were to fly out, but we still enjoyed the holiday as the rest of the Kiwis. The night before, my other co-winner Camille and I were watching the ceremonies …

Mission Bay

Beach Loving Mission Bay and Devonport

Auckland is known as the City of Sails. Pictures of yachts and boats parked side by side are a common sight in this city. We spent some moment looking at them from the harbor and the wharf. They were lovely to watch from the parks overlooking Waitemoto Harbor, but they were even more relaxing when …

Auckland

Garden Hopping in Auckland

Auckland is a city that is full of open spaces and greens. Gardens and parks, which are often called domains, abound in this city. One example is the Mount Eden domain. Because of its culture and environment, as well as its stability, infrastructure, healthcare, and environment, Auckland is recognized as one of the most livable …

Mount Eden

First-time in Mt. Eden

When we listed down the places we wanted to see in Auckland, Mt. Eden was among those that constantly popped out in our chats and the research I made. My former Habitat colleague, Thelma, with whom I had constant communication prior to my actual trip asked me, too, where we were heading during our third …

Waitomo Glowworm Caves

Into the Waitomo Glowworm Caves

Did you know that beneath the picturesque landscapes of New Zealand lies a hidden realm straight out of a fairytale? Welcome to the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, a captivating wonderland adorned with millions of luminescent creatures that transform the darkness into an otherworldly spectacle. Nestled on the North Island, this subterranean masterpiece takes you on an …

Hobbiton

Hobbiton: A Journey to the Shire, The Land of Hobbits

Short as it may be, my five-day New Zealand trip has taken me to Middle Earth (Hobbiton), made popular in the novels and movies; the Living Earth (Rotorua), where geysers abound; and the Under Earth (Waitomo), the magical world beneath the caves. Hobbiton is a meticulously crafted tourist attraction located in Matamata, New Zealand. It is a …