Can You Make a Difference while Travelling?

The feeling of travelling the world is a glorious one; a feeling of wonder and excitement and a thirst for adventure that simply can’t be quenched. Whether you’re travelling to a new country, exploring a big city or getting lost in the wilderness, ticking items off your bucket list and getting to grips with new …

10 things you must know about Dubai before your first trip

With its skyline of modern skyscrapers, large shopping malls, luxury hotels, and entertainment options, Dubai has become one of the preferred international destinations for tourists, particularly Indians. The number of Indians visiting Dubai has only grown in the last few years. And even for Filipinos because there are a lot of our kababayans or fellow Filipinos who …

Vivo Bacolod launch

Vivo V7 as your fave travel buddy

So, Vivo invited me again to another event. This time, the launch event was held in my own city, Bacolod City, Philippines. The new boy group of TV Network ABS-CBN and Vivo brand influencer, Boy Band PH, composed of Joao Constancia, Niel Murillo, Tristan Ramirez, Russell Reyes, and Ford Valencia delighted the Bacolodnons with their performances. Although …

Jakarta

10 Things to See in Jakarta

Our bus was zooming through the jalan tol or the freeway, and traffic was slowly building up. We had been on the road and on the sea for about 10 hours already. I looked out the window, the landscape was vaguely familiar. I was searching for something that can match my memory of Jakarta, Indonesia’s …

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. …