Travel preferences

Exploring Your Travel Preferences for Awesome Trips

What do you want to do in your travels? What are your preferences when you travel? You see, traveling allows us to explore the world, immerse ourselves in new cultures, and indulge in unique experiences. However, our travel preferences differ based on our interests and desires. So, how do you plan your itinerary? I remember …

canang bali

First-time to make a Canang: a Balinese culture

During my recent trip to Bali, Indonesia, I had the incredible opportunity to dive deep into the rich cultural tapestry of this enchanting island. One particular experience that left a lasting impression on my soul was the canang-making workshop and temple visit at Ayana. Canang Sari (pronounced as cha-nang), the small palm leaf baskets adorned …

First-time in Ayana Estate: A Paradise in Bali

Ayana Estate is an enchanting oasis nestled in the picturesque coastal town of Jimbaran, Bali, renowned for its exquisite attractions & luxurious amenities.

Bali

First-Time in Bali: A Blend of Business and Leisure

It’s my third time in Indonesia, but this was my first time to finally set foot in this enchanting island paradise of Bali, mixing business and pleasure.

Bali vacation

Lessons on the Road: Get some fresh air, Take a breather

In our last Negrense Bloggers Christmas Party held at Park Inn by Radisson Bacolod at SM City Bacolod, I won the major prize in our raffle draw of an air purifier, courtesy of Julia’s Choice by Julia Estrella- Javellana. It was very timely as I was also contemplating of buying an air purifier, which has …

Lessons on the Road: The Purpose of Your Travel

Why do you travel? Why are you going to a particular place? Is it to do some sightseeing? Is it to visit a relative or friend? Is it to attend a meeting or to look for business opportunities? Is it to study? Or is it to tick off something on your bucket list, shade a …

Lessons on the Road: Document your Trip

The pandemic has put my usual overseas travels to a halt. As a matter of fact, my sister and I were scheduled to travel to Singapore in April 2020 when the world turned upside down with the sudden turn of events — towns, cities and countries were in a standstill with circuit breaker lockdowns and …

Habitat for Humanity Philippines’ projects in Negros Occidental

Having worked with non-profits during my career, I want to dedicate some space here in my site for the good works they are doing, especially when it’s something that is happening in my province. One case in particular is Habitat for Humanity Philippines’ (HFHP) efforts in Negros Occidental to build homes for families in need. …

The international cuisines at Vikings Bacolod

SmörgÃ¥sbord. It is a word we often hear that is associated with having so many food preparations where you can enjoy a lot of choices. Merriam-Webster defines it as “luncheon or supper buffet offering a variety of foods and dishes (such as hors d’oeuvres, hot and cold meats, smoked and pickled fish, cheeses, salads, and …

First-time in Halong Bay

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Halong Bay is one of the postcard pictures of Vietnam. Thousands of isles and limestone karsts are cast around this famous bay in Quang Ninh Province in the northern part of the country. Now, millions of visitors flock to Ha Long, which means “descending dragon”, to see this beauty up …

The World in Noodles

A food tour is always interesting. Even in my travels, trying the local cuisine and delicacies, particularly the street food, is something I always look forward in every place. The flavor, texture and preparation of the food vary from one place to another. But what I always find interesting are the noodle dishes that differ …

Melaka

First-time in Melaka, Malaysia

“Selamat Datang/Welcome. Melaka World Heritage City. Declared by UNESCO on 7th July 2008.” These are the words I saw on a wall as we entered the central part of Melaka. Malacca, a historic state in Malaysia, used to be a Sultanate which was conquered by the Portuguese in 1511. It was later under the Dutch …

Haw Par Villa

First-time in Haw Par Villa Singapore

Colorful sculptures and scenes depicting Chinese folklore, mythology and life activities fill the 3.2-hectare area of the Haw Par Villa theme park in Singapore. The good thing about visiting this place is that entrance is free. So if you are in Singapore on a shoestring budget, this is one attraction to consider. I haven’t heard …

5 Ways to Take a Breather from the Holiday Shopping Frenzy

Christmas is definitely in the air and the shopping frenzy is present in markets and malls. Whether you are in your hometown or in another place traveling, buying a lot of things for you and your loved ones is a fun thing to do. However, there are some things you have to bear in mind …

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 …