First came the firecrackers. That’s to drive out evil spirits. Then colorful Chinese dragons and lions dance to a certain beat that would definitely draw attention. These dragons go around and “eat” the ang pao or the red envelopes, as well as the offerings placed along its path. Yes, the Year of the Water Snake …
The Gangnam Style, Korean soap operas and the K-Pop have invaded my TV screens, bringing my curiosity on South Korea to a higher level. Excitement is rushing through me as I plan my trip to Seoul this coming April. It will be in the spring time, thus, the picture of cherry blossoms gives me more reason to look …
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 by the turn of events, …
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 chandeliers. But when you view …
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 the country’s developed infrastructure makes …
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 a week to spare while …
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 largest ice cap in the …
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 Fairy sitting on top of …
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 is tucked away in Subic, …
…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 my cubicle. For two Saturdays …
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 vibe has caught on board …
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 book us in one of …
What’s good about business trips is that you get the chance to visit places at short notice. The downside is that you spend most of your time doing work that you get no chance to fully enjoy the place. It was a day trip to Sarangani, home to the magnificent Sarangani Bay. The early morning …
Colorful shapes, fun games, and guiltless pleasures – this is the magic of childhood. And so I found my feet leading me to Star City, to revisit my childhood, along with cousin and aunt who was in town for medical purposes. Amidst the slight drizzle and heavy traffic, we headed to the CCP Complex where …
I excitedly opened a package that came on my door step a few days ago. My sample of the latest FlyGrip has arrived! If I’m not mistaken, I must be one of the, if not THE, first to have it here in the Philippines. It was launched only in January 2012 in the United States, …