Travel Mart 2010

The Philippine Travel Mart 2010

I always visit the Philippine Travel Expo which is held every February. But when March kicks in, I feel like it’s a long wait for February to come so when I learned of the Philippine Travel Mart, which occurred in September, I immediately grabbed the opportunity to visit the event. Organized by the Philippine Tour …

Online Abroad

Internet Connection for First-time Travelers

The advent of technology has kept people on the go to be in touch with the rest of the world wherever they may be. It’s now an added bonus but it can also be a distraction to your journey. For first-time travelers wanting to be constantly connected, you will not only concern yourself with your …

women travel

First-time featured in SITS

Welcome SITSahs! It is not everyday that I travel. It is not also everyday that I get featured in SITS. My SITSahs are those that travel with me in the intricate world of the internet, sharing passions and exchanging a sisterly pat on the back with our comments on blog posts. I enjoyed visiting sites …

Makati

For first-timers in Makati

I was a kid when I first stepped into the urban jungle of Makati. At that time, I gazed at the towering buildings that loomed along its paved avenues. Fast forward to my adult years, when I’m no longer a traveler to this place, but had to make it my home (before I moved back …

Beijing

First-time in Zhao Yuan Ju Hotel

It was like some secret waiting to be discovered, Zao Yuan Ju Hotel, or Hutong Inn, is located in the narrow hutong of Zhang Wang, surrounded by old houses, some of which has been transformed into a store or a small eatery. Without any much signage, you wouldn’t think a hotel is found a few walks …

Holiday Inn

First-time in Meilong Holiday Inn Express

Shanghai, being a metropolitan city, is not always a cheap place to visit. If you know how to strike a bargain, then you’d probably hit a gold mine. That’s what happened to our accommodations. We stayed in a hotel with services that made us extra comfortable, yet got a discounted rate. Meilong Holiday Inn Express …

Shanghai World Expo

First-time in the Shanghai World Expo 2010

As we touched down at Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, everything was World Expo mode. Even the expressways had special directional signs to the expo site. We were fortunate to have our visit timed during the World Expo, an internationally registered event (major expo) which happens every five years only and the venue held in …

Shanghai

First-time in Shanghai

If you want to see the more modern face of China, Shanghai is the place to be. Everything seems to be on a rush in this metropolis. So, all we did was go with the flow of human traffic until our feet led us to the many highlights of Shanghai. Sightseeing Despite its modern structures, …

Great Wall of China

First-time in Beijing Outer Rings and Beyond

The morning was gray and gloomy with the drizzling rain seem to be stopping our great adventure to the outskirts of Beijing. We were to climb the Great Wall of China and we didn’t allow the weather to be an impediment to this important endeavor. We were thankful that our hostel provided a cheaper Great …

Beijing

First-time in the Forbidden City and other Beijing Sights

For someone visiting an important nation like China, it is a must to make a stop in its most essential city, its capital, Beijing. Although our entry point and exit was Shanghai, we made sure that we can swing a trip to the capital. It was a long journey as we flew to Xi’an and …

Terracotta warriors

First-time in Xi’an

China is one of the oldest civilizations in the world. Xi’an is one of the early capitals of this great nation for several dynasties. The first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, was known as an effective general who later united the whole of China. He ruled in Xi’an. Apart from its glorious history, Xi’an was also …

Encounters in China

One of the good things I enjoy in traveling is meeting new people along the way. May they be local residents or fellow travelers on the road, these persons I encounter in my journeys make my travels more colorful and memorable. I recently had a nine-day tour of China, from Shanghai to Xian to Beijing …

Mount Halcon

First-time at the foot of Mt. Halcon

I have visited the town of San Teodoro in Oriental Mindoro several times. But I have not ventured anywhere near the foot of Mt. Halcon, where we have a possible site for volunteer vacations. The one I did there the last time was mangrove tree planting in its coastal area. At Wednesday morning, I agreed …

Corregidor Island

First-time to Tour Corregidor Island

It’s the 4th of July. As much as it is part of American history, it extends to the shores of the Philippine islands. Yesterday, July 4, I went to a place of Filipino-American history, Corregidor Island, where both nations fought side by side. The first time I embarked on a trip to Corregidor Island, I …