Free Freedom Island

…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 …

Dinner Cruise at Manila Bay

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 …

Silk Street Mall Beijing

First-time in Silk Street Mall, Beijing

Silk Street Mall is neither your ordinary street nor your usual mall. It was something I’d find anywhere in the Philippines. Yet, tourists, especially those from Europe or the America, love to go to Silk Street Mall. There were a bunch of kids who were having a field trip there. There were Spanish families donning …

Ligligan Festival

First-time in the Ligligan Festival

Apart from exploring the entire stretch of the Philippine archipelago, one thing I also want to fulfill is to witness the various festivals in our colorful and culture-rich country. This year, I can tick off another Filipino festival, called the Ligligan Parul, or the Giant Lantern Festival of San Fernando, Pampanga. Together with an American …

Tinagong Dagat Sipalay

Tips for First-time Travelers to the Philippines

As we are on the topic of guest post, I contributed to A Dangerous Business some tips for those planning to travel to the Philippines for the first time. So, you are planning for that vacation which you haven’t taken for years. Or, you are looking for an affordable, yet romantic place for your honeymoon. …

Blogsherpa-Travel-Carnival-widget-copy

First-time Travels of Travel Bloggers

The First-Time Travels of Lonely Planet Blogsherpas – Carnival #9 Jetsetters and seasoned travelers may be “experts on the road” but they also started out learning the ropes of traveling. They now have something to advice on the subject because they have a rich resource of firsthand travel experiences. Some of them, when they were …

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, …