…and Manila’s other hole-in-the-wall eateries It was another holiday in the Philippines as we commemorated the Day of Valor, celebrating the bravery of Filipino soldiers who fought during World War II. Supposedly, my friends and I were scheduled to go to Corregidor Island, the fortress of Japanese soldiers. Unfortunately, the cruise liner called the day …
The Plantation Bay Resort and Spa always grace the pages of travel magazines. I’ve seen photos of friends who stayed in this luxurious resort located in Mactan Island, Cebu. I’ve been part of contests that gave out a few nights stay for free in this popular relaxation place. Sadly, I’ve never set foot in Plantation …
There I was again traveling alone. It usually happens whenever I travel for business wherein I would be left to my own devices. Having been used to working with non-profits, I often visited new and unfamiliar places without any welcoming party at the airport or a transport service. Sometimes it sounded scary but I always …
I woke up one early June morning feeling restless. It was my last day in LA and I had to be in San Francisco before the day is over to catch my flight back to the Philippines. This was probably one of those moments when I wanted to do something outrageous and mind-boggling. Trying to …
All of my trips to this southern Philippine city had always been for business. My first visit to Cagayan de Oro City, or CDO, as most Filipinos refer to it, was a decade ago when I was there to hold a training workshop with the local affiliates of the organization where I used to work …
When I thought of Kuala Lumpur, what instantly entered my mind was the Petronas Tower, Malaysia’s poster image. Because of its prestige, I envisioned KL as an urbanized metropolis. But its distance from its international airport totally took me by surprise. Good thing we found Tune Hotels located right in the airport complex. It was …
When it comes to hotel chains, the name Hilton is not unfamiliar to tourists. Not only because it’s a nice family name but also due to the brand image it has carved in the hotel industry. My first nights in the US, specifically in San Francisco, were spent in a cozy bed in Hilton San …
This is the first time that First-time Travels will be featuring an article from a guest blogger. I love that. As I’m pretty sure that every seasoned traveler started out as a first-time traveler, I welcome stories about travel experiences when you first embarked on your travels or when you first visited a place. Read …
Farmerbrown. The name wasn’t familiar to me before until I encountered it and it definitely stuck in my memory bank. Not only was the place where I had my first dinner in San Francisco, if not in the USA, but how I got there was in itself an interesting tale. I was in this beautiful …
Right after our plane touched down in the runway of the Dumaguete City airport, at the capital of the Negros Oriental province in the Philippines, we embarked on about half an hour ride by van to the southern part of the island towards Malatapay Beach Resort. It was night when we arrived at the resort. …
Read more “First-time in Malatapay Beach Resort, Negros Oriental”
Getting out of the capital of the Philippines, Manila, to nearby cities and towns is not an uncommon occurrence among the urban dwellers. With friends and relatives from abroad visiting every now and then, it gives us more reason to escape the metropolis. But with the “Viaje del Sol”, Spanish for “Way of the Sun”, …
I’ve never experienced hosteling until I went to Guangzhou, a city in the southern part of China. I thought it would just be another small hotel, or an inn, for that matter. I didn’t expect that there was entirely something different with the experience, particularly with youth hosteling, which I never realized till I was …
Read more “First-time in Guangzhou RiverSide Youth Hostel (Jiangpan)”
Before it’s name came about, it was only referred to as “Kay To(to) Larry”, which literally means “Larry’s Place” or “Toto Larry’s Place”, with “toto” as a form of endearment to men in the Hiligaynon language. Thus, the resort became popularly known as “Kaitulari” and the name stuck. Kaitulari is a resort tucked in the …
I went home last Christmas with a mission: to visit another tourist spot in my own province. It helps to know what’s going on in my own backyard, figuratively speaking, so that when I travel, I also get to talk about interesting things about my hometown. Being away from home for 11 months in a …
Watching travelers in an airport coffee shop while waiting for my flight, I couldn’t help but wonder what 2010 has for me when it comes to traveling. Of course, 2009 was a good one. I have covered almost 20,000 miles, visited four countries, and enjoyed several beaches and landmarks. It was my first time to …