Make Wanders Happen in Northern Mariana Island

For quite sometime now, I have been looking towards the east, from the Philippine perspective, hoping I would someday explore the territories just beyond my country. After my New Zealand trip, my curiosity of such territories was piqued when I encountered people from the Pacific Islands. Guam, Palau, Micronesia, and their neighboring destinations came to …

The SM Store

30 Travel Must-Haves You Can Find At #SMFeb30th

If you have vacation or travel plans this year or in the near future, whether it is somewhere near or out of the country, it is wise to keep a list of the things you need ahead of time. Don’t wait for the time to arrive and you go on a panic buying spree as …

Langkawi, Malaysia

First-time in Langkawi, Malaysia

The Adventure It was past 10:00 pm and we just had finished our meal at Marry Brown, inside Kuala Lumpur’s Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT). My friend, Karen, and I, were surfing through our individual laptops, trying to find a way out of our situation. You see, our trip to Putrajaya delayed us for several …

Marlou Beach Resort

First-time in Marlou Beach Resort, Nasugbu

It was an unforgettable summer at the Marlou Beach Resort in Nasugbu, Batangas. I love summer and, at the same time, I abhor it. Summer in the Philippines, which often falls from March to May, calls for extreme heat. The sun is always out to find you, even when you are in shaded areas. Often, …

Laiya Beach

First-time in Triple G beach resort, Laiya

When the temperature rise in Manila people head off to the beach, whether it’s far-flung Boracay or a few-hour drive to Subic or Batangas, specifically in a beach in Laiya, Batangas (and in this case, it’s the Triple G Beach Resort.) The beauty of being in a tropical country, we have the sun all year …

Batanes

First-time acquaintances in Batanes

In this particular trip, I realized that I have paid a lot of attention to the people I’ve been with and I met in the journey. I’m not sure if it was the isolation of Batanes from the rest of the Philippines, perched atop this archipelagic nation. Or, it must be the green rolling hills …

Batanes

First-time in Sabtang Island, Batanes

Among the three main islands of the province of Batanes, Sabtang seems to be the most interesting because of the old stone houses that have been part of the Ivatan culture. We rose early morning to catch the boat that would take us to Sabtang Island. Alas, waking up at 5:30 and having breakfast at …

Batanes

First-time in Batan Island, Batanes

For years, I had my eyes set on the northernmost tip of the Philippines. It was a place that only few has conquered because of its isolation and unpredictable weather conditions. It was the closest place to Taiwan and surrounded by the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean. This is Batanes. Brief Preview of …

Tune Hotels

First-time in Tune Hotels, KL

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 …

Sentosa

First-time in Sentosa: The Island Escape of Singapore

Sentosa is an island in Singapore that has been home to the tiny state’s major recreation spots.  The once fishing village island was formerly known as “Pulau Belakang Mati” which literally means as “island”, “behind” and “death” because so many people died at the other side of the island during the World War.  It was …