From Kuala Lumpur, we went to Genting Highlands, a place on top of a mountain that was developed starting in the 1970s by one of the richest men in Malaysia. Fast forward to today, it is the site of the First World Hotel, renowned for being the second-largest hotel in the world, a casino, a theme park, a mall, and a nearby residential village.

From Kuala Lumpur, we went to Genting Highlands, a place on top of a mountain that was developed starting in the 1970s by one of the richest men in Malaysia. Fast forward to today, it is the site of the First World Hotel, renowned for being the second-largest hotel in the world, a casino, a theme park, a mall, and a nearby residential village.

That trip was my very first trip out of the Philippines. Sending my gratitude to budget airlines such as AirAsia, blokes like me could finally afford to travel within the Southeast Asian region, and Kuala Lumpur presented the perfect opportunity for me to experience out-of-the-country travel.

A journey through the cobblestone heart of Vigan, Ilocos Sur. From the Spanish colonial architecture of Calle Crisologo to the savory crunch of local empanadas, we explore one of the world's most enduring heritage sites. On our journey further north toward Pagudpud, we paused in the timeless city of Vigan. It is a place of ritual—be it attending a quiet mass, indulging in the local culinary scene, or wandering through the UNESCO-recognized Calle Crisologo.