Because of the province's geographical position facing the mighty Pacific Ocean, surf-worthy waves pound the shorelines of Surigao Del Sur all year round. For many, this becomes a compelling reason to get stoked in the province. Conversely, the gifts Mother Nature brings to this sea don’t end at the surface. Beneath the mammoth swells hides an underwater gem teeming with some of the healthiest coral reefs in the country.

The first time I cruised aboard an inter-island ferry boat was many years ago. Our destination was Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro. Wide-eyed with wonder, I found myself swimming in crystal-clear waters and frolicking over white sandy beaches for the first time in my adolescent life. Sandwiched in our ocean fun spree was a hiking trip to Mount Malasimbo. A year after that, I returned with my mates from the UST Mountaineering Club for our induction climb to Mount Halcon.

Off the coast of Cauayan in Negros Occidental lies a forty-five-hectare islet teeming with a rich set of biodiversity. Danjugan Island is home to a diverse range of wildlife species—most notably the rare Philippine scrubfowl. One might say, “We’ve heard this story before”—of an island in our country swarming with natural gems, only to see it destroyed by misguided development. The case with Danjugan is entirely different. Thanks to a dedicated conservation program, this one-and-a-half-kilometer-long island that was once threatened by illegal fishing is now a protected marine sanctuary and a gold-standard model for nature conservation.

Situated right smack at the center of the Ortigas Business District, Jinjiang Inn is a modest six-story property stripped of the imposing grandeur of a larger hotel, but it maintains a comfortable and laid-back sense that appeals to both business and leisure travelers. In the world of always-on-the-move travelers, accommodation providing a great bang for the buck is always a source of deep gratification.

“It’s the thought that counts,” as the old saying goes whenever we give and receive gifts from our family and friends during the holiday season. This, however, doesn’t mean we should just slack off when choosing the gifts we will buy for our loved ones. Because out there, beyond the reaches of the usual giant malls, are awesome items being sold online by various groups of people and local communities all over the country. These are local products that may not be popular yet as gift ideas—but appear to be the perfect ones to hand out this Christmas season.

“I come with the rain,” I muttered to myself while I watched the last sheen of daylight give way to dark clouds, casting over the countryside and heading to Bandung. I spent the three-hour train ride from Jakarta uneventfully fighting off sleep as I opted to stare at the passing lush scenery as much as I could.

When one thought of places to see in Thailand outside of Bangkok, most people would cite Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Phuket, and Pattaya as just some of the most popular locations. Almost no one mentioned a hidden gem of a place called Nakhon Phanom.

Taking over the place of an abandoned railway station in the Chatuchak district of Bangkok, the Ratchada Train Market spread out on an open-air field dotted with colorful tents selling the top of the pops of Thailand's street food culture, along with clothing items and an endless array of fascinating trinkets to fill up your suitcase—or if you were like me, your backpack.

Whenever I travel solo, I heed my own wallet’s calling, so I always end up staying in hostels. Even though traveling around the Philippines may present a challenge—since most cities still do not have hip hostels that are easy on the pocket—in recent years, I’ve seen a steady increase in this type of accommodation, fitting the budget of backpackers in many locations.

People often associated the Mekong River exclusively with Vietnam. Unbeknownst to many, the mighty Mekong stretched a long distance and drew out amply, forming a sub-region inside the vast Asian continent. The countries of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, and even China, were all needled together by the Mekong River.

I used to think Hotel Benilde was simply a high-rise playground building for culinary and Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM) students from the College of Saint Benilde. I am guilty of downplaying the establishment as merely having the basic necessities needed for elevated education, assuming it was still not up to par with industry standards. Oh man, how mistaken I was—when, after stepping foot inside its lobby, I quickly noticed how everything is run professionally, just like the other fancy hotels I’ve been to.

We had been navigating the highway out of Marawi City, passing by fertile fields for almost a couple of hours, when we turned onto a narrow road leading to a small town. An eerie silence reigned over our group as our van rolled to a stop in front of a mosque riddled with bullets. "We’re almost here," I heard someone exclaim. I looked out the window and immediately saw a group of teachers amiably welcoming us.

Over a year since the end of the Marawi Siege has passed, and most of the residents of Lanao Del Sur are still reeling from the effects of the five-month battle between government forces and the ISIL terror group composed of the Maute and Abu Sayyaf Salafi jihadist organizations. While the long road to recovery is expected to take years, there are organizations stepping up to the challenge to help in the rehabilitation of those affected by implementing and supporting various livelihood projects.

I remembered sitting inside a cramped van negotiating the snaking countryside road of Laos, feeling very excited as I reached my next destination. My high anticipation stemmed from the desire to unlock the truth behind the prevailing word-of-mouth on Luang Prabang. “The place is so laid-back,” fellow travelers would often rave. As simple as it might be, that description was music to my ears. Throw in the heritage structures and rich culture of the city, my giddiness got the best of me for the rest of my ride.

We were dead set on summiting Mount Daraitan on this beautiful sunny day. However, while fueling up with a hot bowl of lomi at Barangay Daraitan, a guide from the tourism office suggested Mt. Mamara. "The hike is easier, but the view is equally spectacular as in Daraitan," he told us in Tagalog. While I was silently considering his advice, I waited for my friends Christine and Ferdz's decision if we would take a vote on what mountain to day-hike. There was silence—except for the sound of our slurping—for a few seconds before Christine made a final decision for our group: "Mt. Mamara it is then."

Philippine Airlines is continuing to step up the quality of service and comfort level of its short-haul international flights with the introduction of the Airbus A330. Today, PAL passengers can now safely enjoy a very convenient 4-hour journey to Bangkok with the helpful addition of the cool, modern features of the A330.

This specific Airbus model is normally used by most commercial airlines on long-haul flights that span at least eight hours of travel time. By actively opting to fly this dandy of a state-of-the-art plane on a brief hop to a busy city like Bangkok, it only heavily shows how serious Philippine Airlines is when it comes to providing more value for airfare to its passengers.

Bangkok had been synonymous with shopping, food tripping, temples, and wild night parties—especially at the infamous Khao San Road. More often than not, parents would leave their kids at home when visiting Bangkok because of the fear they would get bored, as opposed to traveling to Hong Kong and Tokyo, where the worlds of Disneyland abounded.

French philosopher Voltaire once said that “illusion is the first of all pleasures”—and one of its finest forms was the trickery of our visual sense. Bangkok’s 3D Art in Paradise did just that through its artworks daubed vividly on the walls and other installations conveying images of a different realm.

If seeing the images on television news isn't bad enough, the moment we walked inside the Marawi siege’s 'ground zero’, reality shook me real bad. Tilted buildings plastered with bullet and rocket holes, homes beyond recognition, and personal items strewn on the road—clothes, suitcases, stuffed toys—left behind by fleeing civilians, are simply too much to process.

Outside ground zero, we met some survivors eager to tell their stories. After losing everything, all they have now are narratives of survival. I took a few photos, and with each click of my camera, I felt the grim scenes stabbing my heart.

I was sitting atop our jeep staring at the spectacular landscape of Ifugao when we came to an abrupt halt. A single roar of the engine gave it a kick a few inches forward, followed by a complete standstill. Deep mud had accumulated on the dirt road where, just a few meters away, large boulders from a recent landslide occupied half of the passage. What was a minor roadblock in our journey back happens to be an everyday occurrence for the resilient people living in the village of Cambulo in Banaue, Ifugao.

Another thing I dig about being a travel writer is the opportunity of being invited to various conferences about the travel industry. In the last couple of years, I have covered some of the biggest travel-related symposiums and talks, such as the 2017 World Travel and Tourism Global Council, the 2017 ASEAN-INDIA Summit—both of which were held in Bangkok, Thailand—and this year’s Mekong Tourism Forum held in Nakhon Phanom, Thailand.

Soon to hold a regular cruising schedule in Manila, Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas—which is also the biggest luxury ship to sail the waters of Asia—has already given a hint of what’s to come for Filipino travelers willing to get a taste of high-sea living. After making numerous port calls in Hong Kong, the ship made its double maiden call in Subic and Manila on June 8 and 9, 2018.

Although its upcoming cruises will cover nearby countries like Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and even Australia, it will be just a matter of months before they call Manila a regular home port.

When my friend and I were planning our mini road trip in Rizal, we came up with a handful of places to visit. I pitched the Windmill Farm in Pililla while she suggested the Petroglyphs in Angono. “You haven’t been?” I asked her in a surprised tone since she lives in the exact same town. “Never been,” she answered me. “Great, same here,” I told her. Problem solved. Ditching spontaneity, we now had a solid road trip destination.

I remembered the sheen of the rising sun lighting up an ember at the edge of the hills of sand dunes. It was the first thing I saw from where I laid out on a mattress in the open desert. A few feet away from me, I noticed a black scorpion struggling to crawl away. I looked up at our guide with a smile on his face. “Close call,” he told me before breaking into a grin. “They are poisonous but they don’t kill people,” he added. That prevented me from thinking the night we spent in the desert of Jaisalmer was a life-threatening one.

I awoke from a deep slumber, completely disoriented. I looked up at the overwhelming darkness above me, desperately hoping to see trails of scattered stars to help me figure out exactly where I was. Instead, all I saw was pitch-black nothingness. It gradually dawned on me that I had dozed off the night before on a swaying hammock deep inside a massive cave, where we had journeyed for a grueling overnight spelunking expedition.

It was a cave with a staggering ceiling rising as high as 200 feet. I looked down at my glowing watch, and it showed 6:35 AM. It was bright daytime outside, but it remained an infinite, heavy evening inside this dark cavern. As we slowly prepared for our hot breakfast before crawling our way out through the other end, I stood up and quietly packed my mud-stained belongings. I mentally prepared myself for the rigorous, physically demanding routes that still awaited us across the many chambers of Langun Gobingob.

The Araguaney tree blooming with vibrant yellow leaves behind me provided an atmospheric prelude to what I was about to witness. As the marching drums of the twelve participating contingents in the street dancing competitions started to pound foot-stomping beats, I could feel the vibe of the Kaamulan Festival becoming increasingly electrifying.

After getting settled in my hotel fronting the Mekong River, I took a stroll along the lengthy river walk in the city center of Nakhon Phanom. Passing by cajoling but polite street vendors, meditating monks, and local families on long walks, I caught a cinematic sight brewing across the river. Arresting my attention was how the disappearing gleam of the setting sun revealed the spectacular silhouette of the saw-toothed hilltops in Laos.

In a country where rice is life, it comes as no surprise that arguably the Philippines' favorite traditional snack is the suman—a hand-rolled sticky rice cake usually wrapped in banana or palm leaves. Like most Filipinos, I’ve come across different varieties of suman all over the archipelago. There’s the Tupig in Ilocos Norte and Pangasinan, Suman Pinipig in Bulacan, Suman Moron and Budbod in the Visayas, and Pintos in Mindanao—just to name a few—all differing in preparation methods, sizes, and special ingredients added.

So, you might wonder what makes the suman of Misamis Occidental—specifically the ones crafted by the famous Clarin House of Suman—different from all the rest? That’s exactly what we found out during our side-trip to the quiet town of Clarin.

Festivals or fiestas have fundamentally become an important part of life across the Philippines' many provinces. These grand celebrations not only highlight local traditions, but they also effectively provide an opportunity for local residents to bravely showcase their talents in cultural performances. Festivals successfully bring together residents and visitors from all over the world to celebrate life and deeply promote local culture.

The Panaad sa Negros, which originally began in 1993, is exactly one such festival that everyone should absolutely attend.

Pattaya was one of those places that radiated an aura of mystique to travelers such as myself—who first learned about that resort city through tales of debauchery, mayhem, and smut. It was, as suggested by my preconceived notion, a place composed of an organized chaos of neon lights, lavish adult clubs, and endless cabaret shows that lasted through the morning.

Seven hours after leaving the city of Bangkok at the stroke of midnight, I found myself on the main highway of Old Sukhothai—under a drizzly sky. With a throbbing head and the effects of intermittent sleep, I located my hostel, which, to my surprise, was nestled within a boutique resort complex. “Our Dorm of Happiness—as we call it, is located on the second floor. Come follow me,” the receptionist told me. She then directed me to my bunk bed inside one of the rooms at the old cream-colored wooden house fronted by a picturesque courtyard.

Less than fifty kilometers away from Dapitan City in Dipolog, a quaint coastal town called Sapang Dalaga radiates more than enough charm worthy of a detour visit. Under the outstretched arm of a massive Jesus Christ statue perched high atop a hill, I carefully scrutinized the magnificent view of the twin bays of Casul and Murcielagos shimmering against the sheen of the setting sun.

From the gleaming waters, I trailed my sight up to the rolling mountain slopes circling back 180 degrees, leading my eyes once again to the towering figure of Caluya Shrine—a 45-foot doppelganger of Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Jesus Christ the Redeemer.

If gazes could talk, one would instantly have heard the surrounding eyes mouthing off intentions of mayhem—a bedlam not equating to violence, but rather expressed through the mischievous actions of more than 700 long-tailed macaques who called that place home. A primate habitat known as the Mandala Wisata Wanara Wana, or otherwise referred to as the Ubud Monkey Forest, was another popular tourist destination in Bali. Home to more than 700 long-tailed macaques, it was tucked deep in a forest covering approximately ten hectares with a labyrinth composed of zigzagging water streams, hilly slopes, sheltering towering trees of around 115 different species, and three sacred Hindu temples.

On our way to Sapang Dalaga in Misamis Occidental, we stopped by Jimenez Church—a late 19th-century Baroque Church—otherwise officially known as the San Juan Bautista Parish Church, located in the quiet town of the same name.

Everyone was silent as our speedboat sliced through the calm, glassy waters of the Celebes Sea. Under the brilliance of a full sun and unmindful of the burnt sensation on my golden skin, I savored the eerie stillness of cruising over a body of water once notorious as one of the most dangerous maritime backwaters in the world.

What used to be a violent playground for pirate ships committing robbery—and during the worst of times, a sailing route for militants preying on civilians—the waters approaching Panampangan Island are now a picture-perfect, unruffled natural haven.

When you successfully mix history, culture, and food-tripping, that’s another level of wanderlust high. Taipei, the capital city of Taiwan, is the ideal place to take your wanderings into another height of discovery, learning, and fun.

As the southernmost province in the Philippines, Tawi-Tawi boasts a wealth of destinations still firmly considered to belong along the off-the-beaten path. Home to deep biological diversity and a colorful culture that has flourished and been preserved for hundreds of years, visitors to this province are guaranteed a memorable experience. Previously overlooked and unreasonably associated with security concerns, Tawi-Tawi is quickly becoming a favorite option for travelers in search of a place teeming with cultural wonders and unforgettable sights. To the lucky and adventurous traveler willing to explore Tawi-Tawi, here are just some of the many places worth visiting.

Whenever I think of Siargao Island, I imagine myself waiting for a decent swell to roll in. When it finally does, I follow through by paddling my way to meet the forming waves head-on—the first step in a notoriously difficult process culminating in trying to stand up on my surfboard right before crashing hard and being swallowed by the white water. It is a failure of catastrophic embarrassment, ending with my head emerging from the ocean almost short of breath and struggling to swim back to safety.

Arms outstretched, channeling Edmond Dantès staring at freedom following his escape from his dungeon, I regaled at the sight of the Pacific Ocean—while listening to its crashing waves mimicking a melodic environmental symphony. In this southernmost tip of Aurora Province, I stood awestruck on a rocky precipice fronting a stunning landscape of rolling terrain fringed with cliff-side hills. I wanted to scream, but instead, I reckoned the hissing winds sounded far better in lieu of a sudden yell of exuberance.

Malolos Heritage Town in Bulacan is one of the most historically significant destinations in the Philippines. Home to Barasoain Church, the Kamestisuhan District, the Malolos Cathedral and dozens of ancestral houses, the city served as the capital of the First Philippine Republic and remains one of the country's finest heritage destinations. Growing up in a time when a ten-peso bill was enough to buy me a bowl of arroz caldo and a bottle of soda, I always found myself being reminded of the historic significance of Malolos’s Barasoain Church, whose image was printed on one side of the currency. Coined from the term baras ng suwail, meaning “dungeon of the defiant,” the walls and four corners of this church were once the rendezvous point of anti-colonial Ilustrados.

Conversely, as history is told in a myriad of ways, it is also forgotten in innumerable ways. Eventually, the story of Malolos took a backseat among other places of historic importance across the country.

Chasing waves and nature tripping in Siargao feeds one’s adventurous soul. Undertaking it can be wearing and will leave you famished, craving a satisfying grub. A great thing about this island, though, is that one will never run out of gastronomic spaces to have a feast, re-energize, and enjoy a good chill-out time with friends at the same time. With a thriving culinary sphere that mirrors the growth of the local arts scene, Siargao is fast becoming known as a premier foodie destination to go along with its reputation as a surfer’s paradise.

A line from a Moby song, “As I wake its kaleidoscopic mind,” hummed inside my head as we entered arguably the most unique fine dining restaurant in the Dashu District of Kaohsiung. Porcelain-filled ceilings, chandeliers, tables, walls, bowls, cups, and statues adorn the interiors. Doubling as a museum displaying porcelain figurines priced from ten thousand NT to as high as four million five hundred thousand NT, 1300 Only Porcelain also lavishes guests with mouth-watering fusion cuisines.

The coming of summer spells dipping into cool waters, trying outdoor activities under the scorching heat of the sun, and spending quality time with the people who matter most. This is most likely what Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park had in mind when it decided to boost and update its plethora of offerings for the benefit of its clientele—the Filipino family (and their pets, too!).

At Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park, nothing beats the memories created and the bonds made stronger by families enjoying its fun-filled activities and resort amenities.

Feeling relaxed and a bit Zen-ned from the yoga session we had at Community Fitness in Pasig, myself, Christine, and Ferdz—who was also our Yogi teacher that morning—decided to do some urban exploration. “I have a barber appointment in Marikina plus a friend is inviting me to try out the James Dean Café; you can come with me,” Ferdz told us. So, off we went to the city known for its shoe industry, city-wide bike lanes, and a thriving local food scene.

Remember the Mark Renton swagger I had on my way to board Star Cruises’ SuperStar Gemini last year? Well, my frame of mind was a bit subdued this time, and no Trainspotting pop-culture reference ran inside my head. The enthusiasm of going on another cruising experience never wavered, though, as I inched closer to the gigantic SuperStar Virgo docked at Pier 15 of Manila Port. Who wouldn’t be captivated by the sheer size of the ship towering as high as a ten-story building, knowing that inside its massive bulkheads lies a fully recreated floating luxury resort? Finding myself about to board a cruise ship for the second time, I recited a brief prayer thanking the heavens for doling out good karma upon me.

In this age of the #MeToo movement, heaps of douche-bag sexual misconduct and abuse have been unearthed not only from the entertainment industry but also from various other facets of our society. We now come face-to-face with a chilling reality—to which most of us have turned a blind eye for years—that sexual harassment happens in every aspect of our daily lives.

For solo female travelers, the risk of being subjected to different kinds of harassment on the road dips the scale toward high probability. It is difficult enough to find oneself in an unfamiliar place; being subjected to catcalling, groping, and flashing by perverts definitely adds a layer of danger to women travelers all over the world.

One doesn’t need to be a hardcore mountaineer to enjoy the spectacular highland sceneries located all over Luzon. Just because you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views doesn’t always mean it will involve crazy calf-burning hikes or grueling six-hour-long treks! Without further ado, here are some easy, accessible hikes in Luzon that will instantly give you beautiful, postcard-worthy scenic backdrops.

Tharaburi Resort was a secluded property located about one kilometer from the gates of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Sukhothai Historical Park. A courtyard fronted an old colonial house leading to an expansive Thai garden and a swimming pool. A dual singular row of wooden structures in an Asian contemporary style comprised the eleven deluxe and two suite rooms.

When I first went to India in 2014, I learned a lesson the hard way. Yes, I proactively took with me anti-diarrhea medicines, but when the severe onslaught of numerous cross-country train trips finally hit me, I was reduced to a drunk-like traveler helplessly seeing the world with a dizzy head.

The streets of Mumbai cast a dizzying spell even to this third-world traveler who was used to seeing voluminous crowds and long queues of people rushing to and from various errands. It reminded me of our first stop in India; the city of Kolkata where all noises came to us like cannons blasting from all directions, the relentless honking of automobiles and the incessant yells from vendors among dozens of other reverberations, all comprising a mixtape of the mother of all audible uproars.

The hard rain the previous night made me doubt if the morning’s gloomy sky would turn any better. However, just minutes into our boat ride originating from the Del Carmen port, all my dreads of bad weather simply evaporated into the sinewy glow of the torrid tropical sun. I’ve heard countless raves about our next destination before, but I’ve strictly chosen not to stroke my curiosity of how it actually looks. Because I prefer Siargao to genuinely surprise me, I intentionally avoided seeing any videos and photographs of the teeming, beautiful nature of the island—except for the legendary surf scene it is globally known for.

A passing drone shot of the fine white sands of Daku, Guyam, and Naked Islands might have caught my gaze a few times, but Sugba Lagoon hasn’t caught my eye yet—but it won’t be long until it completely captures it.

Contrary to initial belief, the Philippines is a country teeming with culture and heritage, often overlooked in favor of our Southeast Asian neighbors. Thanks to the steady resurgence of conservation groups and the various programs of the Department of Tourism, culture trips are quickly gaining the attention of modern travelers.

Near Metro Manila alone, one can easily list down a solid selection of historical landmarks and destinations actively preserving our rich set of culture and traditions. For those looking to confidently bring their balikbayan relatives and foreign friends to a place that best epitomizes the Philippines’ unique character, check out this partial list of must-see, culture-laden destinations near Metro Manila.

The historic city of Kyoto dishes an incredible opportunity for modern travelers to actively explore and deeply learn more about Japan’s rich history, culture, and ancient traditions. A day or two of systematically exploring Kyoto—riding the city’s highly effective mass transit system, and to some, leisurely pedaling on a bicycle—shall gracefully give you the chance to successfully tick off a vast majority of the city’s 17 World UNESCO Heritage Sites. The Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto collectively encompass a massive wealth of knowledge perfectly representing Japan’s rich history strictly dating back to the 10th century.

“I am not leaving this room,” I told myself the moment I stepped inside my accommodation at Sea Two Pool Villa in Pattaya, Thailand. Fortunately, our first-day itinerary was just easy-breezy, thus giving me the rest of the afternoon to just chill around. We came from an event in Bangkok hosted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, where they flew lucky fans to meet Thai actor Mario Maurer.

Ever since I left my college mountaineering club at the University of Santo Tomas, I have trekked to the mountains few and far between. It felt like a romantic separation that left me constantly searching for ways to reconnect. I would plan hiking trips here and there, only to shelve them in favor of a lazy trip to the beach. Despite my deep interest in hiking taking a backseat, the call of the great outdoors remained loud, and I knew it was only a matter of time before I stepped onto the jagged Philippine mountains again.

Describing Filipino food is similar to discussing the film Inception—because of the varying layers that comprise it. When you think you have finally figured out the overall character of Filipino cuisine, venturing into another province will once again introduce you to another strata of taste, texture, and smell—essential food traits that exist distinctly in each region of the Philippines.

To give you an idea of the incredible diversity of Filipino cuisine, here are some appetizing provincial gastronomies being prepared and served all over the country—to which I, and these foodie friends whom I asked for recommendations, wholeheartedly offer a must-try endorsement.

It was almost an hour into our hike when we reached the edge of a boulder ravine dropping to more than a hundred feet. I saw our guide take out his rope and instantly proceed behind the trees. “Wait for us; we’re just going to fix the rope,” he told us in Tagalog. I took a peek and figured it would have been a very hurtful fall—with major broken bone ramifications—if one slid down to the bottom.

This was just one of the many obstacle course-like trail characteristics of the path leading to Ambon-Ambon falls. It looks moderate when you consider the distance of two and a half hours away, but going through it all presents a set of challenging yet fun adventure moments.

It was a bipolar year once again. Just the way I like it. The Gods know me really well. Another set of 360 days or so, filled with sprinkled moments of ‘spectacular wow’, sandwiched with threadbare bouts of sadness, just passed by.

The former site of a United States Air Force Base and once the most strategic military position of America in the Far East, Clark, Pampanga, has successfully morphed into a highly developed city within a city. Known today as the Clark Freeport Zone, it currently houses modern infrastructure serving as a major hub for tourism, business, aviation, education, manufacturing, and other leading industries. The robust development—which rapidly started in 1995 after years of neglect brought on by the departure of the US Military and the destructive eruption of Mount Pinatubo—helped the Clark Freeport Zone quickly become the premier leisure, entertainment, and gaming center in Central Luzon.

A little over a decade ago, many locals in Myanmar could swear about seeing a foreigner as rare as a supermoon. Today, that rarity has become a commonplace occurrence—after Myanmar had opened its doors to tourism in the last several years. Travel to the country formerly known as Burma had become so easy, as long as travelers from other countries (except those from neighboring Southeast Asian nations) booked their Myanmar visa there before they flew to either Yangon, Bagan, or Mandalay.

As a travel writer, I always find myself needing to book a flight or an accommodation almost spontaneously. Most of the time, when I am on the tail-end of a travel writing assignment, I extend my trip in order to cover more places. And every single time, I always score myself cheap flights and hotels via Traveloka—which I now consider my go-to travel app.

There are often apprehensions whenever a traveler books a flight through a third-party app rather than a standalone airline website. I completely understand where those doubts come from, but I guarantee that I have never experienced even a single problem with my numerous bookings made via Traveloka.