My not-so-fond memories of passing through Jones Bridge were always associated with grinding traffic, so I never appreciated the bridge’s neo-classical design by architect Juan M. Arellano, nor the three arches resting on the two piers. First constructed in 1920 spanning the Pasig River to connect the Binondo district to Padre Burgos Avenue in Ermita, the bridge had undergone numerous reconstructions. The most tedious of them all was in the aftermath of the Liberation of Manila during the tail end of WWII. Another restoration was done in 1998, but still, the bridge remained an afterthought to most pedestrians. It was only in 2019 when Manila Mayor Isko Moreno injected twenty million pesos for a redevelopment of the Jones Bridge.

For two days, I experienced what it was like being inside an athlete’s village. Ever since I started following the Olympics, I had been curious about what it was like being in such a place. Fortunately, I was invited as part of a small media team to spend a night at the one the Philippines built for the 30th South East Asian Games, held at the New Clark City in Tarlac. Although that sporting event was a lot smaller in scale, I was hoping that we could further expand our sporting infrastructures so we could host the Asian Games and then the Olympics someday.

The renovated 1940 neoclassical Agriculture and Commerce Building wowed everyone when it reopened as the National Museum of Natural History in May 2018—thanks to an arresting design element addition. Not even a week later, social media was flooded with photographs of the museum’s imposing atrium, which resembled a DNA helix. Architect Dominic Galicia and interior designer Tina Periquet collaborated to bring the Tree of Life to fruition as the centerpiece of the museum.

Some of my fondest memories of Baguio City always included food—well, and the exceptional company I was with. There was Sarah giggling non-stop at Oh My Gulay, my former girlfriend Lauren giddily explaining to me the intricate elements of Spinach and Chicken Galantine at PNKY Café (now sadly closed), and the heavenly face of another former partner, Monette, as she finished her plate of signature lomo ribs at Canto.

After numerous trips to the province of Cebu and skipping the opportunity to stay on the island of Mactan, I must admit to never having heard of Jpark Island Resort and Waterpark before. I had my assumptions managed to a middling level when I joined fellow travel and lifestyle writers on a media trip celebrating the resort’s tenth-year anniversary.

More and more people were choosing to embrace the vegan lifestyle not only to become healthier but also to advocate cruelty-free eating. Doing so, believers of greener dining habits were shattering previous misconceptions about veganism, such as “vegan food doesn’t taste good,” “there aren’t many vegan options,” and so on. Thanks to them and the growing number of vegan places in the country, more people were learning that vegan food was not that bad at all. In fact, it had spawned creative dishes that provided memorable gastronomic experiences.

Facing the mighty swells of the Pacific Ocean, the teardrop-shaped island of Siargao had garnered numerous accolades in recent years, including being voted the "World's Best Island" by Condé Nast Traveler—an esteemed travel and luxury magazine—and a number of widely read travel sites. Despite the growing popularity of the island, Siargao still retained its remote vibe even in the face of increasing development. Therefore, more travelers were opting to go to Siargao over other, more touristy islands like Bali in Indonesia and Phuket in Thailand.

Every morning with daylight yet to ooze from the sky, a multitude of motorboats was heard roaring off the coast of Mercedes town in Camarines Norte. Buoyed by a prayer and a resolve to provide for their families, fisherfolks headed out to the abundant waters of San Miguel Bay, intent on taking home boatloads of fresh catch. Providentially, the body of water that opened to the mighty Pacific Ocean was not called the “fishing bowl” of the Bicol Region for nothing—as each day, the fish market of Mercedes became a bustling scene of fish trading activities.

As a melting pot of crisscrossing cultures, Mindanao was a land of diverse heritage, where one could savor a myriad of cuisines distinct to every region. In Davao City, where there were eleven known tribes, a culinary movement aimed at promoting olden traditions of preparing food was slowly partaking in the local gastronomic scene.

I had been sitting for a few minutes inside Black Scoop Café on Maginhawa Street when a towering morena lady walked through the door. I instantly recognized her as Marese Secades—a freediver whose spectacular underwater photographs had initially arrested my attention.

In this age of Filipino ‘hugot’ culture, one could easily assume the name of this mountain was coined as a reverence to such Filipino movies like “Camp Sawi” and “This Thing Called Tadhana.” The real story behind it, though, stemmed from a tragic suicide that happened a few years back right on top of the mountain. A woman—as the story went—after experiencing a heartbreak, hanged herself on one of the tree branches of the now-mowed-down Balete tree. Locals originally named the mountain Mt. Sawing Balete, as a reference to the sad fate shared by the fallen tree and the lovelorn soul.

We had been flying at above thirty thousand feet for about half an hour when a flight attendant on the AirAsia Davao-Manila flight started speaking over the public-address system. “Ladies and gentlemen, because we are celebrating a momentous occasion, we have prepared a short program for you.” The short program she talked about consisted of a dance performance by two pretty flight attendants who twirled to the tune of “Señorita” and a trivia contest that awarded six lucky winners with a round-trip domestic ticket.

At almost 5,000 feet above sea level, Da Lat dished a chill vibe—both literally and figuratively—that appealed to travelers. The cool weather coupled with an array of natural and man-made attractions made that city in Central Vietnam an ideal place for wanderers crisscrossing the land of Pho to make a pit stop for several days. To give you an idea of what to do in Da Lat, here are some of the things I did.

As my companions’ “ooohs” and “aaahs” synchronized with the sloshing sounds of the rapids of the Tibiao River, I stared at the blue sky while my tube swirled me endlessly. Lying relaxed, I let the movement of the water send my consciousness to a Zen state of mind. Occasionally, I would look ahead to see the nearing rapids. Our guide would holler “hold on” further up the stream to let us know we were approaching what they referred to as the “washing machine zone.” Every time we passed a rapid, I would hear my friends Karla and Erica’s crescendoing voices—that time in a chorus of joyous yells.

As I stared at the carved maxim of the three wise monkeys pinned on an overhead panel at Tōshō-gū, the proverbial mantra it personifies was made apparent to me almost immediately: “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.” Recognizing where I stood at that very moment, surrounded by temples—concealed under a canopy of autumn leaves—I could not fathom how any of my senses could conjure a negative energy.

My memory of this vibrant neighborhood of Tainan revolved around the pleasing smile of Emily—the EVA Air manager who traveled with our small media group to Taiwan. Mirroring the captivating cobalt art installations at Blueprint Culture and Creative Park, her stares rapid-fired into me with invisible arrows, arresting my full attention. To save myself from (an expected) heartbreak, I remembered ignoring her as we crossed the street by focusing my eyes on the vibrant wall paintings adorning the side of the buildings nearby.

Cebu Pacific Air’s “Juan For Fun” is a premier backpacker challenge designed specifically for university students. Over the years, the program has evolved from an Amazing Race-style adventure into a profound platform where participants not only discover the wonders of travel but also use their journeys as a springboard to spread meaningful advocacies, understand different cultures, and broaden their personal horizons.

At the foot of Mount Pha Daeng, a sign that read “Unexploded Bombs, Still in this Area. Dangerous!” remained a chilling reminder of the horrors of the Vietnam War. Collectively unmindful of the warning, we reckoned every bomb ordnance buried along the trail stretching to a radius of a few kilometers had all been swept clean already. Laos—by the way—was a vastly different nation then compared to what I had first read in history books.

Despite expecting Maguindanao's blue lagoon to be concealed deep in the forest, reachable by at least an hour or two of trekking, I had still anticipated a good old surprise. When I stepped out of our van and saw a few kids dripping wet, I simply figured they had come frolicking from a nearby stream. Our friend Jeff told us, “I think these kids came from the lagoon.” I was already standing at the mouth of a wide trail on the elbow of the Shariff Aguak Road when I heard him. “You mean, the lagoon is just nearby?” Claire asked. Jeff’s reply sounded like music to my ears—as I was in no mood for a lengthy hiking activity that day—“Just less than two hundred meters ahead.”

Not missing the blustery seven-hour lampitaw ride of my first journey there, I stepped out of the plane—moments after it made a historic first landing on the island—buoyed by a feeling akin to rekindling a tryst with a former lover. Calayan Island had that exact effect on me. It was likely because during my previous visit, the location had served as a backdrop to my memorable hilltop and beachside frolics with my then-girlfriend.

Despite witnessing Poblacion's transformation from a seedy quarter to an exciting neighborhood, I mostly visited to get drunk and dine with friends. So when I heard that Meaningful Travels PH was organizing a Poblacion Makati Discovery Tour, I jumped at the chance to discover the neighborhood's other hidden gems without the constraints of inebriation.

Situated between two continents—and the former capital of two empires—the city of Istanbul teems with diverse cultural influences and a storied history. This alone makes the city a must-visit for travelers in search of fascinating discoveries. Add the fact that Istanbul also boasts a robust art scene, mouthwatering cuisines, and a medley of activities that tickle one's fancy and senses, and there is almost an endless list of things to do and places to see in this vibrant capital of Turkey. To help you plot your itinerary for your trip to Istanbul, here are some important facts and helpful travel tips you can follow.

Founded by adventure racer Joe De Sena in 2007, the Spartan Race has grown to become the world standard for endurance and strength races. A total of two hundred forty races are now being held in twenty-five countries every year, including the Philippines. The first leg of the 2019 Spartan Race Southeast Asia Regional series, held at the Lima Technology Center in Batangas on May 3–4, 2019, attracted more than four thousand participants.

Fresh from spending a night in a fancy houseboat that cruised the famed backwaters of Kerala, our #KeralaBlogExpress2 crew headed to our next destination: the city of Kottayam. Set against the backdrop of Vembanad Lake—the largest lake in Kerala—the Western Ghats on the east, and the lush rice fields of Kuttanad on the west, Kumarakom is also where one can find the charming backwater village of Kumarakom.

I've had many great memories of Kerala Blog Express 2, surrounding the great camaraderie formed among thirty travel bloggers from around the world, the organizers, and of course—our jovial new friends from the hospitality industry. The Raviz Resort & Spa in Kollam was one of the many hotels that made us feel completely at home. Mirroring the glitzy setting of that palatial lakeside resort, the service, hospitality, architecture, food, and overall vibe made our brief stop there truly memorable.

Whenever people asked me how I fell in love with traveling, I always told them I was inspired by Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road” novel—an autobiographical narrative of Kerouac’s post-war road trip across the United States amidst the background of poetry, jazz, and the emerging beat culture. Thinking back now, I realized the birth of my wanderlust actually occurred during my college years. That was a time when my friends and I journeyed to the province of Marinduque every Holy Week to partake in the island’s iconic revelry: the Moriones Festival.

“Ask them what their names are,” a father manning a street food stall gently commanded his young daughter of not over ten years old. The beaming but shy little girl obliged, “What is your name?” she inquired, staring wide-eyed at my friend. “I am Karla and this is Marky and your name is?” answered my ever responsive friend. The young girl smiled before telling us her name, “I’m Amara.”

“Life is a loom, weaving illusion” [1] and in Mindanao’s storied sundry of woven heritage, a diverse weaving art scattered across the region abounds with dream-like patterns and fascinating backstories. Anecdotes encompassing historical origins and local legends shape the roots of the various cloth creations of the Dreamweavers’ T’nalak of South Cotabato, the Langkit of Maranao, the Dagmay of the Mandayas, the Tausugs's Habul Tiyahian, the Inabal of Davao del Sur’s Bagobo-Tagabawa tribe, among others—and in this case, ushering a festivity called the Inaul Festival.

After waking up with a terrible hangover—no thanks to the previous night’s drinking game—to a beautiful moonset and a hearty breakfast by the beach, we hurried up renting a small boat for a side trip to a nearby sandbar. It appears during low tide a few clicks off the coast of Puting Buhangin and Burot beach. It goes by a couple of other names: Starfish Island and Little Boracay, but I prefer calling it by its simple but apt name: Calatagan Sandbar. The boat trip going there from where we were staying (Aquaria Waterpark and Crusoe Cabins) took around half an hour and sailed on the ridges of the waters of the Verde Island Passage.

Like leafing through the pages of "Man-Eaters of Kumaon" – Jim Corbett’s memoir of his experiences hunting man-eating Bengal tigers in India’s Kumaon region, I found Chinmay’s tales of these wild beasts’ sightings very engrossing. Unlike Corbett’s experiences, fortunately today in this part of India, humans had learned better than to prevent these animals from roaming freely.

Onboard our chartered thirty-seater Dornier aircraft from Platinum Skies, I steadied my eyes toward the window as our plane circled Calayan Island. I quickly gazed at the azure-colored waters of Cibang Cove, recognizing it instantly from memories of my first visit there four years prior.

Other than the Petronas Twin Towers, the Batu Caves was the other place I wanted to see in Kuala Lumpur when I started plotting the itinerary of my trip to the capital of Malaysia way back in 2007. That was my very first airplane ride courtesy of my brother, who let me tag along with him. Coincidentally, that journey was what kick-started my wanderlust. A few days after arriving home, I quickly wrote a short narrative about it on the now-defunct Multiply blogging platform.

Memories of my first visit to Mararison Island played vividly in my mind as we approached it aboard a motorized boat from the port of Culasi. I could still hear the angelic voices of the Mararison Children's Choir belting out a harmonious Kinaray-a—a traditional welcoming song. Known all over Antique province, where they perform frequently in numerous revelries, its members, whose ages range from six to thirteen years old, have become the island’s cultural ambassadors. It was more than a year ago when I first heard them croon. One and a half laps around the sun later, I found myself en route back to Mararison—not only to listen again to the youngsters’ divine voices but also to embrace the enthralling setting of Mararison.

All I could remember from the night before was crawling to my upper bunk bed inside the cabin I shared with fellow travel bloggers Mujee and Joel. I recalled vomiting violently on the toilet—no thanks to losing consistently at our little drinking game that got a bit out of hand. Meaning: all us guys ended up wasted on the veranda while the girls stood victorious and the last ones standing, laughing at how squandered we looked.

When I said "yes" to an invite to join the Calayan-Batanes media famtrip, I never expected the historic firsts happening on the beautiful island of Calayan. We arrived aboard the first-ever plane to land on the island to inaugurate their airport—and today—we also became the first set of passengers to depart Calayan en route to another destination: Batanes. The same crowd of locals who welcomed us also bid us goodbye as we boarded the Sky Pasada jet (the smallest plane I've flown so far).

Now in its eighth year, Lakbay Norte once again concluded a media familiarization tour participated in by travel writers from online and print publications. It is organized by the North Philippines Visitors Bureau in partnership with Victory Liner as a way of promoting Northern Luzon as a premier tourist destination. This year's itinerary took the more than twenty travel writers and photographers to the places of Subic and Clark in Pampanga and to the surfing town of Baler in Aurora. Here’s a quick rundown of all the places highlighted by #LakbayNorte8 as possible destinations for travelers heading to this part of Luzon.

The narrow entrance of Satri House betrays the gem of a place hidden inside: A stunning collection of charming colonial buildings inspired by Lao architecture and culture. Adding a layer of lure are the quaint corners and the lush gardens surrounded by towering trees. As the female staff briefed me about the property, my eyes wandered everywhere.

"Satri House was first built in 1904 as a royal house by the parents of Prince Souphanouvong, the first President of Lao People's Democratic Republic. This property was refurbished in 2002 by Mrs. Lamphoune Voravongsa—now the current owner," she told me.

Egypt was the last of the triumvirate of nations that comprised the Holy Land tour I joined. After kicking off our trip in Jordan and spending almost a week in Israel, the last leg of our journey took us to the land of the Pharaohs and Cleopatra. Along the way, we passed by endless stretches of deserted valleys and mountains until the azure waters of the Red Sea signaled the approaching border crossing to Egypt. It was there where we followed the trail of Moses and the Holy Family when they fled Israel after King Herod Antipas issued a marching order to execute all infants in Israel.

It was starting to darken when I arrived in Luang Prabang, causing me to hurry my pace in locating my hotel. Guided by my Google Maps, I walked past the main street of the city's historic district. It was a lovely surprise finding out a few days before that Lotus Villa Boutique Hotel is situated right smack in the UNESCO Heritage area of the city. Established in 2008, this small property houses fifteen soothing rooms and two suites—all designed within the fervor of the architectural style of Laos’ colonial past.

As one of the major hubs in Southeast Asia, Kuala Lumpur is often overlooked by some travelers as a mere pit stop just to have a sumptuous meal of Nasi Lemak before catching a connecting flight to their final destination. Bad travel take.

Alighting out of a bus from Dumaguete, I arrived in the quaint town of Bais at the first flinch of sunlight. This idyllic municipality is a bastion of nineteenth-century barons who spearheaded the raw sugar boom Negros Oriental came to be known for. As I took my first strides around the town, I quickly noticed the miscellanies of its storied past, evidenced by the weathered but charming pre-war colonial homes.

Despite being dog-tired from the Maguindanao trip, I wouldn't miss our monthly hike for February. A vegan meal, Buhawi craft beer, fun conversations, sleeping under the stars, and pulling off a lackadaisical-planned trip—I was the assigned organizer for this month—equated to another memorable weekend, though I missed a few of our 'monthly chill hiking' crew.

Thrice in the past, spread over a decade, I found myself in Baler always tugging a surfboard. Despite failing to achieve consistent long rides over the waves, I recognized the cherished vibe reigning in this seaside town. There is an inexplicable, vibrant sub-culture that continues to attract an expanding list of my friends and acquaintances to re-root themselves among the surfing community here.

One after the other, the rumbling sound of the waves remained on a continuous loop. Each time, a blast of seawater splashed violently toward the natural pool where our group was dipped soothingly. The sight and sound may appear perilous, but the magnificent rock formations jutting from underneath the sea sheltered us safely from the torrents of the Pacific Ocean. Such is the lure of Tuwad-Tuwadan Lagoon, a secluded tidal pool situated at the foot of Cagnipa Hills facing the monster swells of the Pacific.

Clark International Airport was where I took my very first airplane ride in 2007. Yes, just like with dating, I was a late bloomer to plane rides. Similar to going out, I made it up with air travel—big time. Countless flights later, and I still vividly remember walking over the hot paved tarmac of Clark Airport one sunny May morning to an Air Asia plane warming up on the apron area. I dredged up thoughts of vowing to myself to “do this more often.”

The local economy surrounding Clark, Pampanga has seen rapid growth in recent years. Coinciding with this development is the emergence of Clark as a prime tourism and business destination. The old, stinging red-light district reputation of Metro Clark has all but been relegated to a nostalgic single strip known as Walking Street. While it remains an interesting place to check out—thanks to an assortment of Asian food gems and fascinating entertainment bars lined up on both sides—a surrounding renaissance of heritage structures, quaint cafes, local craft breweries, adventure theme parks, and a thriving commercial district all make Metro Clark a fascinating area to explore and do business in.

Also known as "Bean Sprouts Chicken", Ipoh's famed "Tauge Ayam" was another lip-smacking draw of that city other than the famed “Ipoh White Coffee” and other local dishes such as "Sar Hor Fun", "Hor Hee", "Nga Choi Kay", and "Hakka Mee". That mouthwatering dish was composed of steamed chicken topped with sliced onion leeks that came with a side dish set of bean sprouts, flat noodle soup, rice, and pork barbecue (char siew).

“I could use a tree right now,” I muttered to myself as I felt the sun’s rays piercing my skin in the middle of the beautiful but barren landscape of San Felipe, Zambales. While patches of greens were starting to regrow—in between flowing streams—still, much of the lowlands and the rolling hills appeared denuded. What was once fertile ground as far as the eye could see was changed forever by Mount Pinatubo’s eruption.

Sandwiching our almost week-long Luang Prabang blogger’s trip sponsored by Destination Mekong was a two-day jaunt to a rustic village three hours away. The town of Nong Khiaw is situated in a picturesque countryside on the banks of the Ou River, squeezed by saw-toothed limestone peaks. So where did our host billet us? Of course, in a water's edge property called Nong Kiau Riverside.

Amid the many hidden gems of Manila, the city also provides a strategic location from where a traveler can set out to explore nearby destinations for a day. 'Day trips'—as most would call them—are a popular activity among travelers pressed for time and young professionals seeking to escape the toxicity of work. Surrounded by a number of provinces dotted with scenic countryside, rolling mountains, and fine sandy beaches, you can never run out of day trip locations to choose from. To help you plan your next quick escape from the city, here are some of the best day trips from Manila.

Exploring the city of Manila is like opening a box filled with ukay-ukay (pre-loved) clothes and other objects. It may take you quite a while of digging before you start finding things you actually like. Because this city’s gems aren’t always noticeable at first glance, it takes extra effort to discover Manila’s true allure. From the core city of Manila to the rest of its vast metropolitan area, one can find a myriad of charms hidden in every nook and cranny. By knowing where to search and expanding your zest for discovery, you can easily enjoy Manila with all its rich history, culture, art scene, food, and friendly people.

Nestled in the northern reaches of Vietnam lies a fascinating border town that serves as a gateway between two distinct cultures—Vietnam and China. With its rich history, vibrant markets, and unique blend of traditions, this town offers travelers an unforgettable journey. We delve into the charm of Vietnam's northern frontier and explore the possibilities of a day trip to China, immersing ourselves in the rich cultural tapestry woven by these two neighboring nations.

Perched at the junction of the Mekong, Bassac, and Tonle Sap rivers, Phnom Penh was a colorful tapestry of Khmer and French Indochina colonialism, evident in every aspect of daily life. Legend had it that the city was named after an old lady known as Daun Penh, meaning “Old lady Penh,” with Phnom being the Khmer word for hill. Within Southeast Asia, that was a must-visit city full of color, fascination, and learning.