Pineapples, Hills, and Windmills in Beautiful Pililla, Rizal + How to Get There
Just a few hours away from Metro Manila, Pililla, Rizal has beautiful windmills on rolling green hills as well as the sweetest pineapples.
IN PHOTOS: The Cute Cats of Penang in Street Art
Cats big and small. Some black, some white. Others bright orange or bursting with other colors. All adorable and painted on the walls of Penang’s streets. For cat and art lovers like me, George Town, the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Penang, Malaysia, is a dream destination. These cats are in fact one of the reasons I fell in love with Penang. While Penang is…
Nurtured in Body, Mind, and Soul: Glamping, Farm, and Spa Experience at Nurture Wellness Village Tagaytay
Nurture Wellness Village. Hearing the name of the place we would visit, I could imagine just how nurtured I would probably feel, as its name seems to promise. Little did I know that I was in for more than just a weekend of relaxation. Nurture Wellness Village is a spa and farm resort in Tagaytay, Cavite and is just a…
IN PHOTOS: Relaxation Every Moment at Mandala Spa Boracay, An Environment-Friendly Destination Spa
The unusual scorching July Boracay heat was suddenly tempered as we walked along Mandala Spa’s leafy entrance. It was like entering a respite from the island’s traffic jams and rush of tourists. Several steps forward, it was still all greenery and I felt a soothing coolness on my skin. As we turned the corner, up ahead was the open-air reception area and the welcoming smiles of…
Beautiful Stories on Why Travelers Fly + How You Can Get Free Flights By Sharing Why You Fly
Mountaineers and brothers Javi and Carlos Cang had been hiking trails since they were kids, then went on to climb some of the Philippines’ and Asia’s mountains when they got older. But the brothers’ adventures were put on hold when Carlos was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer. Now, Javi continues to climb for…
Down the Farthest South of the Philippines in Tawi-Tawi: Sibutu Island’s Remote and Stark Beauty
Sibutu town proper Literally the farthest south of the Philippine archipelago, Sibutu is almost as close – or as far – to Sabah as it is to Bongao, Tawi-Tawi’s capital, when you look at its northern tip on the map. In fact, the then-mayor at the time of my visit would regularly go to Malaysia, which…
Clearing up 4 Misconceptions on Cruises and Why I Went – and Would Recommend – Going on One
How would you imagine a cruise? If you are like me before, you would probably think of a luxury ship with rich retirees and pensioners lounging around while leisurely sipping drinks and taking in the scenery around them. Not exactly the scene for young backpackers. That was what I thought, too, until I went on…
8 Christmas Gifts Locally Made With Love By People and Small Businesses
“Buy from local businesses and self-employed people. When you buy from a small local business you are not paying for a third vacation home for some CEO, but for a little girl’s dance lessons, for food on the table for a family, and for sending a student to college.” This and similar ideas have happily been…
Lantangan: The Beach that Sings in Caramoan
It was quiet when our boat docked on Pitogo Island. From afar, its lush golden-green hill and dark stretch of beach had beckoned with promise. I stepped on Lantangan Beach, and at once I heard a sound that reminded me of soft water chimes. I took another step, and I heard it again. The stones were singing! The…
The Best Pad Thai In Bangkok (And Perhaps, Thailand) And What Makes It So Good
Onboard the Chao Praya River Express, I got off at Tha Chang Pier, expecting only a morning of being awed by the Grand Palace, and, as a side trip, eating pad thai on the land where it is hailed as the national food. What I did not expect was that the side trip would be the…
Traveling Light 