It started with a hearty breakfast, a promise of what was to come. Then a road trip going far, and farther up north, with warm, beautiful nights of restful sleep in between. It culminated in a night of drinks and revelations. I was not anticipating particular surprises in this trip, which was touring around Tarlac,…
To see new sights, to commune with nature, to marvel at a place’s rich culture and heritage, to be wrapped up in the stories, warmth, and kindness of strangers or new friends (if I am fortunate), and to have more unforgettable experiences – this had always been travel’s magic for me. And the magic was perhaps…
My grandmother, just arrived from Quezon, opens a multi-colored bayong and I wait in anticipation. From the woven bag peeks out tiny, shiny shells with even tinier feet wiggling. Often food, sometimes pets, kimpi (crablets, or more known in Tagalog as talangka) are an indelible part of my childhood. My lola and kimpis are inseparable in my memory, as she used to bring…
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…
Since I heeded the call of wanderlust and fulfilled my childhood dream of traveling solo long-term last 2012, I had experienced the magic and miracles of travel – the kindness of strangers, with some becoming my family, the moments when things turned out even better than what I had dreamed of, and the feeling of flow…
Today, my friend Sachin, who recently came home after a five-month solo backpacking trip around Southeast Asia, is celebrating his birthday. I met Sachin in Vang Vieng, Laos, last September, during my own three-week Indochina backpacking trip. I was talking to a new friend in the common room of our hostel, and when Sachin heard that I…
Vietnam was a mixed bag of good and bad experiences for me. On the plus side, there was the magic of Hoi An’s lanterns at night, the newfound local friend who helped me get the right window seat to catch the most beautiful views in the train ride from Da Nang to Hue, the best…
Are you a fellow Filipino with a great passion for your home town or city? Are you more than happy to help people who visit there – perhaps guide them, cook for them, or introduce them to an activity unique in your area? I, for one, am a happy resident of Las Piñas City, Metro Manila. I…
Donsol’s breathtaking sunset. Photo from Amer Amor Fresh from 12 days of adventure, magic, and the kindness of friends and strangers in Palawan, one of your happy places, you came home to your first love, the land surrounded by the gentle whale sharks and of sunsets you never tire of watching. One of the best things…
“Do you need a ride?” asked a sun-baked man wearing a faded shirt and jeans. He had suddenly approached me on the ordinary bus bound for Sibonga, a southern municipality in Cebu. I had to ask him to repeat what he said a few times, before, finally, we understood each other, between his limited Tagalog…
