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Dive In and Chill Out at Casalay Boutique Villas and Dive Resort
I’m not sure if it’s the rise of slow travel post-pandemic, my own aging, or it’s a natural evolution among some travelers, but I’ve noticed a shift in my travel preferences. In my early 20s, I was eager to check off every tourist attraction, chase thrills, and crash into the most affordable hostels at the end of the day. Now, my approach has changed. I find myself still exploring but a bit more inclined to relaxation on some days—savoring the comfort of a good hotel or resort bed. This slower, more intentional style feels especially right in familiar destinations like Puerto Galera. I recently returned to Puerto Galera to complete…
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What to Do After an Open Water Course?
Before the holidays, I decided to visit Siquijor and further my diving skills and knowledge through certification in both freediving and scuba diving. After years of exploring the ocean, I’ve finally decided to take a certification on scuba diving. The PADI Open Water course had several skills sets that made it both challenging and fun for me. This full entry level certification allowed me to safely dive down to 18 meters without an instructor’s supervision, learn more and set up my own diving kit or equipment, plan and log my dives, perform basic self and buddy rescue drills, navigation, use the dive computer and more. After coming home fresh from…
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2025 Tablas Island DIY Travel Guide (Budget + Itinerary)
Just when we thought that we’ve seen so much of Romblon province during our adventure to Cresta de Gallo in Sibuyan Island and Romblon, Romblon, Tablas island surprised us with so much more with its unrivalled landscape to its unexplored underwater scene! It was just as marvelous yet unique as the previous islands and attractions in the province that we visited. If you’ve been eyeing it as well for a while now, here’s a detailed Tablas Island DIY travel guide for you including a sample itinerary and budget! About Tablas Island Nestled between the Sibuyan Sea and Tablas Strait is the largest of Romblon’s roughly 20 islands called Tablas. It…
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CRESTA DE GALLO DIY Travel Guide 2025 (Budget + Itinerary)
Our journey to Cresta de Gallo began long before we set foot on its pristine shores. Upon our arrival at Batangas pier, we just learned that the scheduled trip to Sibuyan for that day had been canceled. Our only option was to embark on a circuitous route: from Batangas to Odiongan, then to Romblon, and finally to Sibuyan Island. This involved a grueling 17-hour trip involving sea and land travel (20 hours if you include the journey to the island itself), marked by interrupted sleep, hunger, and exhaustion. Yet, as we neared the stunning island of Cresta de Gallo, we realized that the trip was merely a small price to…
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Sagada Travel Guide with DIY Itinerary and Budget 2025
It was 2019 when we decided to go on a North Luzon loop road trip. We were supposed to drive to Ilocos Norte from Cagayan but the road was impassable, so we took a detour. The next thing we know, we’re chilling as we walk down the streets of Sagada one evening in flowy, summer dresses that my mom and I was supposed to flaunt in a dinner by the beach. The next morning, we embarked on an adventure that made us fall in love with Sagada in a heartbeat that we swore to heavens, we’ll definitely come back for it. So I did. As I spend more days in…
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2025 Complete Romblon Ferry and Boat Schedule
Romblon is an archipelagic province in Region IV-A also known as MIMAROPA (Mindoro Oriental and Occidental, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan). Its main islands namely Tablas, Sibuyan and Romblon, are among the main entry and exit points out of the 20 islands for discovering the province. Hence, it’s quite important to carefully plan the points of entry and departure for your journey to maximize your experience in the province. To help you with, here are the latest Romblon ferry and boat schedule that you should know! Understanding the Ports and Romblon Ferry Schedule As mentioned, Romblon province has several entry and exit points. Some of these islands have more than one…
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Batanes Travel Guide 2025 (Budget + Itinerary)
Traveling to Batanes is like stepping into my dream and having it brushed onto reality — each stroke of nature’s palette meticulously creating a living canvas. Indeed, it took me a lot of pinching before I came into my senses and believed myself that I have finally traveled to one of my top dream destinations in the Philippines. If you’ve always wished to visit this paradise in the northernmost region of the Philippines, here’s an ultimate Batanes Travel Guide to help you plan out your most awaited trip! What You Need to Know About Batanes Batanes is located at the country’s northernmost point, where the West Philippine Sea and the…
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2025 Romblon Island DIY Travel Guide
After basking in the sun on the stunning island of Cresta de Gallo in Sibuyan Island, we boarded the ferry the following morning bound for our next stop — Romblon Island. It was around this leg of the trip when we learned about Bon Bon beach, a sought-after destination in the island, landing on the 45th spot in the best beaches in the world in 2024. As we explored the island further, we realized that it offers much more than just its renowned beach. This considered as an off-the-beaten path destination in the Philippines is truly underrated. To walk you through the gems this province holds, here’s a detailed Romblon…
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2025 Bohol DIY Travel Guide (Itinerary + Budget)
Accessible, beautiful, diverse. This is Bohol – a province that holds almost every bit of the thousands of islands of the Philippines. From the world-famous naturally diverse dive sites, rivers, hills, canyons, mangroves, caves, pristine beaches, historical and cultural sites, wildlife to fun-filled adrenaline rushing adventures; Bohol has it all in its plate which makes it an ideal place to visit and explore. If you also plan to visit the province soon, here’s a Bohol DIY adventure guide to help you with! About Bohol Bohol is a province in the Central Visayas region that is widely known to be the home of the famous Chocolate Hills and the smallest primate…
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2025 DIY ILOCOS NORTE TRAVEL GUIDE
Hopeless due to the countless failed attempts to travel with friends in this province, I have set aside my plans in coming to Ilocos Norte in the past years. Come 2022, when it reopened in the time of pandemic; I was finally able to set foot in this province. At last, I get to see and experience its raw island and beaches, the sprawling sand dunes, historical and cultural heritage sites, explore and savor the taste of the Ilocano dishes and more! If you wish to go down the exciting path that we took, here’s a detailed Ilocos Norte Travel Guide to help you with! About Ilocos Norte Far from…