The Queen's Escape

Storie of connection from the summits to under the seas.

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  • Sailing to Shenzhen from Hong Kong International Airport

    February 11, 2025 / 0 Comments

    I first discovered the sailing route from Hong Kong International Airport to Shenzhen when my flight from Shenzhen to Manila was unexpectedly canceled. Stranded and scrambling for options, I learned about the ferry service that connects the airport directly to Shenzhen. Instead of dealing with long border queues and multiple transfers, I took a comfortable ferry ride that turned a stressful situation into an unexpected adventure by the sea! If you also wish to explore this route between these two cities, here’s everything that you need to know. Why Travel to Shenzhen by Ferry? Choosing to sail to Shenzhen from Hong Kong International Airport offers several advantages over traditional travel…

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    Anne Elizabeth Gumiran

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    February 12, 2025
  • Dive In and Chill Out at Casalay Boutique Villas and Dive Resort

    January 22, 2025 / 0 Comments

    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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    Anne Elizabeth Gumiran

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    January 20, 2024
  • What to Do After an Open Water Course?

    January 18, 2025 / 0 Comments

    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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    Anne Elizabeth Gumiran

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    SSI Try Mermaid Experience with the Pinay Mermaid

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  • Top Ilocos Norte Tourist Spots in 2025

    January 3, 2025 / 0 Comments

    Whether you’re a thrill seeker craving for some adrenaline pumping activities, an art enthusiast, gastronomic traveler, culture and history geek or a solivagant, Ilocos Norte surely has a place for you. You’ll be surprised with how much wonders this province in the northernmost part of the Philippines holds – be it a natural attraction or a man-made one. If you don’t know where to start with it and you’re planning to visit soon, here’s a list of the top Ilocos Norte tourist spots to frolic in! Ilocos Norte Tourist Spots Solsona-Apayao Road Solsona-Apayao road is one of the Ilocos Norte tourist spots that has been recently introduced. It is a…

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    Anne Elizabeth Gumiran

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    Lukong Valley Farm: Connecting with Nature through a Healthy Lifestyle

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    Chill Chill House: AirBnB in Tagaytay City with Stairway to Heaven

    December 16, 2020
  • NEGROS OCCIDENTAL TRAVEL GUIDE 2025

    January 3, 2025 / 0 Comments

    Negros Occidental is a wide palette of great wonders of the land and the seas. It is more than just that sough-after flamboyant dance and parade at the streets of Bacolod City held annually or an architecture that tells a story of an undying love. The province lets you take a walk down the rustic and dainty streets of a city, sip a cup of its native coffee in a cafe nestled on a mountain side, chase waterfalls, dive into ship wrecks or protected marine sanctuary, explore its terrestrial natural resources, bask in the sun in its pristine beaches and god knows what other wonders Negros Occidental has that I…

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    Anne Elizabeth Gumiran

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    Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2020 Experience

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    PHITEX 2020: The Business Unusual

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  • Top Mistakes to Avoid in Bali

    January 3, 2025 / 0 Comments

    Bali is a dream destination for me, so I took an extra care to plan for this memorable getaway. I searched for detailed travel guides, managed my budget, and crafted an itinerary literally for months! However, I realized I overlooked these common pitfalls that could have made my trip even more enjoyable and meaningful. So, even before I start my Bali travel guide series let me start with these top mistakes to avoid in Bali so you can enjoy the Playground of the Gods to the fullest! Speeding through the Tourist Attractions We often commit to this one because we can all agree, we’re not sure as to when we’ll…

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    Anne Elizabeth Gumiran

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    North Batan Tour in Batanes: What to Expect

    January 20, 2024
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    La Union’s Tangadan Falls DIY Travel Guide 2024

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    Sabtang Island, Batanes: Top 6 Places to Visit for a Day Tour

    January 20, 2024
  • 2025 Puerto Galera DIY Travel Guide (Itinerary + Budget)

    January 3, 2025 / 16 Comments

    Puerto Galera is not dead. While a lot and other provinces in the Philippines make its way into the list of top tourist destination in the country and in the world, this doesn’t make the other places seem less as people speak less of it. One of those in the latter sadly, is Puerto Galera. Consequently, people are missing out a lot on the wonders this town lowkey holds. If you wish to see and be amazed by these in flesh, here’s an updated Puerto Galera DIY travel guide to help you with! At the edge of the grotto in Virgin beach About Puerto Galera Puerto Galera is a Spanish…

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    Anne Elizabeth Gumiran

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    November 11, 2022
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    January 29, 2022

    Gintong Bukid Farm & Leisure: A Hidden Gem of Nagcarlan

    February 24, 2021
  • 2025 Travel Guide to Buscalan Village, Tinglayan, Kalinga

    January 3, 2025 / 34 Comments

    As a Filipino national, I have always been proud and fascinated with how Philippines has very rich, diverse and unique culture. I would brave long drives and take flights and ferries from an island to another just to experience it myself. I have seen how a few ethnic groups do their rituals and how their way of lives interestingly are in documentaries and even textbooks but it’s way better to experience it with them. There’s a lot of ethnic groups that still thrive in one of the Philippines’ great divide, Luzon, and they exist in the outskirts – to the highest, farthest mountains. It is not the tradition only that…

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    Anne Elizabeth Gumiran

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    Balabac, Palawan Ultimate DIY Travel Guide 2025 (Itinerary + Budget)

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    Santelmo Cove: An Idyllic Summer Destination in the Philippines

    February 11, 2022
  • 20 Best Things to Do in Langkawi Island in 2025

    January 3, 2025 / 0 Comments

    Langkawi island is not named as the “Jewel of Kedah” for nothing. This quaint, tropical town off the coast of Northern west side of Malaysia offers so much more than what one could ever imagine. While this gem has a good amount of laid-back beaches to just laze on, it is also quite a place for some adrenaline pumping activities in every corner. Whichever fun you prefer, here are the top and best things to do in Langkawi Island that you may choose from on your vacation! Best Things to Do in Langkawi Island 1. Take the Sky Cab Get a chance to see the second highest peak in Langkawi…

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    Anne Elizabeth Gumiran

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    Linao Cave Travel Guide: A Cenote in Eastern Samar, Philippines

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    The Ultimate DIY Limasawa Island Travel Guide 2026

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  • Langkawi SkyCab from the outside

    The Langkawi SkyCab Experience 2025

    January 3, 2025 / 0 Comments

    “Somebody pinch me, I’m in a cable car,” That’s what I thought as we glide up to the oldest pinnacle in Southeast Asia one sunny day in June on a cable car. Of course, it has always been in my bucket list but never did it occur to me that it will be ticked sooner. The memory of how I felt was as clear as the skies that day: I was ineffably excited seated at our gondola, bathing in sunshine and surreal views. If you look forward to a fun cable car experience but in Malaysia, here’s what you need to know about the Langkawi SkyCab at Panorama Langkawi in…

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    Anne Elizabeth Gumiran

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THE QUEEN’S ESCAPE

Hi! I’m Queenie Anne Gumiran, the storyteller behind The Queen’s Escape, a Philippine travel and diving blog that celebrates wanderlust, culture, and sustainability. I started this space to share stories that go beyond pristine beaches and scenic peaks — from hidden islands and local eats to my adventures in scuba diving, freediving, and sustainable travel. Through every post, I hope to inspire you to explore the Philippines meaningfully, fall in love with its underwater and island beauty while protecting them, one escape at a time.

Recent Posts

  • THE ULTIMATE BORACAY DIY TRAVEL GUIDE (ITINERARY + BUDGET) 2026
  • Best Things to Do in Boracay in 2026
  • 2026 Fortune Island DIY Travel Guide
  • 2026 Bohol DIY Travel Guide (Itinerary + Budget)
  • CORON PALAWAN TRAVEL GUIDE (Budget + Itinerary) 2026

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