Travels
a collection of detailed travel guides, hacks and stories for travelers by travelers.
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Intramuros at Night (Walking Tour) 2023
Intramuros boasts great aesthetics with its historical architectures confined within its walls, amidst the bustling metro. The daylight promises a retrospect of the long gone decades but with significant stories of the past etched in the buildings, walls and stone paths which have withstood various catastrophe and the test of time. Every door, every gate is open to the curious souls to give them a chance to time travel through the curated well-preserved artifacts, replica and monochromatic photographs on display. Come dusk. Postigo De La Nuestra Senora De Soledad Darkness starts to fall and envelop the city. A different color of life unfolds a feast for the senses. Vibrancy reflects…
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Baluarte de San Diego in Intramuros, Manila
Beyond the towering walls of Muralla, in a corner of an old town whose name is across the history books of the Philippines, lies a magnificent yet significant structure that holds stories of the past dating from hundreds of years ago. This is Baluarte de San Diego. The Baluarte de San Diego Complex The Complex actually houses two significant structures: the Baluarte de San Diego itself – the ace-of-spades shaped bastion; and the ruins of Torre de Nuestra Señora de Guia (Our Lady of Guidance) – the three-tiered circular walls. It is considered as the oldest stone fort in Manila built between late 1500’s and early 1600’s during the Spanish…
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Bodhi Library in La Bella Tagaytay
La Bella Tagaytay has been among the top destinations in Tagaytay City due to its picture-perfect Greek-Mediterranean inspired structure and of course, the rustic-themed shop and library, The Bodhi Library, Mind and Body Shop. A lot would pay it a visit even just for an hour or two mainly to get Instagram-worthy pictures and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate or coffee with a fine ambiance – at least, as I have observed with the countless times I’ve gone in there to work. However, the Antiquarian shop and library has something far more interesting than these things. Guess, what? Tadah! the books and the shop itself. This may sound a little…
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Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2020 will Happen in Cavite!
I have always wanted to see the annual dreamy flight of hot air balloons in Clark, Pampanga. For some reason, I could not always make it.This year, the heavens gave me enough reasons not to miss it! Sky at the south will soon be filled with fun and colors as the most awaited Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta will finally happen in Cavite! Set on a weekend in March, everyone is yet to witness endless paragliding, skydiving, helicopter demonstrations, RC control line exhibitions, kite flying and of course, early morning balloon flights! The Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is considered as the longest-running sports aviation event in Asia…
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ALBAY PROVINCE TRAVEL GUIDE 2023
Flip a hundred peso bill and you’ll find one of the must-see wonders in the Philippines – the majestic Mayon Volcano, well-known for its perfect shape of a cone. It is one of the Philippines’ active volcanoes located in Southern Luzon of the archipelago – Albay which is an eleven to twelve-hour drive from Manila. Last 2017, I had a chance to see its beauty with my own eyes. We went there in a way that’s most convenient to us; we rented a van that will take us to our destinations, yes, destinations. When we got there, we found out that it is not just the sight of the volcano…
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Coffee at the Hill: Mountain Brew Coffee Shop
We arrived at dusk – just in time for the sun to get fully tucked behind the mountains. The end of a dramatic sunset happened before us. The sky was a shade of pale blue and gray with few streaks of gold and pink. City lights near Manila Bay and Bataan can be seen coming to life across the ocean. The air was fresh and cool on our skin. It was such a breathtaking scene and moment which made the brew in the cup between our hands tasted even better in every sip. Mountain Brew Coffee Shop gave us quite a welcome. Location and Ambiance Mountain Brew Coffee Shop is…
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A Tour Around San Agustin Church and Museum
Culture and history are two of the other things that keep me so giddy about other than the ocean. I always find these two extremely fascinating especially if I could go to the places that I could only read from history books – if I could walk on the streets where the heroes used to pass by; if I could feel the walls which used to shelter the most important personalities in the history; if I could see the grave where these people rest peacefully in all eternity. I have always wondered how the people’s everyday lives are centuries ago in those places considering the long, rumbling history of the…
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The Hanging Coffins of Sagada, Mountain Province and their Burial and Death Rituals
After exploring Callao Cave of Cagyan, we drove to the other side of north Luzon to visit Sagada. I admit, Sagada first got me with its breathtaking and visually-arresting scenes. When I first set foot into it, the thing that primarily came into me was the thought that the photos I’ve seen did not capture everything who and what this town actually is, especially its culture. What has truly made me fall in love with Sagada in a heartbeat are their culture, traditions and how the people strive to keep and safeguard it despite the influences that the time brings. Layad Room of Inandako’s Bed and Breakfast. Book here! During…
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10 Things You’ll Love about Z Hostel in Poblacion, Makati
Hostels, for me, are just merely budget-friendly places where you can stay a night or two when traveling; a resting place after a tiring tour. The only considerations that I have when booking into one are the comfort that it provides and the affordability of the rooms. Apparently, Z Hostel is these and more. Z is everything I didn’t expect a hostel to be and here are the ten reasons why. 1. Free Walking Tour Every four in the afternoon, Z Hostel offers a PoblaZion Walking Tour to its guests for free. Yes, you read it right, for free. Ever since I started traveling, never have I encountered nor checked in…
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TACTICS Water Gear: Good Quality and Affordable Dry Bags for your Adventures
Being caught in a downpour while strolling down the beautiful streets of a city or trekking on a trail of a mountain and feeling the splash of the ocean water against our skin when sailing from an island to another are indeed among the best and epic experiences we get from traveling. These are some the greatest things traveling could ever give – to make us feel of every element there is and find the joy in it. It truly feels good and amazing until our valuables, especially gear and electronic gadgets, get soaked. It happened to me once while I was on an island hopping tour when my dry…
