Why Davao Has Become a Home in the South

I like diversity. I like changes in scenery. I like long, winding roads and forest trails; I like beaches and infinity pools. I like mountains and hills, valleys and rivers.

From the mountains to the beaches

They say that one of the best things about Davao is that you can go from the mountains to the beaches and back again in one whole day. If you are looking for a variation beyond nature trails and winding mountain paths, you can take a quick drive down to the beach. Boats are available for rent, as well as snorkelling gear. Soon, you will feel the salty spray of the sea and smell the summer ocean breeze, touseling your hair and warming your face.

It's Been a Great Year of Adventure, 2016

Oh, wow, haven't the last couple of months been busy? I've been reflecting on my trips this year (with the help of http://www.2016bestnine.com, which is an site that generates your best nine photos on Instagram), my planner, and my blog posts (or lack thereof).

The Liebster Award

The Liebster Award is an online award given to bloggers by other bloggers that helps spread the love that we all so desperately desire. Liebster is a German word that translates to “dearest” so getting nominated for this is bound to give you a warm, fuzzy feeling.

Video: Triplets Explore Ilocos 2016

Last week, I went on a trip to Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, which are northern provinces of the Philippines. Lengthy post coming up about what we did and where we went and a bit of what we ate, but in the meantime, watch the video below that one of my friends made of our travels (and she's really good at it!). We call ourselves the Triplets, though we are neither siblings nor the same age nor have the same birthday. Ilocos is just one adventure, we are looking forward to more.

(Thanks for the video and the photos, Kim!)


Triplets Explore Ilocos from Kim P. Veria on Vimeo.

The 'One Lovely Blog Award'

Shout out to Hannah Henderson of Hannah Henderson Travel. Thank you so much for the nomination! I'm honoured.

As part of the nomination, I have to surrender a portion of my soul. Just kidding.

Packing Tips & Tricks for Travel [Infographic]

Got too many stuff to bring on your next vacation? What goes in your carry-on? What should you put in your check in? What are essential and what can be left behind?

I'm a huge fan of travelling light—and smart. I used to be the kind of person who would take a week to pack, but after being on several trips and reading countless articles and watching countless videos, I've learned that there are better ways to pack that will help me save time and space and make the experience all the more fun and less stressful.

The infographic below is a great guide to packing and travelling smarter.

Books to Inspire You to Travel

Books have inspired me in so many ways. Not just to try to write my own stories or to use writing as a means of expressing myself, but as I mentioned in a previous post, my love for travel was born out of my love for books.

How I Fell in Love with Travel

Most people fall in love with travel on the first trip that they take away from home. Kids who go on camping trips that are destined to change them forever. Who go to Disneyland or DisneyWorld or what other form of Disney there is and enjoy the delights of their childhood while screaming from the top of their lungs as the roller coaster whisks them from one spot or another in an exhilarating, dizzying, adrenaline-rushing ride. Or teens. Teens who are off on a school trip or any other trip where they get to volunteer rebuilding a school or a church. It might not be to another country, but a one-week venture to some place where the sights, sounds, and smells are so different from what they know to be home. Others are already adults when they take that first step into the unknown. Perhaps it is to visit a relative or family members. Perhaps they finally decided to take that long vacation their best friends have been convincing them to take. Perhaps they want to see what is this fascination with flying and travelling that they keep hearing everyone talking about.

Not so with me.

Adventures in Puerto Princesa, Palawan Day 3: Island-Hopping

Note: Wow, this post is overdue. Way overdue. Like one year behind overdue. But I have been taking a class here and there about Blogging and Content Marketing with Shaw Academy, and I've been learning that consistency is key. And in work, I have been learning to close the loop, to not leave any nail unhammered, any candlestick unpolished, any pie unbaked. I may not be able to post everyday or every week, but I will do my best to post once or twice a month.

We saved the island-hopping in Honda Bay for our third day in Puerto Princesa. They say that if you're in a big group, it's cheaper to customise your own tour and pay for the boat and entrance fees to each island, but if you're only 2-4 persons, it's better to get one of those fixed tours where they group you with other people. Puerto Princesa has a lot of those—tourist shops lined along the streets where you can book all sorts of tours. Even bed and breakfast inns and hotels have them, so we just had ours arrange by Casitas.

Why The Hobbit (and Its Lessons) Make My Life Wonderful

Photo from here.

It all starts with a wee little man embarking on the adventure of a lifetime. Bilbo Baggins, certified Hobbit (a race of little people from the wonderful fantasy land called Middle Earth) and Peaceful Person gets the surprise of his life when a wizard storms into his door and declares him to be the fourteenth member of Thorin and Company, a band of dwarves with the mission of taking back Erebor, the once-majestic dwarven kingdom that has fallen into the hands, er, claws, of a dragon. Imagine Bilbo's bewilderment and protests as he declares himself unfit—and disinterseted—in such a venture. But curiosity and something else—perhaps a desire to see the world, to step out of the ordinary confines of a day-to-day life?—has him running off to join the dwarves.

Adventures in Palawan Day 2: Dolphins and Unexpected Trips

I think a more appropriate title for this is "The Importance of Being More Flexible," especially as so many unplanned, unexpected things happened on this day.

Our schedule for the morning was a dolphin swimming tour, which is an item on my Dream List. (Actually, I wanted to swim with them, but after researching on the internet, I learned that they don't really allow you to do that in the open sea. It's more of in the special resorts that have trained, pet dolphins.) We booked with Hopping Buddies Travel & Tours, which is the cheapest I've seen so far. It was actually a tie between going on a dolphin-watching or firefly-watching tour. I would have loved to do both, but because of time and budget constraints, We could only do one, and we decided that we were more interested in seeing dolphins.

Adventures in Palawan Day 1: The Importance of Being Flexible

I had it all planned out: fly out to Puerto Princesa in the morning, check in at the hotel, grab a quick lunch, proceed to tour museums and other nearby areas until dinner time, before heading back to the hotel for an early bedtime because the next couple of days were bound to be jam-packed with activities.

Of course, not everything always goes as planned, starting with our flight being delayed for about three hours, till I was living in fear and cold-sweat that it would be canceled completely. (Thankfully, it wasn't.)

When we (FINALLY!) landed in Puerto Princesa, we were picked up by the van from where we stayed, Casitas de Az Pension. (Shoutout to them—everyone was so nice and friendly and accommodating. I peppered them with a thousand questions before booking with them.)

In Which I Become an Official Adventuress

I've always wanted to travel around the world, to any corner of the globe. (I still do and I sure do plan to make it happen!) I have been able to go on trips, both domestic and overseas, but not really on my own. I had always been with someone older, someone in charge, someone I could go to if I needed help, if I got lost, if things went wrong.

All that changed last week, May 21. I embarked on my first trip where I was the one who was in charge. I cannot begin to say how terrifying and exhilarating that was! To be the one to have to make the decisions where to go, what to do, how much to spend, how long to stay at a place.

Well, they say that the first time is the hardest, and that there is no other better way than to learn that to do it, and no other better time to start than right now.

Things to Do Before Visiting Another Country

It's a couple of weeks before I embark on my next adventure in another place. Needless to say, I'm excited, as I always am, when It's time to explore a country I've never been to before.

Nevertheless, one mustn't let excitement get in the way of practicality when preparing for a trip. There are several things I always check, double check and re-check when I take a trip (whether locally or internationally).

Next Destination: Hong Kong

In a couple of weeks or so, I'll be wending my way through the streets of Hong Kong. Not for the first time, though. I recall—in a very hazy frame of mind— making a couple of posts (culture customs, etiquette, etc.) about the country before going there last year. I recall coming back hoping to make a couple posts or so about my adventures there. Unfortunately, life often turns out like nothing at all planned. (Sigh.) And now I am going back and I have not yet ever posted anything about my first trip.

Adventures in Palawan: City Tour

Palawan. They call it the paradise of people who love swimming and snorkeling. It is rich with diverse marine life, rich with places to sight-see and visit, rich with tourist spots, islands, and adventure. Palawan is where the Underground River—one of the New Seven Wonders of the World—is.

I got to visit Puerto Princesa for the first time (yay!) last November for a team building. Our first day was spent on a city tour. We visited Mitra's Ranch, Baker's Hill, Binuatan Creations, and the place to buy pasalubong before having dinner in one of the Chicken Inato restaurants.

The Importance of Learning About Another Country Before Going to It

It's the 3rd of April. In 22 days, I will be stepping on board a plane and leaving for a mission trip to Hong Kong. While I'm pretty excited, there's also this sense of caution that I have when going to new places. It's not because I'm reluctant. I love to travel and visit different countries, actually. I love going to different places and learning new things. I'm cautious because each place (each city, even), has its own culture, that could be the same as the culture we are accustomed to, or something totally different.