January 29, 2020
On restlessness, stillness, and on the search of happiness and home We were in Co To Island when I saw her post on Hanoi Buy Swap, and Sell—a Facebook group popular among expats in Hanoi. She was downsizing her wardrobe. I fancied the red dress and messaged her about it, […]
January 28, 2020
Brunei Travel Guide: My Own Travel Thoughts on Brunei Brunei Travel Guide JAN 2020–I knew nothing about Brunei. I became that traveler you don’t want to travel with: willfully ignorant of the place she was about to travel to. I have to admit it is founded on the condescending “surprise […]
October 6, 2019
It’s easy to see why Cancun is one of the most popular vacation spots in the world. While it used to be known mainly as an area where the younger crowd went to have fun during spring break, the area has transformed into a top luxury travel destination. It has […]
July 23, 2019
Earlier this year, Adah of pinaywanderess.com asked me what is success for me. Instantly I answered, “a happy pussy, heart, and mind.” She followed her question with “are you successful?” of which I answered, “Pussy is not, the past two months” and tailed it with a bucktoothed glass-wearing emoji. I cut […]
July 21, 2019
Cameron Highlands Travel Guide covers all the essential information you need to make your stay memorable. I was the only Asian in the 4×4 jeepney. An Israeli couple traveling with their little girl Luna was an endearing sight. The morning air was cool. Everyone donned their cardigan or jacket. I […]
June 21, 2019
California Travel Guide covers one of the most important part of your trip: where to stay in California? We narrow down your options to the best CA hoods! NO TIME TO READ IT? PIN IT! A prison to visit? A gate to admire? Trails to choose from? Swells to ride […]
June 10, 2019
UPDATED HANOI TRAVEL GUIDE 2019 | In a tail-end of a long-term trip and long relationship, I arrived in Hanoi in cool October 2017 with a heavy heart and wheeled backpack, ballooning body and credit card bill, and a very light savings barely enough to cover rent and essentials for […]
May 4, 2019
This was written five years ago. There was Agness. Now there is Erik Matti. There were angry Filipinos. Now there are angry Cebuanos. Last week, I was on a boat of mixed races: Filipino, Chinese, Korean, French, Belgian, and perhaps other races that I overlooked or forgot to ask. It […]
April 29, 2019
You know me, I can get up from bed with my bird’s nest of a hair, prepare coffee in my underwear, don’t even bother to brush my teeth, and slump myself in front of the computer and check on the day’s tasks. But I always look forward to seeing you. […]
April 16, 2019
Bet nila yong skin mo. Ganahan ang mga puti sa imong panit. They like your skin.I’ve been told countless times by many fellow Filipinas, both young and old. Nila, They refers to white men, both young and old, who salivate over exotic creatures like me. And each time annoys the hell […]
April 6, 2019
TRANG AN, NINH BINH—I missed someone. I don’t know who exactly. It can be T whom I shared my first visit here with. It can be D, whom I cut communications for the past weeks. Or it can be anyone, someone I’m connected to. I missed the feeling of having […]
April 1, 2019
Dear Fellow Travel Bloggers, In my list of daily chores to do, one task remained unfinished for the past four months: it says, “Japan, at least 1000 words, for god’s sake, Jona.” I am referring to my sponsored week-long trip to Onomichi City, Hiroshima, Japan last November. I have written […]