Welcome to BWAB!

I'm Jona, a former travel journalist and teacher, and a poet and fictionist with a high dose of imposter syndrome. My affairs with the world and words started with a book. I've seen bits and pieces of this beautiful wounded world. Hence, the name of the blog. I'm from the Philippines, lived in Vietnam for four years, and now I'm indefinitely living in Munich, Germany.

What originally was a repository of random thoughts on life, travel, and books, BWAB is now a full-on resources of those embarking the digital nomad life with a decent amount of travel guides, occasional dive trips, and book readings spread thick in between. Oh yeah, a lot of solo travel resources around Europe and Southeast Asia. For quick travel and accommodation guides in Europe and Asia, check my ultimate travel cheat sheet for free. 

For real-time stories, puns, personally proven travel hacks, exclusive digital nomad resources, and self-deprecating awkwardness, follow me on Instagram: @jonajournals or my weekly mind-meandering on Medium. 

 


what's popular

destination guides

You may not know how to save your soul, but you know how to put one foot in front of another.—Rebecca Solnit
March 14, 2024

Moalboal Sardine Run: Your Ultimate Guide from a Local

The Philippines, an archipelagic country facing the Pacific, never runs out of ways to surprise the curious and the wandering. My home island Cebu, for example, has piqued the interest of fellow Filipinos and foreign travelers alike for its incredible and jaw-dropping underwater ecosystem. On top of my list, regardless […]
March 14, 2024

Your Ultimate Guide: How to Get from Cebu City to Moalboal

Living in Cebu City for almost ten years, I tagged Moalboal and Badian as my personal retreats, away from my metropolitan woes and responsibilities. But Moalboal, for its many conveniences and locals, draws me more. I made several friends here and saw some kids grew up. And while I left […]
March 13, 2024

The Best Things to Do in Skiathos, Greece

You’ve probably heard the saying: “You can take the person out of the island, but you can’t take the island out of the person.” For me, born and raised in the tropics, this rings especially true. Since relocating to Munich, Germany, one of my greatest challenges as an island creature […]
February 21, 2024

Astoria Palawan Personal Review: An Irresistible and Amazing Staycation in Puerto Princesa

This Astoria Palawan blog review first appeared on my column Down South on Interaksyon.com. I included more photos here to give justice to the beauty of this place. PALAWAN, PHILIPPINES—An egret ambled around my deck, peering through the glass wall of my own sanctuary. It must be looking for food. […]

digital nomad guides

And her joy would become a restless thing, flapping its wings inside her, as though looking for an opening to fly away. ― Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
May 2, 2023

Money Guide for Travelers from Developing Countries: Why You Must Have a Separate Travel Fund Bank Account

Money Guide for Travelers from Developing Countries is not usually discussed. Personally, the courage to travel is one thing; having the dough to travel is another. In most cases, I build my courage and travel fund together. The Importance of Why You Should Keep a Separate Travel Fund Account should […]
May 2, 2023

A Traveler’s Honest Talk on Money

EDIT: This was written in 2016. A lot has changed in my life. I moved to Vietnam, went back to teaching, and lived the expat life. In November 2021, my two cats and I moved to Munich, Germany. You can follow me on Instagram: @jonajournals for more current life updates. I am […]
May 2, 2023

Yes! Not Everyone Can Quit Their Jobs to Travel Abroad

EDIT: This was written in 2016. A lot has changed in my life. I moved to Vietnam, went back to teaching, and lived the expat life. In November 2021, my two cats and I moved to Munich, Germany. You can follow me on Instagram: @jonajournals for more current life updates. Some […]
May 2, 2023

A Developing Country Citizen’s Perspective: What’s Wrong with “Leave Everything Behind and Travel the World”

 I shared the table with a Dutch traveler for our complimentary breakfast of coffee, two toasts, and few slices of melon—something that the Burmese or us Filipinos do not normally have for breakfast. But I enjoyed it, nonetheless, especially after an hour or so of pedaling on sandy paths, checking […]
 
 

reading life

My grandfather says that's what books are for," Ashoke said, using the opportunity to open the volume in his hands. "To travel without moving an inch.― Jhumpa Lahiri
March 22, 2023

The Top 16 Independent Bookstores in NYC Worth Checking Out

Joan Didion. Jeniffer Egan. Mia Alvar. Eula Biss. Ada Limon are some of the names that come to mind when I think of New York. These writers have written about and from New York. New York City has long been a hub for literary creativity and inspiration, and its independent […]
March 20, 2023

These 16 Independent Bookstores in Seattle Are Sure Worthy of Your Time and Money

Seattle is a city with an infectious love for literature and a thriving independent bookstore scene. Visitors to the city should not miss the opportunity to explore the many charming and unique bookstores that Seattle has to offer. From the iconic and the hip to the cozy neighborhood feel, each […]
March 1, 2023

What I Read in January 2023: On Time- and Place-Traveling

Toshikazu Kawaguchi, Mohsin Hamid, Carmen Maria Machado, Tracy K. Smith, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, and Little Gems on the Internet I aimed for fifty books read last year. I only read 20. I still considered it as an achievement of sort, considering the personal turmoil I had adapting to a new country. Before coming […]
May 9, 2018

We Loved Our Lives More Than We Ever Knew | Lorrie Moore | A Gate at the Stairs |

MISREADINGS: We Loved Our Lives More Than We Ever Knew | Lorrie Moore | A Gate at the Stairs Let me start with a confession. Lorrie Moore was a bandaid after my bedtime attempts and failures on reading and understanding Donna Tartt’s The Goldfinch, which absurdly became strings after strings […]
 
 

life and food

One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.—Virginia Woolf
January 1, 2024

The 25 Best Boracay Station 1 Resorts: from Luxury to Budget 2024

We all have a story how the travel bug got us. Mine started when I was a university student. I led the school publication, and the president of the student body government and I were invited to join a nationwide student leader’ press conference in Boracay. This was almost twenty […]
December 29, 2023

15 of the Best Tulum Restaurants on the Beach

When you think of Tulum, it’s not just the breathtaking beaches that steal the spotlight but also the delightful culinary gems scattered along the shore. Picture this: white sands, a fresh sea breeze, and the best part—Tulum restaurants on the beach. Venture beyond the city center, and you’ll discover a […]
December 27, 2023

20 Affordable Hotels in Venice with Canal View

Venice is the only Italian city I’ve been to so far, aside from the little coastal Trieste. So I cannot compare it to other popular Italian cities. It may not be my favorite European city, Vienna claimed that spot, but I have to give it to Venice for embracing age […]
December 3, 2023

The Top 15 Cheap Hotels in Tulum under $80

Welcome to Tulum, where the sun-kissed shores meet the charm of imperfect plumbing and a thriving iguana community. This coastal haven, just an hour and a half from Cancún, has evolved beyond its quaint past. While traffic and waiting lists now dot the scene, fear not – Tulum’s allure persists. […]