Welcome to BWAB!
I’m Jona—a full-time SEO and content manager, weekend travel blogger, and lifelong storyteller. My journey began with reading Resil Mojares' House of Memory and Oliver Sack's The Island of the Colorblind, inspiring me to explore over 30 countries across Asia, Oceania, and Europe.
For over a decade, Backpacking with a Book has grown from a personal blog into a trusted guide for digital nomads—packed with practical travel tips, thrilling dive experiences in Southeast Asia and beyond, and thoughtful bookish destinations. I also run homehums.com, where I share my experiences as a traveling mom along with practical parenting hacks and honest product reviews.
I’m open to paid collaborations and travel sponsorships in exchange for high-quality UGC or SEO-optimized content. Let’s create something impactful together!
For real-time puns and awkward travel stories, follow me on Instagram.
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
May 13, 2025
Venice isn’t my ultimate European love story (Vienna already swept me off my feet), but it’s hard not to respect a city that wears age like a velvet cloak. Aside from a quick coastal flirtation with Trieste, Venice is the only Italian city I’ve spent real time in—so no, I […]
May 13, 2025
Vienna in winter is like stepping into a snow globe someone gave a good, loving shake—buildings dusted with powdered sugar, streets glowing like they’re lit from the inside out. For someone raised in the tropical hug of the Philippines like me, winter always sounded like a heavy coat I didn’t […]
May 13, 2025
Let’s not dance around it – my three-night fling with Vienna as a solo female traveler was pure magic. Even in winter, when the city wraps itself in extra scarves and the trees look like they’re wearing sheer gowns stitched from breath and frost. Honestly, Vienna in winter is just […]
May 9, 2025
I earned my PADI license in Dauin, just a salty splash away from those iconic shores, and the first thing I did was celebrate with Apo Island scuba diving. Because really—what better way to mark a milestone than by slipping beneath the waves of a place that feels half myth, half […]
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
January 22, 2025
As a seasoned travel blogger with over a decade of experience and deep expertise in SEO, I’ve witnessed how strategically optimized content can directly influence a traveler’s booking decisions. Today, travelers are savvier than ever—they research, compare, and weigh their options before making a commitment. This is where SEO-driven content […]
January 18, 2025
As a travel blogger with over a decade of experience and a strong background in SEO, I’ve witnessed how a single, well-optimized blog post can outperform even the most viral social media campaigns. Social media offers fleeting engagement, but it lacks the staying power that SEO-driven content provides. A thoughtfully […]
November 9, 2024
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being financially dependent on your partner, especially if you’re the main caregiver. It’s a role that deserves respect and recognition. However, the narrative of the man as the sole provider, often perpetuated on social media, oversimplifies the reality of many households. Financial contributions are just […]
November 8, 2024
Sometimes, me yapping about a lot of things get me some personal stories and letters that I think may resonate with others. So I’m sharing someone’s story and take on that matter. Yes, I know I talk a lot about my own financial independence (for sure, therapists, armchair or otherwise, […]
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
May 9, 2025
Vienna is a beautiful city. Of course, that’s the perspective of a traveler—wait, scratch that—a full-blown tourist with eyes wide and heart open, gawking at Gothic spires and Baroque balconies like they’re slices of sachertorte handed down from the gods. But it’s not just the well-preserved grandeur of imperial years […]
May 8, 2025
For book lovers, the State Hall of the Austrian National Library isn’t just a place—it’s a mood, a hush, a full-body goosebump. Tucked inside the Hofburg Palace like a secret too good to keep, this Baroque beauty isn’t just stacked with books—it glows with them. Frescoed ceilings swirl like a fever dream, towering shelves […]
January 16, 2025
When I learned that Vienna has a Shakespeare and Co, I knew I had to visit. As someone who fell in love with its Parisian counterpart, stepping into its Viennese location felt like revisiting an old friend in a new city. Nestled in the heart of Vienna, this cozy bookshop […]
July 12, 2024
I personally believe Joan Didion, Jennifer Egan, Mia Alvar, Eula Biss, and Ada Limon capture the essence of New York. These writers embody the city’s literary spirit, and its independent bookstores are a testament to this legacy. New York City’s independent bookstores are hidden gems offering an intimate dive into […]
life and food
One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.—Virginia Woolf
May 13, 2025
Venice isn’t my ultimate European love story (Vienna already swept me off my feet), but it’s hard not to respect a city that wears age like a velvet cloak. Aside from a quick coastal flirtation with Trieste, Venice is the only Italian city I’ve spent real time in—so no, I […]
May 9, 2025
Having roamed over 15 European cities since planting roots in Munich, I can tell you—Vienna didn’t just waltz into my heart, it strutted in like it owned the place. Sure, Prague’s right up there, giving me moody romance and cobblestone poetry, but Vienna? She’s the full symphony. This city along […]
May 7, 2025
As someone who grew up surrounded by waters, I thought I’d seen every kind of blue – but then came Lugano. It was my first taste of Switzerland, and let’s just say… it left a lasting aftertaste of awe. My German-Swiss partner, ever the meticulous planner, mapped out a week-long […]
March 30, 2025
We all have that one story of how the travel bug bit us. Mine? It started back in university. I was leading the school publication, and the student body president and I were invited to a nationwide student leaders’ press con… in Boracay. That was nearly twenty years ago. Since […]