April 5, 2023
She sighed. She was crouching on the floor, shifting some leaves with her frail-looking wrinkled hands. She then slit the middle of one elongated leaf, which looked like pandan, and inserted the base of another. She repeated the process until she made a beautiful mandala of leaves. She then pushed […]
April 5, 2023
The locals endearingly named it the Bu—a chill, celebrity-packed beach town that radiates as a carefree, sunny state-of-mind beach town in California. Although the bustling Pacific Coast Highway runs through it and there is no actual town center, the charms of this famous beach town—with a population of around 13,000—is […]
March 23, 2023
The closest to coliving I did in my adult life was when I tested the teaching waters in Vietnam and became a volunteer teacher for three months in Hanoi back in March-May 2017. I found this opportunity on Workaway, a famous website for cultural exchange and volunteering programs in many […]
March 20, 2023
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 13, 2023
The fact you’re googling the best time to visit Paris is a sign that you’re finally planning your Paris trip. Yey! And you start it right. Before packing your bags, let’s talk about the most important aspect of your journey – timing. Choosing the right time to visit Paris can […]
March 5, 2023
A beach dotted with blue and yellow sun umbrellas. Lounge seats perfectly lined up like soldiers. Beach peddlers with their kites, trinkets, beach towels, and hats. And a man who occasionally passed by with his wheeled cart of ice cream, beer, and cocktails. And the glorious sun, sky, and alternating […]
March 2, 2023
Last updated: January 2023 It was my first trip abroad (2015), and going somewhere that was rarely traveled to appeal to the rebellious and the reckless in me. A week in Malaysia would mean a selfie with the Petronas Tower at the least, a walk around Penang, a glimpse of […]
March 1, 2023
Having stayed in Split for a week, I entertained the idea of moving there. It has everything I, who is used to tropical weather and beaches, need. It is coastal, has really nice beaches and neighboring islands, and a great selection of wine and cheese. It is not as expensive […]
March 1, 2023
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 […]
February 28, 2023
Wondering where to eat in Cebu? These top Filipino Restaurants in Cebu are based on personal experience and preference. It’s totally not unheard-of that Cebu is one of the leading tourist destinations in the Philippines. Centrally located in the Philippine archipelago, Cebu, dubbed as the “Queen City of the South” […]
February 23, 2023
Before visiting Singapore, twice in fact, there is always that rumor that it is an expensive country to travel. It is not actually true. Singapore can grow on you. Acclaimed for its elegant architecture, manicured urban landscapes, and sumptuous dishes, Singapore attracts both Asian and western travelers. But some hesitate […]
February 23, 2023
Before traveling to India, I braced myself for the possible unpleasant encounters with misogyny and utter poverty I often heard from news. Some said, expect people to poo by the road. Yeah, we saw that. Even stepped onto one in Old Delhi. Expect to be tailed. Yes, we experienced that. Expect […]