March 4, 2016
He stands out like a sore thumb. He is 6’6″. I am 5’5″ taller than most Filipinas, but I stand like a dwarf beside him. He is white. I’m a dark-skinned Filipina with small eyes. A very odd couple. I know. We were walking around Borobudur (Yogyakarta, Indonesia) last December, […]
March 1, 2016
There’s nothing quite like the open road! It’s tempting to just get in the car and hit the highway, but road-trips are a significant investment of time and energy, and certain amount of planning can ensure you recoup that investment. Adequate preparation can also help maintain a positive state of […]
February 24, 2016
Earlier last year, I was non-committed and happy with my single-blessedness. A day before Valentine’s Day, I bought a folding bike (from the unexpected teacher’s clothing allowance), rightfully named it Katorse, and biked two towns in southern Cebu on a sunny love day. Oh, yes, alone. READ: Twelve Months of […]
February 19, 2016
The eyes of the girl sitting beside me had tear marks. Before I entered the immigration office, I saw her through the glass window, answering the questions of the immigration officer. When I sat beside her to fill up the form, I heard her asking the immigration officer if the […]
February 16, 2016
“Indonesian???” asked a local who looked at me with a confused look in his own face. “No,” I would smile. “Japan?” “No.” “Thailand?” “No.” “Vietnam!” “Try harder!” “Philippine!” And he laughed, as if he won the lottery. This guessing game is one of the few constants on my trips around […]
February 15, 2016
Some years ago, I handed half of my salary to my mother. I am single, have the highest-paying job among my working, familied older siblings. And culture dictates, it is my responsibility to help my parents and younger siblings. A year or two had passed; the half became a quarter […]
February 11, 2016
Said the overly quoted Pico Iyer, “We travel, initially, to lose ourselves; and we travel, next, to find ourselves. We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate. We travel to bring what little we can, in our ignorance and knowledge, […]
January 25, 2016
The beauty of the southern states is not a secret to anyone. Florida, the Sunshine State, has captured the hearts of many travelers for its theme parks and beaches. North Carolina is the home of the best hike destinations, while Massachusetts is the home of many exciting casinos. The art […]
January 25, 2016
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 […]
January 24, 2016
Whether you plan to wander around Bryce Canyon National Park and admire rock architectures or walk your way up to Angel’s Landing at Zion National Park, indeed Utah is a heaven for the adventurous in you. The neighboring state is not far behind. Be it Maroon Bells, Rocky Mountain National […]
January 22, 2016
A note: Hi there! I would constantly update this list. If you have been to overcrowded destinations in the Philippines that you want to include in the list, email us at backpackingwithabook@gmail.com—Jona In April and May, some Filipinos take three showers a day while others suffer from the absence of water […]
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