March 12, 2016

Experience Kawasan Canyoneering with This Ultimate Guide

I have a river for a writing muse. Almost every month, I bused to southern Cebu, dropped off Matutinao (Badian), walked beside the rushing madness, skipped the crowded first falls, and trekked up to the lagoon, where my muse ends and where another river starts. I sometimes took a dip, […]
March 8, 2016

Hipmunk Hotels: Enjoying the California Sun in Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Fresno, and More

California conjures images of endless summers and exhilarating and action-packed winters. Now spring is on its way, California is beginning to bloom into an ocean of wildflowers. This is the best time to hike, take a leisure walk, or enjoy the beach and the waves. This is the best time […]
March 4, 2016

Why You Should Stop Calling Us Exotic

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, […]
February 24, 2016

Filipinas Who Travel Solo | Alone, Not Lonely

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: I’m too comfortable […]
February 19, 2016

Why I Felt Embarrassed Being Called a Travel Blogger

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

On Punches and Beautiful Rainbows

“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 11, 2016

Ten Philippine Destinations Where Your $100 Can Go Far

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, […]
February 7, 2016

Wanna Make Your Blog Popular? Travel the Philippines and Praise or Bitch It

Here in Cebu, local travel bloggers often meet fellow travel bloggers from Luzon or Mindanao for dinner or beer. We would talk about places, travel plans, and other fellow travel bloggers who succumbed to click-bait articles and listicles such as “Five Reasons I Hate Davao City” or “20 Photos from the Philippines, […]
January 25, 2016

The Southern State of Winter

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 24, 2016

Falling for the Rugged #Utah and #Colorado

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

Places in the Philippines to Avoid This Summer

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 […]
December 30, 2015

Florida State of Mind

Florida is not called the Sunshine State for no reason. It is the state that defies terrible weather: while other places brave the winter, Florida provides its own sunshine. Playing in theme parks and enjoying the beaches are just two of the many things to do here. Let your toes […]