May 21, 2026

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. […]
May 14, 2026

Where to Stay in Prague for First-time Visitors: The Top 10 + Places to Avoid

Prague has this small, stubborn corner in my heart. It was the first city I wandered alone after a heavy talk with my then‑boyfriend (now husband) on a windy night in La Palma, Spain, when I admitted how much I missed traveling solo. He didn’t flinch—he just said, then do it […]
April 29, 2026

MALAYSIA BUDGET TRAVEL GUIDE | Budget, Itinerary, and Accommodation

MALAYSIA BUDGET TRAVEL GUIDE | Hello there! A version of this guide is posted on Rappler. You see, Malaysia is often my jumpoff point for my past trips (Indonesia, India, Australia) since it has the biggest airport hub from Cebu, Philippines. I’be been there five times already. During my recent […]
April 5, 2026

The Best Resorts in Tulum for Couples on Honeymoon

Nestled along pristine beaches or the contradictory manicured jungle, Tulum evokes images of abundance, romance, and adventure. And with that, I personally curated the best resorts in Tulum for couples , especially those who are on their honeymoon, based on actual guest reviews scoured on the Internet. This curated list […]
January 25, 2026

Traveling: Then and Now

Raw and immediate. When I first started traveling solo in the Philippines, everything was. I moved on instinct — hiring cabal-habal (motorcycle taxi) driver to take me to hidden beaches, tiny towns tucked away from any map, and waterfalls that felt like secrets. Group tours were for reasons only very […]
January 17, 2026

On Learning Too Late to Be Gentle to My Own Body

The task was simple, almost administrative. I needed a few images from my solo trips before moving to Germany to accompany a recent post about what solo travel looks like now as a new mom. Then versus now. Motion versus almost-stillness. A life once lived lightly compared to a life […]
January 8, 2026

Let’s Admit It: The Philippines Is Not At Par with Vietnam and Thailand

I’d spent a good amount of my mid-20s to mid-30s traveling around Southeast Asia in a wheeled backpack that lasted way longer than most of my love affairs. My curiosity and hunger for the unknown was as full as my backpack. Border-crossing was as adventurous and logistically irritating and tiring […]
May 9, 2025

Apo Island Scuba Diving: Your Ultimate Guide

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 […]
March 29, 2025

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, […]
January 22, 2025

SEO for Hotels: How SEO Bloggers Reach Travelers Before They Book

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

Blog vs Social Media: Why One Blog Post Outperforms 10 Social Media Posts

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 […]
September 2, 2024

Best Time for a Dubai Desert Safari: Your Desert Seasons Guide

Going on a desert safari is much more than taking a thrilling ride through sand dunes. It is opportunity to soak in the captivating beauty of the desert. The unending dunes, beautiful sunset view, and thrilling adventure make a desert safari must-do activity in Dubai. However, to enjoy a desert […]