Category Archives: travel

The Batad Experience: How Far Will You Go for an Epic Adventure?

Word on the backpacker’s grapevine says that Batad is one of those rare glimpses of heaven on earth. A village that used to be a well-kept secret, Batad is neatly tucked away, almost in the shadow of Banaue, its more-familiar neighbor. A few souls have dared call it as the 8th Wonder of the World, but seriously, the title has been thrown around so often, that we can probably come up with a Top 7 ‘8th Wonders of the World’ list.

In the end, curiosity got the best of us, and at the third year of a tradition that we unknowingly started, my bundok buddies and I trooped off to Batad to kick off the year with another adventure. Continue reading The Batad Experience: How Far Will You Go for an Epic Adventure?

5 Ways to Spend a Splurge-Free Day at Perth

Australia isn’t exactly among the places you would go to for cheap thrills. In fact, Perth clocks in one of world’s highest density of uber-high-net-worth individuals. Hashtag: FilthyRich.

(cue song) I wanna be a billionaire...

That’s why it was a nice surprise when we found ourselves enjoying a full tourist-y day wandering the fab Perth CBD sans the splurging (except for good grub and ale, of course!). Here are a few tips on how to make like Jessie J and enjoy a day in Perth not caring about the kaching-kaching: Continue reading 5 Ways to Spend a Splurge-Free Day at Perth

Mickey J Rocks Perth

Mickey J — you are insane, as in INSANELY TALENTED.

I’m always a sucker for street performances, at times literally rubbing elbows with the crowd at the hopes of getting my dose of genius and astonishment for the day. We did get to see a lot of acts in the Murray Street Mall in Perth, ranging from the delightful to the just plain weird. Continue reading Mickey J Rocks Perth

Perth & Fremantle: A Day Behind Bars and Other Stories

Good morning, sunshine!

Western Australia gave me a warm welcome for my first glimpse of the Land Down Under. So very warm, in fact, that I would soon come to christen Perth in the summer as the city of eternal sunshine (or in Tagalog, ‘ang siyudad na laging tanghaling tapat’).

We easily settled into Underground Backpackers over at Northbridge, our digs for the weekend. The hostel was just a few blocks away from the Perth Central Train Station, so after breakfast (or ‘brekky’, as we were soon to be educated), we trooped off on foot and bought tickets to Fremantle. My friend Geebee and I got a FamilyRider ticket (a day pass that’s a steal for big groups, allowing up to 7 people for one stub!). In a few minutes, we were onboard and watching the picturesque rows of houses zip by on our way to the port city. Continue reading Perth & Fremantle: A Day Behind Bars and Other Stories

147 Seconds on Why I Keep Coming Back for Sinulog

Having been drawn to the island paradise 4 times over the last 5 years, I think I can personally vouch that Cebu is a tried-and-tested fun-in-the-sun destination. Of course, January is a great time to flock to Cebu to join the droves for the Sinulog festival, but Cebu offers a whole lot more: alluring coasts, mouth-watering grub, sky-high thrills, and of course, the people who are gorgeous inside and out.

I rarely get to make vacation mash-ups with my family in it, so this vid was a real treat for me. Now you have solid proof that insanity is hereditary. Enjoy!

2011’s Gift of Sisters Galore (a.k.a. the ‘Ganda-mo-teh’ post)

 

In the Gagno residence, we have a gaggle — a gaggle of 5 spunky girls, each of whom went their own way as they grew up, with literally an ocean between them. Yet I would remember 2011 as the year that brought all of us together under the same roof, after 5 long years of never being in the same country. Continue reading 2011’s Gift of Sisters Galore (a.k.a. the ‘Ganda-mo-teh’ post)

Talent is Universal.

I’m known to have bouts of wanting to wander aimlessly anywhere, and more often than not, these are the times when I run into street performers. I adore these chances, as they make me feel that I was on the right place at the right time. At one time, I may think I’m lost, but I may be actually meant to bump into something special.

Here’s a montage of some of the fascinating acts I chanced upon in 2011. Yey to brave hearts and creative minds.


Song: Love and Wonder (Club Edit) – DJ Earworm

Meet Romi

It was one of the most original things I’ve seen in a long, long time.

Even if I’m running late, I’m the type who always stops to watch street performers — waiting if they have a nice surprise in store, or at least a nice story worth sharing. A lot of them were amusing, some of them were worth applauding, but this one really made me excited to capture the moment to share with everyone.

Romi made his own prop, which wowed me all the more. It must have taken a lot of time, thought and patience to get just the right weight and form, and to master just the right moves. Yey for triumphs of brilliance and creativity.

It was a nice reminder that sometimes, you don’t have to go very far to be astounded. How about you, when did you last get wowed?

Location: Helix Bridge, Singapore
Song: “Night Owl” by Broke For Free (brokeforfree.com)

Cheerio! The England Clips

The place was so British, I wouldn’t have been surprised if the mice wore monocles. – Bob Hope

Pub walks. Free museums. The Stonehenge. Music that’s undeniably genius. Haven of the world’s literary giants. Say what you want about England, but without a doubt, it will remain to be one of the world’s top destinations. I have the makings of a tree-hugging hippie girl in my core, but although I resist, I think I’m slowly being wooed to the dark side of city-crawling with bustling metros like London.

Watch the vid for shots of my frenzied sprinting across London, Stonehenge, Liverpool and Bath. If you want read more of what went on in Jolly Old England, click here to recount past England posts. If you’re on your way to London yourself, here’s a few sightseeing tips you might find useful:

  • A great and cheap way to get down & dirty with London & its juicy history is to take a walking tour. The pub crawls are the best — you can’t go wrong with good stories plus some booze!
  • If you’re getting a London Pass, buy them directly from the Visitor’s Centre where it’s cheaper. Get the one without the Travelcard and just get an all-day pass from the Tube. Do your homework the night before as well to plot the best route to cover the most ground.
  • If you’re off to see Stonehenge, know that they don’t normally let people up close to the actual stones. For the best experience, you might want to book a special tour that lets you inside the stone circle.

Video Track: Love and Memories by O.A.R.

Traipsing the T-Dot: The Toronto Vid

From the land of hockey, poutine and the Mighty Falls that lure in honeymooners and daredevils everywhere. You’ve seen the photos and been flooded with the write-ups — you should have known that the video was coming. =P It was nice to relive the memories & experiences through the clips, especially the ones with family and friends with whom I haven’t shared a road trip with for ages. Hope you enjoy them as well!

And oh, if you have no idea of what photos and write-ups I was talking about, you can check out my endless blabbering and raving about Toronto over here.

Fall 2011
Toronto, Canada
Song: Jet Lag by Simple Plan ft. Marie-Mai

Inspiringly MAAD

When I can’t wipe the silly smile off my face, that’s when I know I’ve made a good discovery.

Definitely was crazy about this bright idea.

Based on my past entries, I think that it’s a well-established fact that I raid flea markets with a fervor of a spendthrift scorned. It was my first time to get wind of the MAAD (Market of Artists and Designers) fetes at Red Dot Design Museum, and boy, was I glad I took time to check out this month’s shindig. Continue reading Inspiringly MAAD