Category Archives: travel

Enchanting Siquijor

Paradise at Cambugahay Falls. Rubber ducky not included.

It was hard to believe what was right in front of our eyes — the cascades of crystalline blue-green water had me hypnotized, and we had the waterfalls all to ourselves. I look around and think — friends, we’ve made it to paradise.

Siquijor is a gem of a find, one of the places that really makes me want to know my home country better. It blew my mind thinking how an island as accessible and gorgeous as this one could stay under the radar for so long. As I looked around to see my co-passengers at the ferry from Dumaguete, almost more than half were actually foreigners, aside from the few locals making their way home. And then there were us, a gang of giddy local backpackers — not a usual sighting, I guess. Continue reading Enchanting Siquijor

Sky High and Down Under in Sagada

Hanging out a Sagada is definitely an experience.
Hanging out a Sagada is definitely an experience.

My heart beats hard against my chest. The guide calls for my niece to cling on to the rope and descend into a dark abyss. I steal a peek over the edge and my eyes bulge at how easy it is to slip and break all arms and feet. My niece makes it all the way down; I draw a breath.

My sister is about to go next. As I see her dangling on the rope, all I can think of is, ‘What have I gotten ourselves into?!’

Continue reading Sky High and Down Under in Sagada

Our Big Fat Greek Getaway: The Vid

I still can’t get over how crystal-clear the Aegean waters are. Or how the cliffs look snow-capped from the white Cycladic houses dotting its sides. Or how Greek tomatoes are simply food for the gods.

This is for Sheng and Mara, two lovely lasses who embraced the eat-book-pray-love way of life with me! A shout-out to Rebecca and Sana as well, our new friends who made our trip to Greece all the more awesome. Til our next adventure!

Song: Island in the Sun by Weezer

I Dream of Santorini

Pretty cliff-side houses in Oia

Santorini is much like the pretty gal that every other girl would love to hate. You know, the one who gets out of bed looking every inch exquisite, the one who exudes charm without even trying, the type who you would compliment all day and would just shrug it all off, as if gorgeousness was something you got for free with your kiddie snack.

I still get over how the steep cliffs look snow-capped from the whitewashed houses.
Snow? Nuh-uh. Whitewashed houses blanket the peaks of the Caldera’s steep cliffs.

Yes, it seems this island is blessed — with its amazing vantage points overlooking the sea, its picturesque artisan town of Oia, a muti-faceted terrain which allows one to comb through vineyards at one hour, climb a volcano the next, all before having a pick of whether to lounge the day away at a black, red or white beach. Continue reading I Dream of Santorini

Catching Our Breath at Paros

Even party girls need some chill-time. After busy, lively Mykonos, the almost sleepy-town of Paroikia in Paros was a welcome breather.

We were booked to stay for two nights at Jimmy’s Hostel, and who else would be the first person at the pier who would greet us? No less but Jimmy himself! Quite a character with his booming voice and ubiquitous grin, he helped us load our bags onto to his van and whisked us off to the apartments, which was only a few blocks away from the pier.  Continue reading Catching Our Breath at Paros

Mykonos: Blue and White and Everything Nice

Finally meeting up with familiar faces after weeks of solo travel is nothing less than awesome. Sheng and I should know — when we had our rendezvous at the Athens airport, we surely must have annoyed the hell out of everyone else. Here we were, two chatty lasses, who swapped stories NON-STOP on the hour-long airport shuttle to our digs at the city center. Later on, we would meet up with Mara, another friend of mine who I haven’t seen since she moved to Abu Dhabi.

After a fun hostel overnighter fueled by pub-karaoke and local beer, we dragged ourselves out of bed and set off for Port Piraeus in the early morn. We were to jumpstart our island-hopping adventure with Mykonos as our first stop, and I could hardly keep myself from being giddy. As a child, I always thought that the Greek Isles were only something I’d lay eyes upon while watching snotty tanned lovey-dovey couples on The Lives of the Rich and Famous. Now, not only was I being whisked off via ferry to the Cyclades, but on a rare treat, I was sharing the rush of experiencing something new with two very good friends! Continue reading Mykonos: Blue and White and Everything Nice

I Heart Italy

In the short span of of five days, I was floored, smitten, head-over-heels in love with Italy — to think that I only got to explore dreamy Venice and beguiling Rome. Never was I so sad to leave a destination, but crossed fingers, I pray that the magic of Trevi Fountain works for me, so that I’ll find myself back for another Italian adventure.

Swiss Dreams: The Vid

Switzerland was the dreamland that I didn’t expect to wander into. With stunning mountains and breathtaking vistas at your disposal, I reckon it must be pretty good to call Switzerland home. Sometimes, fate always knows best. I’m grateful that it led me to shuffle my plans to include a peek of Zurich and the Alps.

Song: Chelsea Dagger by The Fratellis

Venice and the Art of Getting Lost

Things to do when in Venice:
Eat a lot of gelato.
Get a map and plot out all sights you want to see in this labyrinth.
Bring the map and get lost anyway.
Eat more gelato and everything will be okay.

As I got off the platform in Venezia Santa Lucia, I had to struggle to keep from jumping up and down as I got an eyeful of Venice. Busy waterway streets, gondoliers bedecked in stripes and straw hats — it was unreal, a whimsical pace of life defying the logical world as I knew it. It was perfect. Continue reading Venice and the Art of Getting Lost

Seventh Heaven at the Jungfraujoch

The trip up Europe’s highest railway wasn’t originally in the itinerary, but I took the very pleasant weather as a push from fate. Launching myself into a fury, I cancelled and made last-minute bookings left and right. It almost looked like it wasn’t happening, but then at last, the day trip to Jungfraujoch was a go, and the sights were worth every bit of the trouble.

Continue reading Seventh Heaven at the Jungfraujoch

Happy Knabenschiessen!

When I was first told I was to report to the Zurich office, I was expecting it to be more formal than what I’m used to, since this was our home base after all. Maybe austere, even.

When I got off the bus stop at Uetlihof, there was a carnival outside my office. I kid you not. Food stalls lined the sidewalk, peddling every kind of cuisine your tummy can demand of you — Swiss, German, Chinese, Greek, Brazilian. From my desk window, I could see a giant ferris wheel. Talk about rolling out the red carpet.

Continue reading Happy Knabenschiessen!