Tag: backpacking

25 Travel Goals to Set for the Year (For Those Who Can’t Wander Very Far)
gibberish · travel

25 Travel Goals to Set for the Year (For Those Who Can’t Wander Very Far)

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This is not your usual travel bucket list, where Mt. Everest, Aurora Borealis, and Oktoberfest are sure to be in the line-up. Most of these, in fact, can be made right in your hometown, or at least would simply ask for just a bit of gas money and, of course, one’s own resourcefulness.

You see, goal-setting for this year poses a bit of a challenge for me. As I have recently made the leap from being a corporate bee back to a penny-pinching student, I needed to be more creative this year with quenching my wanderlust, without draining my savings.

The more I gave it thought, the more I realized that there is no reason why travel goals should be restricted to globetrotters. Continue reading “25 Travel Goals to Set for the Year (For Those Who Can’t Wander Very Far)” →

The Batad Experience: How Far Will You Go for an Epic Adventure?
asia · philippines · travel

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

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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?” →

The Blitz aka The London Pass Challenge
europe · travel

The Blitz aka The London Pass Challenge

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At Tate Modern

Shuffling from the romantic vibe of Scotland onto the hustle and bustle of London stressed me out at first. I wanted nothing more than to run back to Edinburgh’s inviting calm and tell them I was only kidding when I packed my bags to leave. But sigh, there was shopping to be done and tourist traps to be seen, so off I went! Continue reading “The Blitz aka The London Pass Challenge” →

3 Reasons Why Our Day 3 in the Highlands Rocked
europe · travel

3 Reasons Why Our Day 3 in the Highlands Rocked

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1. The Mighty Nessie Summoning Chant

Our guide told us that this chant was 99.9% effective — as long as we go all-out with the bellows and the dance steps required to convince Nessie to surface from Loch Ness. Well, our guide was a local after all, so we figured he was telling the truth. After taking a quick peek at the Urquhart Castle, we made our way down to the banks of the loch, where Kyle taught us the words and the steps. Believe me — we summoned everything bestial within us and poured out our hearts and souls into the chant — much to the delight of the other tour groups who were snapping away with their cams.

Continue reading “3 Reasons Why Our Day 3 in the Highlands Rocked” →

Invading the Scottish Highlands – Day 2
europe · travel · video

Invading the Scottish Highlands – Day 2

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Hmm, imagine if halfway across, you realize you left your keys…

Picture a genteel castle, perched on a  solitary island in the middle of Loch Duich. Picture the classic stone bridge leading to it, that has seen both gallant knights and violent warriors. Picture a small room with tiny windows, albeit with a breathtaking view of the loch. Ladies and gents, welcome to Eilean Donan castle.

Continue reading “Invading the Scottish Highlands – Day 2” →

Invading the Scottish Highlands – Day 1
europe · travel

Invading the Scottish Highlands – Day 1

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I didn’t think that it was polite to set foot in Scotland and leave without even caring to peek at Loch Ness, so I booked a 3-day Skye-High Haggis Adventures tour to roam around the Highlands. It was a bit daunting though, given that it was the first multi-day tour that I’ll be taking solo. Continue reading “Invading the Scottish Highlands – Day 1” →

Falling in Love with Edinburgh
europe · travel

Falling in Love with Edinburgh

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Breaking out from the borders of England, I took an 8-hour journey by coach from Liverpool to Glasgow. Whenever I wasn’t nodding off to sleep, I got an eyeful of some stunning British countryside along the way.

I got off at Glasgow at 6 am. Now, if this was the Philippines, I would probably catch at least two grandpas sweeping the leaves in front of their homes at this hour, but the roads of Glasgow on the other hand pretty much still deserted. I got to stroll around for around an hour, snapping away pictures of what I imagine to be streets bustling with life, when it wasn’t the break of dawn. On a Sunday.

Snazzy sculpture near the Glasgow Coach Station

Continue reading “Falling in Love with Edinburgh” →

Kaladkarin’s UK Adventure – Portobello, Priscilla & Piccadilly
europe · travel

Kaladkarin’s UK Adventure – Portobello, Priscilla & Piccadilly

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I heard that the Portobello Market at Notting Hill was a mecca for quirky shoppers, so I set off even if the clouds were taunting. Served me right — I got my first dose of the infamous London moody weather. Close friends will know that I’m averse to actually having to open an umbrella; I would rather grin and bear it. On that day, however, I was never so happy that I had an umbrella handy.

Continue reading “Kaladkarin’s UK Adventure – Portobello, Priscilla & Piccadilly” →

Kaladkarin’s UK Adventure – Touchdown London
europe · travel

Kaladkarin’s UK Adventure – Touchdown London

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This was not the way I pictured my adventure would start.

Imagine me there, all smiles as I walked into the arrival hall of Heathrow Airport, armed with the most luggage I’ve ever had to carry in my entire 26 years — then I realize the hotel cab was nowhere to be found. No signboards with my name, not even a signboard of the hotel. Que horror.

Continue reading “Kaladkarin’s UK Adventure – Touchdown London” →