[JP18] Nara, Japan: Playing with Deer at the Nara Park

Except for visits to a couple of zoos and menageries, my only “close encounter” with a deer was when I went to the Calauit Safari Park in Coron, Palawan some years back. And they were quite the elusive kind, too, because they were never within an arm’s reach, steering clear away from us. During my trip to Japan, we made it a point to spend a day in Nara, famous for its deer encounters. And I was NOT disappointed.

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[JP18] Arashiyama, Kyoto: Riding the Sagano Romantic Train

The only train rides I’ve been on thus far mostly involved those on subways and metro transits, often packed and speeding through tunnels or in concrete jungles. Shinkansens or bullet trains in Japan are a whole other story, because they speed so fast and stealthy, and you’re boxed inside, unable to breathe in the air outside. It’s definitely nothing like those train rides we see in movies that are set, say, in some parts of the countryside, probably somewhere in Europe. Ya noe, those train rides that evoke… romance…?

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[JP18] Arashiyama, Kyoto: The Path of Bamboo and Bamboo Forest Trail

One thing that frustrates me about traveling is the time constraint. Especially if I find myself someplace with soooo much to see, but with limited time on my hands to check them all out. Kyoto is one of those places. There’s just so many gems, so one has to be strategic in planning out their itinerary so they can make the most of it. As much as I appreciate being all chill and relaxed with my itinerary, I’m more the type that wants to cram as much as I can in what little time I have in a place. I’m greedy like that.
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Bahay-na-Bato in Luna, La Union: Stone Art Gallery, Noble Home, and Pebble Beach

I kept hearing about Bahay-na-Bato from friends and acquaintances, but I suppose they were never enough to pique my interest to make the effort to personally go there. It wasn’t until the parentals made a spontaneous decision to go on a day trip out to Luna, La Union to check out Bahay-na-Bato that I *kinda* looked into it. When I realized there’s a 3D art gallery featuring stone art, as well as a pebble beach nearby, then I went, I’M IN.
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Jeju-do, South Korea: Maze Land

I’m not claustrophobic, or at least I don’t think I am, but something about the thought of going around in circles and feeling trapped, even in a wide open space, is something that gives me the heebie-jeebies. That’s why you won’t see me entering a haunted house (not even in an amusement park, no) or a maze all by myself. Because I don’t particularly relish the thought of not being able to find my way out. But Maze Land in Jeju made me see the fun side of the concept.

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Jeju-do, South Korea: Saryeoni Forest Path

Imagine having to wake up to a breakfast of just cereals every single day. After a while, it is very likely that you’d forget how rice tastes like. So when, one odd day out of the blue, you are presented with a bowl of steaming rice, you get a spoonful to taste it, then bam! You’re reminded how good it is, and how you really loved it in the past. … Where am I going with this? Well, imagine a person that has gotten used to living in an urban jungle, with tall buildings instead of trees, and concrete instead of dirt to walk on. Then he is transported to a spot where he is surrounded by them tall trees and hard, packed solid earth. That was what I was thinking while walking along the Saryeoni Forest Path.

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Road Trip Up North: Baluarte…More Than Just a Zoo

So here’s one of the many dilemmas that most of us have probably been faced with: liking what we see but opposing the principle behind it. I’m sure that applies to many scenarios and, for me, this is one of them. I love life and the freedom to live it to the fullest; I love animals and respect their right to live theirs freely as well. But here’s the thing: I also like seeing them up close and more than half the time the only way we can do that is if they are in captivity. There lies the dilemma.  Continue reading “Road Trip Up North: Baluarte…More Than Just a Zoo”

Iloilo: Garin Farm aka “Stairway to Heaven”

Weeks before our scheduled trip to Iloilo City, we were looking for the places to visit while there, and many searches resulted to “Stairway to Heaven” mentions. Curiosity got the best of us, so on one free morning, we decided to include it in our day tour itinerary. The Stairway to Heaven is actually found at the Garin Farm, just outside of Iloilo City.

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Hanoi, Vietnam: The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long

It’s close to the midway point of the year, you guys. How’s 2017 been treating you so far? I just came off a couple of weeks of trips and seminars, and I honestly still feel sleep-deprived for some reason. I’m currently wading through thousands of photos from the activities over the past couple of weeks, and it’s actually overwhelming, considering how much backlog I still have from my previous adventures. I guess that means I should get on with them,albeit slowly, eh? So here’s another one. My visit to the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long in Hanoi, Vietnam.

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Hanoi, Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & The House-on-Stilts

OK. Things are getting way too summery, so let’s buckle down a bit. According to CNN’s 2012 ranking on the “Top 10 Ugliest Buildings in the World“, sixth on the list is the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi, Vietnam. I wonder what they based the ranking on, since I was going through the list, and I wondered if I had to have some technical know-how on architecture and construction, because most of them looked pretty OK to me. That ranking did not seem to have an effect really, since it hardly made a dent on the high level of interest that the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum generated – and continues to generate – to this day.  Continue reading “Hanoi, Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & The House-on-Stilts”

Why You Should Visit Masungi Georeserve in Rizal

We all have different reasons for visiting new places. The first, obviously, is to satisfy our curiosity about that place. Another is to satisfy that perennial itch on your feet to be constantly on the move, preferably stepping on unfamiliar ground. Another, still, is to increase your know-how about that place, and the world, in general, seeing as travel is something that “enriches” you and makes you wealthier, “experience-wise”. Of course, recently, some people do it for bragging rights, and to make their Instagram feeds. Let me add another one: to celebrateAnd that’s exactly what we did during our memorable visit to the Masungi Georeserve in Baras, Rizal.

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Things To Do At The Cagsawa Ruins in Albay

What is it about gloomy, dreary, cold and wet weather that easily turns most people nostalgic? Suddenly one wishes for those warm, dry days, when the sun shone so high and hot – completely ignoring the fact that, during that specific day, all they did was complain at the heat. 🙂 Not that my complaints during our last visit to the Cagsawa Ruins really had any weight. Sure, it was scorching hot, and I felt myself burning, and I was sweating like crazy, but I was still having a lot of fun, so really, complaining just ain’t right.  Continue reading “Things To Do At The Cagsawa Ruins in Albay”

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