Eat, Pray, Work, Travel then Repeat

Hongkong is my first overseas travel destination. Being the closest country to the Philippines, it is Filipino's favorite getaway place. Having been to HK for twice already, planning the itineraries for a quick DIY tour in my recent trip to the city is not anymore difficult. Cebu pacific has several flights to HK, and the low fares are usually the very early or very late flights.  Flying is not tiring because Manila to HK is only a two-hour flight, and taking a six-am flight last July was not a bad option at all. Prior to our trip, I already availed of the deals and promos of Klook, Traveloka, and Booking.com.  I find these websites/apps very meaningful travel partners. Hongkong is an expensive city so I really appreciate the discounts I get from these apps. Filipinos are not required to obtain visa to enter HK and allowed to stay for 14 days as a tourist. A quick DIY tour is very much possible.  Below is our personalized itiner...

I am a Tiaongin! I may have traveled to several places, far and nearby, lived at those places temporarily, but Tiaong will always be my Home.  Villa Escudero in my howetown Tiaong, is a must-visit.  This huge plantation is an excellent place for a quick escape from the city. This is a perfect weekend getaway because it is only a two and a half-hour drive from Manila. A private car or a public bus can take you to this place. Take the bus going to Lucena City and alight just after the Welcome to Quezon arch at the boundary of Quezon and Laguna provinces. I have been a guest of the villa for several times already and every visit is always a unique experience. Joining my friends for a day tour last July, the 1500 pesos per guest day pass (approximately 30 US dollars) was all worth the visit. We all truly enjoyed the kamayan-style buffet lunch in the Labasin dam waterfalls while our feet are soaked in the running water. Such ...

Our two-day stay in Macau is a side-trip of my Hongkong tour. Being very close to Hongkong, approximately an hour ferry ride, Macau is a great option for a quick getaway. Known as the "Las Vegas of Asia", Macau is famous for its grand casinos. Other than the deluxe casinos, there are still many things to do and see in this colorful city. Our personalized short trip allowed us to still experience a fun-filled tour. We arrived early noon at the Taipa Ferry Terminal and from there, rode MTP4 bus going to our accommodation. I already booked at  Bahay ni Imee  guesthouse opposite the Sofited Hotel which is a 10-minute walk to the iconic St.Paul Ruins. We alighted at R.Das Lorchas station and from there had a short walk to the guesthouse. Public bus fare in Macau is standard at 6 mop, so its better to always have an exact amount since you have to personally dropped your money into a box near the driver seat. Do not expect change if...

At Ourika Valley in Marrakesh The beauty of Morocco is very impressive and a six-day visit last November 2018 is quite a short stay to get the most out of the trip. Despite the short vacation, my friends and I enjoyed our DIY, mostly city-based trips in this majestic country in the northern tip of Africa. We arrived in Casablanca after traveling for eight hours and thirty minutes from Doha via Qata Airways. Casablanca is a port city and the business capital of Morocco. A relaxing city tour is possible within the day.  Our first stop is the Notre Dame de Lourdes Catholic Church , one of the two catholic churches in the city.   Casablanca is also home to the largest mosque in Africa, the Hassan II mosque , and we can’t help but admired this Muslim-worship place when we paid a visit. We also strolled the Morocco mall , the biggest shopping mall in Africa and one great stop for shopping experiences. Both high-end brands and ...

My five-day visit to the land of the Himalayas made me enjoy the peaceful and wooded environment of this landlocked country. The country has land borders with India and China and these two countries have visible influences on Nepal’s culture. A country that was never colonized by any other country, the independence and the humbleness of Nepali are undoubtedly evident in their words and actions. Foggy Himalaya mountain ranges at Sanga, Nepal Morning of June 4, we arrived in Kathmandu, the capital and the biggest city of Nepal.  T he city is a valley surrounded by the Himalaya mountains.  The views of the mountains will amaze you from the top once the plane started to descend.   Filipinos traveling to Nepal can obtain visa on arrival. A single-entry visa good for 15 days will cost you $25. Payment counters are accepting certain currencies but better to have US dollars or Nepali Rupees.  The city of Kathmandu is alread...