The Pinay Solo Backpacker

“You have been created as one of a kind…for you might make a difference. You have the power to change the world. What you do with your life today …it matters forever.”

-The Butterfly Effect-

Travel, Inspire and Help. Let’s make a difference. 

Yes! I’m finally embarking on a long journey after contemplating for the longest time.  The biggest fear is letting go of  everything, and saying goodbye to my comfort zone for more than a decade.  I sometimes find my life shallow not because I am a deep person but because it has always been my dream to HELP.  (more…)

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They say it is not what one does, but why one does it.

Highly influenced by Christian and colonial view, the mere mention of  head hunting conjures images of savagery, violence and revenge.  Long ago, head hunting is practiced by some indigenous groups of the world and in South East Asia.

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“You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”

-Anonymous-

You know Apo Reef is like falling in love with a blogger. You’ve heard of him before you even met him. You saw him in pictures online, and maybe at some point you’ve dreamed about him.  Without you knowing, the photos and write up tells you what to expect of him.  Sadly, you’ve created an image of him and judged him before you even met.

When I first saw Apo Reef  during a bad weather, those high expectations came crashing down.  You know the “It doesn’t look as good as it is the photos” feeling?  I’ve felt that at first sight. (more…)

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So you’ve been to Siem Reap and most likely you’ve seen Ta Prohm, Angkor Tom, Phnom Bakeng, Banteay Srey and the iconic Angkor Wat right?  But do you remember visiting the “lesser known” temples  or have you even heard of them? Maybe not huh? Maybe because you’re already templed out.

When I visited Cambodia summer of last year, I got 2 weeks to spend so I bought a three day ticket to explore the temples by bike. (more…)

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“You may or may not find a picture, but you can create one. “

                                                                                         -Edwin Celestino- (Photographer/Educator)

Spoken with confidence, these words resounded in my head as he was discussing the design elements of photography.  Reminds me of one of  the quotable quotes by the legendary photography Ansel Adams - ” You don’t take a photograph, you make one.”

An influential travel blog is more often than not enhanced by great travel photos, (more…)

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It was a hot sunny Sunday and me and my travel blogger friends were quite bored while lounging at the beach front.  The redundant sound of the waves and the silence was deafening.  My friend grabbed his gadget and turned on  the new smart device that I was lucky enough to try over the weekend.  Imagine us enjoying the freedom of wireless listening with Soundfreaq Sound Platform and stream audio directly from our gadgets by our cottage fronting the scenic beach.  We’re able to multi-task ; write blogs, browse the web, and even play games while immersing on our favorite music being played by the SFQ-01A.  This cool dock also comes with a thin stylish remote control and there’s  storage for remote control on the SFQ-01A.

SounFreaq introduces the cool SFQ-01A Sound Platform which I was able to use this weekend. (more…)

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Moalboal is a drowsy town located in Southern Cebu.  Best known for its iridescent underwater world, it’s an impeccable quick weekend get-away from the rushing capital of Cebu.  It’s the best snorkeling in the Philippines that I have experienced so far because of the teeming corals and fishes in the shallow waters of  Tuble Marine Sanctuary. For Moalboal diving, head to Pescador Island which is a divers’  favorite.

photo credit: Edwin Castillon

How to Get to Moalboal from Cebu City: (more…)

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“The people applauds the fireworks, but never the sunrise.”

Philippine International Pyromusical l SM MOA 2011

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Cameron Highlands is perched on the mighty peaks of Banjaran Titiwangsa in Malaysia and named after a British government surveyor William Cameron.  The major tourist draw here is the vast tea plantations that dominate the highlands.

Their welcome here is friendly and congenial; in fact, I was tempted to stay longer. (more…)

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*this is a paid advertorial*

Travel gadgets can make our travels easier, for some of us, they become our travel buddies but it could also ruin our  travel experience or pose danger to our lives in unfortunate and unexpected events like theft or accidental damage of our beloved “travel buddies” .  Wouldn’t it be lovelier if we have that “peace of mind” whenever we are on our vacation? I travel to escape my chaotic life in the city so the last thing I want is getting paranoid during my trips because I’m carrying a gadget that I can’t afford to lose or get damaged.  I’d rather spend a little extra in protecting my travel gadgets than risk loosing them.  Trust me, most of us would love to have that  peace of mind whenever we embark on our journey. (more…)

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