"Filipinos have always bonded through food,” said Ivan, “The best deals have been settled on the dining table.” With that, we began our journey into the Philippine culinary world. In Manila’s Binondo district, also known as Chinatown, we met up with our guide, Ivan Mandy, who co-owns Old Ma[...]
The air was thick with humidity. We followed the trail that snaked through the dense tropical foliage, pushing past thick molave leaves as we ventured further. “Shhh…” Our 18-year-old park ranger, Ijie, stopped us in our tracks and pointed at a branch hanging above our heads. There they were[...]
It's wet, it's wild and it's loud. Songkran festival is synonymous with massive water wars and street parties. In Thailand and many other parts of Southeast Asia, Songkran is celebrated as the traditional New Year’s Day. Traditionally, people celebrate by paying respects[...]
At the end of 2011, I spent a month traveling overland through South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zambia with G Adventures. This was definitely one of the best trips of my life: experiencing the backcountry of Southern Africa, camping out in the wild, meeting lifelong friends – all of which I[...]
One of my favorite travel experiences of all time: swimming with whale sharks in Cebu, the Philippines. Read about our experience here. In the far distance came a spray of water and the faint outline of an enormous animal resembling a whale. We watched in awe as it glided gently by the bow of a sma[...]
Out of the five islands we've visited in the Philippines so far, Bohol has got to be our favorite. While it's one of the most visited islands in the archipelago, it's hard to deny Bohol's natural beauty. The isle's coastline is lined with spearmint-colored beaches while its interior is dotted with r[...]
“You are standing on what molded Philippines for over 400 years,” our guide Dustin announced. This spot has withstood centuries of battle and hardship: over 330 years of Spanish colonization, 14 years of American occupation and decades of revolution. It has protected and stood over the co[...]
'It's more fun in the Philippines' - the new tourism slogan reads. And we can't agree more.We arrived in the Philippines just a few days ago and in this short time span, we've already weaved through Manila's historical center, sampled its culinary delights, visited the beautiful Mount Mayon in Legaz[...]
To get a good glimpse into a country’s culture, you really can’t go wrong at the local market. From colorful, explosive food bazaars to classic vintage flea fairs, markets showcase local daily life and allow visitors a chance to dive deep. These markets can be[...]
2011 is a year that I’ll always remember – not just for the epic journeys, but also for the amazing people I’ve met and the major milestones in my life. I’ve been extremely lucky on the travel end - with trips to the Arctic, Madagascar and South Africa - places I'd dreamt of visiting for a[...]
Paragliding off Lion's Head in Cape Town was definitely the highlight of my South Africa trip! Highly recommend it if you have the time! Holding my hands out to feel the wind in my hands, I glide through the air so gently, it's almost like floating in the clouds. "This the closest feeling to flyi[...]
Although Kruger is undoubtedly the largest and most popular National Park in South Africa there are plenty of other wild venues scattered across the country that are, in my humble opinion, just as interesting if not more so. For those who are wondering which national park to include in your South Af[...]
Over the past week in the Spanish Pyrenees, we canyoned down rivers, biked through golden meadows, kayaked off the coast, hiked on volcanoes and even flew over the mountains on a hot air balloon. My head is still reeling from the adrenaline-packed adventures and my eyes swirling from the visual feas[...]
One of the best things to do in Iceland is snorkeling Silfra Iceland. It's the ultimate adventure experience that cannot rival anything else on the island. Dressed in a bulky dry suit, airtight hood and gloves, I’m taking the plunge into the glacial waters of a narrow crack. It’s not just any[...]
Mention Iceland and you often conjure images of glaciers, waterfalls, volcanoes and most of all, the Northern Lights. Electrifying lights dancing in the night skies, lighting up the darkness with all kinds of color – this phenomenon occurs in few places in the world, and Iceland happens to be one[...]
Ice climbing on the Solheimajjokull Glacier is definitely one of the hardest yet exhilarating things we did in Iceland. If you love adventure as much as we do, you definitely need to try it! Left, right, ice sticks in; left, right, feet up. Forceful arm strides followed by small, heavy steps. It[...]
Before setting off for Madagascar, I dreamt about its wildlife, its forests and its cities; but only after the trip did I realize that the most memorable moments of my trip were spent watching the locals. I remember watching them sell sugarcane on the streets, make cakes on their steaming hot pans,[...]
They don’t call this the ‘wild west’ for nothing. Red Earth, robust baobab trees and brownish rivers – the remote Western region of the country epitomizes Madagascar at its most exotic. With few roads connecting here to the rest of the country, this hard-to-reach region is pockmarked with h[...]
There’s something haunting about Svalbard landscapes: aqua blue icebergs floating on crystal water, massive glaciers crackling in the background towered by snow mountains. Few places boast such striking physical appeal and raw wilderness as the polar regions. Since returning from Svalbard, I’v[...]
Soaring over the landscapes of Cappadocia or the vineyards of Napa in a hot air balloon ride makes you feel like you're drifting through a dream. Here’s our guide on the best hot air balloon rides in the world. There's something inherently magical about hot air balloon rides. Perhaps it's the[...]
I’ve just returned from an Arctic expedition to Svalbard, and I'm still struggling to piece together the touching memories and overwhelming sensations. My mind is trying to process what it was that moved me so – was it the surreal beauty, the extreme conditions or the rich wildlife? Perhaps it w[...]
There's something special about walking for miles and hours, with nothing but raw, untamed nature surrounding you. For those who love immersing deep in the backcountry, doing long walking trails can be a great way to explore a country and see its natural attraction at its best. I’m no stranger to[...]
2010 has been one of the best years of my life to date – a year of dramatic changes, learning opportunities and of course, amazing travel experiences . 2010 has also seen my travel writing career take off and blossom – I’ve since been published in Travel+Leisure Southeast A[...]
This guide plunges you into the best places to scuba dive worldwide, revealing vibrant coral reefs, exotic marine life, and breathtaking underwater landscapes. Gliding past rainbow-colored corals and swimming alongside giant manta rays and languid turtles: scuba diving gives us a chance to acqua[...]
Food plays an important role in traveling. I've shared some of the most bizarres foods I've had - here are some bizarre eating rituals around the world.
Some travelers still have qualms about traveling to certain places. That's understandable as you want to make sure you not only enjoy your trip but also come home safe and sound. Based on this report from NBC, here's a list of the safest countries in the world to visit. The factors weighing into the[...]
Sailing on an ancient junk boat in Vietnam, riding a rickshaw in Japan or traversing the Sahara Desert on camels – there are thousands of strange and oddly intriguing forms of transportation around the world. Inspired by my hero Charley Boorman who travelled from Ireland to Sydney using[...]
On our last leg of our trip through South America, we ventured into the Amazon Rainforest on an adventure tour from Baños. Along with the Galapagos islands, this was a major highlight of our Ecuador itinerary. Home to proliferate wildlife and nearly-extinct primitive tribes, the Amazon Rainfor[...]
Southeast Asia is a backpacker's paradise and the ideal destination for those on a budget looking to hang back and relax. It's home to some of the best beaches in the world, that are all cheap and easy to get to. Sadly tourism has transformed many of these beaches into overcrowded tourist traps. Fo[...]
You guys will have to excuse me but this post is not written by Nellie Huang. Instead, it’s written by her boyfriend Alberto as a surprise for her (this is what happens when you give your boyfriend access to your blog ;) ). This is a very special post, because after Nellie finds out about it, it m[...]