Top 24 Travel Moments of 2024
It’s officially 2025, but before I start looking forward to what I hope to be an awesome year, I find myself looking back on 2024 with a mind brimming with memories and a heart bursting at the seams with gratitude. This year wasn’t just about ticking places off a list —- it was about moments that took my breath away, connections that warmed my soul, and landscapes that reminded me how vast and beautiful this world truly is.
From serene sunset drives in far-flung corners of Africa to my first Broadway binge in New York City to the dreamy sky lights in Alaska, every destination I visited left a mark that I know would be impossible to erase. These weren’t just trips; these were chapters in a story I’ll carry with me forever. So here’s a look back at the places that defined my year and changed me, as Elphaba and Glinda put it, some for the better, others for good.
24. Crossing the Arctic Circle. Used to just see it on the map and read about in geography textbooks. Got to visit Coldfoot in Alaska. This was the northernmost I had been so far.
23. Hong Kong Disneyland’s Momentous spectacle. Less fireworks, more feels. Coco’s “Remember Me” always gets me.
22. Family cruisin’ to Sanya, China. Regardless of the destination, a cruise is always a great idea for a family trip. It was my first time in Hainan Island.
21. That Boracay hostel incident. A miscommunication with a staff member led them to mistakenly and prematurely ejecting my belongings from my room. It was an honest mistake on their part. They apologized sincerely and profusely. I accepted. And that’s that.
20. Walking with reindeer in Fairbanks. Rudolf was not there, but Running Reindeer’s very own antlered squad totally made up for it.
19. Pigging out in Macau. Because it was finally for us to pay attention to Macau’s food scene, something we ignored on our previous visits.
18. Getting lost in Taipei, Taiwan. It’s been a while since the last time we got lost on a hike, and while it ended well, it brought us memories of our early days as bloggers.
17. Getting down and dirty in Lake Nakuru, Kenya. Not what you’re thinking. I stumbled and fell while having a photo taken by a waterfall in Kenya. Thank heavens I didn’t fall right into the water.
16. Treetop walks in Vancouver, Canada. The Capilano suspension bridge was all the rage, but we enjoyed the treetop and cliffside walks better.
15. Feeling Shala at Kruger Shalati, South Africa. It’s a vintage train on a historic bridge, and they turned it into a luxury boutique hotel. And yes, we got to stay here for a night.
14. Starry Night at MoMA, New York City. Back in 2016, after a visit to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, we realized we didn’t get to see what was probably his most iconic work. Turned out it was at the Museum of Modern Art in New York! 8 years later, we finally got to marvel at it!
13. Meeting Penguins in South Africa. Ang cute nila! Kung pwede lang mag-uwi. 😅
12. Alaska Railroad Party. I was invited again to TBEX, the biggest gathering of travel bloggers around the world. But this was the first time I was attending NOT as a speaker, so I was more relaxed. The best part was the closing party onboard an Alaska Railroad train at sunset!
11. Beach Hopping in Batangas. Met Marvin, our boatman in Nasugbu back in 2017 (or 2018?), who shared with us he was able to build a house and buy a new boat from his earnings from our referrals.
10. Bangkok Pride
It was our first Pride March and definitely won’t be the last!
9. Jumping off a Cliff in Zimbabwe
This gorge swing in Victoria Falls got us rethinking our life choices!
8. First Chopper Ride over Victoria Falls
Turns out the mighty Victoria Falls is best seen from above. The birds have it good!
7. Completing the Safari Big 5 in Kenya
Our first African safari and we were able to see all of the BIG 5: lions, cape buffalos, elephants, rhinos, and the elusive leopards! We also saw three leopards within a 2-hour period in Kruger National Park in South Africa.
6. Sunset Sailing in Cape Town
Cape Town’s gorgeous peaks. Sky transforming into a canvas of pinks, purples, and fiery oranges. Melodies of Seal’s Love is Divine and Kenny Lattimore’s For You in the air. Champagne in one hand. Company of your favorite person in the world. Romantic, reflective, and worth remembering.
5. Broadway Binge in New York
Six shows. Six nights. Our Broadway debut was one for the books. Wicked’s Defying Gravity was wicked. And Nicole Scherzinger’s performance as Norma Desmond was an attraction on its own. We also got to see Romeo + Juliet’s Kit Connor and Rachel Zegler, and Chicago’s Alyssa Milano.
4. Vancouver Reunions
Finally reunited with Maw and Mace after 18 years! (Actually, I got to meet Mace a month before this in Kenya. But still.)
3. Devil’s Pool in Zambia
The world’s craziest infinity pool deserves its name!
2. Hot Air Balloon Ride in Masai Mara, Kenya
PURE. MAGIC.
1. Aurora Borealis Redemption in Alaska
8 years after Miss Aurora ghosted us in Iceland, she finally put on a show night after glorious night!