By Yoshke Dimen
15 Years
This month marks the 15th year since I published my very first blog post. I wasn’t a traveler then, just a student with too much time in his hands to ramble about a whole lotta nothing. 😂 Back then, I would step into an internet shop, rent a computer, and just keep the keyboard clanking…
Nakalimot
Nagulat ako nang biglang bumangon ang kuya mula sa pagtulog sa sala at dali-daling tumakbo patungo sa bukas na pintuan. Dapat kasi ay parati itong nakasara dahil baka makalabas ang bata. Matapos niyang isara ang pinto ay natigilan siya. Nakatayo lamang. May naalala. “Nakalimutan ko,” sabi niya sa akin, tila ngayon pa lang naalimpungatan. “Wala…
Slowing Down
When I was starting out, I was always excited about constantly moving. That’s why I worked so hard to become a full-time travel blogger in the first place — I ached for that freedom. It remains true most of the time. But these days, I also get excited by the prospect of just staying put.…
Push Back
Today I got into a heated exchange with a stranger at the mall. I was standing in front of the counter, when a man pushed me and mumbled “paharang-harang.” (“You’re blocking the way.”) The younger me would have shrugged it off and let it go to avoid confrontation. Instead, I called him out and said…
Moving
When I left my hometown and moved to Manila 17 years ago, I have changed addresses seven times. I always rented an apartment closer to the university or workplace. Today, we’re moving again. But it feels different. I moved in to my current home over 5 years ago. Since then, a lot of good things…
New Blood
There are two 7-Eleven stores near our place. Halos magkatapat lang sila. We call them 7-Eleven del Norte and 7-Eleven del Sur. Nung una, sa 7-Eleven del Sur kami bumibili kasi mas malapit. Bihira kami bumili ng rice meal doon but when we do, regardless kung sinong member ng crew ang on duty na usually ay very young, parating pa-sideways yung paglagay nila sa bag. Sobrang careless and messy. Syempre, laging nagli-leak yun or naghahalu-halo yung mga laman. So nag-decide kami na dun na lang kami sa 7-Eleven del Norte. Ganun pa rin talaga. Minsan kahit iremind mo sila na…
Top 13 Travel Moments of 2018
“Why do you love Japan so much?” she asked right after the food arrived. My conversation with Saori, my new friend, started with the places I have visited over 15 trips to her country. I have made several Japanese friends, but she was the first to throw me that question. It took me a moment…