From Places

Scared Shortless

BIRI ISLAND, NORTHERN SAMAR, 2012. Our last stop was the site where Magasang and Magsapad rock formations stand. My friend Ces and I climbed to the top of the cliff and watched the sea slam the rocky shore with one giant wave after another. Biri Island lies where the San Bernardino Strait meets the Pacific…

Spirited Away

MISASA, JAPAN, 2018. Today has been one of the best days of my life. We are now in Misasa, a small town in Tottori Prefecture. Apparently, this place is Hayao Miyazaki’s go-to spot. Before coming here, we had no idea that it has any connection with Ghibli.

Detour

ATHENS, 2017. “I want to show you something,” our cab driver John said at one point between the airport and our hotel. “You’re not in a hurry, no?”

Top 17 Travel Moments of 2017

2017 could have been the best year of my life. For 10 straight months, it just kept on giving. Blessings after blessings, places after places, awards after awards. It was generous; it was kind. And then it began taking.

Evacuated

PARIS, 2016. We were so busy writing messages on postcards, we didn’t realize we were the only ones left inside. We were at the post office just next to la Gare du Nord, where we would be taking the train to Brussels. The manager approached us. “Out, out” he ordered firmly but calmly. We simply…

My Top 20 Travel Moments of 2016

I welcomed 2016 with a lot of hope and a pint of Guinness at a random British pub in Tokyo. Although I was alone in a foreign land, I could sense an air of positivity in the air. It was my first trip since I left my full-time job (again), and I was looking forward…

Skógafoss

When we arrived, we were a little underwhelmed. The waterfall was great, yep, but after seeing the majestic Gullfoss, we would need more than a cascade. The place looked grey and dreary. They said it normally looks better under the sun, but even the sun was not in the mood. We were just about to…

Reynisdrangar

ANG ALAMAT NG LUGAR NA ITO. Noong unang panahon, may isang higanteng hindi masaya sa buhay niya dahil pangit siya. Nakiusap siya sa diyos na gawin siyang yummy. Yung katakam-takam, yung pinipilahan. Dininig ng langit ang kanyang dasal. Ayun, ginawa siyang French fries.