Siquijor, also named Isla del Fuego, used to have a not-so-good reputation due to rumours of witches and mystical beings inhabiting the island. It has been sidestepped for a long time due to the scare until the arrival of foreign tourists. Unbeknown to many, the island is a treasure-trove of unspeakable beauty. Siquijor boasts of stunning sunsets and sunrise, unspoilt beaches, crystal clear waterfalls, green mountains, breathtaking views, rich pre-colonial and colonial structures, and underwater paradise. The hearsays, in a way, helped preserve the island’s virginal beauty. Crime rate is reportedly low, people are welcoming and hospitable, and most importantly, you’ll get out alive and unharmed. Everything you’ve heard about the island are just myths.
I normally don’t get scared of thunderstorms but today’s was an exception. The lightning struck our neighborhood and it was so close to my window that it scared the s**t out of me and my dog. A little later, when it finally stopped raining, my peripheral vision caught this unusual color out my window while working on my laptop. I got up, opened the blinds and saw this magnificent red-colored skies. I just had to take pics and record a video! I realise now that if I hadn’t paused from work, I wouldn’t have seen this rare display of beauty. I’m so glad i followed my instinct to check out the window.
Last year, I had an opportunity to visit Australia. Since then, I’ve had a couple of Filipino friends approach me to ask for help and advice on how to apply for the Tourist Visa, and I’m happy to say that both of them have successfully secured the visa they need. On that note, I’d like to share the little information I know, based on my experience, so I can help as many traveling Filipinos as possible to see the beauty of Australia.
Forget Shinkansen. I know most travelers talk about getting the JR pass and taking the bullet trains to and from other cities. But, if you have the luxury of time and want to really see and experience Japan, take the bus! This is your best alternative when you’re on a budget and want to make the most of your trip.
Pretty excited about this one because it’s our first ever Airbnb transaction. Three reasons why we booked this place: it’s near Universal Studios (just two stations away), comes with a pocket wifi, and most importantly, will fit 8 people – all at a reasonable price. It’s also worth mentioning that Junko, our host, was very prompt in replying to all our queries.
Traveling to Tokyo is expensive. NOT. Well, kinda. But, there are ways to cut costs and one of them is to find cheap alternatives to hotels and such. I can’t stress enough how staying at hotels can blow up your expenses to the roof.
Time to leave Osaka, but with 2 sick people in tow and 8 pairs of sore legs, we could no longer pull our muscles to get to the subway, which is a 100m away from our Airbnb accommodation.
So, we decided to take 2 cabs, and here’s what we learned:
One of the things I was looking forward to on this trip is staying at the capsule hotel I booked at the airport. There was a need to stay at the airport coz family’s flight won’t arrive until the next day. You see, I’ve been to Japan before but had not stayed at a capsule hotel, which is very popular here if you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to hotels, so promised myself that if I ever go back, I’ll try to cross it off my bucketlist.
