My Siem Reap Adventure: Travel Tips & Expense Guide for Filipino Travellers

Travelling Siem Reap for the first time? Read this guide complete with travel tips and cost breakdown.

December 20, 2016, 8:00 am June 21, 2017, 10:38 am

Angela Talattad Angela is an agricultural engineer who currently holds a day job in a Japanese firm. She started travelling at 30 and believes it is never too late for anyone to fulfil his/her dreams of seeing the world. She is fond of ancient architecture and cultures and dreams of chasing the Northern Lights someday.

Contributed by Wanders of Eve

First, let me kindly make it clear that this article is not about giving tips on how to spend less in your trip to the land of Angkor Temples. Rather, let this serve as a guide on what you can see and experience, to give you an overview of things you are possibly going to spend on as I talk about the breakdown of our expenses and tips on how you can make the most of your visit to Siem Reap.

Also read: Siem Reap 2-Day Itinerary for Filipino Weekend Warriors

Cambodia is the fourth country I visited, but based on the vibe of the city of Siem Reap, I would highly recommend it for your first out of the country trip either with friends or with family. I saw throngs of travellers tagging their kids along while temple hopping in the Angkor Complex. I also recommend it for solo travel as the city is not difficult to navigate and it is fairly safe. Plus, the hospitality of Cambodians is almost the same as that of Filipinos. Like what our Tuk-Tuk driver said, “Cambodians and Filipinos. We are the same.”

The best time to visit Siem Reap

Knowing when to visit is a must. The best months are from November to February when the days are dry and cool. It can get hot by mid-day but eventually the cool breeze will soothe you. Unless you can handle the scorching heat, it is not recommended to visit from late March to June. Proof of the boiling temperature, according to our tour guide in the floating village, is the waterless Tonle Sap Lake during these months. It is the biggest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia by the way.

Also read: Why Siem Reap Should Be Your First Out of the Country Barkada Trip

Airfare

Now that you have determined the best time to visit, set your target date next so that when there is a seat sale alert, you can book your plane tickets right away without fumbling on your calendar. If you are travelling with friends, agree on the dates prior to booking your flights. I booked our round trip tickets via Cebu Pacific in June this year for 29 Nov - 3 Dec 2016. I got mine for ₱4,630.37 and my friends’ at ₱6,219.37 each. What we did was to add up all the costs and divided them equally among ourselves. That’s around ₱5,690 each. We also added a two-way baggage for a total of ₱1,070 which we also divided equally into three. Yeah, sometimes that’s how true friendship works. ☺

Travel insurance

Always avail of an insurance whenever you travel. You will never know what emergency situations you are going to encounter while on a trip abroad. It will keep you protected. You can buy from Cebu Pacific’s Travelsure like we did. Or you can purchase from travel agencies like Universal Holidays or Discovery Tour. Prices vary depending on the duration of your trip. A four-day trip will cost you around ₱600-800. For Cebu Pacific, though, their travel insurance is at ₱200, we got ours at ₱400 each. I guess it’s higher when it is purchased on another day after booking your flight.

Visa and other relevant documents

Filipinos do not need a tourist visa when travelling to Cambodia and are allowed to stay for up to 21 days. If this is your first out of the country trip, make sure to bring a copy of your Certificate of Employment. The immigration officer in NAIA might ask for this. It will also be helpful that your COE states your compensation and that your company assures your return to work after your trip. Bring your company ID or a business/calling card if you have it as a proof of your connection to your company. A copy of your hotel bookings and itinerary will also be useful. And most importantly, be truthful to the immigration officer when answering questions.

Accommodation

We stayed in Khmere Maison D’ Angkor, a guesthouse near the city centre like around 1.5 kilometres from the Old Market and Pub Street. It is a traditional Khmer house with a modern twist located near Wat Kesararam. Should you come to Siem Reap, I highly recommend you stay here.

We initially booked a Deluxe Twin room at US$52/night inclusive of roundtrip airport transfers, and free Tuk Tuk for our two-day temple hopping. There’s also the complimentary bottled water, coffee and tea and a Khmer scarf as a gift. The owner and his staff speak English well and are very attentive to the guests' needs. Their resident Tuk Tuk driver is also very helpful. When we arrived, we were delighted to know that our room was upgraded to a Family Suite at the same rate which made our stay all the more enjoyable. For inquiries, you can contact Mr. Jacky Long directly at jacky@khmeremaisondangkor or his staff at relations@khmeremaisondangkor.

The only drawback I find about this guesthouse is that they are not serving meals so you have to go out early in the morning for breakfast. But there are many restaurants across the street so this should not be a big deal. The owner also told me that they are already planning to put up a food corner in the property which will open by 2017.

Currency

US Dollar is the currency used by travellers to Cambodia. However, when you buy stuff and your change is below US$1, they will give you Cambodian riel instead. When I bought a Pocari sweat at US$1.10, I was expecting US$0.90 loose change but the cashier gave me 3,600 Riels. Currently, US$1 is equivalent to 4,000 Riels.

Going around the city by Tuk Tuk

Tuk Tuk for a day costs around US$20-25 if it is not included in your room rate. As our free Tuk Tuk was only for sightseeing around the Angkor Complex, we paid for fares separately when going around the city. We usually pay a total of US$2 from our guesthouse to Pub Street or Old Market. Because of the concentration of Tuk Tuk drivers in this area of the city, some would even offer a ride for a measly US$1.

Admissions and tour

Most accommodations in Siem Reap arrange tours for sightseeing so if it is available in your hostel you don’t need to book online with travel agencies. You can just ask your hostel in advance or upon check-in to arrange it for you. Our half day package tour to Tonle Sap costs US$18 which included pick up and drop you off at the guesthouse. We visited the floating village, floating mangrove forest and Tonle Sap Lake. Please note that it did not include food; we were just given bottled water after the tour.

Also read: Off the Touristy Path: A Different Side of Siem Reap

The National Museum pass costs US$12. The Landmine Museum is also worth visiting. Pass costs US$5 which goes to a worthy cause like clearing of landmines in Cambodia and supporting children living at the museum.

The Angkor Complex admission comes in a single day pass at US$20, three-day pass at US$40 and US$60 for a seven-day pass. However, there was a recent price hike announcement by the Cambodian government that starting February 2017, a single day pass will cost US$37, a three-day pass at US$62 and a seven-day pass at US$72. That’s steep. If you are planning to see both sunrise and sunset, I suggest you buy the three-day pass. Go see the sunset at Phnom Bakheng on your first day, and sunrise at Angkor Wat the following day.

Food

Food is fairly cheap in Pub Street, especially along streets near the night market. An order of fresh or fried spring rolls for sharing costs US$1.50. Fried rice for sharing is also at US$1.50. What we did was to order several dishes and divide the cost after. Chicken amok was really good. We usually pay US$2 per meal per person. Their fruit shake was a bestseller to us at US$1. it is a healthy treat because of the generous portion of fruits. Food is expensive in Angkor Wat. A meal will cost you US$5 and up. So it is better to have a packed breakfast when you go there for sunrise.

Food is expensive in Angkor Wat. A meal will cost you US$5 and up. So it is better to have a packed breakfast when you go there for sunrise.

Souvenirs / Gifts

A trip will never be complete without the “pasalubong”. Phsar Chas (pronounced as Sar Cha or Sa Cha) commonly known as Old Market has a wide variety of goods from souvenirs to clothing to food to jewellery, you name it. You can also buy souvenirs from shops outside the temples which I observed were cheaper by around US$0.50 to US$1.

I saw children in school uniform selling postcards and other stuff in Angkor Wat. According to our guesthouse owner, these children help their parents after school so it is okay to buy from them. Haggle, but please be reasonable. Do not be too stingy. The locals make a living mainly out of tourism in a city where over one-third of the population live below the poverty line; have some compassion. Please take note though that they have a policy that prohibits giving money to children who beg from tourists. Giving will encourage them to drop from school and for parents to exploit their children. If you encounter this, just refuse politely.

Summary of expenses

What I spent on this trip is actually a little over what budget travellers usually discuss in blogs that I have read in the past. Yet sometimes, loosening your pocket a little bit will not leave you bankrupt as long as you have planned and saved for your trip well. I am not urging you to splurge; I am suggesting you be sensible. Besides, the return of your investing in travel experiences cannot be measured by any amount. In fact, it leaves you with more because it enriches your life as much as you are enriching the lives of people in the places you go.

We really enjoyed our trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia. In fact, our stay in this country exceeded our expectations. And as much as we were amazed by everything we saw, nothing compares to God’s amazing grace we experienced during our entire trip. From the room upgrade to the warmth and kindness of the Cambodian people, to the delight over meals, to every eye-opening encounter and simple joys like walking around the streets, to our daily safety and strength, and to every little provision like the packing tape we found in our cart at the airport to secure our bags when we were about to leave, we were blessed beyond what we expected.

Also read: How I Travelled Solo in Siem Reap for 2 Days with Only ₱7,650

Plan your trip soon to the Kingdom of Wonder. Come to Cambodia! :)

More photos

Sheryl and the grand walls of Angkor Wat | Image credit: Wanders of Eve

Singapore to Europe by Land: Visa Requirements for Filipinos

Inspired to make the land journey from Singapore to Europe? Here's a rough visa guide for Filipinos to fulfil this EPIC train ride!

November 23, 2016, 1:25 pm June 21, 2017, 10:38 am

Pam Baroro When not moonlighting as a freelance wordsmith and code wrangler, Pam is a millennial mom who loves to explore the outdoors to camp/hike/trek/backpack with her partner and their 4-year-old daughter. Check their family travel blog at Hey, Miss Adventures!

Following an album we posted about the journey from Singapore to Europe (Russia) by land, undertaken by TripZilla’s very own Editor, Dina, a lot of our Filipino readers have been asking about visa requirements.

We certainly don’t want to stop you from fulfilling your travel dreams because of visa restrictions! Therefore, we’ve quickly dished out a rough visa guide to help you recreate this EPIC land trip.

To recap, this is the sequence of countries that Dina traversed:

Singapore → Malaysia → Thailand → Laos → Vietnam → China → Mongolia → Russia

Southeast Asia

Filipinos obviously will not have a problem traversing through the Southeast Asian countries included in this itinerary. Dina spent about two weeks in this leg of her journey but you can go longer, especially if it is your first time in these countries.

Also read: Backpacking Southeast Asia: 10 Days in 5 Countries with Just ₱25k (All-In)

Here’s a quick guide on how long you can stay, visa-free, in each Southeast Asian country:

• Singapore - 30 days
• Malaysia - 30 days
• Thailand - 30 days
• Laos - 30 days
• Vietnam - 21 days

China

Unfortunately, visa-free entry to China for Filipinos is only applicable to Hainan Province (15 days), Hong Kong (14 days) and Macao (30 days). If you want to visit Beijing as Dina did, you will have to get yourself a Chinese visa prior to your trip.

The following are the basic requirements to get a Chinese visa:

• A valid passport, with at least one page clear from both sides for the visas and valid for the next six months.
• A visa application form, completed and signed in capital English letters. You can obtain your copy here.
• One coloured photo -- recent, front view, white background and in 48mm x 33mm size without head covering. Glue (not staple, taped, clipped or detached) in the appropriate field.
• Travel itinerary. Space is provided in the application form but you can use a separate sheet if necessary. Simply indicate the dates, activities and place of stay.
• Ticket and hotel reservations. However, if you are staying at a friend’s or relative’s, have an invitation letter ready (printed, faxed or photocopied). The letter should contain the applicant’s full name, gender, date of birth, passport number and other relevant details, the inviting person’s full name, contact numbers, address, signature, stamp and relation to the applicant as well as other relevant information regarding the trip including who will be shouldering the expenses. Also include a photocopy of the inviter’s Chinese ID or passport with Chinese Residence Permit.

The following documents are also being required:

• For first time Chinese visa applicants:

  • Bank Certificate of Deposit Balance(including the past 6 months bank statement) and the receipt for payment of this certificate;
  • BIR-stamped Income Tax Return Form;
  • Certificate of Employment (detailing the salary and the length of employment );
  • Business Registration Certificate (if you are the owner);
  • Professional ID/Student ID (if applicable);
  • Other relevant documents proving the applicant's economic condition/ employment/study, or supporting the applicant's travel to China, or explaining the travel purpose (if applicable)

• Previous Chinese Visa

Visa fee are as follows:

You can submit your application in person, through someone you trust or via a travel agency. Regular processing time is 4 working days however you can have it released after 3 days for an additional ₱1,100 or after 2 days for an additional ₱1,700 per visa. Express and rush services are not applicable for first time applicants.

For more details, check this link.

Mongolia

Rejoice because Filipinos can stay in Mongolia for up to 21 days without a visa! Now you can go and enjoy the vast desert landscapes of the country for three weeks at most.

Russia

Filipinos will have to apply for a single or double entry (very rare) tourist visa to Russia, which allows them to stay in the country for no longer than 30 days.

The following paperwork should be submitted to the Consulate to obtain a visa:

• Visa application form, filled in online and printed.
• A valid passport, with at least one page clear from both sides for the visas and valid for not less than six months since the date of departure from Russia.
• One passport-sized photo attached to the application form with glue.
• A standard travel confirmation from a hosting authorised Russian travel agency, accredited by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a copy of a travel voucher from the same travel agency in Russia (per application). Fax and e-mail copies are acceptable. The confirmation must contain the (1) agency’s reference number, (2) registration number, (3) the date of entry to and the date of exit from Russia, (4) the purpose of the trip, (5) the number of entries to Russia.
• Tickets that contain dates similar to the ones indicated in the confirmation and application forms.
• Visa fee to be paid to the UNITED COCONUT PLANTERS BANK after submitting all of the documents. Keep in mind that the fees are not subject for reimbursement if the application is refused. The fees are as follows:

For more details, check the links here and here.

BONUS: Central Europe

Since you’re already in Moscow, you probably would like to head out to Europe and travel even more because...why not? From Russia, there are various land connections to cities like Paris, Berlin, or even London!

You have two options to enter Europe:

Route 1: Through Belarus

If you would like to explore Belarus, you need to apply for a tourist visa by submitting the following documents to the local Consular office:

• A completed visa questionnaire
• 1 passport photo
• Original letter of invitation with signature or seal (if business) of the inviting party
• Other documents required by the Consular office (depending on purpose of visit and type of visa)
• Passport valid at least 90 days after the expiry of the visa

For more details, check this site.

Route 2: Through the Baltics (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania)

To enter these places, you will need to apply for a Schengen Visa passport and you should be able to visit 23 more EU and EFTA member countries.

Whew. That’s a whole bunch of visas to apply for but nothing’s impossible when you want to fulfill your dreams, right? You might even want to head to Canada, USA or South America (mostly visa free!!!) and you will have gone on an epic trip around the world! Congrats!

A Filipino First Timer’s Travel Guide to the United Arab Emirates

Pinoys who want to explore the United Arab Emirates, THIS is the travel guide you must read!

October 25, 2016, 9:00 am June 21, 2017, 10:39 am

Remedios Lucio Remedios Lucio is the Website Owner of The HodgePodge Lifestyle, a lifestyle and current events website. Writing is her passion in life. She loves exploring the world, meeting different people, learning new cultures, knowing several languages, food tripping—anything where she can discover a thing or two. She dreams of travelling around the world. She has already started by living in and visiting several countries including her country, the Philippines. She also dreams of having her own book published in the future, fond of photography, drinking coffee and her pets.

Prior to visiting the United Arab Emirates (UAE), I only knew about Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Little did I know, the country is actually composed of more than just two cities—Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, and Fujairah.

Now that I’ve been to UAE myself, let me share with you a simple travel guide, with all the information needed, for first-time Filipino travellers.

Getting a Visit Visa

We got a visa directly from UAE because of relatives based in Dubai. The Visit Visa is granted to all foreigners who want to visit the country for travel. It’s sponsored by someone who is currently living in the Middle Eastern country.

For application forms and details of other types of visas, visit Embassy of the UAE (Manila) and Embassy of UAE.

Step 1: Compile the necessary requirements for a tourist visa

• Passport copy of the sponsor
• Passport copy of the tourist
• Copy of the salary certificate or employment contract of the sponsor (resident)
• Proof of family relationship
• Travel insurance
• Visa Application Form

Step 2: Accomplish the Visa Application Form

Step 3: Send all the complete requirements to your relative based in UAE for him to process it there

Step 4: Pay the necessary application fees for both sponsor and tourist

• AED 610 (~ ₱8,000) e-DNRD fees
• AED 620 (~₱ 8,100) e-form fees
• AED 1,000 (~₱13,000) deposit, refundable upon departure of the sponsored person

Step 5: Receive the approved visa by courier

Flights to UAE: Brave the 9-hour flight

Choose a flight that goes to Dubai from Manila since it’s the main hub of everything. We were lucky to have stumbled upon Cebu Pacific’s newly launched flight so it was cheaper. We were able to book around ₱20,000+ for a round trip ticket per person. Since we flew during winter, it was still a bit higher compared to other months.

It already included a 20kg luggage allowance. You can also avail meals onboard if you wish or buy food from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (I would suggest the latter since it’s better and there are more options). You can also fly onboard Philippines Airlines, Emirates or Qatar Airlines. You’ll touchdown the Dubai International Airport.

Estimated airfare: ₱20,000+ (depending on the airline)

Getting around UAE

The best way to go around the country is by hiring a van or even better if you know anyone living there with his own transportation. It’s because most of the places to visit are far from each other. If you’re only staying in one city, it’s okay to take the public transportation but for us, we hired one when we visited Abu Dhabi from Dubai.

Also read: 5 Things To Accomplish While On A Desert Safari in Dubai

There’s also a train called the Metro, which is easy to take since there’s no language barrier and there are signs where to get the tickets. They have ticket counters and ticket machines available. The stops are either connected to the mall or near business hubs. The people are easy to talk to since most speak English.

If you’re taking the bus, there are stations when you go down the Metro, but be sure to take note of each number which corresponds to different routes. We were lucky because where my family lives, the buses go inside the condominium complex.

You can also flag down a cab but it’s a bit more expensive. The drivers are helpful and know a lot of the usual tourist spots. You’ll probably even ride one of the Middle Eastern drivers who speak Filipino.

You’ll be surprised at how many of them actually know our language. We had an Indian driver when we hired a van who is fluent in Filipino so it was indeed very amusing during the entire ride. There was also another one from the Middle East whose video on YouTube became viral because he was so fluent in our language.

Transportation cost: ₱200+ (depending on mode of transport)

What to eat

You’re only here once in your life so why not truly immerse yourself in the local Middle Eastern cuisine? It’s utterly one of the most flavourful dishes around the world. Muslims are prohibited from eating pork so the Arabs venture into having different delectable meats for the palate. Expect to see a lot of lamb, mutton, goat, beef, veal or seafood on their menus.

Of course, the most well-known food originally from this side of the world is Shawarma. They usually use lamb or chicken that’s mixed with garlic sauce, pickles, fries, tomatoes and wrapped in Arabic Roti. It’s made more similar to a Kebab.

Don’t miss out on authentic Hummus that’s usually served with a Shawarma and Pita bread. The chickpeas dip is mixed with olive oil, lemon juice, tahini paste with a sprinkle of salt and garlic.

If you’re there during the Ramadan, try the exotic taste of Al Harees that’s made of meat and wheat. It’s cooked for hours, creating that smooth texture. You can enjoy it more if you add spices to it but eating it plain is also great because of the already rich taste of meat and wheat.

Another local traditional dish is Al Machboos that’s cooked with rice, vegetables, meat, onion, and dried lemon. It’s also added with spices and salt to taste. It’s one of the popular dishes around the country you shouldn’t miss.

They also love coffee or tea but with a twist as they add cardamom, saffron or mint to give a distinct taste to both. Their dates are really good for the sweet tooth with chocolate-covered flavours, particularly those from Bateel and Patchi.

If you’re a bit queasy about trying the local cuisine, there are other international cuisines from other countries. Try dining at mall food courts to get the best of both worlds and cheaper finds. If you’re aiming for Middle Eastern food, visit Latitude, Sultan’s Lounge, Marakesh, Li Beirut, and Operation Falafel. If you prefer internationally known restaurants, try Jollibee, KFC, Paul Café, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Shake Shack, Carluccio’s, and Le Pain Quotidien.

Food cost: ₱300 - ₱2,500 per meal (depending on establishments)

Where to stay

We stayed at our relative’s house during the entire duration of our vacation in UAE. If you don’t know anyone, you can always check in at the accommodations such as hotels, hostels or try booking through Airbnb or Couchsurfing. It would all depend on your budget.

If you’re willing to splurge, stay at the world-famous Burj Al Arab, Atlantis The Palm or Royal Mirage Dubai. There are also cheaper but great places to stay in that are strategically located in the busy city areas like the Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi or the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

The Jumeirah Walk area also has a lot of condominiums where locals and expats alike are offering accommodations via Airbnb or Couchsurfing. So if you’re a bit strap on the budget, you can check in one of these cosy abodes in a great location by the beach. Cheaper accommodations can be found as well in Deira and Bur Dubai.

Accommodation cost: From ₱3,000 up per night (depending on establishments)

Top places to visit

There’s so much to do here and the list is endless. Like I mentioned earlier, there are five cities but most of the places we’ve been to were in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Here’s an extensive rundown on where you should go around town to make your travel in the Middle East worthwhile.

Also read: 10 Must-Visit Attractions in Dubai

Dubai

• Burj Al Arab – 160-storey skyscraper and observation deck
• Burj Khalifa – a luxury hotel designed like the sail of a boat
• Atlantis The Palm – a luxurious hotel and an amusement park
• Dubai Museum – learn about the colourful history of UAE
• Jumeirah Beach – swim at the beach overlooking the Persian Gulf
• Mall of Emirates – one of the best malls to shop for local and designer finds
• Dubai Mall – biggest and most popular mall in Dubai
• Souk Madinat – shop for authentic local perfumes and textiles

Sharjah

• Sharjah Art Museum – for art lovers, this is the best museum in UAE
• Adventureland – the largest family entertainment centre in the Middle East
• Sharjah Cricket Stadium – watch a Cricket game if you’re a fan of the sport

Abu Dhabi

• Sheik Zhayed Grand Mosque – the most famous mosque in UAE
• Ferrari World – a great collection of Ferraris in the museum
• Yas Waterworld – a fun-filled water park for kids
• Ikea – a popular furniture shopping destination
• Qasr al-Hosn – the oldest stone building in the city of Abu Dhabi
• Al Ain National Museum – see stone age artefacts and pre-oil era history

Ajman

• Ajman Museum – the former fortress and Ajman’s first line of defence that’s now a museum
• Ajman Dhow Building Yard – the world's largest dhow building centre
• Ajman Beaches – some of the best beaches in UAE
• Mowaihat – an archaeological site discovered in 1986

Ras Al Khaimah

• Bassata Desert Village – experience dune bashing, belly dancing, Arabic Tanoura, camel riding and Arabic barbeque
• Al Wadi Equestrian Adventure Centre – nature reserve where you can go horseback riding
• Iceland Waterpark – escape the heat at the amusement water park
• Dhayah Fort – 16th-century fort that sits on a mountain overlooking the Persian Gulf
• National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah – see the 18th-century artefacts when the Emirates was invaded by Persians

Umm Al Quwain

• Umm Al-Quwain Fort – the museum exhibits the local archaeological artefacts from Al-Dur
• Al-Dur Archaeological Site – you’ll find tombs, stone houses, and glassware from Egypt and Syria
• Seneyah Island – a serene nature sanctuary full of Al Qaram trees, deers, and birds
• Dreamland Aqua Park – a fun water amusement park for families

Fujairah

• Al-Bidyah Mosque – the oldest mosque in UAE
• Fujairah Fort – the oldest fort in UAE that’s surrounded by a Fortress Village
• Al-Hayl Castle – the former abode of Fujairah’s ruling family
• Ain al-Madhab Hot Springs – loosen up those tired muscles from travelling
• Wadi al-Wuraya – see and swim at the picturesque waterfalls

What to wear in UAE

Take note that it’s a relatively more conservative country in terms of dressing. If you’re visiting, be sure to pack depending on where you’re going and what the season is (there are four seasons in UAE).

You can ideally wear anything but always remember to dress more appropriately when visiting the sacred places such as mosques. Wear long bottoms and shirts with sleeves. Scarves are always handy, whether for mosques or the weather.

You can wear swimsuits at the beach especially where expats live. Dubai is the most open city among the others, so here you can bare more while enjoying the beach and the views of the Persian Gulf. Boots are great for winter, though, it doesn’t really snow but it’s cold enough so you’ll need them to warm your feet. Wear coats as well with scarves for the desert night cold breeze.

Also read: Middle East Travel: 6 Safe Countries for Your First Trip

If you plan to visit the entire UAE, a couple of weeks is needed, but if you’re visiting only a city or two, about two weeks is enough to see a lot of interesting historical and avant-garde attractions. You’ll definitely experience the enigmatic culture of the Middle East and learn a thing or two during your travel here.

Taiwan Now Offers Visa-Free Entry to Qualified Philippine Passport Holders

Want to travel to Taiwan but discouraged by the tedious visa process? Here's good news for Filipinos!

October 5, 2016, 6:00 pm June 21, 2017, 10:39 am

Pam Baroro When not moonlighting as a freelance wordsmith and code wrangler, Pam is a millennial mom who loves to explore the outdoors to camp/hike/trek/backpack with her partner and their 4-year-old daughter. Check their family travel blog at Hey, Miss Adventures!

Want to really travel to Taiwan but discouraged by the tedious visa process? Fear no more! You might just qualify for a VISA-FREE ENTRY to Taiwan (Republic of China) under certain conditions.

Also read: 10 Countries Filipinos Probably Didn’t Know They Can Travel To Without Visa

A Philippine Passport Holder is eligible for an ROC Travel Authorisation Certificate if he or she meets the following conditions:

1. Applicant’s passport must have remaining validity of at least six (6) months starting from the date of arrival in Taiwan;
2. Applicant must have an onward/return air or ferry ticket; and,
3. Applicant must have NEVER been employed as a blue-collar worker in Taiwan.

Additionally, applicant must have at least one of the following documents issued by the following countries: Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, any of the Schengen countries, the United Kingdom or the United States.

1. Valid resident or permanent resident card;
2. Valid entry visa (may be electronic visa); and,
3. Resident card or visa that has expired less than 10 years prior to the date of arrival in Taiwan.

You can apply for visa exemption Authorisation Certificate through this website.

Approved ROC Travel Authorisation Certificate are valid for 90 days. Multiple entries to Taiwan are allowed within these 90 days. Those who are allowed visa-free entry may stay in Taiwan for up to 30 days, starting from the day of arrival. Should one wish to apply for another ROC Travel Authorisation Certificate, it must be done at least seven days prior to the expiry of the current certificate.

Those who do not qualify the requirements mentioned above and those who wish to study, work or stay in Taiwan for more than 30 days can still apply for a regular visa at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines.

For more details, you can check out here.

Also read: A Filipino Traveller’s Guide to Visiting Taiwan for the First Time

10 Countries with Easy Visa Access for Filipinos

Filiipino travellers, why settle for visa-free countries when you can visit these countries too? Travel visa process is just a breeze!

May 25, 2016, 2:00 pm June 21, 2017, 10:39 am

Johanna Ella May Erroba Johanna is a free spirit. She channels her energy through music, writing, surfing, and travelling. She expresses all of her musings on Camera and Cheese.

Applying for a travel visa is tedious, hassle and inconvenient, I know. Getting a visa to Europe and America, for example, is the most difficult according to many travellers. The ratio of those getting denied versus those who are permitted is very high! But why limit yourself to the visa-free countries when you can venture far out to these beautiful countries too? Here's a list of countries Filipinos can go to with easy visa processing.

Also read: 15 Exotic Visa Free Countries Filipinos Might Not Know About

Disclaimer: I am not an agent nor affiliate of a travel agency. While I've done a lot of research to gather these information, it is best to check the countries' websites to make sure you get the latest updates. I also cannot guarantee that your visa will be approved. Lastly, in these tips, I assume that you will visit the countries as a tourist only.

Visa Before Arrival

1. Japan

Over the years, Japan has been gradually relaxing its visa requirements to Filipinos. Entry to Japan has proven to be one of the easiest among foreign countries based on the experiences of many travellers. You simply have to prepare basic requirements to prove your identity, residence in the Philippines, income, and prove that you will return to your home country.

Note that all applications, except a few conditions, should go through accredited visa processing agencies. The visa is free but you'll have to pay the agency for processing your documents. The waiting time is seven days max, and if you applied for a single entry visa, you can stay up to 15 days in Japan but you can request for up to ninety days. You're lucky if you get a multi-entry visa!

It's best to visit the Visa Section page of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines to know more about the specific details. Please be aware that the rumours about Japan lifting its visa requirements for Filipinos is false.

Must experience: Cherry blossoms in spring, snow in winter, Japanese culture, onsens

2. Korea

Next to Japan, Korea is also one of the easier countries to have access to for Pinoys. You'll only have to wait for five working days to claim your visa. The requirements are also reasonable and you can get a 59-day visa for free! You can also get a free multiple-entry visa if you applied for one within two years after your last visit to Korea. Again, it's best to visit the embassy's website to get updates. You can also check out our travel guide for first-time visitors of the Land of the Morning Calm.

Also read: My South Korea Tourist Visa Approved: 5 Easy Steps for Filipinos

Must experience: Nami Island, Petite France, Korean culture, KPop

3. Taiwan

While most people love to go to Japan and Korea, only a few rave about Taiwan. Requirements are pretty much similar to Japan's and Korea's. You also have to apply via their website, then submit the requirements yourself at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office. And guess what? You can get your visa after three working days! Just make sure that you submitted the right requirements. To learn more about applying for a Taiwanese visa and more about Taiwan, read  this Filipino Traveller’s Guide to Visiting Taiwan for the First Time.

Must experience: Night markets, Elephant Mountain, themed cafes, Beitou’s hot springs

UPDATE: Taiwan Now Offers Visa-Free Entry to Qualified Philippine Passport Holders

4. India

As of 2015, the Visa on Arrival policy for Philippine passport holders is no longer valid. However, processing a tourist visa for a 30-day stay is a breeze with India's e-Tourist Visa or eTV. You will have to process your application through their website. The visa fee is USD 48 plus 2.5% bank charge. Your visa will be sent to you via email which you will have to print when you travel to India.

Must experience: Taj Mahal, Holy Ghats of Varanasi, Auli, Himachal

5. New Zealand

New Zealand's visa application is relatively easier compared to other non-Asian countries. There's only a minimal fee, and you can stay for up to 59 days.The requirements, much like any other visa application, are quite similar. According to New Zealand's website, it is optional to show a roundtrip ticket, but it would be best to have one as there's a big chance that you will be required to show a return ticket before leaving the Philippines. New Zealand's website is also very easy to navigate. Expect to claim your visa after five working days.

Must experience: Hobbiton, Nga Haerenga, Stewart Island, Mackenzie Basin

6. Georgia

Locals of Georgia do not call their country that. It is actually called Sakartvelo, which used to be a Soviet republic. Visas to Georgia used to be available upon arrival. Now, you have to apply for an e-VISA through their portal. As with any foreign destination, make sure that you have a return ticket to prove that you won't be staying for work in Georgia.

Must experience: Caucasus Mountains, local culture, architecture of the new parliament building, churches

Also read: New Zealand’s Top 10 Holiday Activities

Visa upon arrival

7. Nepal

Visa application in Nepal, based on my own experience, was super easy! You just have to be prepared with your US dollars. Upon entering the airport, you will be directed to a machine where you'll have to scan your passport and enter some details. Be prepared with photocopies of IDs and passports. I also remember filling out a form. No questions were asked except for the number of days I will be staying in Nepal. After that, I was all clear!

You can get a visa for up to 90 days. Just make sure that you have a return ticket. I was held at the Philippine Immigration for 45 minutes because I had to prove that I was going to Nepal as an earthquake relief volunteer, and that I would be back in less than 90 days.

Must experience: Temples, Nepalese culture, Mount Everest

Also read: Top 12 Things to Do in Kathmandu on Your Very First Visit

8. Maldives

Many of you might already know this, but just in case you didn't, you can enter Maldives without prior visa application. All nationalities are granted a free 30-day tourist visa upon arrival. Visit their website to learn more.

Must experience: Museums, mosques, beaches, above-water bungalows

Also read: Maldives Budget Itinerary: 6 Days 5 Nights in This Dream Paradise

9. Mozambique

Mozambique? Where is that? In case you haven’t heard about this country, it's in Africa and is great for its beaches and marine life. You can get a visa prior to arrival or upon arrival. Just make sure that you have a return ticket and that you won't be staying for more than 30 days. Mozambique is good introductory destination to Africa.

Must experience: Inhaca Island, Iglesia de San Antonio de la Polana, Machilla Magic

10. Palau

Palau, like the Philippines, is an archipelagic country with over 500 islands. That means, it also has great islands for the sea-lovers and beach bummers. You can stay in Palau for up to 30 days provided that you have a return ticket. It's pretty much required if you're travelling in a foreign country for the purpose of tourism.

Must experience: Beaches, jellyfish lake, Ngardmau Falls

There you have it! 10 countries with easy visa access for Philippine passport holders. What are you waiting for? Apply for a visa, strap on your backpack and explore these exciting countries asap!

Also read: You’ll Never Think These 13 Countries Offer Visa On Arrival for Filipinos

PS. Don't forget to check the country’s respective websites for updates on visa requirements, and of course, make sure that you research about the requirements in your layover destinations.

A Filipino Traveller’s Guide to Visiting Taiwan for the First Time

Here's a little guide to getting around Taiwan for Filipinos travelling to the quaint and charming neighbouring country for the first time.

February 15, 2016, 8:00 am June 21, 2017, 10:40 am

Jane Galvez Jane is a homebody, but the promise of an adventure of a lifetime inspires her to spend her weekends travelling. When she's not on the road travelling, she's writing about the places she's been to or planning her next exploit at Oh My Janey.

I know what you’re thinking: “Why Taiwan?”

It’s the first thing people asked me when they learned I’d be visiting the country. How do I even answer that easily?

For starters, Taiwan is one of the closest countries to the Philippine archipelago. It takes two hours at most to reach this little East Asian country. That’s just like flying to a province in Visayas or Mindanao if you’re coming from Manila! And yet, it’s one of our neighbouring countries rarely frequented by Filipinos.

A country filled with kind locals, cheap yet delicious delicacies, and exciting night markets, there’s really no reason not to include Taiwan on your travel bucket list.

Also read: 7 Scenic Destinations in Taiwan for Nature Lovers

So really, the simplest answer I can give to people asking why they should visit Taiwan—“Why not?”

How to apply for a Taiwan tourist visa

When applying for a tourist visa, you have the option of doing it yourself or hiring an agency to do it for you. If you decide to go through the application process on your own, fret not because it’s fuss-free as long as you have the proper documents.

Step 1: Fill out the online visa application form

The first thing you have to do is to fill out the online visa application form and print it out. Head on to https://visawebapp.boca.gov.tw to proceed with the application.

After completing the form, make sure that you submit it along with the other requirements within 15 days. By the end of the online application process, you’ll also be reminded until what date you can use the application form. If you fail to submit it before the indicated date, you’ll need to redo the application before heading to the embassy.

In my case, I filled out the form the night before I applied for my visa.

Step 2: Prepare for the necessary documents for your visa application

Here are the basic requirements when applying for a tourist visa:

1. Online Visa Application Form
2. Two (2) passport size photos with white background (1.5”x2”)
3. Passport valid for six months*
4. NSO-issued birth certificate
5. If applicable, NSO-certified marriage contract
6. If employed, certificate of employment
7. Photocopy of company ID
8. Financial statements (e.g. bank book, bank statement, bank certificate, ITR)**

When travelling on business, you might also be asked to submit the following:

1. For business owners, Certificate of Business Name Registration and SEC Registration
2. For employees, Certificate of employment
3. Invitation letter from the company that will sponsor your trip, complete with a Chinese letterhead and a clear outlined purpose of visit
4. A request letter from the applicant’s company

Submit both the original and photocopy of all documents. They will return the original copies, such as the birth certificate, upon the release of the visa.

Documents such as flight itinerary and hotel bookings are optional, but you can prepare it just in case.

* Make sure to also include old passports showing your previous travels, and visas from other countries.

** You do not have to submit all the stated financial statements, though you are welcome to do so. I only submitted a bank statement and still managed to get my visa application approved. But it’s still your prerogative and how much risk you’re willing to take.

Step 3: Submit your requirements in  person

Once you’ve completed all the requirements, go to Taipei Economic and Cultural Office located at 41F Tower 1 RCBC Plaza, Ayala Ave, Makati, 1200 Metro Manila to submit your application.

The filing of application can only be done from Monday to Friday, 8:45 AM - 11:45AM. Though they do have a cut off, they still accommodate the applicants in line even past 11:45 AM. Just get there early to avoid the queue, and be attentive to your queue number. If you happen to miss your turn, you’ll be sent  back to the end of the line.

The visa fee depends on the visa type you’re applying for. Check out the table below for details:

Step 4: Go back to claim your visa after three working days

After filing your application, saying your prayers, and lying listlessly on your bed every night, the only thing left to do is to claim your visa. Processing for a regular visitor visa takes 3 working days, but when you pay for the expedite processing, it only takes a day.

Releasing time is every Monday to Friday, 1:45PM to 4:45PM.

Visa-free for select Philippine passport holders

Some Filipinos are lucky, because they no longer have to apply for a tourist visa. Philippine passport holders who have a valid visa or a resident visa issued by U.S.A., Japan, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and the Schengen Convention countries are automatically eligible for the visa exempt program.

If you’re one of them, you only need to visit https://niaspeedy.immigration.gov.tw/nia_southeast/ and apply to the “Advance Online Registration System for the Visitors of Nationals from Five Southeast Asian Countries to Taiwan,” in which you’ll be given an Authorization Certificate. You’ll be presenting this certificate at immigration, both in the Philippines and Taiwan.

Once you’ve claimed your visa, it’s time to go exploring!

Transportation in Taiwan

Before you go wandering, it’s best to understand how you can get around the country first. Don’t worry, it has an amazing public transportation system that can be one of the reasons you’ll fall in love with the country.

From Taoyuan Airport to Taipei

When coming from Manila, most flights are likely to land at Taoyuan Airport. So there may be various destinations around Taiwan, but first timers will most likely focus on Taipei first. So we’ll focus on the travel between this airport and the country’s capital.

Taoyuan Airport is still outside Taipei, but travelling to the city is quite easy. There are various modes of transportation that aren’t just cheap but also convenient.

Also read: 7D6N Taiwan Itinerary Covering Taichung, Tainan and Taipei

Via Airport Bus

From the arrivals lobby, proceed to the lower level for the bus stops. There are numerous bus ticketing booths in the ground floor, but to buy a ticket to Taipei, look for the Kuo-Kuang Motor Transport, or Kuo-kuang Line. Take Bus 1819 to reach Taipei Main Station, where you can make the necessary subway transfers.

To read a comprehensive list of routes, check out this guide.

Via Airport Taxi

Airport taxis are available 24 hours every day. You can find it at the west side of Terminal 1 and 2’s arrival lobby. Fares are meter based, but highway tolls are paid separately. For inquiries, direct your call to +886-3-3982832.

Via Car Rental

If you intend to drive around Taiwan, you’re in luck because car rental service can be found right at the arrival lobby of both Terminal 1 and 2. Chauffer services are also offered.

Taipei Metro: Efficient public transportation around Taipei

Taipei’s subway system is incredibly organised and easy to navigate that even newbies will find it convenient. Even during our first visit, we didn’t have a hard time navigating the subway lines. It’s never too crowded even during rush hours, and no matter how busy, priority seats are reserved for seniors, pregnant women, and kids.

There are five lines we’ll simply call Brown, Red, Green, Yellow, and Blue lines. It doesn’t just cover Taipei, but also the outskirts of the city such as Tamsui and Tucheng District of New Taipei City.

The subway stations are also quite near each other, that even when getting lost, you’ll find a close subway station.

Taipei Buses: Travelling in and around the capital

If you want to go anywhere outside of Taipei, you can simply head to the Taipei Bus Station, proceed to the ticketing booth or information centre, and tell them where you’re going.  We did it a couple of times (when going to Yehliu Geo Park and to  Taoyuan Airport) and never got lost! Though of course, it’s still better to be prepared and have an idea which bus number you should take to reach your destination.

This bus route table is comprehensive enough to tell you which bus to take to any point in Taiwan.

Taipei’s Easy Card

What makes travelling in and around Taipei incredibly convenient is its centralised payment method—the EasyCard.

The touch-and-go card can be used when boarding buses or trains. You can even use it in the provincial buses! It’s also a lot cheaper compared to using single journey tokens in subways, or paying cash in bus rides. The best thing about it? It can be used in all of Taiwan!

The EasyCard can be purchased via automated machines in many subway stations. But to be sure, head to the busy ones—or  the ones with transfer lines—to buy your card. It’s also reloadable in all subway stops!

The card only costs NTD 100 (PHP 140) and requires at least NTD 100 deposit. And once you no longer need the card, the card along with the balance can be refunded.

Also read: How to Travel Taiwan on a Budget

Gastronomic adventure in Taiwan

There’s no denying that Taiwan is the place-to-be for foodies. From its wide range of night markets to its thousands of specialty and cosy coffee shops, the country is perfect for food exploration.

The selection of restaurants and night markets is so wide that it’ll be difficult to decide where to eat. The following establishments and markets are good places to start:

1. Shilin Night Market

There are so many night markets in Taipei alone, and not going to one is like robbing yourself of everything good and yummy. Shilin Night Market is arguably the biggest night market in Taipei. Here, you can order 9 pieces of xiao long bao for as low as NTD 100 (PHP 140)!

For a street food adventure, you can also try Ximending, Raohe Night Market and Danshui Old Street.

Nearest subway station: (Red Line) Jiantan Stn.

2. Din Tai Fung

Nothing beats the original, right? Though there’s already a newly opened branch in Manila, make sure to drop by the place where the magic started. You can either head to the original location at Xinyi District or visit the one at Taipei 101.

Address: No.194 Second Section, Xinyi Road, Taipei 111-0021, Taiwan

Nearest subway station: (Brown line) Daan Station

Also read: Best Food in Taiwan You Should Not Miss

3. Modern Toilet

If you’re up for something different, the Modern Toilet is a popular option for those in search of anything crazy and out-of-the-ordinary. It might be too much for some, but it can definitely count as one heck of an experience.

Address: 2F, No.50-7 Xining South Road, Taipei, Taiwan

Nearest subway station: (Blue line) Ximen Station, Exit 6

4. Any random cafe

Cafes are taking over Taipei, and you better jump on that bandwagon. Though Taiwan is famous for its tea, its capital is now thriving with hundreds of quaint and interesting coffee shops.

Some of the most recommended ones are Woolloomooloo (Xinyi District), Fika Fika Café (Zhongshan District), Zhanlu Coffee (Daan District), and Luguo Café @ ArtYard (Datong District).

Be prepared to spend half of your time in Taiwan eating and drinking. On the same note, be ready to go home gaining additional pounds.

Where to Stay in Taiwan

Despite being the capital, Taipei is still pretty small that any part of the city is easily reached via their subway system. So it’s not whether the hotel is nearby an attraction, it really relies more on the budget.

Here’s a handy-dandy guide to accommodations for different kinds of travellers.

For backpackers: Sunny Hostel

Located right next to 228 Peace Park, Sunny Hostel is a recently opened accommodation in Taipei. It’s within walking distance of tourist hotspots like Ximending, President’s Office, Liberty Square, and Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. The rooms are spacious and cleaned daily. They also have coin-operated washing machines and Mac desktop PCs for your domestic and work needs, respectively. We loved everything about it! Read my full review here.

For leisure travellers: Home Hotel Daan

A hotel that promotes local talents, Home Hotel makes sure that every guest feels right at home the moment they step inside the establishment. The hotel is beautifully designed with the decorations and furniture created by Taiwanese artists. Their stylish decoration is matched with top-notch service, delicious buffet breakfast, and convenient location. Check out their Facebook page to learn more.

For nights outside Taipei: Ino Home B&B Café

The smell of coffee welcomes you to this quaint bed and breakfast in Taichung, Taiwan. Though it only has two bedrooms, it can accommodate up to five guests.  It mostly functions as a coffee shop, but it’s still a perfect place to spend a quiet day outside Taipei. Head on to their Facebook page to know more about the B&B.

Mini Taiwan Bucket List

When in Taiwan, there are some things that you cannot not do.

1. Eat xiao long bao (everyday).
2. Drink bubble tea (daily)!
3. Hike up Elephant Mountain to witness the best view of Taipei.
4. Visit the temples and monuments while riding a bicycle.
5. Shop ‘till you drop at Ximending.
6. Night market hop!
7. Play with the raccoons at 228 Peace Park.
8. Hop on the Maokong Gondola cable car.
9. Take a dip at Beitou’s hot springs.
10. Spend an afternoon in a coffee shop—there’s a boom in Taiwan’s coffee industry!

Also read: 13 Unconventional Things to Do in Taiwan for A Smashing Vacation

I came to Taiwan with little expectations, and I left with hopes of coming back soon. It is truly an amazing country to visit—with its beautiful sights and people with even more beautiful hearts.

My 7-Day Trip to Japan: Travel Tips & Cost Breakdown for Filipino Travellers

Pinoys, planning to explore the Land of the Rising Sun? Here's what you should know before going there.

October 25, 2016, 8:00 am June 21, 2017, 10:40 am

Angela Talattad Angela is an agricultural engineer who currently holds a day job in a Japanese firm. She started travelling at 30 and believes it is never too late for anyone to fulfil his/her dreams of seeing the world. She is fond of ancient architecture and cultures and dreams of chasing the Northern Lights someday.

Contributed by Wanders of Eve

Planning a trip to the land of the rising sun? Here’s a brief overview of my 7-day trip last October 2015 to four cities in Japan namely Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Kobe for ₱35,000.

Airfare

I booked the flight five months prior to the trip. I got our round trip ticket from Cebu Pacific at ₱5,300 per pax with luggage. Do yourself a favour by getting a travel insurance; medical expense is expensive in Japan. It will keep you covered from unexpected circumstances.

Accommodation

Since the dates fell on the onset of fall, the rates were less expensive compared to that of the peak seasons when rates can go up twice or thrice the price. We stayed at K’s House in Kyoto, at Yuzan Guesthouse which is a traditional Japanese house in Nara and at Richmond Hotel in Osaka.

Food

Food is quite expensive in Japan especially in famous cities like Kyoto. A meal in Mcdonald's is around ₱250-300. But for authentic Japanese food, I find the price reasonable which starts at ₱350 and the portion is generous. And the food? Totemo oishii desu nee! (It is really good!)

Also read: My Quirky Food Experiences in Japan Every Filipino Foodie Must Have

Admissions

Admissions can range from free to ₱300. In Kyoto, there are sites you can enter for free like Yasaka and Fushimi Inari. The most expensive pass I paid is that of the Universal Studios in Osaka at ₱2,800 (without Harry Potter; that’s twice the price).

All Day Pass

In Kyoto, you can go anywhere around the city within the zone that is covered by the one-day city bus pass. You can purchase it from your hostel or from subway stations or convenience stores for JPY500 (₱230). We bought ours from our hostel. The same in Nara which cost JPY600 (₱280). But in Osaka and Kobe, we spent on a regular train fare. Fare starts at JPY180 (₱80). It covers a certain distance only and next on the fare matrix is JPY240 (₱110). Transportation is very efficient in Japan, so go on and enjoy every bus or train ride.

Visa

One month prior to my trip, I was sent to our head office in Tokyo for a meeting. I was granted a single entry visa then, courtesy of our company. That kind of helped me secure a 5-year multiple visa for my vacation to Japan. You cannot apply directly to the Japanese embassy as there are accredited travel agencies who will do that for you. Here’s where I applied:

Discovery Tour, Inc.

G/F Unit 301 Sagittarius Bldg.

H.V. Dela Costa Street, Salcedo Village Makati

Also read: Easy Japan Tourist Visa Guide for Filipinos

I also purchased my travel insurance from this agency. You can check the requirements on their website or at the Japanese embassy website. But for a glimpse of the documents required for tourism purposes, here’s a summary list:

1. Application form downloaded from the Japanese embassy website

2. 1 pc. 2x2 or 45mm x 45mm coloured photo with white background

3. Original birth certificate from NSO (include marriage certificate if married)

4. Original bank certificate issued at least one month before your trip

5. Original certificate of employment

6. Detailed Itinerary (a tabulated itinerary will make it look more presentable and easy to understand)

7. You can also attach a copy of your plane tickets and hotel bookings

So here’s the breakdown of my week-long trip to Japan:

Note: The breakdown’s purpose is not to peg the expense on a certain price but to serve as a guide on what you are possibly going to spend on during the trip. 

Japan is a beautiful country.  You may want to put in next on your bucket list. As for me, the experience will last a lifetime. I am not rich, I am just the average girl who works from 9-6. But I try to save for travel by cutting expenses on stuff I can do without. Travel is my way of rewarding myself for all the hard work all these years. And I thank the LORD for that privilege, something I do not deserve but he chose to bless me with.

Also read: Exploring Japan: 9 Easy Day Trips from Tokyo

The Glico Man

My 3 Days Singapore Trip: Budget Tips & Cost Breakdown for Filipinos

It's entirely possible to travel to Singapore on a shoestring budget! Take it from this Filipino traveller.

December 7, 2016, 10:00 am June 21, 2017, 10:42 am

Amae Guerrero Amae is a budding journalist and a young traveller from Manila. Started blogging at 14, she seeks to inspire people through her advocacy and adventure. Saving an American woman with the help of her article became her turning point in blogging. Follow her crazy adventure at Her Amazing Story and @amaeguerrero.

Contributed by Her Amazing Story

You don’t need to spend a fortune to travel to Singapore, one of the most expensive countries in the world. Your travel budget only needs a well-researched and strategic plan to help you survive without even sacrificing the fun of your trip.

I initially had ₱7, 000 (S$187  or US$142) as my Singapore travel budget for my three-day trip. But then, I don’t want to go back to the Philippines broke. So, here’s how I spent ₱3,100 (S$86 / US$63) (including pasalubong/gift) and ₱7,750 (S$215 / US$158) for my airplane ticket, travel tax, accommodation, food and transportation.

Also read: A Filipino Traveller’s Guide to Visiting Singapore for the First Time

Tips

1. Before going to Singapore,  make sure you did your assignment of researching for places and attractions and how to get from one place to another, so you won’t have unexpected expenses like taking a taxi.
2. Don’t hesitate to ask the locals.  I thought Singaporeans are naturally snobby,  but I was wrong.  They even used Google maps to help me better understand the directions.
3. Withdraw your SGD cash from an ATM in Singapore for better rate instead of exchanging it from a money changer. Make sure your ATM card is connected to Visa or MasterCard.
4. If not connected to Visa or MasterCard,  better call your bank,  inquire about it and tell them that you’re going abroad.

Booking a flight

To reduce your overall travel cost, you must always be on the lookout for seat sales. I got my ticket for ₱3,140 (S$87 / US$69) back in March, although you can even find a ticket cheaper than this. A tip is to subscribe to the airline’s newsletter or follow their social media accounts so you won’t miss their seat sale updates.

Also read: 8 Tricks to Successfully Grab Cheap Promo Flights in the Philippines

Accommodation

A hotel is notoriously expensive in Singapore so the best thing to save huge bucks is to stay in a hostel. You can even try Couchsurfing for a free accommodation. As for me, a bed, wifi, and basic facilities for a hostel will do since I went to Singapore to discover places, have fun, and not to stay at my hostel/hotel forever.

Also read: Staycation Secrets: 8 Singapore Hotels with Unbeatable Discounts & Perks when You Book Directly

I chose a hostel in Chinatown, a strategic location just 15 minutes away from Sentosa Island and the eminent Merlion Park.  The cost of my accommodation is ₱1,123.30 (S$31/US$22) which I booked through Hotels.com.

Backpacker’s Inn was an “okay” hostel for its free wifi, shared kitchen and strategic location.

Tips

• Book your hotel online in advance. Aside from the price, you must read the reviews well. Don’t forget to check out for the promo too.
• Make sure you already booked your accommodation before going to Singapore to avoid getting questioned by the immigration officer.

Food

Food is beyond expensive in Singapore if you won’t be patient enough to look for cheap places to eat. The best places to eat for a traveller on a budget are the hawker centres.  These food stalls offer cheap yet savoury food.

Restaurant food costs ₱252 (S$7/US$5) up! (Yes, it’s pricey!)

Some meals I bought in hawker centres:

Also read: 8 Well-Loved Desserts in Singapore that Travellers Must Try

Tips

1. If you’re having a hard time choosing your  meal, look for a stall that has long queues.
2. Look for an accommodation that offers free breakfast, this will help you save a few dollars!
3. Bring your tumbler because a bottle of water is overpriced in Singapore. If there’s an available water dispenser in your hostel, refill your tumbler before going out so you no longer need to buy for one outside. In Chinatown, water costs S$2 per bottle, but in other places, it ranges from S$6 to S$7.  You can even maximise the free water fountain you’d see around the city.
4. Buy goods at the supermarket. Prices there are relatively cheap! Bought a chocolate for my breakfast at Fairprice for only S$1 for 2! Yakult is also cheap in Singapore. A pack of Yakult with five bottles in different flavours costs only for S$3.5.

Also read: These 10 High Teas in Singapore Will Make You Feel Like A Million Bucks

Transportation

You’d fall in love with Singapore’s effective and amazing transportation! You can even roam around easily through their wonderful MRT. But aside from their public transportation, ready your feet and your physical stamina for long walks! I usually walk more than 3km a day there.

If you’re staying for 3 days or more, the best way to save is to buy a Singapore Tourist Pass (STP) for S$20 good for three days, which gives you unlimited rides in taking MRT and public buses. This way, you can save! But if you’re staying for a day, you can buy an EZ link Card for S$12.

Tips

1. Don’t buy the idea that STP is overpriced. I thought it was so I opted for the EZ link card and I ended up spending more.
2. Instead of riding an MRT, you better walk. It’s a good and healthier way to discover new places. Who would have thought then that I could manage to walk more than 3km a day?
3. Don’t ride the SENTOSA EXPRESS! Take the boardwalk from Vivo City instead. Sentosa express costs S$4 compared to a free Sentosa boardwalk. I took the Sentosa express going there, but I was surprised to know that my fellow backpacker just walked from Vivo to Sentosa! We tried it going back and it’s indeed a walking distance.
4. Download the map of Singapore!
5. Never take a taxi!

Free attractions

There are tons of FREE attractions in the Lion City. You don’t have to put spend on attraction. I only spent for the entrance of Universal Studios for ₱2,041 which I bought online weeks ahead of my trip. Better buy your USS tickets on  klook.com to get a discount!

If you want to see the skyline of Singapore, visit the Ion Sky on the Ion Orchard for free at 3pm-5.30pm. You can even take your photo at the famous Merlion landmark.

Also, don’t miss the opportunity to roam around the best airport in the world – Changi airport!

For cultural free attractions, visit Haji Lane, Arab Street, Little India and Chinatown!

Residence of Tan Teng Niah in Little India

I will make a separate blog for my 3-day itinerary. Stay updated!

Cost breakdown

• Food – ₱740.88
• Transpo – ₱1,015
• Accommodation – ₱1,234.30
• Airfare – ₱3,140
• Travel Tax – ₱1,620.00
• TOTAL  = ₱7, 750.18

Optional

• Universal Studios – ₱2,169

  Pasalubong / Gift – ₱1, 296

• TOTAL = ₱11, 215.18

If you are not fond of theme parks, you can remove USS from your itinerary for you can still enjoy  Sentosa Island without visiting USS. You can go to Sentosa’s Palawan beach which you can access for FREE and head to their hanging bridge and observatory deck.

Palawan beach from the observatory deck

How I Did My Dream Europe Trip for Less than ₱100,000 (All-In)

5 countries, 11 cities in 19 days for less than ₱100k! Learn how this Filipina did her dream Europe trip.

October 31, 2016, 9:00 am June 21, 2017, 10:42 am

Carla Feria Carla is a free spirited individual that has a lifelong conquest to travel the world. Wanderlust consumes her. She makes sure her travel dreams turn into plans and her plans turn into reality. Follow her as she wanders the world at Tigerwanders.

Contributed by Tiger Wanders

Some say that travelling to Europe is only for the rich and famous because of the hefty price tag that goes along with it. Well, I beg to differ; I say that travelling to Europe is for everyone who’s determined to go there. If you really, really want to go to the other side of the world, you will find all the ways just to be there, no excuses.

I believe that spending money on experiences is more satisfying than spending it on temporary things that can diminish over time and can be snatched or stolen. Experiences last a lifetime and memories stay forever.

So I saved a lot for this trip, disciplined myself not to use the money on my travel jar especially during tempting days when there are mall sales or bazaars. I was able to resist the urge of buying unnecessary things and as a reward; I made my Europe dream trip a reality.

Also read: My Dream Europe Trip: 6 Countries & 7 cities in 12 days

For 19 days of spring, I was able to go to 4 countries and 11 cities for less than ₱100,000! How? by researching a LOT and planning wisely.

Here are some tips on how to spend less in Europe:

Airfare

Book flights as early as possible because prices go higher as the departure date becomes nearer.

Roundtrip flights are much cheaper but the expense will almost be the same considering that you need to go back to your first destination. I bought a multicity ticket – Manila – Rome – Paris – Manila so I can save time exploring cities than flying back to Rome.

Take note that there are some countries or cities that have higher flight rates, for example, Manila (PH) to Denmark (DE) is more expensive than Manila (PH) to Rome (IT). Same with intercity transfers, Venice (IT) to Paris (FR) is more expensive than Rome (IT) to Paris (FR).

Maximise the free luggage allowance of airlines (20kg- 25kg, depends on airline) and carry-on baggage allowance. Extra luggage fees will just add to your budget.

Another tip that I learned from my couchsurfer is that it’s much cheaper if you fly from Malaysia or Singapore going to Europe. You can just buy a cheap ticket from Manila to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore via Cebu Pacific Air or Air Asia and then fly to any European country. Sign up for a free membership of these airlines so you can get notified in advance about the latest deals.

You can also check Skyscanner or ITA to compare prices of different airlines.

Also read: 8 Tricks to Successfully Grab Cheap Promo Flights in the Philippines

Accommodation

One of the reasons why I saved a lot in this trip is through Couchsurfing. I have free accommodation in my entire trip. Couchsurfing is an online travel community where you can request for a couch to sleep for days or weeks. It’s more than just a free space to rest your head at night; it’s an exchange of culture as well. Luckily, I have great Couchsurfing hosts who opened their homes and trusted me their keys. They also welcomed me with their local dishes and wines, showed me hidden local spots, and taught me how to speak their language and many more.

Aside from Couchsurfing, you can find cheap places to stay like Airbnb or hostels. The average stay per night cost around ₱1,500 – ₱2,500.

In Airbnb, you can rent the whole apartment, private room or shared room.

A hostel is a budget friendly place that offers single or dorm rooms. Here, you will meet a lot of travellers same as you – travelling on a budget. Most hostels have a common area, a good venue to interact with other guests. Make friends with them, share some tips and ideas about travelling; they can also be your travel buddy too if you have the same landmarks to visit.

If you want to be a bit fancy, you can check some deal sites like Groupon Italy, Groupon France or Groupon Belgium for good discounts on fancy hotels, restaurants and many more. The website is written in their local language so just open Google Translate to help you understand the deals.

Transfers

There are lots of options to travel from one country/city to another – trains, planes, buses or trams.

In Italy, all my transfers were regional trains. It’s much cheaper than high-speed trains with minimal stops and transfers. The only hassle is that sometimes, transferring from one train to another allows you only 2 minutes to figure out where is the next train to your final destination.

Also read: Europe on a Train: 8 Routes to Experience the Best of Europe

Check Trenitalia for the timetable and fares.

From Italy, I flew to Belgium using Ryanair. It’s a budget airline similar to CebuPacificAir; check their promos so you can save more. I bought my ticket for only ₱1,646 (with 15kg baggage allowance).

There are other budget airlines you can also check like Easyjet, Vueling and Transavia.

From Belgium to Netherlands, I used SNCB train. The ticket price varies on the time of departure. Make sure the time fits your itinerary, or you can just tweak your plan a bit to save some money.

My last stop was Paris. I booked Thalys, a high-speed train from Netherlands to France for ₱2,704. It’s a bit expensive but I bought the ticket to save more time and see Paris longer as I only have 2 days to see its beauty.

You can check Rome2rio to compare the fares of different transportation.

Another way of travelling around Europe is Blablacar. It’s like Uberpool where you’ll share a ride with other people who have the same destination.

Tip: ALWAYS have coins.

Ticket booths in Europe close early but thank God there are ticket machines. The only challenge is that some machines only accept coins like the one in Maastricht, Netherlands. The ticket from Maastricht to Amsterdam cost €25.50 (₱1,326); it’s a challenge to change bills to coins especially if the train will leave in few minutes (time pressure!). I remember asking random people to change my bills, some did, but it wasn’t enough. So I bought some stuff at two stores just to get coins for a change. Whew!!!

Also read: Exquisite Experiences Everyone Dreams of Having in Europe

Communication

Roaming charges are expensive; buying a simcard that you will use for weeks is pointless. What I do is maximise free wifis of establishments. There are lots of free wifi spots in Europe (places I’ve been) and you only need to register your full name and email address to connect. You can download phone applications for free like Viber or Whatsapp to communicate with your loved ones back home.

Food

Food in Europe is expensive especially if you’ll eat at restaurants with Michelin stars. If you avoid restaurants near tourist spots, you can find a good meal for ₱200 and above.

Breakfast, meaning bread or croissant and cappuccino cost around ₱150. If you are a heavy eater like me, budget around ₱250.

Lunch costs around ₱300-400. You can either eat a sandwich or a big slice of pizza.

Dinner is always a good time to eat; it’s a treat for a long day of walking. Budget around ₱500-₱700 for a mouthwatering meal.

Desserts, mostly gelato is around ₱100-200 per scoop. If you’re a gelato lover, save a bit more to try hundreds of flavours in different gelaterias.

In Italy, there are fountains everywhere. Bring a water bottle to refill and save ₱120.

I was lucky enough to have Couchsurfing hosts who welcomed me with local food and wine. Sometimes, we buy some fresh stuff at the grocery and have cooking lessons but most of the time, I just watch them cook as I nibble cheese leftovers.🙂

Tours

There are lots of beautiful places in Europe, iconic landmarks, rich museums, skyscrapers, etc. that are worth a visit. Paris, France has lots of beautiful museums you can visit; if you have limited budget and time, you can just spend one day feeding your artistic soul in one museum like Louvre -- the home of the famous Mona Lisa.

If you are sure that you want to go to a museum or any place with entrance fees, I highly suggest booking a ticket online so you can skip the long queues that can eat up your time.

I only bought tickets (with no guide) to landmarks that I wanted to see like Colosseo in Rome or Louvre Museum in Paris. Having a guided tour is an additional expense so what I did is I discretely joined some group tours.🙂

Here’s my actual expense in Europe

I spent little on food because my hosts have welcome meals and free treats. 🙂

Here’s my detailed expenses

Here’s my itinerary

Download here: europe-itinerary

Paulo Coelho said in his book, The Zahir, “One day you will wake up and there won’t be any more time to do things you’ve always wanted. Do it now.”

So apply for a visa and book your tickets NOW.

Also read: The 2017 Europe Bucket List: 17 Experiences You Must Have

How I Spent 14 Days in Japan with Less Than ₱30k Cash on Hand

14 days in Japan with less than ₱30k budget (all-in) -- learn how this Filipina solo traveller did it!

October 4, 2016, 8:00 am June 21, 2017, 10:43 am

Roxanne Tamayo Roxanne is an aspiring digital nomad, a freelance online worker since 2009. She made her first solo travel in Japan and made it to five countries in 2015. She also loves travelling while doing volunteer work. She decides to be more adventurous and is now a certified scuba diver. Get to know more about her at iTravelRox.com!

Contributed by I Travel Rox

My 14 days Japan trip has been the first and most ambitious trip that I ever had. If you were aware of my previous post about what happened to my father, my travel fund for Japan was already wiped out. There was hesitation on my part if I should pursue this trip or not. Somehow, my former Canadian client understood my situation and sent US$500 on my PayPal account. I challenged myself to travel solo on a low budget with just US$500 (~₱20,000).

Also read: Impossible! Just SGD 1200 for 10 days in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto?!

7 days in Tokyo, 5 days in Osaka with my Japanese family and 2 nights stranded at Narita airport.

The total expenses for my 14 days trip in Japan was less than ₱30,000, including airfare, travel tax, terminal fee and Japan visa. Read on for more detailed information.

The table above shows how I spent the US$500 (~₱20,000) that was given to me by my former client. Everything was spent in Tokyo and Narita airport where I got stranded for 2 nights.

Free activities in Tokyo

You can see that I didn’t spend much during my DIY tour or Do-It-Yourself tour in Japan because there are several things to do in Tokyo that are absolutely FREE.

Also read: 10 Fun Things to Do in Tokyo for First Time Filipino Travellers

Activities in 5 Cities

In Osaka, I stayed there for 5 days with my Japanese family and they showed me around Osaka, Kyoto, Kuwana and Nara. In Yokohama, I met this Japanese guy in the club of Roppongi who was very nice to me and invited me for a day trip to his hometown. Will blog more about this on separate articles.

Travel tips

1. Buy baggage fees in advance.
2. Do not buy baggage if not shopping.
3. Terminal fee is at ₱750
4. With my Philippine Peso, it is best to exchange to Japanese Yen at Narita airport because it has bigger value compared to the one I exchanged money in Shibuya. It was a big loss.
5. Get a Suica card the moment you arrive at the airport and load it with at least JPY 1000 + JPY 500 deposit fee.
6. Book Willer Bus ahead of time because it’s cheaper.
7. Do not ever ride a taxi.
8. Book accommodation in advance for cheaper deals.
9. If stranded in Tokyo, find a 24-hour McDonald’s to stay for a night.
10. Spend lesser with food buying from 7-11 but splurging with Japanese food is not really a problem.
11. Download Tokyo Subway on your smartphone.
12. Get a Tokyo Guidemap -- it’s a must and it will save your ass and time.
13. Be friendly with the locals -- who knows they can give you a free tour.
14. Rent a bike in Japan if you got the chance. I find it least expensive than using a train. I haven’t tried it yet but I will do it on my next trip especially in Kyoto.

That’s it. I’m just glad I am now finally made this blog post because this has been long overdue.

Also read: 5 Tips Every Budget Traveller in Tokyo Must Know

Special thanks to Kitagawa family who made this Japan trip unexpectedly incredible, to Hide for showing me in Yokohama, to my former Canadian client who was being understanding with the situation, and to all the people I’ve met from different parts of the world for looking after me.

How I Travelled 6 days in Taiwan for PHP 34k (All-In)

For only PHP 34K, this Pinoy travelled 5 counties and 1 city in Taiwan in 6 days. Learn how he did it.

June 28, 2016, 8:00 am June 21, 2017, 10:44 am

Willester Yap A chinito who wanders places that are intruiging and fascinating to both the eyes and mind. He aims to inspire others to captivate what the world has to offer and how to enjoy life through budget friendly travel escapades. Tag along with his blog, it might surprise you where he will go next.

Contributed by Chinito Wanders

The Queen City of the South is steadily making its mark in having direct international flights. Before, I have to admit it was hard for a Cebuano like me to travel on a budget without being broke at airfare cost alone, since we need to travel to Manila for International flights or do connecting flights. Instead of paying one round trip ticket for our destination, we ended up buying two. Now, we are privileged that there are more direct international flights being carried out.

I always wanted to travel on a budget, but I also make sure that my travel will not be compromised even if it is on a budget. It may not be a super budget travel, but it’s definitely way cheaper than hiring a travel agency. The advantage of it is that you get to customise the places you wanted to go, and not to mention you don’t need to scurry like what happens when you hire a travel agency, and you are obligated to visit factory shops that are brutally time consuming and a waste of time then you are forced to buy their products.

In this entry I would like to share to you how I spent my few days in the Heart of Asia. I visited 4 counties and 1 City in 6 days which covers almost half of Taiwan’s Main Attraction. They say that PHP 35,000.00 budget is actually big but wait until you read everything, then you can say if this budget is more than what it's worth. You can actually have it lowered if you can find promo fares, choose a backpacker’s inn rather than a hotel and choose not to indulge in a bit of luxury.

When I knew that there was a direct flight from Cebu to Taiwan, I did not hesitate to book one for me and my parents. My mother really wanted to go to Taiwan even before but failed to do so because there was no direct flight back then, and airfare going to Taiwan was still quite expensive. I don’t know if it was on Promo fare, but I ended up booking ours at 176 USD/person which includes: a round trip airfare via Eva Airways (Cebu-Taoyuan Intl Airport-Cebu), a complimentary delicious meal, 7 kilos of carry-on luggage and a 20 kilos checked-in baggage in each flight. I think, it was a good deal.

Also read: 8 Tricks to Successfully Grab Cheap Promo Flights in the Philippines

This I can tell you now, I did not have any regret that I visited Taiwan. There are lots of places to visit than I initially thought. The place is rich in culture. The people are well mannered and hospitable (unlike people in Hong Kong that are a bit rude), and of course, they have tons of street food that you can try. You can really tell that it is “The Heart of Asia”. Oh By the way, If you are a Milk tea addict, you might braise yourself as Taiwan is the founder of Bubble Milk tea and Milk Tea Houses can be found anywhere within the country.

In order for you to visit Taiwan, you need to have a Taiwan Tourist Visa.

Let me sail you through my detailed itinerary from day 1 to the day we departed from Taiwan. I will also make an expense summary on that specific day and how I managed to travel with PHP 35,000 budget.

Our Flight Itinerary as follows:

• Arrival:          APR 18            CEB- TAIPEI          11:05-14:00/ 11AM- 2PM
• Departure:    APR 23            TAIPEI-CEB           07:10 -10:05

Note:

• 1 NT$ (New Taiwan Dollar) is equivalent to 1.65 Phil.Peso more or less
• 1 USD (US Dollar) is equivalent to 32.5 NTD or P46.00 Philippine Peso
• Expenses are in Philippine Peso unless specified.

LET’S SET SAIL!

Also read: A Filipino Traveller’s Guide to Visiting Taiwan for the First Time

Day 1

Arrival @ 2:00 PM

• Buy Chunghwa store simcard for NTD 300 for the SIM with Unlimited 4G data for 6 days and NTD 50 worth of calls/texts. (may buy this in the airport arrival area)
• Buy bus ticket around 125 cheapest in Airport to Taipei Main Station
• Taipei Main station ride MRT to Ximen Station (blue Lane) bought an Easy Card for the MRT rides for NTD 500 with NTD 400 consumable and NTD 100 Deposit (this can be refunded if not fully consumed)
• Go to EXIT 6 and walk 5 mins to hotel @ ECFA Hotel Wan Nian
• (address:  6F., NO.70, XINING S. RD., XIMENDING, TAIPEI, TAIWAN, 108/ CONTCT: +886223619069)
• Check in hotel around 5pm
• Go straight to Din Tai Fung (Taiwan’s famous Dumpling)  for dinner (DongMen –Red Line exit 5) - NTD 750 /3 pax =NTD 250 each
• Stroll along the street before going back to the hotel.
• Night market at Ximending area
• Bubble  Tea 50嵐  —  o.48-4 Xining South Road - NTD 50

Also read: Unique Things To Bring Back From Your Visit To Taiwan And Where To Buy Them

Our flight from Cebu departed at 12:05 noon time, a little bit delayed than our flight schedule and arrived at Taoyuan International Airport around 2:30 PM. We had our passports cleared at the Immigration area and got our checked in baggage. When you exit at the Arrival area, turn left then go far straight ahead until you will be able to see Chung Hwa Store (you may also ask the Help/Information Desk for the location of the store). It is a telecommunications store where in I advise you to get a tourist prepaid sim card. You will need it, and their internet is fast. This is what I chose: Unlimited 4G data for 5 days with NTD 50  (New Taiwan Dollar) worth of calls and text/s for NTD 300. They will need to ask your passport for your sim card registration. It takes less than 5 minutes to do this.

After having your local sim card, go to the Bus ticketing area. Because, Taoyuan International Airport is far away from Taipei City, you need to take a bus. There are no direct MRT to Taipei City. Riding a taxi is expensive as it will cost you NTD 1,500 good for up to 4 person. The best choice would be to take the bus. Remember when I told you that The sim card station is at the far left side when you get out of the arrival area? Well, the bus ticketing station is at the opposite, so its at the far right side of the building. Just follow the signs or watch this video.

There are lots of bus companies to choose from, but I chose the Kou-Kuang Bus Services as it was the cheapest among others for NTD 125 /person. Tell the cashier that you will alight in Taipei Main Station. You will be given a seat # when you buy the ticket and the bus leaves practically every 15 minutes so you don’t have to worry.

Upon arrival at Taipei Main Station, go inside the building and look for the Information Centre / Ticketing Centre. In here, you will buy your Easy Card (it looks like an ATM,  you will need it for your MRT Rides). The reason why I bought this is that when using Easy Card for your MRT Rides you will have 25% discount in each trip you make, which can save you a lot of money. I bought mine for NTD 500 with NTD 400 consumable and NTD 100 deposit. You don’t have worry if you can’t consume it all, you just have to return the Easy card to any information centre inside the MRT station and they will refund to you what is left in your card. To learn how to ride an MRT in Taiwan, watch this video.

After we got our cards, we headed straight to ECFA Hotel Wan Nian for check in.

Address: 6F., No.70, Xining S. Rd., Ximending, Taipei, Taiwan, 108

Contact #: +886223619069

I chose this hotel because of the good feedback, and not to mention it is in the heart of  Ximending Night Market. It is only a few minutes away from the MRT Station. I did not regret one bit about booking in this Hotel. Personally, I love the location of this Hotel. The Buffet Breakfast was good enough considering the price. It is definitely a value for money. Trust me!

How to get to the hotel

• From Taipei Main station ride MRT to Ximen Station (blue Lane)
• Head to EXIT 6 and walk 5 minutes to hotel
• You may use Google map to locate the hotel after you have exited the Ximen MRT Station (that’s what I did).

By the way, the Hotel is inside a mall and the lobby is at the 6th floor. Take the lift and press 6.

Checking in was a breeze. It only took 5 minutes for us to get checked in. After that, we went straight to our room to put our bags and freshen up, and headed straight for Din Tai Fung where we had our dinner.

To get there, take the MRT to DongMen –Red Line then exit 5, walk straight for a few metres then you will notice people lining up. The restaurant is located at the right side. You will not fail to notice it! Watch this video for more info about Din Tai Fung.

After Dinner, we went back to our Hotel, explored Ximending, and did some food tripping even though we were a bit full already. After that, we headed back to our hotel and hit the sack for the early tour that we planned the next day.

Also read: 4 Days Taiwan Itinerary: Unconventional Things to Do for Your Next Weekend Getaway

Day 1 Summary of Expenses:

• Simcard – NTD 300 (PHP 495)
• Bus ticket – NTD 125  (PHP 206.25)
• MRT Easy Card – NTD 500 NTD (PHP 825) but used only NTD 275, the NTD 225  was refunded, so I only spent NTD 275  (PHP 453.50)
• Dinner – NTD 250  (PHP 412.50)
• Food trip allowance – NTD 100 (PHP 165)
• Bubble Tea  – NTD 50  (PHP 82.50)

Total: PHP 1,814.75

Day 2

• 5am-6am - Breakfast, Bathing and preparation
• 6am-6:30 - Straight to Taipei Main Station to catch our 7:20am HSR Train (Bullet Train) to Taichung County
• 7:20am - Depart from Taipei City
• 8:30am - Arrived at Taichung County HSR Station
• 9am - Sun Moon Lake Tour Began
• 6pm - Sun Moon Lake Tour ended
• 8:30pm-9:30pm - Took our Train Ride back to Taipei

We woke up at 5am to prepare for our Sun Moon Lake Tour. Our free buffet Breakfast will start at 7am, and since we did not have the time, I simply purchased food from Family Mart which is just outside our Hotel. Convenient!

After we had our breakfast, we headed straight to Ximen MRT Station to Taipei Main Station to catch our 7:20am HSR Train (a.k.a. Bullet Train) trip to Taichung County.

Sun Moon Lake, being the largest natural Lake in Taiwan, is a must see. It is located at the middle West of Taiwan.

To avoid the hassle I booked a tour by a local Travel Agency in Taiwan, which was fairly cheap enough. Do not worry; this company is legit as evidenced by our experience.

You may contact them via email. We had ours at NTD 2,490 /person with the following inclusions:

• Round trip HSR Train (Bullet Train) taipei City-Taichung-Taipei City
• Gratifying lunch
• Tour
• Entrance fees
• Land transfers from Taichung County-Nantou-County- Taichung County

Exclusion: Guide/driving tipping of at least NTD 100 /person (still not a bad deal though)

They can speak English so you don’t have a problem communicating with them. They have an English Speaking Guide as well.

After our tour ended, I suggested to my parents to have our late night dinner at Lan Jia Gua Bao, Taipei’s Best Gua Bao.

Although my parents were already tired, I convinced them that it’s a must-eat, that we should not waste any opportunity since we were in Taiwan.

My Gua Bao

Lan Jia Gua Bao (藍家割包) is located very close to National Taiwan University, and within the Gongguan Night Market. Take the MRT to Gong Guan (Green Lane) exit to National Taiwan University. Upon exiting, turn right then head straight until there is an intersection, then make a left turn. You may use your Google Map to locate the restaurant. It is easy!

When my parents tried it, they said it was worth it and did not regret going there. You should definitely try it too!

After we got our stomachs full, we headed back to the hotel. End of day 2.

Day 2 Summary of Expenses:

• Sun Moon Lake Tour – PHP 4,108.50
• Breakfast – PHP 120
• Dinner – PHP 82.50
• Food trip allowance – PHP 165

Total: PHP 4,476

Day 3

By this time, you will be a bit familiar with how the MRT Train System works. This will not be as hard as the first day.

Our schedule for this day was:

• Eat breakfast at 8:30am.
• Left hotel by 9:30am
• Go on for Half Day City Tour in the morning.

1st stop: Longshan Temple – Longshan MRT Station:  (Blue Lane):  exit 1. Upon exiting, turn right and head straight. You will be able to find it already. We just had a quick peak and some snap shots and went to our next stop.

Longshan Temple

2nd stop: Chiang kai Shek Memorial Hall , CKS Memorial Hall Chiang Kai Shek Plaza and Taipei’s National Theater  – ride an MRT to Chiang Kai SHek  station (green -red lane):– all  of these can be found at Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall area. They are neighbouring buildings. Take lots of pictures. The area was picturesque.

Entrance of the Park

Chiang Kai SHek Memorial Hall

National Theatre

Chiang Kai SHek Monument

If you want, do witness the changing of guards inside the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall. Changing of guards happens every hour starting at 8am with no lunch breaks and ends at 8pm. It is a 15-minute show. Definitely a must watch!

Also read: 6 Totally Underrated Places to Visit in Taiwan

Lunch: Jin Feng Lu Rou Fan Rice meat or  Kinfen –  near Chiang Kai Shek (red-green)

Take the MRT to Chiang Kai Shek station, Exit #2, and walk straight for about 50 metres and you’ll see the unique signs of the restaurants with the mountainous landscape background, and a crowd of people outside. That’s the spot. The rice meal cost NTD 60 (PHP 107.25).

We then headed back to our hotel before 12:30pm for the afternoon North and North East Coast Tour which will start at 1pm.

After Lunch: North and North East Tour

For this tour we just hired the Hotel van for 8 hours that costs NTD 5,000  for 7 people. We just divided the rate. You may choose up to 4 tourist spots  that you wanted to go.

We chose: Chiufen Village, Yehliu Geo Park, Nanya Rock Formation, Golden Waterfalls and a quick stop at Yin and Yang Sea.

Dinner:

We had our dinner at a local restaurant in Chiufen Village, since it was our last stop before heading back to the hotel. You don’t have to worry about where to eat because there are lot food vendors in the area.

After we had our dinner, the van dropped us back to our hotel.

Optional Dinner: If you want, you can have your dinner at Modern Toilet Restaurant which is just a few blocks away from the Hotel. Again, Google Map will be in good use. Well, me and my parents did not go there since I read a review about the pricey menu and the not so good food. You’re actually just paying for the ambience. That’s it. I just thought it wasn’t worth it.

Also read: Bring Your Friends to Eat Poop at the World’s First Toilet-themed Restaurant in Taiwan

Day 3 Summary of Expenses:

The morning city tour was free and is located near MRT stations.

• Lunch – PHP 107.25
• North and Northeast Tour – PHP 1,500
• Dinner @ a local Restaurant in Chiufen Old Village – PHP 200/person
• Food trip allowance – PHP 200

Total: PHP 2,007.25

Day 4

Taroko Gorge National Park is located in Hualien County, middle east part of Taiwan.

I initially regretted that I booked this tour from Viator since it was the most expensive tour I made from this trip; I would have saved more if I made a DIY tour in the National Park. But when I got there, I realised that it was difficult to have a DIY tour since there are lots of repair that was going on due to the recent earthquake. There are only few buses/vans that are allowed to enter but not impossible. I just wanted less hassle at that time since my parents tagged along. My verdict was, it may have been pricey, but I think it was worth it!

Upon booking, Viator will send you an email regarding your detailed itinerary and the time you will be picked up at your hotel. Since we will be setting out early again, I just bought our breakfast from Family Mart.

We were picked up at our hotel at 5:20am since one of the inclusion of the tour was the hotel pick up, and the time for pick up depends on the hotel location.

After that, everything was according to the itinerary stated.

We were back in our hotel around 8pm and had our dinner in a local restaurant (more like a local diner/carenderia in Filipino dialect) at Ximeding night market that served one of the best Oyster omelettes we ever tasted. I forgot the name of the restaurant but it was located adjacent to Uniqlo, beside Hot Star Chicken. By the way, Hot Star Chicken is also a must try! I would advise you to buy and eat the food that looks delicious.

After we had our dinner, I went straight to Starbucks, since there was a Starbucks nearby to buy a tumbler. I collect Starbucks tumbler to the places I went to. It costs NTD 450 (PHP 720). It includes 1 Grande size of any Starbucks drink.

Day 4 Summary of Expenses

• Breakfast – PHP 175
• Taroko Tour –150 USD (PHP 6,900)
• Dinner – PHP 200
• Starbucks Tumbler – PHP 720

Total: 7,995

Day 5

• 9am – Breakfast at hotel
• 10am – left hotel and went to Guang Hua Electronic Plaza (Taiwan’s Largest Electronic/gadget Mall)
• 1pm – Late lunch at the mall’s food court.
• 2pm – head to Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall
• 3pm – visited Wu Pao Chun Bakery (Home of Taiwan’s Litchi Rose Champion Bread – bagged as the World’s Best European Bread in 2010 of the Bakery World Cup)
• 4:30pm – went back to the Hotel
• 5:30pm – went to Taipei 101 for some window shopping
• 8pm – came home for dinner at our hotel
• 9:30pm – went to Carrefour to buy last minute Souvenirs.
• 12 Midnight – had a 3 hour sleep before I woke up for our departure.

On our 5th day, it was just more city tour. My dad wanted to go to the largest Electronic Mall in Taiwan. Taiwan is known for its cheaper electronics / gadget than other Asian countries. We went there to find out if it was really true. Well, it’s not all true. It’s just more or less the same price in the Philippines, bu they just have more options to choose from.

To get there, take the MRT ZhongXiao Xinsheng (blue lane) upon exit. Use your Google map. It’s just a 5 minute walk away from MRT Station.

After we had our window shopping at the mall and had our lunch, we went to Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall/Park. Take the MRT to Sunyatsen Memorial Hall (blue lane) to get to the park.

Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall / Plaza also gives you a good view at Taipei 101 where you can have as much photo op as you want. The place is huge for a Memorial Hall. Well, it’s almost the same size as Chiang Kai Shek Memorial hall. I really envy Taiwanese as they really respect their leaders who made a mark in their history, and not to mention they are well aware about the country’s economy.

Since my parents were tired of walking. I left them at Sun Yat Sen Park to enjoy the place while I went off to Wu Pao Chun Bakery. All I did was use my Google Map to locate the bakery which is around 10-15 minutes away from Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall.

Wu Pao Chun Bakery is located inside the basement area of a certain building. You may ask a local guard on duty to give you directions to the Bakery. It nearly took me an hour to be in the bakery itself, since I was in awe of the abundance of the breads that are displayed, which most of them are award winning. My parents were worried why it took me so long to get back.

My dad wasn’t feeling well at that time so we decided to get back to the hotel to rest for a bit.

After that, me and my mom made a unanimous decision to go to Taipei 101 to have window shopping, but really, ended up buying “ahem” bags, my mom’s weakness. We went back to the hotel and had some take away for our dinner and ate it inside our hotel room.

Since I nearly forgot that I still haven’t bought some pasalubong (souvenirs), I researched if there are any groceries or super markets near our hotel. And I found this Carrefour (家樂福) Xi Men Ding branch online which is open 24 hours. Again, I used Google Map to locate the place. It is approximately 15 minutes away from our hotel. It is quite far but actually very worth it. I was able to find lots of Milk tea products, from powdered form to the whole tea leaves with creamer at a very affordable price! Taiwan is living up to its reputation as the Founder of Milk Teas! Hurraayyy!!! It is heaven for me since I’m a huge milk tea addict.

I bought 5 packs of milk tea with other food souvenirs that my mom asked me to buy for additional give away to their friends when we get back to the Philippines.

Even though I struggled my way back to the hotel because I bought more than I expected, I was happy and got back to the hotel with a smile from ear to ear. Up to this moment, I am drinking the milk tea that I bought from Taiwan. Yum!

Day 5 Summary of Expenses:

• Lunch – PHP 200
• Wu Pao Chun – NTD 350 (PHP 577.50)
• Souvenirs – PHP 500
• Dinner – PHP 250

Total: PHP 1,527.50

Day 6

We woke up early for our early flight back to Cebu. Taxi to airport – NTD 1,000 / 3pax = NTD 333.33  (PHP 550)

Miscellaneous:

Airfare Ticket = USD 176 (PHP 8,096)

Philippine Travel Tax = PHP 1,620

ECFA Hotel Wan Nian = PHP 14, 373 for 5 nights / 3 pax = PHP 4,791

Roundtrip Taxi to and from Mactan-Cebu International Airport = PHP 539

Total = PHP 15,046

Summary of All Expenses for 6 Days:

• 1st day:  PHP 1,814.75
• 2nd day:  PHP 4,476
• 3rd day:  PHP 2,007.25
• 4th day: PHP 7,995
• 5th day: PHP 1,527.50
• 6th day: PHP 550
• Miscellaneous: PHP 15,046

Grand Total = PHP 33,416.50

Verdict

I urge you to visit Taiwan! I don’t know why I didn’t hear much stories about Taiwan than the usual Asian countries that we visited like Hong Kong and Singapore, to name a few. Maybe because it needs tourist visa in order for us to go there? But Taiwan is LOVE for me. Until now, I can’t get over thinking how good Taiwan was. I want to go back again soon and visit other places that I failed to go. There are more Night Markets to go to. More food to taste, a lot of other cultural history to know about and much more. I cannot gauge how much I missed the trip. It was very short, but definitely I made the most out of the short time.

Tips

• Don’t hesitate to ask for directions from locals if you’re lost. Taiwanese may not be able to speak English well but they are very helpful and hospitable and they try their best to help you.
• Always use your Google Map. That is one of the reasons why I urge you to buy their local Sim card. It will be very useful
• Make use of your internet. It is Unlimited. Download lots of movies while you’re there.

Below are the other alternatives that you might want to try or check out which I failed to visit (another reason to go back):

• Raohe night market – take the MRT to (green line-songshan) – Stinky tofu , Pepper cakes
• Elephant Mountain  – take the MRT to Xiangshan (Red Line) – to have a good view in all of Taipei. It is like TOPS or Mountain View in Cebu City. There will be around 300 steps to  reach to the top of the mountain. However there are levels as to where you want to get your shot of the city.
• Shih Lin Night Market – take the MRT to Jiantan Red line: B1  – Hot-star large fried chicken (豪大大雞排), pepper pork bun and more street food. By the way their street food area is located at the basement 1 of Shih Lin Market. One of the best night markets in Taipei.

Also read: The Ultimate Guide to Taipei’s Night Markets

How to Spend 35 Days in Europe on a PHP200k Budget

8 cities, 35 days with PHP200,000, here's how to survive Europe on a budget.

October 16, 2015, 8:00 am June 21, 2017, 10:44 am

Val Christian Santos Val is in desperate need to be a kid again. Since time travel hasn’t been invented yet, he journeys through distant lands hoping to awaken the sense of wonder we somehow lost in adulthood.

First off, I won’t delve into the philosophical conundrum of why spending a large sum of money in a relatively short span of time would be worth it; but ask any ardent traveller and the answer would be a resounding yes.

Also read: 18 Invaluable Tips for Saving Money on your Europe Trip

I spent 35 days in Europe, landing in Paris and making my way down to Rome. The amount of money this sort of trip demands is no easy feat, so the best way to spend it is to make smart decisions. I wish that had always been the case, but God knows I’ve made a few rookie mistakes. Here’s hoping I could help you make better choices and hopefully, save you a few bucks along the way.

Visa + insurance + travel tax

Not all countries are created equal. For us Filipinos, we have to jump through serious hoops before we get access to Europe. I applied for a Schengen Visa in the French Embassy. Granted or not, everyone pays EUR60 (approx. PHP3,000) for the application process.  They also require you to have travel insurance. Find one that gives the option of a refund in case the visa wasn’t granted.

Before flying off, make sure you pay your international travel tax. Thankfully though, terminal fees are already included in the airfare since February 2015.

Flight

A big part of your budget would be your flight going in and out of Europe. I found mine using Skyscanner. It’s a great resource to find cheap flights but I opted to book using the airline’s own system. Though there are other cheaper airlines available, I chose Etihad Airways based on a friend’s recommendation (and my mom’s refusal to book infamous or unfamiliar airlines).

A direct flight from Manila to Paris will set you back pretty far. The best travel hack I did was to find nearby countries where flying into Paris would be cheaper. Simply add the cost of flying into that city and compare it with the direct flight.

My original route was Manila to Paris then Rome to Manila. This would cost me around Php 40,000. However, if I fly to Paris via Singapore, the combined cost of the two airlines is a little over Php 32,000 giving me quite a few savings. I have to consider the time in between flights though, as budget carriers have a reputation for being late.

Intercity transportation

The first leg of my trip was quite simple. Trains would be the most logical choice as the distance is relatively close. You can book your tickets 30 to 60 days in advance to get the best deal possible.

The second half is a bit tricky. I originally intended to go to Venice after Berlin. However, night trains are quite expensive. They might save you a night’s stay but the cost of the train itself is pretty steep. The best alternative is to look at flights from budget carriers such as Ryanair, easyJet, or Vueling. Sometimes, flights are cheaper than trains plus they’re a bit faster. You can actually compare trains, flights, and even buses using GoEuro.

Also read: Backpacking Central and Eastern Europe for 70 Days at SGD 7300

Hostels

The backpacker life isn’t complete until you stayed (and partied) in a hostel. They’re basically dorm style lodging filled with fellow travellers. You’re basically paying for a shared room so the cost is quite cheap. It’s also the best way to meet new friends and excellent beer buddies. I booked my hostels using Hostelworld.

The other cheap options for accommodations would be to use Airbnb or Couchsurfing. This option is best suited to meet locals and if you’re lucky, you might get a free meal in the process.

Food + activities

If you’re not picky with what you eat, you can survive with a budget of  EUR5 to 7 (PHP260-360) per meal. The backpacker’s key to food survival is a good Doner Kebab. Remember that name. It’s basically their version of shawarma in a hefty serving.

Hostels are usually equipped with a kitchen so you can also try pooling money with your roomies and cook your own dinner. You don’t always have to eat in a restaurant. A good hotdog, sandwich, or kebab can be pretty satisfying after a full day of walking. Speaking of walking, try to join free walking tours as much as you can. The term “free” is loosely used as the payment is in the form of tipping. The good thing is that you pay for what you think the tour is worth.

The guys in red from Sandeman’s New Europe Tours give a pretty amazing and informative tour. It’s probably the best way to get a good introduction to the city and get the best advice and recommendations on which places to see, eat and party.

Every city has its musts. Paris has the Louvre, Amsterdam has the Anne Frank House and Berlin has its clubs. Find out what you absolutely must do and allot a budget for that. You don’t have to map out every day throughout your entire trip but it’s nice to have an idea on what to do.  Then again, if you’re like me, you can go to a city and have absolutely no idea what to do.

Also read: Europe Travel Tips: Saving Costs on Transport, Lodgings and More

That’s the beauty of travel though. Planning is all about being smart and decisive. But sometimes, the best days are spent being lost and clueless. Money is just one part of the trip. Don’t let it limit you. I never got the chance to climb the Eiffel Tower, but what I do remember is getting drunk on the grass below it. Experiences aren’t measured by how much you spend, but rather the profound impact it brings. You just have to know the difference between worth and value.

Contributed by The Basic Itch.

How I Travelled 5 Days from Bangkok to Siem Reap with a Budget of PHP 19,800 (All-In)

Know how this traveller managed to travel around Bangkok and Siem Reap in five days for under PHP 20,000.

April 29, 2016, 9:00 am June 21, 2017, 10:47 am

Tristan Jay Correa TJ is working as a program producer in a radio station but his alter ego “Travel Jock” keeps his feet uncontrollable as if wanting to explore the world with freedom and independence. His heart and mind are currently battling if he should stay on a stable career with limited vacation leaves or embark on a risky journey of travelling the wo​rld with no limits. He just started his simple blog The Travel Jock.

Contributed by Travel Jock

I brought my brother to Bangkok and Siem Reap as an early Christmas gift to him since I want him to explore different countries too.

Let me share my Do-It-Yourself itinerary 3 days in Bangkok, Thailand and 2 days in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Budget is included in this attachment so hope this will help in your trip!

Day 1: Grand Palace

November 29

06:20am  Departure in Manila

08:40am Arrival in Bangkok

10:00am Ride Suvarnabhumi station to Makkassan

Ride MRT Phetchaburi to SiLom Station

Walk to Thrive the Hostel located at Silom

11:00am Arrival at the hotel / check in / Lunch

** bring bottled water & small towel

12:00nn Ride BTS SalaDaeng Station to Saphan Taksin S6 Exit 2

Get off at Saphan Taksin Station (or S6 Station) and go out through Exit No. 2. Then, take the Chao Phraya Express Boat to Ta Chang Pier (No.9). A 5-10 minute walk will bring you to the entrance gate of the Grand Palace.

1:00pm Grand Palace & Emerald Buddha

Walk to Wat Pho

Take a cross river ferry to Wat Arun before 4pm

4:00pm Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) (closes at 500pm)

Take a cross river ferry back to pier grand palace

5:00pm Ferry back to Saphan Taksin Station to SalaDaeng Station

6:00pm Dinner / Nightlife

Also read: A Traveller’s Bucket List for Vietnam, Thailand & Cambodia

Day 2 Floating Market & Elephant Village

November 30

6:00am Breakfast / Shower

** bring bottled water & small towel

6:30am Sala Daeng Station to Siam Station (BTS 2)

Siam Station to Victory Monument (BTS 1)

At the Victory Monument Station, Descend and look for Century Plaza; the minivan terminal is beside it.

Minivan to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

Tell to drop in the market, if not walk to the Floating market

Get the number of the driver of Minivan

09:00am Check paddle boat (Negotiate first 100-150 baht) ask if it includes the visit to elephant village

Ride Elephant in Elephant Village

12:00nn Lunch & Shop

Call back the minivan or walk to the Damnoen Saduak Transport

Station and look for the minivan or bus 78

2:00pm Minivan back to Victory Monument

Victory Monument Station to Hostel

7:00pm Dinner / Nightlife

Also read: 12 Delicious Must-Buy Souvenirs From Bangkok For A Taste Of Thailand

Day 3 Ayutthaya Day Tour

December 1

06:00am Shower / breakfast

Minivan to Ayutthaya

06:30am Sala Daeng Station to Siam Station (BTS 2)

Siam Statin to Victory Monument (BTS 1)

At the Victory Monument Station, go right on the elevated walkway. Stay on it until you cross a large road, then descend

07:30am Minivan ride to Ayutthaya

Drop at Naresuan Road

Option 1: Rent a bike

Option 2: Rent a tuktuk

We rent a tuktuk worth 1,2000 baht; tuktuk drivers will bring to you different temples

• Ayutthaya Historical Park
• Wat Mahathat
• Wat Rachaburana
• Wat Phra Ram
• Wat Thammikkarat
• Wat Mongkhon Bophit
• Wat Phra Sri Sanphet
• Wat Lokayasutha (Phra Noon)
• Others are optional

Back to Minivan ride

Victory Monument to Siam to Sala Daeng

Walk to Hostel / Dinner

Day 4 Going to Siem Reap

December 2

05:00am Taxi to Don muang International Airport

(Optional) Commute to Don Muang

• MRT Silom to Hualumpong station then train to Don Muang
• MRT Silom to Phahon yothin then taxi to don muang airport

10:00am Don Meung Airport Flight to Siem Reap

11:00am Lunch at the airport

01:00pm Ride Tuktuk to Hostel (included in the package)

02:00pm Rest in hostel

03:00pm Walking tour…

• Wat Preah prom Rath
• Royal Gardens
• Angkor National Museum
• Pub Street
• Spa

07:00pm Nigh Market / Dinner

Also read: 10 Destinations in Cambodia You Need to Visit

Day 5 Angkor Wat

December 3

06:00am Wake up / breakfast (Free breakfast)

07:00am Tuktuk tour ** ask if the tuktuk can get us straight to airport

• Bayon (Angkor Thom) / Ta Phrom
• Preah Khan Temple
• Angkor Wat (sunset)

06:00pm Ride to Airport

07:00pm Should be in Siem Reap Airport

10:30pm Flight to Manila

Budget:

• Airfare (Manila – Bangkok) – 4,000 pesos
• Airfare (Bangkok – Siem Reap) – 2,400 pesos
• Hotel (Thrive the Hostel) - 900 pesos for 3 days
• Hotel (King Boutique Hotel - 500 pesos for 1 day
• Other expenses - 12,000 pesos

  o Food

  o Transpo

  o Temple entrances

  o Nightlife

  o Pasalubong

  o Miscellaneous

TOTAL EXPENSES: PHP 19,800

Here are some of our pictures:

How I Travelled Solo in Siem Reap for 2 Days with Only PHP 7,650

Witness the majestic sunrise at Angkor Wat and go on a motorcylce tour around Siem Reap for less than PHP 8,000. Here's how a Filipina did it!

February 17, 2016, 8:00 am June 21, 2017, 10:47 am

Irene Maligat Irene Maligat falls in love easily - with people, with places, and with experiences. Her main goal in life is to inspire and empower a lot of people through travel and the value of gratitude. She gratefully writes inspiring articles at Inspiring Grateful Travels.

Contributed by Inspiring Grateful Travels

Experiencing the best tourist sites in Siem Reap was fascinating! It piqued great interest in me that I haven’t felt in other countries I have travelled to. It has picturesque views, significant history, and monumental structures.

I think Siem Reap really welcomed me with open arms because ALL IN ONE DAY, MY FIRST DAY:

• I felt 2 weathers out in the open – intense heat and excessive out of breath rain
• Talked to so many people – Tourists / Airport Staff / Roommates / Hostel mates / Hostel staff / Locals. So many conversations in one whole day!
• Rode 10km worth of motorbike
• Hiked a mountain for a little over 15 to 20 minutes
• Motorbike tour activities
• Night activities at Pub street
• And so much more!!!
• Doing all these with few to zero sleep because of my Kuala Lumpur Sri Packers roommates who wouldn’t let me rest the night before!

It was all so overwhelming and amazing. After that one day, I was lying at my hostel bed thinking WOW I achieved ALL OF THAT in a little over 24 hours. And that in about 4-5 hours, I will be getting up to do so many things again.

Also read: 10 Destinations in Cambodia You Need to Visit

I thought about how people would always think that they lack time to do so many things that they want. They tell me that they have so much work to do, that they lack rest, and so many reasons. I beg to differ. We can do SO MANY things if we want to. We need a lot of HEART, passion, endurance, and perseverance. It’s our lack of will or confidence that prevents us from doing things that we need or want to do, that’s why we give off reasons like there is no time.

We have time. And we have choices. If we choose to drag on things that don’t really matter, we waste time. If we choose to do things we want coinciding on things we need to do, we get everything we truly want done. People have so much more potential to greatly achieve things that they give themselves credit for.

How much time do people waste,

• Scrolling down social media content on smart phones?
• Watching full seasons of TV series in just days?
• Sleeping or eating excessively?
• Playing video or app games for hours?

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t say I don’t do some of these. People can slack off for a time, rest more than they have to, indulge as rewarded, but these same people shouldn’t complain that they do not have enough time to do the things they want. Make use of your time. You have a lot of it. Be efficient.

Siem Reap was a grateful experience.

Amazing people, significant history, jaw dropping views, Tomb Raider/Indiana Jones feels...

I will definitely come back and tour Siem Reap again.

Siem Reap International Airport

Outside Siem Reap International Airport

The airport was really different from airports I’ve been to. It’s not modern. They’ve built it by infusing its country’s culture. It has the temple-ish vibe. I was a little annoyed at my immigration officer because when he saw my passport, he immediately said “You Filipino, not allowed work here.” Wow. Not even a question first! He already assumed that I would be looking for work. Has it really come to this? Is this really the reputation of Filipinos around the world? Just a sad reality, I guess. Just being grateful for the best! Outside Siem Reap, you’ll find lots of tuktuks and car services.

When I was departing Siem Reap and was checking in, there was a lot of construction going on. Check in took me around 30 minutes and there was a lot of hammering, drilling, and banging! It was really irritating. Good thing this was only at the check in area, departure area was good.

Pre departure Area at Siem Reap International Airport

Inside the airport, you’ll find a lot of shops and duty free stores. I really liked the seats as they were comfy for departure process. The view of the runway was great too – a long road with a backdrop of the fields – really awesome grateful view!

Accommodation: One Stop Hostel

One Stop Hostel was really awesome! This is the most fun hostel I’ve ever been in! The staff were great! And I’ve had a lot of conversations at the common room. Everyone was so friendly! Thank you to everyone I’ve met! I learned a lot from all of you. You can sit with anyone and just strike up a conversation! The common room was really homey too. Everyone was just there making conversations while eating, watching movies, surfing the internet, and many more.

Female Dorm at One Stop Hostel

The room was clean. The beds and pillow were very comfortable. The bathrooms are shared and there was no hot water when I took a shower. But all good, refreshing cold water after a day’s worth of Siem Reap tourist activities was a great relief!

This is a very popular hostel as there a lot of foreigners here. Outside, there are a lot of tuktuk drivers awaiting guests who want to go temple hopping.

TV Common Room at One Stop Hostel

Food, drinks, and parties are also very accessible as Pub Street is like a 30 seconds walk away. Hostel to airport is about 20 to 30 minutes away. Souvenirs are also accessible from the hotel as the Night Market is only a 1 minute walk away.

Exploring Siem Reap

Sabai Adventures Cambodia

Sabai Adventures Cambodia is owned by Scott, a Canadian who married a Cambodian. His company offers affordable motorbike, tuktuk, and jeep tours. He was really cool as I got to talk to him at the start off my tour. He said that prior to me a lot of Filipinos have been availing his tours recently.

I availed the one day easy rider motorbike tour. I’ve never had this kind of tour before so it was really exciting. You can choose to ride your own motorbike or ride pillion. I chose to ride pillion but my tour guide, Sin, taught me how to ride on my own during the tour. I rode it all by myself for about a minute.

Temple during the motorbike tour

This was a really great tour because you deviate from the usual temple hopping tourist sites of Siem Reap. I got to see how locals lived and other beautiful places that can be explored in Siem Reap. Touring Siem Reap is not only about ANGKOR WAT temples, there is so much more to a country than its popular tourist sites. Whenever I visit a country, I try as much as possible to learn more about the culture. As important as popular tourist sites are, I’d also like to get something more out of other places in the country, famous or not.

Countryside Red Roads

Here are the sites that we went to during our motorbike tour:

1. Countryside Roads & Fields

When you research on Siem Reap, you don’t really see these. You only see temples which is sad because the countryside roads and fields were so beautiful. The trees, the red colour of the roads were just cool and different. We passed by a lot and it was so great riding through.

2. Highways

Riding the motorbike through highways was really fun! I wasn’t wearing a helmet and Sin was just riding through it fast. The feeling was just mind blowing. A really great adrenaline rush! The clean air, the long highway, NO TRAFFIC, was just so breathtaking!

Siem Reap Highway

3. Traditional Villages

The traditional villages we passed by can be comparable to the Nipa houses we can see in the provinces of the Philippines but almost all are elevated for flood prevention. We stopped by one house so some of the locals can teach me how to weave a basket. It was really cool and fun. I made some mistakes so she had to start the row over again. The locals really did look like Filipinos, ones I would see whenever I travel to provinces in the Philippines. They were all smiles because I was trying to communicate with them. Not all locals can speak English that’s why they were just smiling at me.

Basket Weaving at Local’s Home

4. Chau Srei Vibol Temple

This was really nice! Coming to Siem Reap, I was really anticipating that some structures were being preserved that having the “temple feels” might be gone. But this temple, even though broken, still felt real. I still felt that I was there during the time it was at its prime. The rocks deformed and falling down, it was so fascinating!

Falling Rocks

Ta Prohm Look a like tree

5. Eco Lake

We went to an eco lake where tourists of the tour usually swim. But I didn’t. It was a vast lake with other tourist activities like food market and lake rides. The lake was just normal for me but what I liked here was the view of the red road. I’m glad that they still preserve it and not build modern roads.

At the Eco Lake

6. Bakheng Mountain

View of Bakheng Mountain from the base

This was my first ANGKOR WAT temple. As this is a popular temple for sunset viewing, I was really excited. The hike to the top would take around 15-20 minutes. I think it took me longer because I was really tired from all the activities I’ve done.

Also read: 3 Days 2 Nights Trip to Beautiful Siem Reap, Cambodia

Bakheng mountain was being reconstructed when I went there. There was a line as the staff limits a certain number of people at the top.

The temple was really beautiful! I really wanted to go here because this is where Lara Croft from Tomb Raider landed when she came to Cambodia for the Angkor Wat scene. It was really cool!

Unfortunately, there was no sunset view. My view was dark clouds raining in different parts of Siem Reap. Everyone was hurrying because the rain might come to where we were. It was really cool! I’ve never seen a view of rain before. What a first!

Rain view at Bakheng Mountain

The Motorbike Ride

The Motorbike was really exhilarating! I had no helmet but Sin, my tour guide, really made sure I was safe. He told me lots of stories and historic significance to the places we went to. He also told me interesting stories about his family, tourists, and Siem Reap. We rode through red roads, long highways, and fields. Sin told me we rode about 10 km worth of land.

Riding a Motorbike

In the morning of the motorbike tour, it was really hot! But I didn’t mind because the cool air was really refreshing! But in the afternoon, on our way to my hostel from Bakheng Mountain, the rain poured, AS IN REALLY POURED! Sin was still going fast but I didn’t mind because it was really fun! We were both soaked by the rain. In the middle part, Sin stopped and asked me to wear a rain coat just to prevent my bag with money and camera from getting wet. I was out of breath at times because the rain was really strong. The city roads even got flooded. What a sight! What an experience! It was all so surprising and breathtaking at the same time.

No helmet!

Fast speed!

Intense heat!

Extensive pouring rain!

What an amazing ride!

THIS TOUR IS A MUST. When I come back, I’ll make sure to ride my own motorbike.

Pubstreet

At Pub Street

After meeting some cool girls at One Stop Hostel, we decided to explore Pub Street together. We were very lucky as it was very close to our hostel. We explored the night markets which I can say is the same with the markets we have in Greenhills.

Stalls at Pub Street Night Market

We explored the bar streets and stayed at a restaurant with very good music. We enjoyed each other’s company and had a blast drinking Angkor Beer.

Having fun with these awesome girls

Pub Street was really a foreigner hub. Bars and restaurants from left to right just accommodating a lot of tourists. The feel of it was like Khao San Road in Bangkok. The vibe was really fun and cool.

Angkor What?

Temple Hopping

You can’t leave Siem Reap without temple hopping! This was really exciting! I met a Taiwanese girl from my hostel who was looking for someone to join her to go temple hopping.

Joy & I at Angkor Wat

She was really cool as she has been travelling for some time now. I really learned a lot from her. I really liked her company during our temple hopping. She is one of the best people I’ve met while solo travelling! Thank you, Joy, for being awesome!

Joy at Ta Prohm ;)

We rented a tuktuk that was worth $15. It was really good because we can share the cost of the ride. Getting from one temple to another was really hard. Walking or Biking would really require great fitness ability so renting a tuktuk was the best choice and a great experience as well. Our driver was really nice too!

The Angkor Wat temples were really magical. Pictures on the internet don’t really do justice for the feeling when you’re actually there at the temples. This is a wonder of the world for a reason. Its structure, its view, its overall historical feel was really a grateful experience.

Tip: Bring lots of water! You will get tired and thirsty! Promise!

Angkor Wat

Sunrise View at Angkor Wat

I woke up at 4:30 am so we could catch the popular sunrise at Angkor Wat. When we got there, there were already a lot of tourists in good spots with their cameras waiting to catch a good picture. No words really for how beautiful the view was. Amazing!

Inside Angkor Wat

Angkor Thom (Bayon)

This was Joy’s favourite temple. I liked this temple too but what really turned me off was the construction and preservation going on in front and at the back. I know the temple really needs this but the overall historical feel was deteriorating. I liked exploring this temple! You’d really feel like a tomb raider here.

Bayon Temple

Ta Prohm (Tomb Raider)

I wish we went earlier to this temple because when we got there, there were so many tourists already.

Temples at Ta Prohm

As this is the most popular Tomb Raider temple, everyone wanted to take pictures at the popular tree scenes of Angelina Jolie.

Joy and I took the long route and got to explore more parts of the temple. It was really nice just exploring. The structure really felt historical like if I could turn back time, a lot of things really took place there. Like I said, Angkor Wat really felt magical.

Exploring Ta Prohm

Food

Food in Siem Reap has variety. Almost all types of food were already there – Chinese, Japanese, Thai, etc. But local food (Khmer) was not all too special for me. I like other Asian food better. It was tasty but nothing really good or different about it.

Also read: A Foodie’s Guide to Eating Through Cambodia

At Khmer Kitchen

Pineapple Rice at Angkor Wat

At Pub Street

Food from Motorbike Tour

Touring Siem Reap was such a grateful experience. Meeting new friends, experiencing extreme weather conditions, talking to so many people, being a temple raider and photographer, and many more were really amazing. What an amazing and significant experience. I will definitely come back to see more temples and more sites!

Temple at Chau Srei Vibol

How I Travelled 2 Days in Hanoi for PHP 12,000 (All-In)

For just PHP 12,000, this Filipina had a taste of Hanoi's culture, history, and of course, food!

January 13, 2016, 11:00 am June 21, 2017, 10:47 am

Irene Maligat Irene Maligat falls in love easily - with people, with places, and with experiences. Her main goal in life is to inspire and empower a lot of people through travel and the value of gratitude. She gratefully writes inspiring articles at Inspiring Grateful Travels.

Contributed by Inspiriting Grateful Travels

My last backpacking travel for 2014! Hanoi is a great city! Lots of culture, great food & foreigners! One trip I’ll always be grateful for. :)

Noi Ba International Airport

Even though my flights were red eye, I still got to explore the airport as shops inside close until the last flight of the night.

There were a lot of souvenir shops of local products and duty free stores. Seats are a little cramped and there are too many people at a time.

One thing I hated about this airport is that check-in took SO LONG. I never thought I’d have the SLOWEST check-in ever in my life. In the Philippines, average check in would be at least 5-10 minutes. For this airport, it almost actually took 15 minutes per person to check in. The line was too long, only 3 check-in counters were open and each person took that long. Good thing I was early so I was about the 10th or 15th person to check-in.

Hanoi Sports Hotel

Entering Hanoi Sports Hotel

I stayed at Hanoi Sports Hotel which cost me PHP 300 per night. I booked a dorm room where about 6 people are staying. There is a bed, safety deposit box, lockers and curtains to cover your bed. There is also a bathroom that is shared by all people in the room. It was very clean and comfortable so the price was worth it.

Bottom bunk at Hanoi Sports Hotel

When I booked my room, I reserved for an all female room, but when I got there, they did not have any left so I had to stay in a mixed room which was a first for me. It was really awkward, too, because we had to share one bathroom. There was a blurred glass door separating the shower and the toilet so if I was taking a shower, any guy could just come in and see my blurred naked self taking a shower! Good thing that did not happen!

When I arrived I could not sleep! A couple was doing something crazy in the bed next to me. I just arrived from the airport, and I was really tired but they were really distracting, and no one else in the room seemed to be bothered by it except for me. It was really crazy. Overall, hostel was good. People at the reception were really nice and very accommodating of my queries.

Crossing the street

Before the Synchronised Chaos

I really need to emphasize this, because crossing the street in HANOI is DAMN CRAZY. In my first morning when I started to explore, my first stop was Hoan Kiem Lake. I walked from my hostel to this place. There were a few pedestrian crossings so as per my traditional norms, I stick to those crossings.

Also read: 10 Crazy Things that Every Traveller Should Do in Vietnam

As I was nearing the lake, I had to cross a very wide road. I noticed that there were no pedestrian stop lights. Cars and motorbikes just kept on coming. Lots of motorbikes! I was literally waiting for the cars or motorbikes to lessen or stop but it was not happening! So I observed my surroundings again. Locals were just crossing even if so many cars or motorbikes were coming. I didn’t read anything about this in my research. When a few locals were by my side, I decided to follow them because I wanted to cross so badly already.

It was so crazy – cars and motorbikes coming at you and locals were just walking normally looking like there were no cars that were about to hit them. Following locals was a good choice because, I got to reach the other end. For the next attempts, I was alone, some I did well, but some I got nervous so when I knew some of the vehicles were close, I hesitated so some of them swerved a little. That is when I knew I was wrong.

Meeting my tour guides/foreigner friends later on, they advised me that this was their culture, “A Synchronised Chaos.” The vehicles adjust to the person walking. The person just has to go. “JUST GO.” That’s their advice. It was crazy. The vehicles or motorbikes calculate your walking pace and they are the ones who adjust their movement. So if you stop or hesitate, they miscalculate and swerve. The idea is to JUST GO and walk at the normal pace. CRAZY CRAZY WAY TO CROSS THE STREET!

Hoan Kiem Sword Lake

This is overrated. I mean yeah, it’s beautiful but the pictures did not really exceed expectations for me. It’s just a big lake with a small tower in the middle. In the pictures, it looked pretty big but in real life, it’s not. I mean it has a good legend about a king, but scenic wise, it’s just normal for me. People around the lake jogged, were exercising, reading books and just relaxing. It was a good stroll in the morning.

Vietnam Awesome Travel – Awesome Homestay Cooking Class

I availed this tour, because it had a lot of activities. To start off the tour, the guide treated me to an egg coffee in the morning. It was so yummy! It was coffee with whipped egg & sugar on top. It was way better than Starbucks and cheaper too.

Egg Coffee!

After that, we met up with other foreigners from the States who joined the tour. We arrived at the restaurant and were taught Vietnamese language for 30 minutes. We were taught how to greet sellers, buy ingredients at the market, ask how much it was and haggle the price. After the language lesson, we rode bikes to the market wearing the traditional Vietnamese hat.

Bike & Hat! Very tourist-y of me.

It was really cool! I haven’t biked in a long time and it was such a good exercise in the morning. The wet market looked like the ones here in the Philippines.

Our tour guide let us talk to the sellers in Vietnamese and it was so much fun! I kept saying “Ziam Za” which means “discount please,” and they kept on giving us! I think they were making fun of how we were speaking, but it was really a cool experience. After buying all the ingredients, we biked back and started cooking in the kitchen. We made caramelised pork stew, spring rolls, banana flower salad, summer pork rolls and sweetened mangoes. They were all so good! I didn’t expect Vietnamese to be so damn good!

Also read: 26 Reasons to Fall in Love with Hanoi

Hanoi Kids

Hanoi Kids is a non profit organization that was founded by college students. This is really cool! College students take some time to tour tourists for free!

With my Hanoi kid, Lana! Brought her some goodies from Manila! ;)

They do this to practice their English. I availed their tour and my Hanoi kid, LANA, took me to the Temple of Literature & Thang Long Puppet Theatre. Lana was very nice and very informative. She didn’t bore me, because the facts that she said were really cool. Even though I did not have to pay Lana for her tour, I had to pay for the expenses of the taxi, entrance fees, etc., but it was all worth it! The company was really great. I brought her dried mangoes & key chains from Manila so she could remember me. She has gone on a lot of tours with foreigners. She even has a notebook where she lets all her tourists write something for her.

Temple of Literature

Lana took me to the Temple of Literature

This was really nice, but since I’ve gone to a lot of temples already this was already typical for me. But each temple has a story to tell, which was really good to know. I’m glad I had Lana with me to explain the legends or history of all the things in the museum, otherwise I wouldn’t enjoy it as much.

Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre

This was really boring! I almost fell asleep! I couldn’t really appreciate this, because the show was in Vietnamese and it was about the history of Hanoi. I didn’t read beforehand on the history so I couldn’t really understand what was going on. They were just puppets dancing on water for me. Lana would just talk to me a few times and say some of the meaning, but I really did not appreciate it. Even the other old foreigners in front of me were sleeping.

I am still grateful though for the effort of the musicians playing, and those people behind the curtains.

Thang Long Theatre Puppet Show

Controlling the puppets is a good concept. Maybe if I was Vietnamese I would appreciate it more. Advice to myself, read up on history before watching shows like these!

Vietnam Awesome Travel – Street Foodie Tour

This was really amazing! This is the first ever food tour I had in my life! We ate and walked for 4 hours! I met up with my tour guide and she let me meet my food tour group. There were foreigners from the UK, Australia, Canada and Belgium.

Meeting new friends during this food tour!

This was really cool. I had really fun and long conversations with a girl from Belgium. She has travelled from Saigon all the way up to Hanoi. She was really cool and very sweet. I learned a lot from her. Our tour guide took us to the best places to eat the best Vietnamese food.

Vegetables with Beef and Sprouts

BEST SUGAR CANE JUICE EVER!

They were all so damn good! The infusion of flavours in every bite was so delicious! I did not expect to like Vietnamese food but now I love it! It is a lot of food but it is healthy! That is what is good about Vietnamese food.

Mixed Vegetables

You don’t have to feel guilty about eating a lot because it’s almost all vegetables! Their fish sauce, “patis”, is so good! It heightens the flavour of the dishes! I love their patis more than I love ours here in the Philippines.

More Vietnamese food!

My Vietnam experience was really great! It was a great ending to #SoloTravel2014. This place is where I met the most foreigners (more than Bangkok). I learned so much from this travel, and it just makes me want to travel more.

Also read: What You Need to Know Before Travelling to Vietnam

Here are some Bucket List worthy items during my Vietnam trip:

1. Stayed in a mixed room hostel
2. Go on a food tour
3. Speak another language at a wet market
4. Cook Vietnamese food
5. Go on a party cruise at Halong Bay
6. Meet & have lengthy conversations from people around the world

How I Travelled 3 Days in Kuala Lumpur for Only PHP 6,500

The best of Kuala Lumpur for only PHP 6,500 (all-in)? Here's how you can do it!

December 7, 2015, 9:00 am June 21, 2017, 10:48 am

Irene Maligat Irene Maligat falls in love easily - with people, with places, and with experiences. Her main goal in life is to inspire and empower a lot of people through travel and the value of gratitude. She gratefully writes inspiring articles at Inspiring Grateful Travels.

MALAYSIA, THANK YOU.

Kuala Lumpur, I have to say is similar to Manila. The vibe for me was the same – malls, city, people, food, prices, among others. Everything really was similarly comparable to Manila. I’m still grateful for the experience because it’s still a different culture and it has its unique traits.

City View in front of Petronas Towers

When I’m in another country, I can’t help but always compare. The progress, the TRAINS, the people, the culture… Even though this is the case, there’s always this great feeling in me that I know I’ll always learn something new, that I’ll always gain something.

Whether it’s meeting people from that country or tourists/travellers, riding the train, learning the culture or simply stepping out of that plane into new ground, I know that I’m about to experience or feel something grateful, something grand. Keep this in mind when you’re travelling. Whether you’re there for business or pleasure or simply by chance, be grateful that YOU have the opportunity to experience another country, another culture.

This is what Malaysia helped me realise after these few years of travelling. I am truly grateful.

Nice view at KL Monument

Flight

I really love Cebu Pacific. Even though a lot of people complain about its services, I’m really grateful to this company. I’ve been able to travel as much as I can because of them, because of their low airfares. Early this year, I was lucky enough to get a KL roundtrip flight (3.5 hours per way) for P600+. This is my 2nd lowest airfare after Batanes. I am truly grateful to the Universe for giving me the chance to visit a country with these means.

Also read: 8 Tricks to Successfully Grab Cheap Promo Flights in the Philippines

Just one little setback, for the red eye flight back to Manila, there was one surprising moment. It was around 2 or 3 am, I am not sure if it was really bad turbulence or ignorance on the pilot, but I felt like the plane turned off (If that is even possible) but it felt like the plane stopped and fell a few feet. When that happened, everyone woke up! All seemed to panic and looked out the window, the flight attendants were even going back and forth to the back and pit.

I just closed my eyes and prayed. The seat belt sign turned on for what seemed like 1 hour or more. Nothing happened after that “drop,” and everything was smooth sailing. But I got really scared. I loved flying, but that really made me pray. I prayed for my family and thanked God for all the blessings.

It is true what most people say. Live your life to the fullest every single day. Be confident and say what you feel. Do not feel inferior to the negative things people say about you. YOU know who YOU are, and no one can say otherwise. Say I love you to people who matter the most and just be happy. Be happy for others and give support. Most importantly, be grateful and be content.

Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2)

KLIA was really cool and big. There are a lot of shops and restaurants to eat at! My favourite here is the duty free shops! I always look out for Lindt because specialty chocolates are really cheaper at airports. And OMG for the first time, I saw a LINDT BUFFET! I can choose among different types of Lindt and just pay by weight!

MY MOST FAVOURITE! Lindt chocolates from the Lindt Buffet!

Comparing KLIA2 with other Int’l Airports, the only comment I have is the distance between Arrival and Departure areas. It’s a bit of a walk, a longer walk if the walk-a-lators do not work. In other countries this distance can be covered by an airport train. I didn’t mind at first but since KLIA2 was just a few days stop for a connecting flight, I had to do that long walk around 4 times carrying my bags. I do not have check in baggage so for the most parts, the walk was a struggle. At least I got to exercise!

Also read: 10 Least Explored Destinations in Malaysia

Everything’s easy from KLIA2. There are signs leading to nearby hotels and capsules, buses, cars and a train. There is also a train linked to KL city centre.

Transportation

Airport Line

For my KL transpo experience, I got to ride a van through its highway (comparable to NLEX/SLEX) and mostly the train to get around the city. The van was a transfer from Sri Packers. The trains in KL can be compared to the ones here in Manila, the difference is there are more lines, more stations, more trains and an airport line.

Comfy seats inside the airport line train

KLIA2 to KL city centre is like Manila to Subic. The Airport train(s) can take you from KLIA2 to KL City for about 25 to 30 minutes depending on which line you take. This was really cool, because you wouldn’t have to worry about any other transportation to go anywhere but the train. The Airport line operates from 5AM until 12MD so transportation around KL was really easy. Airport rail lines connect to KL Sentral line, and every other tourist site route connects from there.

People lining up at KL Sentral

I felt the Manila train vibe here once. This is when a new person I met and I were going back to our hotel, and we accidentally lined up at a popular station during rush hour. It was like an Ayala Rush Hour station scene. As much as KL’s train is more advanced than ours, I still felt that Manila “rush hour” here. I think it was around 4-5 trains before I got on a train. People were pushing and staff were controlling people to fix their lines and even fixing there's still space inside. Some people lined up were telling people inside to move so other people can go in. "So it also happens here," I thought.

Accommodation

SRI Packers

Sri Packers Front View

Since my first arrival in KL was a transfer or connecting flight, I only had a few hours to spend in KL so I decided to just stay at a nearby hostel and not make an effort to go into the city. SRI Packers Hostel is a popular transfer hotel in KL. They offer free breakfast and transfers for an affordable fee. The transfer to this hotel was about 20 minutes. Imagine a ride from Subic to somewhere near Pampanga. The set up is a hotel near a gas station with a few food establishments much like a Rest Stop.

My bed at Sri Packers!

The hostel was really nice. The beds and bathroom were clean. Just a setback, the room was very small so if you’re in a room with a few people, you can hear them fixing their stuff or even taking their showers, because everything was so close to each other. As much as possible, when I am in a room with other people, I show respect by being quiet at night or being discreet when I fix things and move around. Even when I took my shower, I was so careful to not make too much noise. But some people were really rude–banging doors and their things, talking so loudly that night, taking a bath so loudly by using the shower water so much. I just closed my eyes and said, “I am very grateful for the patience I have gained during this time.”

Common Room at Sri Packers

Pod's Backpacker's Home

Coming back to KL for connecting flight back to Manila, I had a few more days to spare so I stayed at a hostel in the city centre this time. POD’s Backpacker's Home was really great. We were 10 in a room so I got to meet lots of people. I even got to talk to two very hot Brazilian guys who have been travelling the world for some time now. Sobrang kilig! I met some really cool girls from China and Japan, too. They had a cafe where you can mingle and watch people jam. There is a stage where you can freely sing, play guitar, or show any talent. The staff was very nice and accommodating, too.

10 bed mixed dormitory room at PODs

The beds were clean and the room was very homey. Setback is the bathroom. It felt like a garage or storage area turned into a bathroom. It looked so old and really scary. After taking a bath, I still felt dirty after it all. The air inside was disgustingly humid so I always had to open the windows to let the bad air out.

Stage at PODs Cafe

Location wise, the hostel is near KL Sentral station. Around 5-10 minutes walk depending on which route you take from the station. My best bet is get out of the station, walk through NU Sentral mall and find the escalator going down en route to Little India Brickfields and you’ll find the hostel easily. There are also a lot of Indian canteens and bars around this place.

Also read: How to Spend Your 12-Hour Layover in Kuala Lumpur

Food

ABC dessert and Sugar Cane drink from Jalan Alor food street

Food in KL was just okay for me. Almost all the food I’ve tried I think I’ve already tried in Manila. Pad Thai, KFC, CBTL, Iced desserts among others, were just some of the food that I ate and nothing really special about them.

Pad Thai lunch from the Tour

CBTL meal at NU Sentral

I tried the Curry based food at the Airport where I ordered Roti with popular curry sauces. The taste was different, a little acquired for me but really grateful for the chance to try it.

Iced Coffee and Roti Platter at KLIA2 Food Court

Exploring Kuala Lumpur

1. Little India Brickfields

I got to explore this place because this was near my hostel. Lots of Indians here and the food really looked good, but I wasn’t too hungry when I was exploring. People were friendly here because they smiled a lot at me. Here, I realized that KL much like Singapore has very diverse people. You don’t really know who the Malaysians are because there are too many people that looked really different. There were Chinese, Indians and some Malaysians that look like Filipinos.

2. NU Sentral Mall

This is a really big mall connecting to the KL Sentral train. This is like SM Megamall; shops were almost the same and the vibe was the same for me.

Inside NU Sentral Mall

3. Bukit Bintang & Jalan Alor Food Street

Stalls at Jalan Alor Food Street

I got to explore this place with a really cool person I met from Ireland at Reggae Mansion. We walked around seeing street shops and lots of food. At Jalan Food Street, you could see a lot of foreigners so you’d really know that this was a tourist destination. Similar menus were being served at almost each station – BBQ, soups, noodles, iced desserts, fruits and others. The vibe here can be comparable to Weekends Food Markets like Mercato.

Reggae Mansion's 7 Wonders of KL Shared Tour

I availed a popular tour from Reggae Mansion, which would bring us to 7 popular tourist sites in Kuala Lumpur. I really wished I stayed at Reggae Mansion! The vibe was just so fun and lively, and I was just in the lobby. There were so many people to talk to and the facilities were very nice. This was just a minute walk also from a popular train station. Next time I’ll be in KL, I will definitely stay here!

The tour was really fun because of Mr. Ong. He was our tour guide. He was really witty and very funny. At every stop, he would make funny comments and really guide us to the history of each destination. It was a great and enjoyable tour overall. He really commented a lot about the Philippines. He said that we eat rice almost everyday and everyone in the tour was really shocked. Some even asked me what we eat with rice. He was really knowledgeable and really great.

Here are the 7 popular KL destinations we went to:

1. National Mosque

Inside the Mosque

This was really fun because we got to wear long purple robes and a black headscarf. This was a religious place, and we had to respect it by wearing proper clothing. The outfit was really hot though, and I can’t imagine some people wearing that all day.

Also read: 10 Places to Visit on Your First Trip to Kuala Lumpur

2. National Monument

Breathtaking view of the National Monument

This was really cool! The statue was really huge and the view was just great!

At the Monument

3. Merdeka Square

Field at Merdeka Square! Thank you Elaine for taking my picture! ;)

I loved this place! The view and the field was just a good stroll. The wind and the weather was just so nice.

4. The Royal Palace

The Royal Palace Front Gate

Since Malaysia was a British colony, they have the same UK Palace set up. There are guards that stand there all day long and a guy on a horse. I felt really bad for the horse. And the guy riding him was dozing off at most times as I was taking a picture oh him.

Dozing off, Mr Horseman ;)

Guard at the Royal Palace

5. Batu Caves

This is my favourite.

Even before coming to KL, just seeing Batu Caves in pictures, I was already at awe. I felt like the faith was so strong and the culture vibe was so evident.

At Batu Caves

Where sacrifice shows respect

Batu Caves is the most important religious Indian shrine in Kuala Lumpur. To reach the temple above, you have to climb around 272 steps. The steps were steep. But every 20-30 steps, there is a spacious landing where you can rest. There were also lots of monkeys along the way! Be careful with your small items, they can just take it out off your hand.

Lots of these monkeys along the way!

Where effort leads you to success

I really made an effort.  But the spacious landings and view really helped. Every time I would stop I would just look out to the view and appreciate how beautiful it was. And the new friend that I met just kept on supporting me. Reaching the top was really overwhelming and the view was just a bonus. Any kind of TRUE and WORTHY success can really be felt with any effort. Nothing really significant ever comes easy in life. There, I always feel, has to be effort and meaning.

Where faith shows you culture

Here, you also have to be properly clothed, you cannot wear sleeveless shirts or short shorts. I was really surprised because a girl halfway through the climb rearranged her bottoms to show a part of her legs, a woman who was way down at the stairs ran up quickly just to strictly tell the girl that she was wrong. I wondered how many times a day does the woman do that, she really values her religion. And us tourists, should follow that example.

Hi Batu Caves view!

6. Royal Selangor

One of the steps in making Pewter Products

This was really cool and admirable. This is a popular pewter (some type of metal, kind of like tin) manufacturer where all products are hand made. We got to witness personally the first steps in making their products. We even got to drink out of one tin can product and the vibe was so incredible!

Wished I bought one! Too pricey though! But brilliant products!

What I really admired here is their wall of hand prints.

Wall of Hand Prints! Kudos to these genuine and hardworking hands!

Each hand print represents an employee who has been working for them for 5 years. Being there, seeing what they do, how they need to be careful and strictly be specific to details, kudos really. What they do is beyond admirable, because the effort is just so overwhelming.

Tour group from Reggae Mansion ;)

7. Petronas Twin Towers

AHA! The ever popular Petronas Towers. This was really nice. I was more amazed though by the Taipei 101 building but this was really cool with its height and the view. We weren’t able to go up because a lot of tourists usually frequent this place and is on a first come first served basis, but I was already grateful to experience it outside.

GoPro Shot at Petronas Towers. Photo from Elaine Scanlon

Also read: Visiting the 7 Wonders of Kuala Lumpur

Great company and grateful realisations

I really got to talk to a lot of people and I really learned a lot. I even had a crush on one of them, because he was really sweet and his personality was just so refreshing! Thank you, Malaysia for my first international crush! Here are just some of the things I learned and realised from them.

1. No better time but NOW. If we want to do things, let’s do it NOW. Let’s not waste time, and let's make the most out of our lives. Experience the best things because there is always an opportunity to do so.
2. We should appreciate the blessings that we receive every day. We don’t realise it, but sometimes we are luckier than most and we should always be grateful for any little thing.
3. The best part about travelling is meeting new people and learning from them, their culture, and even their personality.
4. Make an effort to converse and learn about other people. Don’t travel to take pictures. Immerse yourself in their faith and in their culture.

Malaysia, Truly Asia

Travelling really is exhilarating and I thank Malaysia for making me see its value and importance.

Also read: Budget Travel: 48 Hours in Kuala Lumpur with Just RM250

Contributed by Inspiring Grateful Travels.

My 5 Days Solo Trip to Laos for Only ₱15k (All-In)

Your ₱15,000 will go a long way for 5 days and 4 nights in Laos. Check out what you can do with this budget.

February 7, 2017, 8:00 am June 21, 2017, 10:52 am

Shelly Dimaculangan Shelly Dimaculangan is a language translator by profession, writer by passion, and traveller at heart. She enjoys solo travelling and getting lost in foreign countries. She is a Filipina who speaks Spanish, Portuguese, and German. During free time, she is a local tour guide to Spanish-speaking tourists. Her long-time dream is to go around Spain. Check her blog at: Shelly Viajera Travel Blog.

Contributed by Shelly Viajera

Laos or Lao People’s Democratic Republic is a small country in Southeast Asia that is rich in nature and culture. But as a landlocked country bordering Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, some travellers tend to just pass by Laos without really spending enough time exploring it.

I can say that it is the place-to-be for the Filipinos. Aside from the fact that entering this country is visa-free to Philippine passport holders, it is very safe especially to solo female travellers like me. It is also a haven for backpackers because everything is cheap and budget friendly.

Also read: 8 Places to Visit for your First Trip to Laos

What to see in Laos

I spent five days and four nights in Laos. Here are some recommended places to see in Vientiane and Luang Prabang:

Day 1: Vientiane

Going around Vientiane, the capital of Laos, is very easy. For one, the street signs are very reliable. Also, Lao people are very friendly. Although some of them do not speak English, they always try their best to give directions. As general tip, Lan Xang Avenue may serve as a good reference point in the city centre. It is where most tourist attractions are at.

Patuxai Monument

This Europe-feel Patuxai Monument is a memorial for all the heroes of war during the French colonial period. Its architecture is notable as it resembles the Arc de Triomphe in Paris designed by a Lao architect.

Entrance fee: 3,000 kip (₱18) if you want to climb the monument to get a 360-degree view of the city.

Presidential Palace

At the other end of Lan Xang Avenue is the Presidential Palace, which holds all important ceremonies and events of the government. Although not open to public, the exterior is a sure standout. A stopover here would be good to take a few photos.

Entrance fee: Free

Sisaket Temple

The Wat Si Saket or Sisaket Temple is one of the oldest temples in Vientiane. It is distinctly known for the striking and yellowish colour of the pillars. Several bronze and stone Buddhas can be seen around. Most locals go here in the morning to pray.

Entrance fee: 5,000 kip (₱30)

Day 2: Vientiane

Pha That Luang

Seeing Pha That Luang was the highlight of my short trip to Vientiane. Also known as the Great Sacred Stupa, it is the main religious monument in the capital. Buddhists believe that it contains relics (a breastbone) of Buddha. Pha That Luang is also a national symbol of Laos. In fact, an image of it is depicted in their banknotes.

Entrance fee: 5,000 kip (₱30)

Mekong River

What is good about Vientiane is that despite being a city, the riverside provides a relaxing suburb feel. If you have been around Southeast Asia, you probably heard of Mekong River already, a long river that flows through the Indochina peninsula. The side of Mekong River in Vientiane is a perfect spot to catch the sunset or staying until nighttime at the riverside bars and restaurants.

Entrance fee: Free

Chao Anouvong Park

Next to Mekong River is this small park featuring a huge bronze statue of Chao Anouvong, Laos’ last king from the Lan Xang Kingdom. A short stop here is nice for taking photos and marvelling at the size of the statue.

Entrance fee: Free

Day 3: Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang is a province in Laos located north of the capital. It is a UNESCO Heritage Site for its rich cultural heritage. On the third day, I travelled to Luang Prabang by taking a VIP sleeper bus that left Vientiane at 8.30pm and arrived on the next day. Although it was a long 11-hour ride, I just slept the entire time. It was a safe and comfortable ride.

Mount Phousi

In the middle of downtown Luang Prabang is a 150-metre hill that they call as Mount Phousi seated between two rivers, the Mekong River and Khan River. Going up may require a 20-30-minute leg work for the 335 steps but the view from the top is breathtaking. It is a good place to catch the sunrise or sunset.

Entrance fee: 20,000 kip (₱122)

Luang Prabang Night Market

Starting at 6pm, the stretch of Sisavangvong Road gets closed for the Luang Prabang night market. Vendors slowly pull out and spread their different products that are mostly for souvenirs. Similar to night markets in Asia, it is street smart to haggle for the price. Cheap and delicious local food are also in the night market. (The Lao baguette is a must-try!)

Entrance fee: Free

*Prices of items at the night market vary. Make sure to bargain. Fridge magnets, for example, usually start at 30,000 kip (₱183) but I was able to bring the price down to 15,000 kip (₱91).

Day 4: Luang Prabang

Kuang Si Falls

As said, a trip to Luang Prabang won’t be complete without seeing the natural gem Kuang Si Falls, a huge 150-metre waterfall with three tiers of strong and rapid water. Looking at it is like a painting that came to life. It is truly a gift from nature. Aside from sight-seeing, visitors can swim at the top but requires a 30-minute trek.

Tip: Two trails are available. The easier trail is at the left when facing the waterfalls

Kuang Si Falls is a bit far from downtown Luang Prabang. However, a cheap way to get there is by joining a half day group tour with 12-15 travellers. This tour is convenient since an air-conditioned van fetches you from your accommodation. The rate usually starts at 50,000 kip (₱305). Another way is to get a group of 6 travellers and negotiate a two-way ride with a tuktuk driver.

Entrance fee: 20,000 kip (₱122)

Day 5: Luang Prabang

Old Quarter

The Old Quarter is a long street of ancestral buildings preserved through the years. Looking at this street is like travelling back in time. It is a cool place to meet backpackers as most of the restaurants, bars, and guest houses are in the area.

Entrance fee: Free

Also read: Asia’s Best Kept Secret You Need to Visit: Laos

How to go to Laos

At the moment, there is no direct flight from Manila to Laos yet. With that, I first made a stop in Kuala Lumpur and then I took a flight to Vientiane via Air Asia. I left Laos by flying straight from Luang Prabang to Kuala Lumpur. Before heading home, I spent a couple of days first in Malaysia for the second leg of my backpacking.

Also read: Backpacking Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos & Thailand: 11-Day Itinerary & Cost Breakdown

Cost breakdown

I managed to spend only ₱15,000+ for this Laos trip including air fare, airport taxes, accommodations, food, transportation, and other basics. Overall, I can say that Laos is cheap especially the food. Here is a breakdown of the expenses:

How I Travelled 3 Days in Taipei for Only ₱9,620 (All-In)

3 days in Taipei for only ₱9,620 (all-in)? Here's how this Filipino traveller did it!

April 13, 2016, 9:00 am June 21, 2017, 10:52 am

Tristan Jay Correa TJ is working as a program producer in a radio station but his alter ego “Travel Jock” keeps his feet uncontrollable as if wanting to explore the world with freedom and independence. His heart and mind are currently battling if he should stay on a stable career with limited vacation leaves or embark on a risky journey of travelling the wo​rld with no limits. He just started his simple blog The Travel Jock.

Contributed by Travel Jock

My first attempt really was to book for Batanes but I struggled to find an affordable airfare so my rebel heart prompted me to look for a nearby country which is Taiwan. Cebu Pacific Air constantly gives promos, and I chanced upon and booked Taipei for ₱4,000 round-trip!

Also read: 8 Tricks to Successfully Grab Cheap Promo Flights in the Philippines

I really don’t have any expectations since I assume that Taipei is just like Hong Kong or Macau, but I was surprised to find Taipei with much richer culture, delicious food and interesting places.

Let me share to you my day-off escape (3 days/2 nights) to Taipei where I spent a surprising below ₱10,000 (a little over US$200).

I was lucky to have an option of visa-free entry so I didn’t spend anything for visa fees. For Philippine passport holders with valid US, UK, JAPAN, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND and/or SCHENGEN visas, you can just get a travel authorization certificate online for free on this website. Other Philippine passport holders should apply for Taiwan tourist visa thru this website for ₱2,100 (single entry).

Once you get a visa or travel certificate, you are good to go!

Here’s my itinerary with little budget information: Taipei Itinerary

Also read: A Filipino Traveller’s Guide to Visiting Taiwan for the First Time

I have a lot of photos in my phone, and here are some of my narcissistic photos I posted online. Please bear with it!

Other photos worth posting here:

Also read: How to Travel Taiwan on a Budget

How I Spent Winter in Korea with My Family for ₱25k Each

Learn how this Filipino family spent winter in Korea for 4 days with a budget of ₱25k each!

November 24, 2015, 8:00 am June 21, 2017, 10:52 am

Irene Maligat Irene Maligat falls in love easily - with people, with places, and with experiences. Her main goal in life is to inspire and empower a lot of people through travel and the value of gratitude. She gratefully writes inspiring articles at Inspiring Grateful Travels.

Contributed by Inspiring Grateful Travels

“It is so important to dream, and to dream in the family” – Pope Francis

My dream is to travel the world and I wanted to share this dream with my family so for the first time, I treated them an international trip! Korea is the best Asian country I have been to so far! It is the only country I want to go back to so soon already. 4 days is not enough. I want to experience all the seasons!

Also read: 10-Family Friendly Destinations in South Korea

My family and I are very grateful to have been blessed with this travel experience!

First, I want to thank everyone who helped me out! Thank you for sharing your itineraries, pieces of advice and experiences! We also want to thank YOU – Kritzia Santos, Tita Marie Yuvienco, Tita Jenny Santos Silayan and Tita Melet for sharing your winter clothes with us! It really helped us save a lot of money! Your clothes were both stylish and almost effective in keeping us warm! Thank you! We’re very grateful!

Korea is a great country! I’d like to go back soon maybe during Spring or Autumn. It’s not a place to spend just 4 days in.

Also read: 20 Absolutely Magical Photos of Korea That Prove It’s A Winter Wonderland

Where we stayed

Boa Guesthouse

We stayed at BOA Guesthouse because it's where a lot of my mom’s friends stayed at. We booked it through Agoda so we got a discount. People were so nice and very accommodating! Breakfast was really good too! The bread was so good that I wanted to steal the whole loaf! Our room was very clean and the floors were heated so it felt really nice when we got back from the outside. This guesthouse is near tourist places and a train station Hongik as well.

Train system

The train system in South Korea is amazing, efficient, clean and cheap.

Attractions

1. Hongik University Street

In Seoul, near universities, there are a lot of shopping and food streets! Lucky for us there was one near our guesthouse! This street is very cool as there are a lot of shopping and food finds! We also saw a lot of students singing and playing guitar along the streets! I can’t imagine how they could do that during the cold weather but they do have an audience! We ate the best Korean food here and walking here was basically an experience. The sights and the weather were really a blessing.

2. Myeongdong

Myeongdong is like the High Street, Greenhills or Makati of the Philippines. Lots of cheap finds for pasalubong! Lots of restaurants, money exchanges and shops! Since we went at night, it was extremely COLD! An amazing sight! There were a lot of Koreans speaking to us in Filipino. Here, you’ll find a lot of socks! I don’t know why but almost every alley had a store selling socks at PHP 40. The socks were very cute. The Korean restaurant we ate at here had the best beef! My sister and I liked it very much.

Also read: Seoul: 10 Tips for Shopping in Myeongdong

3. Changedeokgung Palace

Since it was very cold, we didn’t get to explore this place. We just took a picture outside the palace walls. Maybe when I come back, and the weather is a little bearable, I would visit all the famous palaces.

4. Trick Eye Museum and Ice Museum

We loved the Trick Eye Museum! I really missed my family laughing a lot! That’s why this travel was really good for us. This museum got us to laugh a lot and take nice pictures. All the paintings were really creative.

Also read: 10 Reasons Why You Must Visit Seoul’s Trick Eye Museum

5. Petite France

Petite France is about 2 hours away from Seoul. It is very scenic and a representation of Paris’ top tourist destinations and provinces. My sisters found it too cold here as it was surrounded by mountains so they stayed inside the luxurious lodge most of the time. My mom and I explored a bit so that we wouldn’t waste the entrance fee. What I really loved about this place was the part of the Art of Southern France.

I am not really a fan of art but I’m a fan of this one. When I get my own home, I’m going to buy one of those paintings. It’s very beautiful. Southern France is now a part of my must-see travel list!

6. Namsam Tower

I was really excited about this one because I am a fan of Boys over Flowers! Gu Jun Pyo and Geum Jan Di used Namsam Tower as a shooting location! For me, this is the coldest place we went to. The views were nice but food was very expensive.

Also read: 5 Korean Drama Filming Locations that Every Hardcore Fan Must Visit

Best-est Korea day ever!

We availed the popular public Drama + Ski tour from SEOULNTOUR. Our tour guides, Gina and Kas, were very accommodating and cool. They are well travelled and really knowledgeable! Since it was a public tour, we were with 2 more people and they’re from Singapore.

7. Nami Island

Nami Island is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen in my life so far!

The place was just so overwhelming! Since this island was surrounded by a river, it was extremely cold. I couldn’t even feel my feet anymore. I didn’t mind though, the place was just too beautiful. I just ignored my cold feet and hands just to experience this amazing place as much as I can.

The best scenery – Line of Korean Trees, Mountains and Frozen Lake! We were just here for about 2 hours but if given more time, I’d stay here for one whole day. I’ll definitely come back to this place.

8. Elysian Gangchon Ski Resort

Best activity ever! Before I turn 25, I really wanted to experience SNOW and what a better way to maximise it than to go to a SKI RESORT?! Elysian Resort was beautiful! I only see this in movies, and I was really in awe during those moments thinking, “Wow, I’m really here!”.

Also read: 6 Best Ski Resorts in South Korea to Visit This Winter

Skiing is scary at first and the snow boots are very uncomfortable but the overall experience was worth it! One of the best experiences in my life I have to say!

KOREA WAS REALLY AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE. I’m going back and I’m going to experience all the seasons! I love travelling alone but I also love travelling with my family, and this trip made me realize that. I dream to travel the world and now I dream to travel the world with my family.

Also read: How to Travel Korea on a Budget

I am very grateful for the money that I paid for these amazing travel blessings (amount is per person):

White Man Shares His Story: Dating a Filipina in the Philippines

A German guy travelled to the Philippines, met a beautiful Filipina, and his life changed forever...

December 13, 2016, 9:00 am June 21, 2017, 11:20 am

Sebastian Harris Sebastian Harris is a travel enthusiast and a lover of women. His mission is to help men all over the world to find love and he doesn't stop until he has visited at least 20 weddings that he's responsible for.

About four years ago I visited the Philippines for the very first time.

When I told my friends about my plan to fly to Manila and then to Cebu, they told me that it would be too dangerous. And how did my parents react? The moment I told my mother about my plan, she started Googling for health insurances.

You have to understand one thing: When you are born and raised in a Western country, you get conditioned to believe that you will die as soon as you leave the Western hemisphere. Everything out there is foreign, dangerous and will probably kill you.

Thank God I didn’t listen to the naysayers. And as you can see, I didn’t get killed. The truth is that my travel adventure to the Philippines was anything but a negative experience. It shaped me and my future path.

The Philippines is the place where I met a wonderful woman who showed me what it really means to support each other and to care for each other. When I embarked on this journey I had no idea that landing in Cebu would change my life forever.

Also read: 23 Photos That Will Make You Fall In Love with the Philippines

The moment I landed in Cebu

The moment I landed in Cebu, I knew that this place is magical. I can’t really explain it but there’s something about this city that makes you want to stay forever. But maybe I was just happy that I was far away from the pollution, the noise and the deafening honking of Manila.

The moment I landed in Cebu, my heart felt at home. A couple of hours after my arrival, I felt even more welcome. The people in Cebu are so friendly. It’s incredible. Even though a lot of these people have less material wealth than anyone in a Western country, their smiles are invigorating.

But there was only one smile that made me stop and stare.

When I saw Joy for the very first time my heart started beating. The closer I came, the more I could hear the sound of my beating heart. She was beautiful. God, she was so beautiful. Her long black hair, her hazelnut brown eyes and her dark skin made me want to ask her out.

Also read: This is How You’ll Fall in Love When You Travel

And that’s exactly what I did. Or let’s say it like this. I stuttered a couple of weird words, smiled awkwardly and held my phone under her nose. The two other shop assistants next to her giggled while she was looking at me as if I had a huge spider on my head.

I think she was a bit shocked. As it turned out, I was the first white guy who ever talked to her. She also told me that she needed a short break after she typed her number into my phone. My direct attitude overwhelmed her.

Today I know enough about the Pinoy culture to know that telling a Filipina that she is the most beautiful girl in the world is not a good idea, at least when two of her colleagues stand next to her.

Anyway, it worked.

I called her two hours later and asked her if she wanted to join me for dinner. She said yes. I smiled.

My fears when I met Joy

The dinner led to a walk in the park the next day. The walk in the park led to an incredibly fun evening in the Ayala Mall. This evening led to an unforgettable night and this night led to four weeks that turned my world upside down.

Even though we came from two different worlds and were raised with completely different cultural values, we got along great. I told her about my dreams, she told me about her. It was beautiful.

But not everything was beautiful. I was afraid of dating this beautiful Filipina. I couldn’t get rid of the fear that she was one of the Filipinas that my parents warned me about. My friends and family members had conditioned me to believe that every Filipina is a bar girl.

Of course, that’s not true. But I believed it. I was afraid that Joy just pretended to like me and that she actually wanted my money.

I’m a very direct person. That’s why I told her about my fears. She just laughed, gave me a kiss and said that she will pay for our next meal. My fear was gone and my perception of Filipinas changed to the better.

How dating Joy changed the way I look at relationships

Sometimes I still imagine what would have happened if I had stayed together with Joy. She was the first girl who showed me how fulfilling it can be to be together with a woman who embraces her femininity.

As a German man, I was used to women who tried to be as masculine as possible in order to compete with men and to achieve their career goals. I was used to women who believed in feminism, but not in femininity.

It’s hard to describe it but the way Joy moved, talked, and thought was a pure expression of femininity. I know that it sounds cheesy, but she made me fall in love with women. She showed me how amazing it is to be together with a feminine woman.

And she also showed me how fulfilling it can be to be in a relationship that is based on the male-female polarity. I mean, let’s be honest. Every man loves it when a woman follows his lead. Not in a submissive way, but in a way that says “I appreciate you as my partner and my tower of strength”.

Joy told me that Filipinas expect men to be the leader in the relationship. She also told me that they dream about being together with a gentleman. I enjoyed being both and she enjoyed it too.

I tell you the truth when I say that this beautiful Filipina changed the way I look at relationships. The only thing I lied about is her name. Her real name is not Joy. Before I wrote this article I had to promise her to use a fake name.

And even though Joy is not her real name, the experience that I just shared with you is our true story.

Also read: Why I’m Not Falling in Love with a Fellow Traveller