Author: Kara Santos

Travel Guide: Morotai Island, Indonesia

Most international tourists immediately think of Bali when anyone mentions Indonesia. The “Island of the Gods” is world-renowned for its beach resorts, rice paddies, volcanic mountains and Hindu temples. But there’s really so much more to the South East Asian country than Bali.

Indonesia is actually the world’s largest island country, made up of over seventeen thousand islands in a vast area scattered between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. With islands bridging the continents of Asia and Australia, many remote spots here still remain off the tourist radar. Morotai Island, located in the less-visited eastern side of Indonesia is one of those spots.

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Cebu Pacific’s Juan for Fun 2019

Five young adventurers and their friends will be embarking on a trip of a lifetime for Cebu Pacific’s Juan for Fun 2019.

Out of thousands of nominees this year, Cebu Pacific has chosen five passion-driven travelers out who aim to cultivate a deeper appreciation for the country and understand more about different cultures.

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Lakbay Museo: Explore the Philippines without leaving Manila

From festivals to food, the Philippines is amazingly vibrant and colorful. Lakbay Museo aims to give visitors a chance to travel around Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao and experience the best that the Philippines has to offer in under two hours right in Manila. We recently got a sneak peek of the museum inside S Maison at Conrad Manila right beside Mall of Asia (MOA), before its official opening on July 12.

Featuring hourly cultural dances and shows, free samples of native delicacies and even lambanog and fruit wine tasting (for adults), this is kind of like Nayong Pilipino for the Instagram generation.

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Fun outdoor activities for the rainy season

The Philippines is a tropical island, with two major seasons: wet and dry. The months of June to October are generally wet, while September and October are often the typhoon season in the Philippines. While we do get dry days, weather is generally unpredictable, making it difficult to plan travel and vacations, especially if sea travel is involved.

The rainy season can really curb one’s enthusiasm for travel and adventure. But if you’re already in the country during the monsoon season, what can you do?

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Bewitching Balete Trees around the Philippines

If I had to pick a favorite tree, it would be the Balete (a relative of the Banyan tree). There’s just something about their haunting appearance, gnarled roots and their close ties to creatures of folklore that I find fascinating. They often look and feel like they could be portals to the Underworld. Or at least the setting for a good horror story.

The Balete tree is infamous in Philippine folklore for being the dwelling place of engkantos or supernatural creatures and nature spirits such as dwendes (dwarves), kapres (tree demons), diwatas (fairies) and tikbalangs (demon horses). If you grew up in the Philippines, you’ve probably been told by superstitious folk not to go anywhere near these trees as these could be gateways to the world of myths. This probably explains why I’m drawn to them.

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Marsh Magic: Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary

It’s difficult to put into words what it’s like waking up in a remote floating village in the middle of a vast marshland.

Everything was silent and still. Thick fog veiled the landscape and the early morning air felt icy cold. Eerie trees that looked like something out of a Tim Burton film skewered the water. For some reason, they reminded me of skeletons and the sight sent chills down my spine. The whole night, I was lulled to sleep by the patter of raindrops on the roof. I had on a long-sleeved shirt, but goosebumps covered both my arms. The sight was so bleak yet achingly beautiful. It’s as if someone had put a grayscale filter on the landscape. Then the sun started to shine from behind the hazy veil and breathe color into the landscape.

I never knew a swamp could be this otherworldly.

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JAPAN | Museum of Yebisu Beer & Sapporo Beer Station in Tokyo

The last time I visited Japan, I made it a point to visit the Sapporo Beer Museum in Hokkaido, which I previously thought was the only beer museum in Japan. During a recent family trip, I found out that there’s another smaller museum dedicated to one of Japan’s oldest beer Yebisu, which is easily accessible by train from any point in Tokyo. There’s no admission fee to visit and you can easily just walk in without making reservations, making this a good stop for beer-lovers.

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Road Trip Guide: Mindoro Loop

Mention Mindoro and most people immediately think of Puerto Galera. This party beach that’s easily accessible by sea travel from Batangas Port is one of the most popular weekend destinations for those based in the metro. But that’s literally just the tip of the island. The rest of Mindoro has much more to offer. Mindoro is actually the seventh largest island in the Philippines and is composed of two provinces: Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro.  

Mindoro is home to majestic Mount Halcon and Mounts Iglit–Baco National Park, a protected area and ASEAN Heritage Park. It’s the only place in the country where you can find the critically-endangered tamaraw (Mindoro dwarf buffalo). Mindoro is also the home of the Mangyan, eight distinct indigenous groups with their own tribal language, ancient script and customs.

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Travel Guide: Antique

Antique is a province of the Philippines located in the region of Western Visayas. Just a couple of hours away from the gateway to Boracay, the country’s most famous beach party destination, Antique offers a different kind of getaway. “Off-the-beaten-path” is the description that immediately comes to mind. This laid-back province comprised of 18 municipalities (no cities!) has a lot to offer for those looking for raw and rugged adventures.

They’ve got it all for you, including riverside jungle hot tubs, beautiful uncrowded beaches, rice terraces hidden in remote mountain villages, multi-level waterfalls, clear rivers and springs, mountain highlands and stunning karst cliffs.

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Where to Stay in Antique

The province of Antique in Western Visayas has a lot to offer for intrepid travelers. With all its natural attractions, the province is really best enjoyed outdoors. Don’t expect to be holing up in luxury hotels with high-speed WiFi during your stay. Most of the accommodation options remain rustic and not suited for finicky travelers. Take the opportunity to slow down and enjoy the simple life away from urban comforts, reconnect with nature and spend quality time with family or friends.

If you’re traveling to Antique anytime soon, here are some of the inns and resorts you can choose from located in the different towns.

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