5 rainy season destinations in the Philippines for nature lovers

It can be tough to plan trips during the rainy season in the Philippines. There’s a lot of uncertainty when traveling by air and sea, especially if a typhoon hits. Once you arrive at your destination, overcast skies and seasonal downpours can be a downer during sightseeing and typical outdoor activities like going to the beach.

But this doesn’t mean hitting the snooze button on travel. Some places around the country come alive once the rainy season sets in. Natural landscapes like waterfalls look their finest and mountain scenery is at its greenest. The fog in mountainous areas can make places look more captivating.

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House of Cravings: Dessert bar and events place in Maginhawa

Cravings, the well-loved establishment known for serving home-style comfort food and cakes since 1988, has found a new home on Maginhawa Street. 

House of Cravings is a dessert bar and events place on Quezon City’s famous foodie street. To kick off their new space, House of Cravings will be hosting a monthly “Unlimited Cake and Coffee Buffet” to highlight their signature offerings. 

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UNESCO Biosphere Reserves of the Philippines

Did you know there are currently four UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in the Philippines? The province of Apayao was recently designated the country’s newest biosphere reserve as part of UNESCO’s initiative to conserve and manage biodiversity. Apayao is the country’s fourth province named a biosphere reserve, after Albay, Palawan and Puerto Galera. 

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Family-friendly holiday in Zamboanga City | Smile Magazine

The article I wrote about our family vacation to Zamboanga City was the cover story in the June 2024 issue of Cebu Pacific’s Smile Magazine.

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Bataan Food Trip: Cozy new cafes for road trip stopovers

Bataan, a 3 to 4-hour drive from Manila via the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), is a rising road trip destination near Manila. This province best known for historical landmarks like the Shrine of Valor at Mt. Samat and cultural destination Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar also has spots that will appeal to foodies.

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ITALY | Exploring Rome on rented bikes

Rome isn’t really famous as a cycling destination compared to other European cities. The first thing that comes to mind when you think of exploring Rome on two wheels is driving the iconic Vespa rather than a traditional bicycle. My original vision of our Roman Holiday involved whizzing around ancient sites and city streets aboard the classic Italian luxury scooter.

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Travel Highlights: Our 27-day Europe trip

Traveling to Europe has always been on our travel bucket list. We originally hoped to go on a European tour in May 2020 for our 10th wedding anniversary, but we all know what happened that year. In the past few years, I’ve realized that life is short and we should take the time to travel and enjoy life while we can. Fast forward four years later, and the dream came true when we finally went on our first-ever trip to Europe to 10 countries for almost a month in June 2024.

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VIETNAM | Walking around the ancient town of Hoi An

If there’s one place you must visit from Da Nang in Vietnam, it’s Hoi An. This charming and well-preserved UNESCO Heritage Town on Vietnam’s central coast is known as the “city of lanterns,” with small streets cutting through scenic canals. Multi-colored lanterns hang in front of every shop and lantern-lit boats look magical as they sail at night.

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PNR Bicol Commuter: What it’s like riding the train from Naga to Legazpi

There’s something nostalgic and calming about railway travel that I enjoy whenever I ride trains in other countries. From the distinctive horn announcing arrivals and departures, the rhythmic clickety-clack of the wheels, the swaying motion on the tracks, and the changing scenery of rural landscapes, traveling by train offers a different experience from what I’m normally used to.

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Biking Destinations in and around Manila

Compared to many other cities around the world, Metro Manila is not a bike-friendly destination. The city itself, with the urban sprawl, horrible traffic, and lack of safe and secure bicycle lanes, makes it pretty scary to explore on two wheels. Sure, you can find many areas for urban biking in the city but chances are, these spots are difficult to get to or you’ll be exposed to the polluted city most of the time.

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