Travel Tips for the Rainy Season

Most people prefer to travel and go on adventures during the summer months when it’s sunny. However, you may find yourself having to travel during the monsoon months. While travelers need to take extra care as the rain may bring landslides and floods to many areas, the rainy season shouldn’t stop you from having fun. Here are a few travel tips to make the most of the rainy season in the Philippines.

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Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas makes Maiden Call at Manila

Royal Caribbean International’s Voyager of the Seas, one of the region’s largest and most innovative cruise ships, made her first visit ever to Manila the past weekend. Voyager of the Seas is one of the largest ships to make its call at any Filipino port. The ship was on a 4-night cruise from Shenzhen, carrying over 3,600 guests onboard to tour Manila.

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10 Things to Do in Siargao

Siargao is a top tourist island in the province of Surigao del Norte in the Philippines. The island’s coastline is marked by a succession of reefs, small points and white, sandy beaches. Best known for being “The Surfing Capital of the Philippines,” Siargao has attracted local and international surfers over the years for annual sports events and competitions.

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10 Things to Do in Taipei, Taiwan

Taiwan is best known for its hi-tech attractions, traditional Chinese temples, hot springs resorts and mountainous terrain. Its capital Taipei is a fusion of culture and technology, with historical attractions, landmarks and vibrant night markets, all easily accessible with highly efficient public transport systems.

Last month, I got to visit Taipei for the first time. Art was on a work assignment to cover Computex, one of the largest computer and technology trade shows in the world held annually in Taipei. He extended his work trip for a few days and I joined him by booking an AirAsia flight through Traveloka to take advantage of the Visa-free entry for Filipinos. My mother and nephew decided to join for a summer family vacation.

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6 Rules for an Epic Cross-Country Road Trip

Cross-country road trips are on just about everyone’s bucket list, but they aren’t exactly a spontaneous thing. If you want to have an epic cross-country road trip, you’ve got to research and plan well in advance. From your route to your snacks, you’ll want everything to go smoothly while you’re enjoying the open road.

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The Legacy Trail at Masungi Georeserve

Masungi Georeserve is a conservation area and karst rock garden hidden in the rainforests of Baras in Rizal. I’m sure by now, most tourists are familiar with the giant hammocks, rope bridge courses and spiderweb-like view deck, which are the highlights of the Discovery Trail. For those who would like to delve deeper into the forest, engage with the local community, and make a difference somehow, the park just launched a new trail called the Legacy Trail.

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Travel Guide: Masungi Georeserve in Baras, Rizal

Masungi Georeserve is a conservation area and karst rock garden hidden in the rainforests of Baras, Rizal. Its name comes from the local term “masungki” which translates to “spiked” – describing the jagged limestone landscape found here. The discovery trail offers a unique outdoor experience where visitors get to hike through karst landscape, with limestone formations, sinkholes, caves and natural trails and forests. The geological park has eco-friendly conservation areas, rest stations and obstacles including hanging bridges, rope ladder descents, view decks, and a giant hammock where you can enjoy views of the amazing natural landscape.

masungi-georeserve-travelup-hammock-cover

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Product Review: Collapsible Cup by EcoHeroes

Plastic pollution is a major problem all over the world. Did you know that the Philippines is the third worst plastic polluter of the oceans? One of the most depressing things about traveling is seeing how the human race is trashing the planet. Beautiful beaches and tourist spots all all over the country littered with single-use plastic like plastic bags, shampoo sachets, bottle labels, plastic cups and straws. 


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Romblon Ride: Looping the Island by Motorbike

Romblon Island is the smallest of three major islands (the other two being Sibuyan and Tablas) that make up the province of the same name in the Philippines. Known for being the country’s leading producer and exporter of high-quality marble, this peaceful and laid-back island is pretty compact, with a circumferential road of just under 50 km. In fact, you can circle the island by motorbike in just a couple of hours.

After spending the morning on a boat island-hopping around Cobrador, Alad and Logbon, I decided to spend the afternoon on land, looping the island starting counter-clockwise from San Pedro Beach Resort.

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Romblon Ride: Island-Hopping Cobrador, Alad & Logbon

When you think of beach destinations in the country, the most popular islands that immediately come to mind are Boracay, Cebu and Bohol. But aside from these three spots, there are many other hidden gems that remain (and I hope will remain) untainted by commercialism. I was amazed to find some of the most stunning beaches I’ve ever seen in the country in Romblon, a province made up of a cluster of islands lying in between Luzon and Visayas.

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