Author: Kara Santos

Traveling with Superpowers

Many people I’ve traveled with remark about my uncanny ability to sleep through trips. I can take a nap even before a flight takes off and wake up just in time for touchdown. When I’m not the designated driver, I’ve been known to sleep through the entirety of 8-hour long  rides, waking up just in time for food stops and bathroom breaks. Blaring OPM music, non-air-conditioned vans, and cramped seating arrangements do not hinder my ability to sleep. It may not seem like much, but it’s a pretty useful ability to have if you travel a lot.

However, if I could choose real superpowers that would make the whole travel experience way cooler, these would be my top five picks:

FLIGHT: The ability to lift off the ground, to ride air currents or to fly self-propelled through the air.

If I had to choose only one power, I’d probably choose flight, if only to get cool vantage points and aerial travel shots while traveling. Not having to rely on long land travel would make travel much more accessible, and would make getting to the destination itself more fun. Having the ability to fly would also be way cheaper than having to book regular flights. (No terminal fees, no travel taxes!) Jump shots and levitation shots would also look way more natural. Just check out Rogue 😉  Continue reading “Traveling with Superpowers”

Game Review: Tomb Raider (2013)

tomb raider 2013 ps3 cover

Tomb Raider is an action-adventure video game published by Square Enix. The game released in 2013 is a reboot centered on the character of Lara Croft, an archaeologist-adventurer who travels the world in search of rare objects and mystical artifacts.

Lara Croft is arguably the most famous female video game protagonist, so rebooting the series was no small feat. Even those who are not familiar with the video games are familiar with Lara’s adventure through the movies Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) and Lara Croft: Cradle of Life (2003) popularized by Angelina Jolie. This video game reboot was able to hold its own and successfully establish the origins of Lara Croft and the circumstances that made her into the strong protagonist everyone knows her to be. Continue reading “Game Review: Tomb Raider (2013)”

Travel Guide: Calayan Island, Cagayan

My trip to the Calayan group of islands in Cagayan was an unexpected surprise. I’m really thankful for the invitation of Lakad Pilipinas to visit the elusive island along with other bloggers Juanderful Pinoy, Blissful Guro and the family of photographers we traveled along with.

Continue reading “Travel Guide: Calayan Island, Cagayan”

Illustrado: Motorcycling around the Philippines

Experience Beautiful Philippines like you’ve never done before in Illustrado Magazine’s Issue 73: “Escape.” For this issue, I wrote a feature on five destinations in the Philippines (Marilaque, Sagada, Bicol, Puerto Princesa & Siargao) from behind two wheels and listed a few dream destinations for motorcycle tours.

This issue also has a great fashion spread taken in the surreal Kapurpurawan Rock Formations in Burgos, Ilocos Norte. Check out the photoshoot in Illustrado’s Fashion Gallery on Facebook. The community lifestyle magazine is available in major bookstores in Dubai and selected Fully Booked Bookstores in Manila.

Motorcycling from Naga to Mayon

Whenever I go home to Naga City in Bicol to visit my folks, I usually just laze around, enjoy my mother’s home cooked meals, and try out the new restaurants in the city. However, my recent visit this week ended up being pretty extreme. Aside from getting to try out the new ATV tour to Mt. Isarog, I was able to squeeze in a great motorcycling trip from Naga to Legazpi and back with Mac, one of my childhood friends based in Naga.

Continue reading “Motorcycling from Naga to Mayon”

ATV Ride to Malabsay Falls & Hotsprings in Naga

NOTE: As of July 2014, the tour operator ATV Ride Naga no longer operates.

Visitors to Naga City in Bicol often get a good dose of church-hopping, a few hours wakeboarding at CWC, and a great food trip around Naga’s many restaurants. Those who have more time usually go island-hopping around Caramoan, made famous by hit reality show Survivor.

Continue reading “ATV Ride to Malabsay Falls & Hotsprings in Naga”

Souvenir Guide: Lake Sebu

The serene town of Lake Sebu in South Cotabato is home to various indigenous tribes including the T’bolis, who are well-known for their traditional skills in weaving and handicrafts. If you find yourself in Lake Sebu, be sure to drop by the Cooperative of Women in Health and Development (COWHED), a nipa hut on stilts designed after a Gono Kem Bo-I (T’Boli Princess House) where you can buy a range of lovely souvenirs made by T’boli women. I was fortunate to visit and interview several members of the cooperative who rely on handicraft making for their livelihood and supply these crafts to the souvenir shop for a writing assignment. I couldn’t help but take home the souvenirs as well. Here are a few things you can buy to bring home a piece of culture from Lake Sebu.

1) T’nalak

T’nalak or Tinalak is the indigenous fabric woven from threads of abaca by the T’boli tribe, with striking colors of red, black and white.  Continue reading “Souvenir Guide: Lake Sebu”

Things to Do in Lake Sebu

With its rough, steep terrain and narrow mountain roads, Lake Sebu is best explored by habal-habal (motorcycle). Located at the southwestern of the province of South Cotabato, this idyllic town is home to a host of natural attractions and points of cultural interest. However, there aren’t a lot of paved roads, so getting around is a thrilling experience in itself. Aboard a motorcycle, you can reach remote areas that can’t be navigated by jeepneys and tricycles.

lake sebu 7 falls rainbow

Continue reading “Things to Do in Lake Sebu”

Game Review: Ni No Kuni – Wrath of the White Witch

Ni No Kuni: The Wrath of the White (literally Second Country, also called “Another World”) is a role-playing video game, developed by Level-5 and Studio Ghibli, for the Nintendo DS and later PlayStation 3 (released in January 2013 for Western audiences).

Not since Okami (which is my all-time favorite game) have I played a video game that I have fallen so totally in love with. Everything about the game, from the flawless animation, to the compelling storyline, to the innovative multitasking gameplay, to the adorable Pokemon-like creatures who you level up as your familiars, just drew me in and left me with a completely satisfying gaming experience. I was content to spend days not setting foot outdoors while playing this game.  Continue reading “Game Review: Ni No Kuni – Wrath of the White Witch”

Hiking up Bongao Peak, Tawi-Tawi

Standing majestic and proud, Bud Bongao or simply Bud (Bongao Peak), is the major landmark that greets visitors to the island province of Tawi-Tawi, the southernmost province of the country, located in the Autonomous Region on Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

This mountain cliff is considered sacred by locals, who believe that it has a power to heal people of sickness and cleanse them of their sins. Many locals hike up to ask for blessings for good health, to pray in the Muslim shrines along the way, or as a form of thanksgiving. Continue reading “Hiking up Bongao Peak, Tawi-Tawi”