A travel & adventure blog by Kara Santos
During the pandemic, we made a few lifestyle changes for our health and the environment. We’ve been biking more regularly for exercise. We’ve cut out pork from our diet and are trying to adopt a more vegetarian / pescatarian lifestyle these days. We’ve also been frequenting more eco-stores and refilling centers in the neighborhood to get supplies and making sure our plastics are recycled properly.
UPDATE: In September 2022, the province of Maguindanao was split into two, so the Philippines now has 82 provinces. This travel guide was originally completed and written in 2019 before the split and the pandemic, but has been updated to reflect the new province and newer photos from more recent revisits.
The Philippines is made up of 82 provinces, spread out under three major island groups: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanano. Currently, there are 38 provinces in Luzon, 16 in Visayas, and 28 in Mindanao. The provinces are grouped under different regions based on their geographical, cultural, and ethnological characteristics.
Continue reading “Travel Guide: 82 Provinces of the Philippines”Dreaming of witnessing the beauty of the cherry blossoms? Filipino travelers don’t need to travel far as Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, countries best known for these pink blooms in spring, are just a few hours away from the Philippines by plane.
Typically in full bloom around March to April, cherry blossoms draw crowds from all over the world. For over a century, the Japanese cultivated wild cherry trees not just for food, but also for aesthetics because of its breathtaking beauty.
Continue reading “Travel Guide: Cherry blossom season in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan”When you think of Zamboanga City, the images of the rainbow-striped vintas immediately come to mind. But aside from the colorful sails of the outrigger boats, did you know you can find a colorful Rainbow Mosque in the city as well?
Masjid Al-Islamia, also known as the Rainbow Mosque, can be found in Brgy. Sta. Maria along Tumaga Road (Veterans Ave. Ext.) in Zamboanga City. The mosque was repainted sometime after the Marawi Siege in 2017 as a tribute to the fallen heroes. It was painted in vibrant colors as a call for peace and unity.
Continue reading “Rainbow Mosque in Zamboanga City: Masjid Al-Islamia”Zamboanga City’s cuisine is just as festive, colorful and diverse as the culture of the region. Because of their location near the Sulu Sea, you get a variety of fresh seafood. With Zamboanga’s rich history as a former Spanish settlement, Hispanic flavors and food preparation have been infused into dishes.
The presence of ethnic tribes from the Sulu archipelago and the Malay peninsula, known for their use of exotic spices, have added a unique touch to the cuisine that you can’t find anywhere else in the country.
Continue reading “Food Trip: Zamboanga City (2023)”Ready for revenge travel this year? Get a chance to fly to your dream destination for FREE by boosting rewards points from daily transactions to pay for flights and add-ons on Cebu Pacific flights.
GoTyme Bank, a Gokongwei Group Bank, has partnered with Cebu Pacific and Go Rewards to enable more Juans to reach their dream destinations by boosting rewards points earned from flights from regular expenses like groceries, retail, fuel, medicine, e-commerce transactions, and more.
When it comes to leisure staycations, accommodations are the most important factor to consider. Camping and glamping have become more popular among families looking to spend time outdoors after months of being cooped up during the pandemic era.
In fact, there’s been an increase in demand for unique sleeping quarters like treehouses, camper vans, farm stays, and more catering to leisure travelers who want to experience something new. Data from Airbnb shows that searches for unique homes has exploded in the past three years, creating potential earning opportunities for hosts.
Continue reading “Unique Airbnb stays around the Philippines”Baler is a laid-back coastal town in the province of Aurora that’s known mostly as a surfing destination. But it’s also an amazing base for riders and bikers to explore. In 2019, we took a road trip from Manila to Dingalan, Baler, Dipaculao and back by motorcycles and loved the vibe, so we decided to return and ride at a slower pace on bicycles in April 2022 as soon as travel restrictions eased.
For those coming from Metro Manila, Tagaytay in Cavite is one of the most popular choices for a road trip or quick weekend getaway. You can enjoy the cooler climate with a refreshing view in this mountain town overlooking Taal Lake without having to drive too far.
We’ve all been cooped up for the past 2 years since the pandemic hit, and it’s great that we can finally rediscover and revisit our favorite spots again.
Looking for ideas where to go in the near future? Just in time to mark Museums and Galleries Month this October, museums and art galleries in areas under the National Capital Region (NCR) and other parts of the Philippines have started to reopen their doors with the shift of community quarantine levels to Alert Level 3.
Based on latest guidelines from the IATF, most museums are only accepting FULLY VACCINATED visitors with pre-booked reservations. Minors are still not allowed in indoor attractions and museums. Some museums are operating at a limited capacity. All National Museums are FREE to visit.
Here’s a roundup of some museums and art galleries that have reopened to the public around the country as of October 19, 2021.
Continue reading “LIST: Museums that have reopened in Metro Manila and around the Philippines (October 2021)”
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