A travel & adventure blog by Kara Santos
Manila boasts a variety of historical and cultural museums that offer a glimpse into the Philippines’ rich heritage. The three major museums of the National Museum Complex, all within walking distance of each other, house the biggest collections of artifacts and artworks from the pre-colonial period up to this day. Other museums and parks in Manila also provide areas to appreciate culture and nature.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
My photo biking in Intramuros in Manila is featured in National Geographic Magazine!
Sometime in early 2023, one of the magazine’s photo editors reached out when they were looking for an image to represent new bike lanes being built around Intramuros in Manila. They found this photo with me and a Bambike from an article I published on this travel blog in March 2019 and asked if they could publish it.
Eid al-Fitr, which literally means the “Holiday of Breaking the Fast” is the first of two official holidays observed by Muslims worldwide. The holiday marks the end of the month-long fasting of Ramadan. In the Islamic calendar, Ramadan is the ninth month of the year, and their holy month of fasting, which lasts from dawn to sunset. This year, Eid al-Fitr will take place on the evening of Tuesday, April 9, 2024 to Wednesday, April 10, 2024 in the Philippines.
We’ve all got to start from Zero.
Sometimes, a visit to one landmark can spur you to get out of the house and give you a reason to travel somewhere. If you follow this blog, you know that I like to collect random things or visit specific reference points during road trips. One new travel quest I want to do in the future is to loop some of the many islands in the Philippines by motorcycle (the larger ones) or by bike (the smaller ones). And the best place to start in each island would be the Kilometer Zero markers on the road.
Planning to travel Northern Luzon soon? Whether you’re a seasoned road trip warrior or a travel newbie, NLEX Lakbay Norte Travel Guide is your new ultimate buddy as you hit the roads.
NLEX Lakbay Norte Travel Guide is NLEX Corporation’s newest digital campaign showcasing what north has to offer. This travel guide is a trusty and reliable companion that will provide all the information you need for a smooth, enjoyable, and safe adventures.
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