A travel & adventure blog by Kara Santos
Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), commonly known as Saigon is one of the most vibrant and largest cities in Vietnam. Known for its complex history dating back to the Vietnam War, its French colonial landmarks, and delicious healthy cuisine, Saigon is a good base for backpackers and budget travelers to start their exploration of Southeast Asia.
I was thinking of booking a random flight or taking a road trip somewhere just to get away during the ASEAN Summit holiday. Just based on my Facebook feed, it seemed like everyone was planning to go out of town. But with major roads being locked down for security and horrible traffic because of the special lanes, I dreaded the thought of going to the airport or getting stuck somewhere on the way to a good “out-of-town” destination.
Street art or public art is a big part of urban culture. Unlike art you find in museums, this kind of media staged in the streets, walkways and buildings make art more accessible to the public.
Certain places around the world like George Town in Penang and Sao Paolo in Brazil are known for their vibrant street art, which is a big tourism draw in itself. Just check out this list of the best cities in the World for Street Art. In the Philippines, one of the best places to see big scale public art is Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig.
Continue reading “Art in the City: Murals in BGC”I like to do self-imposed quests and collect certain items when I travel. One of the personal challenges or sidequests I’ve been trying to complete is to visit all the destinations featured on the back of our Philippine currency. The current set of banknotes issued by the Central Bank of the Philippines features Philippine landmarks and tourist destinations, which are considered the most valuable treasures of our nation. As of November 2017, I’ve traveled to and taken photos of the landmarks in five out of the six locations around the country.
GOAL: Take photos of Philippine banknotes with the landmarks featured on the bill STATUS: 5/6 collected
NEXT MISSION: Dive with a 1000 bill at Tubbataha Reef
Continue reading “SIDEQUEST | Money Trail: Explore the iconic sites on Philippine Currency”Last May 2017, I went on a 6-day-5-night cruise aboard Star Cruises SuperStar Virgo, the first cruise ship to homeport in Manila. Compared to my usual DIY backpacking trips, this was an amazing hassle-free vacation that I got to enjoy with my mom and nephew. Going on a luxury cruise is something I’d never thought I’d get to do. It’s a unique type of travel experience worth saving up for and ticking off your bucketlist!
Continue reading “Travel Guide: SuperStar Virgo Cruise from Manila”
The mountain town of Sagada nestled in a valley in the Mountain Province is one of the most ideal places in the Philippines to enjoy the outdoors. This scenic town in the Cordillera region offers the most spectacular view of mountains, cooler climate due to its high elevation and well-preserved culture.
Dubbed the “Adventure capital of the world,” Queenstown in New Zealand’s South Island blew us away with its breathtaking landscapes and extreme adventures. Everyone who heard I was going to New Zealand said I had to go to Queenstown. And while it was roughly more than 1,500 km away from our original entry point in Auckland in the North Island, the long journey going to the South Island was so worth it.
If you’ve ever planned or been to New York City, then you are probably aware of the fact that the city is one of the most amazing cities in the world. The city has so much to offer and it seems you can never run out of things to do or explore there. When you arrive in NYC for the first time, you will feel the city’s energy and vibe which will motivate you to explore the Big Apple to tiniest details.
AirAsia just announced that it will start servicing flights from Manila to Bali and Jakarta in Indonesia and Ho Chin Minh City in Vietnam!
To celebrate the expansion of AirAsia’s ASEAN connectivity, all-in promo fares available from as low as P1,990 starting today until 6 November 2017 for travel period on 9 January – 24 March 2018 for Manila-Jakarta and 19 January – 24 March 2018 for Manila-Bali.
Continue reading “AirAsia launches flights from Manila to Bali, Jakarta & Ho Chi Minh City”
Baguio City, the country’s summer capital, is undoubtedly one of the most popular destinations in the Philippines. “The City of Pines” is always a top destination for vacations and weekend trips because of its proximity to Manila and cooler climate.
While a lot has changed here over the years, there are still lots of scenic spots reminiscent of the Baguio of the old, parks and flower gardens, a great range of places to eat, top hotels and city comforts. Here are 10 essential Baguio experiences for first-time visitors.
Continue reading “10 Things to Do in Baguio”
You must be logged in to post a comment.