A travel & adventure blog by Kara Santos
Philippine Airlines heralded a “new PAL” as the flag carrier celebrated its 81st anniversary on March 15, 2022.
Having recently emerged from a successful restructuring with fresh capital, lower debt and a streamlined fleet, PAL unveiled a youthful 21st century outlook along with plans for network expansion, digital innovation, and a more cargo-driven strategy.
There’s a cool new spot to enjoy craft beer and local coffee in Tagaytay!
Siglo Brew is a relatively new dining destination, having opened on June 12, 2021. It’s conveniently located right across Tagaytay Picnic Grove, a popular sightseeing spot. For those who want to eat full meals, you can head to Siglo Modern Filipino restaurant along the road. But you can also just head on to the back, located inside View Park Hotel for coffee, craft beer, local pastries, and beer chow.
Taal Vista Hotel is the oldest hotel in Tagaytay and the second oldest in the Philippines. Officially opened in 1939, the historic property overlooking Taal Volcano and Taal Lake has managed to survive WWII, volcanic eruptions including the most devastating eruption in January 2020 and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Last year, as pandemic restrictions and border checkpoints started easing, we started biking more to the outskirts of cities whenever possible. One of the most memorable rides we did last September 2021 was to Mt. Parawagan in the area of Rodriguez (formerly Montalban) in the nearby province of Rizal, one of the most popular hiking and mountain biking destinations near Manila.
Mt. Parawagan, which stands 480 meters above sea level, is classified as a beginner-friendly hike for mountaineers, and offers a fun and rewarding ride for mountain bikers.
Continue reading “Biking to Wawa Dam & Mt. Parawagan in Rizal”The film and television industry in Vancouver has been booming for years now. While it was once primarily based in Los Angeles and New York, producers come from across the globe for its stunning locations, studios, production facilities, and crews. In 2019/2020, British Columbia’s film and TV industry was worth $2.8 billion, creating tens of thousands of jobs both directly and indirectly, and inspiring many visitors to buy one of the Vancouver homes for sale and begin calling this city home.
Bikers are always on the lookout for scenic spots to visit for a bit of nature and greenery in the city. Aside from Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife and Quezon Memorial Circle, one of the public parks currently open to visitors as of January 2022 is La Mesa Eco Park in Quezon City.
Much has been written about the benefits of nature and green spaces. For many people who have been cooped up inside their homes for almost two years, a simple walk in a park or bike ride with a view of trees can really help boost one’s mood. Nature parks and green spaces can provide a respite from the stress of urban life and offer city dwellers a place to relax and recharge.
While the pandemic has kept most of us grounded compared to years of travel in the pas, it’s been a good time to rediscover the city and nearby destinations on two wheels. We’ve been biking for years long before the pandemic, and even short errand rides around the neighborhood has kept us sane throughout the different levels of quarantine restrictions we’ve had over the past two years.
Once travel restrictions eased and destinations started opening up again in the last quarter of the year, we started going on longer bike rides revisiting top biking destinations near the metro including Wawa Dam, Mt. Parawagan, Camp Sandugo, and Puray Falls, which ended up being my first Century Ride (over 100 km long).
Continue reading “Travel Guide: Biking to Mangantila Cafe and other scenic spots in Baras, Rizal”Banner photo: Winner, Special Award – Wide Angle, Paul Joseph Aristorenas
Amateur and professional underwater photographers, divers, and marine enthusiasts once again masterfully captured the beauty of Anilao in the entries to the 7th Anilao Underwater Shootout (AUS), recently mounted by the Department of Tourism (DOT).
Dubbed as the “World Cup of Underwater Photo Competitions,” the event highlighted the town’s teeming marine biodiversity, including its world-famous nudibranchs.
Continue reading “Anilao Underwater Shootout stages a successful comeback”Anilao in Batangas is known as the birthplace of scuba diving in the Philippines. The small barangay in the coastal town of Mabini is one of the most popular diving destinations accessible by land travel for those who live in Metro Manila. Anilao is said to be the home to more than half of the Philippines’ documented shore fish species as well as over 300 species of coral.
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