In Rio de Janeiro, the Brazilian sun sets over sand, surf, and skyline in spectacular fashion. Situated on the beach that straddles Copacabana and Ipanema, Pedra do Arpoador, or Harpoonist’s Rock, provides a craggy perch from… Continue reading
Quick Recap: In the previous post, we hopped of the train at a station-less KM 104 to hike a part of the Inca Trail towards Machu Picchu. It felt like we’d gone rogue.… Continue reading
“Machu Picchu, here we come!” How hard can it be, right? I mean, we’re already in Peru. Now we just have to hop a flight from Lima to Cusco…. Whoa, Nelly!… Continue reading
The temperature is warming, the rain is subsiding, and the flowers are in bloom. Taking a leisurely walk (leisurely is as fast as I can move right now) after my recent –and unanticipated–… Continue reading
If you’re on Instagram, you’ve probably seen at least one or two photos of the spectacular backdrop behind myriad hot-air balloons at sunrise – most often in a particular, desert-like area in Turkey.… Continue reading
It’s a rare day I’m up before daybreak. It’s an even rarer day I voluntarily expose myself to the cold; being an island girl, I’m literally not built for it (or so I… Continue reading
Who doesn’t love a good Art & Wine festival? It’s like a street fair full of arts and crafts sessions turned money-making hobbies. And you get to stroll down the street drinking wine… Continue reading
Did you know that California is 1.41 times the size of Italy? It’s also 1.41 times the size of the Philippines. Yet I’ve published many more posts for those countries than I have… Continue reading
On the way to La Fortuna’s geological wonders, one might drive into a sort of fairy-tale landscape that feels almost European. It could merely be because the air is cooler than in… Continue reading
I once went camping in Yosemite – where somebody presumptuously pitched a tent and inflated an air mattress for me, “the city girl.” (For the record, I was totally ready to rough it.) A… Continue reading
Not far outside Costa Rica’s capital of San José sits one of the country’s most-frequented volcanoes, Volcán Poás. This active volcano boasts nearly 40 eruptions within just the past two centuries – that’s… Continue reading
The cicadas sing incessantly all around. In a nearby tree, a toucan pecks at the eggs of another bird. An Ornate Hawk-eagle*, perched on a leafless branch, scans the terrain for snakes. 50… Continue reading
In 1991, the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, Philippines, impacted millions of people and disrupted the local economy for many subsequent years. Over two decades later, however, the lahar (volcanic ash) that was once… Continue reading
If you happen to find yourself in Subic, check out Anvaya Cove. And if you happen to be at Anvaya, you may as well zipline. Grab your adventure buddy (I’ve got mine here)… Continue reading
It’s Show-and-Tell Monday! Pretend you’re vacationing in the Pacific this December, and we’re hanging out at Anvaya Cove Beach and Nature Club, a.k.a. Anvaya Cove. Or simply, Anvaya. Walk with me. Are… Continue reading
Fog clouds linger in the valleys below as the sun rises leisurely over the mountain range. We spectators huddle together, shrugging off the cold. I’m waiting for the sunrise in Sagada today. With… Continue reading
Up the mountainside and along a winding road, we make our way up to Banaue. By now, I should no longer be shocked that some of the houses we pass are the size… Continue reading
Steam rises from the rocks as we pass the halfway point to the top of Taal Volcano. The sun beats down on us from high overhead, making the gradual uphill climb feel… Continue reading
