When in Naples, Italy: Pompeii City

Italy has so much to offer in terms of culture, cuisine, and history. Every city has its charm. And we were so glad that our lack of itinerary led us to visit Naples. This southern city is about an hour away from the famous Pompeii, one of Italy's most popular tourist destinations.

Hello, Pompeii.

Pompeii is not like the posh Milan, busy Rome, or the picturesque Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre. It is an ancient city engulfed by beautiful yet deadly Mount Vesuvius in AD 79.

When in Bohol: Take a Trip to Anda

I fell in love with going to the not so touristy areas of different provinces. These hidden gems are what make me fall in love with my country. It has so much to offer. You just have to sometimes to head towards the unbeaten path. And last December, R and I went to Anda, Bohol for a quick vacation after a grueling journey in South Asia. 

Hello, Anda!

Anda is on the southeast side of Bohol. It is not a very popular tourist spot due to its far proximity from Panglao where most luxurious resorts are situated. In fact, from Panglao International Airport, you have to take a 30-minute ride to get to Tagbilaran and about three hours to get to Anda.

When in Boracay: Coast Boracay

Boracay is one of the most popular summer destinations in the Philippines. Its long stretch of fine white sand, scrumptious finds, and a wide range of accommodations make this island a paradise for everyone. And for this year's visit, we decided to try TripAdvisor's number 1 resort on the island which is Coast Boracay.

Hello, Coast Boracay. 

Coast is one of the newer establishments in Boracay but it didn't take long for this modern resort to get the top spot in TripAdvisor with its topnotch service. I have to admit, I was so curious when I heard that it got the coveted spot for two years in a row. This resort must be doing something right for its guests to leave in high spirits! 

When in Nepal: Garden of Dreams

The chaos of Kathmandu could be very stressful. With pollution and reckless drivers to worry about, it's not an easy stroll to go around Nepal's capital. Thankfully, we found a place in the city that gave us a break from all the city mayhem. And that's the Garden of Dreams.

Hello, Garden of Dreams.

The Garden of Dreams is a gem in the middle of Kathmandu. Known as the Garden of Six Seasons, this picturesque compound was built in 1920 for Field Marshal Kaiser Sumsher Rana. 

Places to Visit in Patan, Nepal

Kathmandu is one of the busiest cities I've visited. With motorcycles and small cars zooming in and out of the small roads and having to dodge pigeon droppings, I couldn't say that our stay here was relaxing. This is why R and I decided to check out a city called Patan to take a break from Kathmandu's mayhem.

Hello, Patan.

Lalitpur or historically called Patan, is the third largest city of Nepal next to Kathmandu and Pokhara. Located about half an hour away from Kathmandu, this is one of the popular destinations for tourists with limited time in Nepal.

When in Negros Occidental: Nabulao Beach Resort

Negros island is the fourth largest island in the Philippines and home to great cities, delicacies and travel destinations. Sipalay, a city south of Bacolod is known for its numerous beach resorts. A half an hour drive further down would lead you to a municipality called Hinoba-an where you can find Nabulao Beach Resort.

Hello, Nabulao Beach Resort.

This homey and native resort wasn't our first choice for our quick trip down south of Negros but its high TripAdvisor and Agoda ratings got us curious. Too curious that we ended up staying here for 2 nights.

When in Bacolod: Enting's Special of Sagay

Bacolod's one of my favorite cities in the Philippines. It is impossible to lose weight here as almost every restaurant serves great food! And one new favorite of mine is Enting's.
 
Hello, Enting's Special of Sagay.

Enting's has been around for quite a while now and has a strong following too for its delectable roasted chicken and sauce.

Things to do in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Vietnam has been one of the popular travel destinations for Filipinos. With food, accommodation and flights at pocket friendly prices, Vietnam is an ideal vacation spot for big groups and first time travelers. And for my first Vietnam trip, I explored Ho Chi Minh. 

Hello, Ho Chi Minh!

Many of my friends rave about Ho Chi Minh's food scene. With big and small restaurants and street vendors filling the city, one will definitely not get hungry. But my trip here was mostly to see its historical and cultural sites. We didn't have much time to go around outside our planned itinerary as our tour guide packed our days with activities. 

Huangshan: The Most Beautiful Mountain in China

Huangshan is said to be the most beautiful mountain in all of China. Known for its striking sunrise and sunset and jaw dropping scenery, it's not surprising for this mountain to attract a lot of visitors. And when I found out that this was part of our itinerary last March, I was excited to step foot in what bested the other gorgeous mountains in the country. 

Hello, Huangshan. 

Huangshan or Yellow Mountain has been regarded by many as the prettiest mountain in China. In fact, it was tagged as a UNESCO Heritage Site. Such reputation definitely piqued my interest and made me excited for our quick trip in the area. 

Dumaguete Favorite: Lord Byron's Back Ribs

Did you know that Dumaguete ranked as one of the best places to retire around the world according to a 2014 Retire Overseas Index? I could definitely vouch that after my trip to the City of Gentle People. From its beautiful corals and fresh breeze to scrumptious and affordable food, I could picture having a wonderful life in Dumaguete. And the idea of feasting on Lord Byron's bang for the buck ribs on a weekly basis sounds great to me!

Hello, Lord Byron's Back Ribs.

Lord Byron's is one of the popular dining destinations in the city. With its falls-off-the-bones ribs paired with pocket friendly prices, it's not surprising for this place to be flocked by locals and tourists alike.

5 Ways to See Mount Everest

Mount Everest is undeniably the most popular mountain in the world. With its mighty height of 8,848 meters, many mountaineers aspire to reach its peak and take pride in being one of the very few to do so. But it is definitely no easy climb. Rigorous training is required to even consider taking on Everest. And the average budget of $45,000 to ascend is definitely no joke. Thankfully, there are other ways to get to see Everest. And it won't hurt one's bank account that much. 

Hello, Mount Everest.

A flight to Nepal from Manila usually takes 9 to 12 hours depending on where you plan to take your connecting flight. And considering the long queue for Visa on Arrival, expect to spend an additional hour before officially setting foot on Kathmandu, Nepal. And it would be a total waste if you visit Nepal without even taking a tiny peek of the glorious mountain.

Things to do in Chitwan, Nepal

Nepal has been known for its beautiful mountain peaks. Landlocked between India and China, this small country is the home of the 10 highest peaks of the world, including the famous Mount Everest. But this country has much more to offer. Aside from its scenic landscapes, Nepal is also the home of several majestic species. And we were lucky that the United Nations event we were attending was held in Chitwan which has a national park tagged as UNESCO World Heritage. 

Hello, Chitwan!

Chitwan may not be as popular as Kathmandu, Patan, Bharatpur or Everest Base Camp but this district has some interesting activities in store for visitors too.

Exploring Rizal Shrine in Dapitan City

Dapitan is a small city in Zamboanga del Norte and is not your usual popular tourist destination. It is often treated as a port when travelling to Dumaguete or a passageway to Davao. But history buffs would enjoy taking a short visit here as this place was where the Philippine National Hero, Jose Rizal, was exiled during the Spanish Regime. And the shrine dedicated to him allows everyone to have a glimpse of his life in this humble and quiet city down south. 

Hello, Rizal Shrine, Dapitan. 

Jose Rizal is no stranger to most of us especially if you did your part in history class. Tagged as a Renaissance Man, Rizal has a lot of titles under his belt aside from being a doctor, writer, entrepreneur and hero. 

When in Guam: A Guide on Airport Transfer, Outlet Shopping and More (Part 2)

I used to think that vacations should be packed with things to do and sights to see. But as I get older, my type of vacation is doing the art of nothing. Just lying on a lounge chair and enjoying the sea breeze. And that was what we planned to do in Guam.

Hello, Guam!

We usually do resort or hotel hopping whenever we travel so that we get to see other parts of the place we visit. And for our second resort, we went with Holiday Resort and Spa. 

When in Guam: A Guide on Airport Transfer, Outlet Shopping and More (Part 1)

With Guam, being just 4 hours away from Manila, the westernmost point of US territory grew as a popular destination for Filipinos itching to travel to America. And with Cebu Pacific's enticing promos, R and I spontaneously booked for a week long vacation in this small island.  

Hello, Guam. 

Guam is a small island that can be easily toured in less than half a day. But before any sightseeing or shopping, one must know how to get to your hotel from the airport. 

When in El Nido: The Red Crab Alimango House

After days of swimming, snorkeling and climbing in Apulit and Miniloc, R and I were looking forward to finally relax at Lio, El Nido. Just thinking about lounging on its long shore and enjoying the area's chill vibe made us excited. But another thing made us giddy to spend a few days in this newly developed area... and that was to feast on good seafood.

Hello, The Red Crab Alimango House.

The Red Crab Alimango House opened in Lio Estate just last April and it's one of the best places to dine in the area.

When in Palawan: Miniloc Island Resort

Our eco adventure in Apulit Island Resort made us realize that it might have been a bad idea to head to Miniloc right after. With more complimentary activities to try, we had to delay our plan to recover from hours of snorkeling, swimming and climbing lime stones. 

Hello, Miniloc Island Resort.

Located just 50 minutes away from Lio Airport, Miniloc Island is one of the more popular islands of El Nido Resorts. 

When in Palawan: Apulit Island Resort

Palawan has always been a favorite destination of mine. Basking in the beauty of its wonderful limestone formations and pristine beaches is my idea of vacation. And our stay in Pangulasian Island Resort last February made it an easy decision for us to check out other El Nido Resorts' properties. Our first stop, Apulit Island Resort. 

Hello, Apulit Island Resort. 

Apulit is located at the opposite side of other El Nido Resorts properties and is about two and a half hours away from Lio Airport. We had to take an hour and half van ride to Taytay Pier and take a 50 minute boat ride to the resort. 

What Mary Loves: Amorita's New Saffron Dishes

Bohol is one of my favorite islands in the Philippines. Aside from its chill vibe and beautiful beaches, I love that this place is a gold mine for sea urchin. But I found another reason to like Bohol. And that's Amorita and its scrumptious new dishes at Saffron.

Hello, Amorita. 

Amorita is one of the luxury resorts situated in the famous Alona Beach in Panglao. It sits on top of a cliff giving its guests a wonderful view of the beach and sea. 

Instagram Stop: Zhongshe Flower Market, Houli, Taiwan

Taiwan is one of my favorite travel destinations. Just thinking about the night market grubs make me drool. But there's more to Taiwan than just street food, milk tea, Shifen, Yehliu, and Jiufen. Down south is Taichung which has an impressive (and not to mention massive) night market with even more pocket friendly finds. And one of the popular spots in Taichung is the Zhongshe Flower Market.

Hello, Zhongshe Flower Market. 

Thanks to Instagram geotags, I got to discover the picturesque Zhongshe Flower Market in Houli District. The diverse variety of flowers caught my interest and thought that it was worth skipping Sun Moon Lake.