Without any warning, summer has come. And with it, the infernal tropical heat. Granted, tropical winter decided not to grace us with its coolness last year. Naturally, come February, I was already pining for the beach. So, on the first weekend of March, I psyched myself up for an 8-hour …
If there is one thing the Japanese people could envy from the tourists that flock their land, it would be the JR Pass. The JR Pass or Japan Rail Pass is a very economical rail pass that is ideal for long-distance and train-heavy travel within Japan. It can only be …
It’s undeniable that my main reason for going to Universal Studios Japan was to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. And I wasn’t the only one. As soon as the gates opened, literally everyone made a mad dash towards Hogwarts. I ran myself, my frozen leg muscles creaking from …
Once upon a time, a white deer carried a Shinto deity for almost 30 km from the province now called Ibaraki all the way to Mt. Wakakusa in modern-day Nara. As reward for its hard work, the deer was elevated to the status of “divine” and “sacred.” For more than …
Leaving the cold city of Nagoya, we went to the even colder Osaka. It seemed like there was no winning in the battle against the cold; I left Nagoya all bundled up and somewhat comfy, I arrived in Osaka freezing. With our destination for the day Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi-kita, food …
Like a young river, the Tokyo Station is a steady flow of activity; passengers are in a constant mad dash to their platform, expertly veering away from obstructions – tourists standing stock still, overwhelmed by the organized chaos. Since it was our last day in Tokyo, we were no longer …
Almost a decade ago I went to Hong Kong DisneyLand. It was also winter then. And raining. So in keeping with the wet and cold tradition, it also rained (albeit only a little, thank God!) when we visited Tokyo DisneySea. Set along the Tokyo Bay, the winter chill in DisneySea …
The plane landed, an hour behind schedule. As soon as the fasten seat belt sign was off, everyone scrambled to get their hand carry luggage from the overhead compartment. Uncharacteristically, I scrambled with them out of the plane, eager to get my checked in luggage, exchange my JR pass and …
Japan: Land of the Rising Sun. Also my last destination for the year 2015. But before I recount what happened during my stay, I’d like to share some information and tips regarding the preparation I made for my Japan trip. I will start my Japan Journal series with the steps to …
Although Mother Nature did not deem me worthy to witness the glory of Angkor Wat against a backdrop of sunrise, my entire trip had not been in vain. I was able to gather some precious insight on going to Siem Reap in Cambodia, particularly when visiting during the monsoon season. Here is my …
After a week of solitary wandering in Yangon and Chiang Mai, I found myself in Siem Reap and finally yearning for company. My sister, her friend and a couple of my own friends were joining me on the last leg of my backpacking Indochina adventure and I just couldn’t wait. I couldn’t …
While a major setback kept me from doing everything I came to Chiang Mai to do, I was still able to make the most of my stay. I still saw most of the things I wanted see and I was actually able to relax during my trip there. And despite having …
Part of my original itinerary involved volunteering at the Elephant Nature Park. I imagined myself spending a day with elephants, getting close to them, walking with them, bathing them. But alas, the fates did not see me fit for this endeavor as there were no longer any slots available for me. …
One of the very few lucky things that happened to me during my backpacking Indochina tour was that the Chiang Mai leg fell on the weekend. Because of that, I was able to experience Chiang Mai’s night market or the Sunday Walking Street Market. Unlike the markets of downtown Yangon, Chiang Mai’s night …
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