Travelogger

Getting Bumped From a Flight Is Not that Bad


080205_bumped_flightThese days, not too many people are flying – at least not as much in the old days. This means that airlines are offering fewer and fewer flights, even in the peak of summer. As such, it is still possible that you get bumped off your flight. Alternatively, you can also have your flight canceled. Either way, you might find yourself grounded at the airport.

Some people do not mind being bumped from their flight or having their flight cancelled. This is especially true for those who are in no particular hurry. And why not? More often than not, people in this position find themselves getting a lot of freebies. But this is not always the case. And if ever you do find yourself out of a flight or your flight gets cancelled, …



Asian Countries You Must Visit (At Least Once)


It is the largest continent, the home to 60% of the world’s population, the origin of modern civilization, and the birthplace of major world religions. Now who says it is okay to miss travelling to Asia?

But it’s so huge. How can you choose which of its 48 countries to visit first? We’ll make it easier for you. Here are the top four must-visit Asian countries before you die.

 

 

Thailand

 

Thailand is known for it’s pristine sandy beaches, spicy food and tranquil Buddhist temples. Some of the major sights and destinations are Phuket Island, Chiang Rai, Wat Rong Khun, and the Royal Palace. If you get bored, stroll around the palaces and then eat jasmine rice. Just don’t touch anyone on the head or point with your foot or you’ll be finished with Muay Thai.

 

Book your Treasures of Thailand Tour here



North Cyprus: Your Mediterranean Paradise


bafra-beach-from-airThrough the years, I have come to the realization that I am very much partial to beaches. When planning a vacation, I would seek out a beautiful isolated beach. The wonderful thing about this is that there are so many of these in the world, and one destination that I have recently discovered is North Cyprus.

I am sure that the name is not unfamiliar to many of you. It is an island located at the northern part of Cyprus, shares the same name, but is an independent republic. It has so many things to offer the traveler, best of all its long stretches of sandy beaches.

Since the sun shines in this part of the world almost all year long, you can visit any time you want to. The beaches in North Cyprus are numerous, offering …



Use European City Cards to Make Some Huge Savings


EurocardsTraveling in the summer may not be that appealing to some people. In spite of the excellent weather in many places, there are just too many other tourists who pack their bags and hit the roads at this time. Still, if you do not mind the crowds, then these next couple of months is the perfect time to go visit the continent across the ocean.

Carousing around Europe is part of every traveler’s dream. However, we all know just how heavy on the pockets this could be. One critical weapon in the traveler’s arsenal is the city card. Major European cities offer these cards to visitors and locals alike, in an effort to help them make some savings. Here are some city cards that you should take a look at.

Barcelona Card
If you’re heading …



Things To See And Do In Cuba


floridita_havana_cuba_hemingwayWith travel to Cuba in the horizon, many Americans are already looking forward to paying their neighbor a visit. If you are thinking of a possible visit to Cuba in the future, do you already have ideas as to what to see and do there? Here are some tips to get you started in your planning.

If there are two figures most attached to Cuba (aside from Fidel Castro), they are Che and Hemingway. Do as they did! Go to the Castillo de Farnes and have a beer or two, just as Che and Castro drank to the success of the revolution. You can also visit La Bodeguita del Medio, which was Hemingway’s old haunt.

Of course, you cannot miss out on a cigar experience when in Cuba. Visit various cigar factories and try your hand at …



Japan Eats: The Best of Fraponese Cuisine from Hortensia



Travelers visit different destinations for many reasons, but there is no doubt that tasting the local culinary offerings is high up on most everyone’s list. If you are heading to Tokyo any time in the future, there is a new restaurant that you absolutely have to visit: Hortensia.

This restaurant is going to titillate your taste buds with a fusion of French and Japanese cuisine. Fraponese is what this marriage of cuisines is called, and it is one of the trendiest things in the Japanese restaurant scene these days.

At the helm of Hortensia is renowned chef Tetsuji Koja, who has decided to strike out on his own after a long string of achievements in the Japanese culinary scene. Chef Koja is well known for his imaginative touch in the kitchen, and his creations at Hortensia …



If I Were to Eat, Pray, Love…


Who wouldn’t want to be in Elizabeth Gilbert’s shoes? She got paid to travel to three beautiful countries and write about it! Then again, she did have her fair share of troubles in life, but don’t we all?

The movie has recently been released, though I haven’t seen it yet. I actually do not know if I am going to watch it – reading the book was difficult enough for me. Don’t get me wrong – I did enjoy reading the book, but some parts were just a tad too close to home.

In any case, just like countless other women out there, I have found myself wishing for the same opportunity – to embark on my own Eat, Pray, Love journey. Given that I just might have that chance – albeit …



Must Go Places In Europe


The past two weeks have been busy as crap for me. Our bosses from France are in town, and you know what that means. Still, when we go out at night after work, we try to ban shop talk (it doesn’t always work) and get around to something more fun. One of the topics was visiting Europe. Of course, the Grand European tour is something that almost everyone dreams about. It helps in planning if you know people in that part of the world. Now I am not saying that I will be hopping on the next plane to Amsterdam (though I wouldn’t mind), but I will definitely go to these places if things work out the way I plan…

Paris
Cliché, but still a must visit. The Eiffel Tower, the River Seine, …



Conquering Mount Pinatubo


Many Filipinos still remember that fateful day in 1991 when a relatively unknown volcano erupted north of the capital. The eruption caused a lot of damage and killed hundreds of people. Its effects were felt far and wide, even affecting the global climate. Today, this volcano has become a destination for many a tourist.

The fact that it erupted fairly recently and that you can hike right up to the crater is too tempting to resist. Even more so, the sight that greets you at the end of the trek is enough to entice anyone – even those who wouldn’t normally go hiking. I’ll let the photos speak for themselves.

That’s my first view of the crater. The eruption created this gorgeous lake, the depth of which is currently undetermined. I had seen pictures of this …



Spend Your Holidays At Hogwarts


I never really got into Harry Potter that much – I thought it too juvenile – but I have to admit that I read the first several books. Juvenile the series may be, but I simply cannot resist the idea of magic and all that. So when I heard about Universal in Orlando unveiling its very own Harry Potter theme park, I got quite interested. Walking through the halls of Hogwarts; strolling through the village of Hogsmeade; and sitting on a barstool at The Three Broomsticks – the thought of being able to do these (even if it’s really just all pretend if you think about it) is enough to excite any fantasy-loving person, don’t you think?

So anyway, the news is that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – that’s the name of the theme park …