RSSJun|22|2010
Must Go Places In Europe
Posted by Noemi as Cities, Destinations, Features
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, …
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Mar|20|2010
Conquering Mount Pinatubo
Posted by Noemi as Adventure, Asia, Destinations, Eco-Friendly, Features, Nature, Travelogger
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 …
Feb|22|2010
Spend Your Holidays At Hogwarts
Posted by Noemi as Destinations, Family, Features, United States
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 …
Jan|05|2010
More Island Hopping In Caramoan
Posted by Noemi as Asia, Destinations, Features, Islands, Travelogger
Island hopping is the main reason one should go to Caramoan. I was really quite disappointed with the beach front at the resort we stayed in. The sand was brown and looked dirty. Dried seaweed littered the beach. I thought I would not enjoy myself, but I was proven wrong. Two days of island hopping showed me just what this place has to offer.
There are two main groups of islands that are usually visited by tourists – one to the south and one to the north. The southern islands are farther, but a whole lot more beautiful. Manlawi, which I wrote about in the previous post, is located in this area. Another island in this area is Cotivas. It is also beautiful, but smaller than Manlawi. When we got there, there were a small group of people lunching under the …
Dec|14|2009
Destination: Caramoan Islands
Posted by Noemi as Asia, Destinations, Features, Islands, Travelogger
The Philippines boasts of 7,107 islands, but not all of them are well known tourist spots. The beauty of this archipelago is that there are so many places that you can discover if you only look, and in two weeks, I will be out there discovering Caramoan Islands.
This group of islands is located in the southern part of the main island, Luzon, in the Bicol Region. It only became popular in the recent years, especially after the French version of Survivor was held there. Indeed, not much is known about the area, hence the moniker “Secret Paradise.”
From what I have been hearing from people who’ve been there, there are only a handful of resorts in the area. The main one is Gota Village – the exact site of the French Survivor. Naturally, the rates are quite …
Oct|05|2009
Take Me To The Philippines
Posted by Noemi as Asia, Destinations, Features
The Philippines is one of the most popular travel destinations in Southeast Asia. It has some of the best beaches in the world. If it’s mountains that you’re looking for, they offer some of the best trekking experiences. They also have lakes, nature preserves, and other natural experiences. Of course, the rich culture of the nation cannot be overlooked. And then there’s Filipino food. Last, but not the least, they say you’ve never really experienced real hospitality until you encounter Filipinos.
Last week, the country experienced a natural disaster of immense magnitude. Typhoon Ketsana (Typhoon Ondoy) hit Luzon, the northernmost island, and left billions worth of damage behind. Countless people were affected: hundreds lost their lives, more lost their homes and their belongings. Even today, there are still areas which are waist deep (or even deeper) in water.
Bottom line: the …
Sep|14|2009
Places Every American Should Visit
Posted by Noemi as Destinations, Features, Historical, United States
We all have a list of destinations that we would like to go to “before we die.” This kind of list is quite popular, isn’t it? I do agree with Laura McNeil of Bing Travel, when she said that most people tend to identify locations outside of their native land. I suppose it is because far away lands are more attractive than the “ordinary-ness” of local destinations. There is no doubt, however, that there are destinations within your own country which are just as interesting and meaningful as foreign destinations.
Let’s take a look at the United States, McNeil identified 8 locations that every American should visit. Can you guess what they are?
1. Sears Tower (Willis Tower) – yeah, it has a new name, and it seems no one is used to it yet, but the fact …
Aug|26|2009
Things To See And Do In Cuba
Posted by Noemi as Americas, Destinations, Features, Islands
With 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 …
Aug|08|2009
Use European City Cards To Make Some Huge Savings
Posted by Noemi as Backpacking & Budget, Cities, Destinations, Europe, Features, Tips
Traveling 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 …
Jul|31|2009
Getting Bumped From A Flight Is Not That Bad
Posted by Noemi as Air Travel, Features, Tips, Transport, United States
These 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, …
