I came to Chiang Mai from Bangkok via AirAsia and it cost me about 3,000 PHP back and forth which is actually a good deal. (Comparing it to a long-haul bus trip which consumes 10 hours of your day) Not bad right?
My call time was at 7AM meaning the shuttle van will pick me up my hostel at that time. But I woke up so late that’s why I had to adjust! Then, I rescheduled my morning tour to the afternoon (free of charge, just tell the driver who will pick you up if they don’t respond via email).
Since I only had the weekend to visit Chiang Mai, I went to the Chiang Mai Zoo in the morning to compensate for my bad-waking-up-so-late-habit.
Will blog about it on a different post. Link to be posted soon!
I booked a half-day trip to the HUG Elephant Sanctuary from Bon Voyage Thailand. Since I traveled alone and I wouldn’t bother to be in a join tour, BVT was very accommodating and they reply very fast via their Facebook page. They’re true to their claims! They do know Chiang Mai very well. :)
I’ve always wanted to ride an elephant in Thailand, it’s my third time to visit this country but I decided not to tick off that one on my bucketlist. That’s when I finally went on an Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Tour.
I took a bath, indulged them in a mud spa and fed them with sugarcanes. At first, of course I was scared to get closer to these gentle giants but I wouldn’t waste my money so I had to face my fears too. In a nutshell, I enjoyed every bit of it! I would recommend solo travellers and my friends to join this tour cos it’s not only cheap, imagine for 1500 THB (converted 2250 PHP) -- half day tour is covered as well as the transpo from pick-up point (your hotel) + light lunch before you leave the area.
You can check out the Top 5 Best Elephant Camps in Chiang Mai here.
Highlights of this no riding tour include:
Learning about the history of elephants and their behavior
Feeding, touching, and playing with elephants with NO RIDING
Bathing in a local river and taking a mud spa with the elephants
Visiting a Karen hill tribe village
Source: www.bonvoyagethailand.com
Things to bring:
1. sunblock (protect yourself from the harmful rays of the Thai sun cos mas 100x malala to kesa sa Manila chz lang pero tru)
2. towel (you’ll take a bath with the elephants siz so malamang mababasa ka, dry up! MOST IMPORTANT AKA WAG KAKALIMUTAN OK)
3. extra clothes (oversized shirt cos mainit beshymae)
4. swimwear (I didn’t bring a bikini with me cos I wasn’t able to pack, I expected to buy sa mga tiangge but I failed otherwise)
5. toiletries (if you wanna shower before you leave, I suggest you rinse off the mud nalang and do lather soap when you get to your hotel cos you’ll get sticky and sweaty afterwards)
IT WAS THE BEST PART OF MY TRIP!!! Ang solid pramis!!! I’ve been wanting to go to Chiang Mai just to visit the Panda Zoo but then, God paved a way for me to see other animals, and play with them pa. Oh diba?
I met new friends during my trip, two from London and a couple from I-forgot-which-country-omg. I’m still keeping in touch with my British friends via WeChat. And they have invited me to visit the UK!!! WOW diba, I traveled na nga lang -- I gained friends pa! :)
I highly suggest you bring a friend with you here cos sizzz it was super duper hassle for me to take photos (ANOTHER PRO TIP FOR YOU TO BOOK A JOIN TOUR, the tour guide can be your photographer!!! CHZ)
That’s all, folks! Eto last picture ko sa post na to, takot na takot pa ko sa ellie hehehe!
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality
Anya is LIVE right now
FREE
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
These are the phrases that come into mind when I hear the word AIESEC. My friends and I have been planning to go on exchange in Thailand since last year and now we’re on our 2nd week! CRAZY how fast time flies. First thing we know, we’re just undecided on where to go, what to do and how to apply for the docs needed for exchange -- now we’re on it!!!
Tough. As it may seem, the process was tough. I had to persuade my parents to let me go for exchange. My dad didn’t want me to leave the Philippines for 6 weeks because he said it’s too long. But I wanted to make the most out of my last Summer vacation before college graduation. I lived up to my expectations.
Surreal. Describing it in a word, must be surreal. Still I can’t believe that I’m out for exchange. The first week was exhilarating, surprising, yet exciting. I had to represent my country alone while the other delegates have their own buddies.
Empowering. This experience taught me what it’s really like to be independent. I am empowered, to be alone; this is my first time to travel without any companion. I had to compute my finances, balance my expenses and take a look out of my budget.
It’s been a long while! Sawasdee Ka from the Land of Smiles! :)
In partnership with Philippine Airlines, Mabuhay Miles, and AIESEC in the Philippines, I present to you my first ever travel diary!
It was my first time traveling alone and after 11 years of waiting, I finally get to fly with PAL again. Swear, I was giddy and excited when I knew I had to reap the fruit of my labour. Working in AIESEC has been a challenge for me, balancing acads and org work seemed impossible to handle. But that day on Easter Break, my application for the IXP campaign of AIESEC Phes was accepted! Someone contacted me and weeks after, I was asked to create a Mabuhay Miles account.
After that, I knew it was the start of my AIESEC journey. To be honest, I didn’t expect to live in the moment -- I never expected that I would go on exchange this Summer 2017, knowing that going abroad will cost you a lot of money!!! Fortunately, I got free flights from Mabuhay Miles. I was able to redeem 24,000 miles to be exact; making me have a round-trip ticket from Manila to Bangkok, v.v.
Click HERE to view my FIRST EVER VIDEO!
Enjoy a minute of my PAL experience! Truly unforgettable.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to my channel! Send me your thoughts at [email protected] :)
While on the way to Puntan Dos Amantes (Two Lovers Point)
A roundtrip ticket costs $10 along with its admission fee. An absolute steal right? The shuttle driver will give you ample time to roam around the vicinity and appreciate the wonderful scenery around the area.
You can also buy pasalubong and gifts to bring home at the souvenir shop there! (Unique finds such as mugs, magnets, etc - although a bit pricey because as we know, Two Lovers Point is a renowned tourist spot in Guam)
The Legend of the Two Lovers
Once long ago, in the time when Spain ruled Guam, there was a proud family living in Hagatna, the capital city. The father was a wealthy Spanish aristocrat and the mother was the daughter of a great Chamorro chief. The family owned land and were highly esteemed by all, Chamorro and Spanish alike.
Their daughter was a beautiful girl, admired by all for her honesty, modesty, and perfectly natural charm. Her beauty bestowed the greatest pride and dignity unto her family.
One day, the girl's father arranged for her to take a powerful Spanish captain as her husband. When the girl discovered this, she was so distraught that she ran from Hagatna all the way to the north of Guam until she found a secluded and peaceful shore.
There, on the moonlit shore, she met and fell in love with a young warrior from a very modest Chamorro family. He was gentle, with a strong build, and had eyes that search for meaning in the stars.
When the girl's father learned of the two lovers, he grew angry and demanded that she marry the Spanish captain at once. That day at sundown, she stole away to the same high point along the shore, and once again met her Chamorro lover.
Her father, the captain, and all the Spanish soldiers pursued the lovers up to the high cliff above Tumon Bay. The lovers found themselves trapped between the edge of the cliff and the approaching soldiers. All the young warrior could do was warn them to stay back, and the father ordered the soldiers to halt.
The lovers tied their long black hair into a single knot. And acting as if they were entirely alone, they looked deeply into each other's eyes and kissed for the final time. Then they leaped over the long, deep cliff into the roaring waters below.
Her father and all who remained rushed to the edge to stare in great anguish.
Since that day, Chamorros have looked to the jutting peak above Tumon Bay with reverence. The two lovers remain a symbol of true love--a love in which two souls are entwined forever in life and in death. Forever after, the high point on the cliff was known as Two Lovers Point.
Recently found about Ms. Aileen’s Where To Next Travel Planner Giveaway. Crossing my fingers on this one! :)
I already had a 2017 Planner from Navi which I bought weeks prior to the year now. BUT I had my eyes on this wonderfully made journal which is similar to that of the Navi. I love its features, its uniqueness among travel journals I have come across in local bookstores.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality
Anya is LIVE right now
FREE
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
29 degrees Celsius. It was that humid! A week ago, I visited the wonderful islands of Micronesia. Probably not known to many people, Guam showcases clear and crystal, pristine beaches. One of which I was able to explore – the famous Tumon Beach. When one hears of Guam, it's known for the shopping haven – which isn't inclusive of tax or whatsoever. Although there are cheap finds (shoes!!!) the Guam Premier Outlets has everything for you! The first fast-food chain I had on my list was Panda Express. Since it's the known for American-Chinese cuisine that's popular in the US and obviously, Manila doesn't have something similar like it. I ABSOLUTELY HAD TO TRY IT! Loved it so much! 😭❤️ I also went to the Two Lovers Point and I'd never leave Guam without paying it a visit. I took a shuttle from the DFS Galleria to Two Lovers Point which costs $10 (including the admission fee) and it's already a roundtrip ticket back to DFS! Just don't forget what time the driver will go back to fetch you and your fellows! :) I spent a total of five days and four nights here. Considering I had my US Visa approved last 2010, I was twelve years old back then. This was my first trip to the America. When in fact, I originally planned to go to Hawaii, however, I realized Guam is nearer the Philippines. The travel time was 4 hours and Manila's time was late by 2 hours (Guam is GMT +10).
2006. The year I first traveled outside the Philippines. Destination? Bangkok, Thailand. Truly majestic!
It has been a family tradition for us to visit at least one country abroad annually. Although the streak was inconsistent, I’m very thankful nonetheless. Looking back, after a decade I can finally say (loud and proud!!!) that I have been to MORE THAN ten countries in a span of ten years! Oh, the joy! <3
2006: Thailand
2009: Hong Kong
2010: Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia
2011: Hong Kong and Taiwan
2012: Korea, China and Japan
2013: Thailand
2014: Hong Kong
2015: Indonesia
2016: Australia
Therefore, I conclude that I am a CITIZEN OF THE WORLD and I hope for the best in my travel escapades. I love discovering new places, tasting great food and experiencing everything I’m not accustomed to! Travelling has made me realize my love for adventure.
Oh yeah, I have booked flights spontaneously for next year!!! I AM ONE EXCITED FLUFFBALL.
Brighton Beach was the place I should visit. It’s in my Aussie bucketlist! I was happy visiting this renowned landmark of Melbourne.
It was approximately 10 degrees C, when I decided to go but it feels weird that I was wearing a bubble jacket to keep me warm. The weather was a tad fine, although the breeze made me feel like it’s summer – but then it isn’t. Hahaha!
Look how happy I am in this photo! LOL hello there!
Oh yeaaaah, this is what I’m talkin’ bout. Welcome to my crib! The well-known bath houses of Brighton Beach. At first, I really thought they were there for aesthetic purposes only, but when I learned that the owners of those cute, dainty and lovely painted works of art are used as legit bath houses. I was amused!
A seaaaa of people were visiting the famous bath boxes. Oh, I’m not even kidding, the ones you see on the picture only occupied a quarter of the population. Wheeew!
I was too excited enough to share my Brighton experience with you, guys! I hope to keep this travel blog updated at all times; I just wish I had all the time to blog, you know?
Oi, oi, oi! I finally had the time to stack the rest of my photos. Oh, the amount of schoolwork I have to accomplish though. Buuuut, hooray for another travel post! So here lies a photoset of the sceneries along the streets of Aussie that I took while walking and while inside the car.
STREET SCENE
These were taken at Sydney, Brighton and Oakleigh in Melbourne. I wish I had better photos though. Since I only used an iPhone 6 Plus to capture everything in my trip, albeit I had not taken the chance to shoot rarely nice photos. I apologize hahaha!
See you in my next blog post! Hopefully, I’ll be covering up Day 1-7 of my Birthday Week in AU. G’bye, folks!
G’day, mates! It’s been a long time since I updated my blog. Now I’m starting off with my top 3 snaps from my recent trip last August.
Brighton Beach, Melbourne
This is one of my most favorite spots while strolling around the sandy beach of Brighton. I made sure that I stopped by on this famous bath house with the Aussie flag painted on it. I loved how the other bath houses matched the pastel-colored ones.
Hosier Lane
The famous graffiti lane of Melbourne. It’s just walking distance from Flinders Street Station! Unleash your black outfit here because Melby is known for its locals wearing nothing else but black. You will find it very unusual for the people here to wear colorful OOTDs, if ever you see someone, he or she might be a tourist just like me! (But I still wore black lol)
29 Sydney Cove Property, The Rocks
This is the impulsive shot I loved the most. Definitely coming back here for the renowned Pancakes On The Rocks! You rock, Sydney! <3
That’s all for now. Stay tuned for my next blog post for I’ll be telling you what my 7-day trip is all about. Australia is beautiful. ;)
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality
Anya is LIVE right now
FREE
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
I miss the beach. The waves, the serene feel it gives. I miss El Nido.
The palm trees. The nature breeze. Palawan sure knows how we Filipinos do some beach business here.
If you want to go somewhere peaceful, somewhere faraway, somewhere relaxing. I can guarantee you, El Nido is that somewhere.
I booked a flight to Puerto Princesa with my family via Cebu Pacific, months prior to my actual visit. BOOK YOUR FLIGHT NOW.
We had a long drive to El Nido from the town proper. You can talk to locals and inquire for a van-for-rent for your drive.
It’s been two years since I’ve visited one of the Philippines’ best beaches/islands. Way before it became too packed with beachgoers and people who wanted to take load off their chests.
Here’s a post for my Sagada x Banaue trip a year ago.
Look how beautiful this landscape is! One word: breathtaking. In Tagalog, nakakabighani. True enough if you’ve seen this one.
Batad Rice Terraces
It’s different from the Banaue Rice Terraces we are accustomed on hearing upon traveling up north. This scenery is nothing different from what we’re used to seeing.
Banaue Rice Terraces
Hello from me and my dad. Oops! Sorry for blocking the view. But as you can see from afar, the place still looks good though.
We went here via Ohayami Trans. We were aboard with a bus full of foreigners who were also stoked to see this kind of view. BOOK YOUR TRIP HERE.
Mt. Kiltepan Peak
Get your silhouette shots on! Often called Mt. Kiltepan Summit, travelers go here to witness such a wonderful view to start off their day.
Advisable to go here at 5AM, to get your coffee or hot chocolate and pan de sal fix in the trusty sari-sari store behind.
Hinode Cafe
Right down Mt. Kiltepan is Hinode Cafe. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the chance to eat all the good stuff left in Sagada here due to the lack of time. Haha.
Lumi-ao Hanging Coffins
The famous hanging coffins of Sagada. I got exhausted from all the long trek though. But the view at the end was definitely worth the hike!
Sumaging Cave
Your Sagada trip won’t be complete without going here.
Make sure to wear something comfortable and kinda sporty for you will be dealing with rocky formations and water!
Adios! Plan your trip early. It’s going to be worth it. :)
How to apply for an Australian Visa online (for Filipinos).
Hello. I’ve applied for an Australian Visa (Tourist Subclass 600) online. You can find the link HERE.
Here is a step-by-step process on how to apply for an AUS visa online.
Step 1: Create an ImmiAccount. Fill out necessary information you need. Make sure you have your documents with you. Be honest as possible!
Step 2: Click on the applicable Visa type you’re about to apply for.
Note: The Australian embassy of Manila usually gives out visa after 30 days. Lucky enough if you get yours in a span of 15!
Step 3: Let the process begin! The whole Visa application process has about 16 pages as I can remember. Get your original documents and passport pictures ready with your declaration on the back (signature and full name, declaring it’s your own)
“This is an original photo of *insert name here*.”
Scan in the original color, if it’s black and white or colored; scan it as it is. Also make sure to get most of your documents notarized by your nearby public notary.
The AUS embassy is strict so if you want to get approved, comply with their rules and regulations!
Step 4: Attach the required documents and files.
Note: You have a maximum limit of 60 attachments for the whole process. This includes everything - your birth certificate, passport stamps and bio data, bank certificates and certificate of enrolment (if you’re still a student like me) and so much more.
Step 5: Pay online. Get your receipt from your email and print it for verification.
I forgot the payment options though. But I paid through credit card.
AND YOU’RE DONE!
Wait patiently for the Embassy to email you your Visa. If you have not complied with their requirements, they will inform you so don’t you worry! But it’s hassle-free if you pass everything at once.
My visa status: Still on-going. Due to the lack of requirements, I haven’t passed my Parents’ Consent and Form 1221 (this one’s for a minor traveling alone or with a companion). But the waiting game again resumes. Hope’s up! :)
Wishing you a pleasant day ahead, everyone. Paalam!
You’re on exploration eight, a travel blog by a young explorer named Nadine.
Today, I’ve finally decided to start off this blog. I discontinued my previous blog named, The Young Traveller due to my busy and hectic schedule and because I was still in high school back then. Now, I’m an incoming college junior at the University of Santo Tomas, taking up Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies.
I’ve visited places in Southeast Asia my whole existence. My travel life revolved around Asia and hence it was one of the reasons I pursued my course.
Here are some FAQs I may be encountering one of these days:
What can you expect in this blog?
My previous and current travels will be posted here. Destinations I’ve been to and suggestions where to go will come in handy per travel post. :)
Since when have you started traveling and where was your first flight out of the country?
I was seven years old when I went to Bangkok, Thailand.
With whom do you travel?
My parents. But in my next destination I would be with my sister only.
That’s all for today, folks. See you in my next blog post! Ciao! :)
