I had always planned to return to Baguio after getting my master’s degree. Along with the looming expiration of our contract with our Pasig landlady, the COVID-19 pandemic put that plan on fast-forward. Partly due to the change of status back and forth from GCQ to ECQ to MECQ in Metro Manila, there was an overwhelming amount of information online, some of which was incomplete … Continue reading The Long Road Home, part 1
My last non-travel travel blog was about the things I miss from past travels, and I’ve dug up some pictures and stories to share so I can put together a part two. If you want to find out the difference between ice cream and gelato, learn about why Rizal wrote a letter to the women of Malolos, and see sculptures of babies with barcodes instead … Continue reading 7 More Things I Miss from Past Travels to 7 Cities
My love for traveling long predates my humble blog. So I have a lot of memories of exciting places that I didn’t document with the diligence that I try to document my more recent travels. Since the pandemic has prompted restrictions on travel for most of the world, I’ve been missing the thrill of going to new places more than usual. I originally thought of … Continue reading 9 Things I Miss from Past Travels to 9 Cities
My August 2019 trip to Japan was well-documented in photos and blogs. But for a long time, I had forgotten that I also took a lot of short videos during my trip. Most of them are of the inhabitants of the Kaiyukan aquarium. There are some from my trip up (and down) the Kuchu Teien Observatory, as well. I took these without a tripod or … Continue reading Osaka and Nara in Quick Clips
Looking for part one? You can find it here. Come back when you’re done! Or just read this one first. The order doesn’t really matter. Food markets and street stalls Sit-down restaurants in Japan tend to be quite expensive. A nice alternative is buying food from food markets and taking it to your hotel, hostel, or AirBNB. Most of the foods listed here came from … Continue reading Objects of My Ingestion, Japan edition: part 2
The city of Kobe sits between the Rokko mountain range and the sea. Its location made it an important port city beginning in the 19th century. The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake hit Kobe and some nearby cities in January of 1995, killing thousands of people and causing much damage to the city’s infrastructure with tremors and the resulting fires. Looking at Kobe today, however, you’d never … Continue reading 931 Meters Above Sea Level: On Top of Mt. Rokko
Having already been to quite a few tourist spots in Kyoto – including Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama Bamboo Grove – we decided to go elsewhere this time, and ended up at Otani Hombyo temple. We also made a stop at the Pokémon Center. Otani Hombyo serves as the mausoleum of Shinran Shonin, the founder of the Jodo Shinshu Buddhist sect. Otani Hombyo is also the … Continue reading A Kyoto Day Trip: Otani Hombyo, the Pokémon Center, and Some Snacking
Himeji is a city rich in history. It’s about an hour and a half away from Osaka by train. One of the most popular attractions in Himeji is UNESCO World Heritage Site Himeji Castle. The history Before the towering structure that exists today was in place, a simple fort was built on the grounds in 1333. After 13 years, it was rebuilt into a castle. … Continue reading Up Close and Personal with the Historic Himeji Castle
In the past decade, there’s a good chance that at least one of the many “eco-friendly” goods popping up online have made their way into your bag. Reusable totes, metal straws, and tumblers for your hot and cold drinks are just a few of the trendy products we use as we do our part to save the earth. If you bought yours from some stall … Continue reading The Permaculture Shift
After touring Himeji Castle, take some time to explore Koko-en Gardens. It’s a short walk from the castle and only costs ¥300 (~Php140) to enter. If you plan to visit both, you can get a combination ticket for ¥1,050 (~Php500) and save ¥250. Koko-en officially opened to the public in 1992. It gets its name from Koko-do, a school for literary and military training originally … Continue reading A Nature Walk Through Time at Koko-en Gardens
'Ka ni Kim 