Archive for Philippines

Interview with my sweet Mica Senyorita

November 8, 2012 interview, Philippines 7 comments
No boyfriend, no problem

I don’t even remember when and why we started talking with Mica. I just remember that she was always nice to me and I got a message from her just after I posted I was going to Asia in late September 2011. She persisted I should visit the Philippines too when going to be close and I agreed. We met, we spent a few days together in Manila, attended the crazy Captain Morgan party with some hot models, and then we explored beautiful Batad rice terraces and Mica’s home place.

And you know what? We both happened to have a T-shirt with the same ”no boyfriend, no problem” on it 😀

No boyfriend, no problem

No boyfriend, no problem

 

I love this girl and she is one of my best friends since we met back in November 2011. One of the examples that proves meeting new people when traveling is WORTH IT!

1. Who are you? Tell us something about you.

Mabuhay! I am Mica Rodriguez, a twenty-something blogger from the
Philippines. I love eating, traveling and making films. It is a dream of mine to
do movies while traveling. I will do my best to turn that dream into reality
soon. I do maintain a number of blogs (two of which are senyorita.net and
micamyx.com). I also write for a local tabloid in the Philippines.

2. What is your favorite place, city and country and why? (each one of them)

This is hard! Do I have to pick one only? If that’s the case, I’d choose
Camiguin Island in Northern Mindanao. I am mesmerized on how this place is
mysterious yet beautiful at the same time. They have mountains, volcanoes,
cold and hot springs, white and black beach, a sunken cemetery – all in one
island!

My favorite city would be London. I love everything about it except the
cost of living. I stayed there for a few weeks and my love for travel and
performing arts became more intense after that trip.

Of course, my favorite country is the PHILIPPINES. I would love to visit India,
Spain and explore more of the United Kingdom.

3. If you could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would it be and why?

Spain. I heard that Spanish people are passionate and artistic. I want to learn
how to dance Flamenco too!

Mica and me jumping in Batad rice terraces

Mica and me jumping in Batad rice terraces

4. What do you love the most about your home country?

I love the food, the beaches, the variation of culture and the people.

5. How travel changes you?

Travel pushed me to step out of my comfort zone. Being an obedient and
sheltered kid way back when I was still studying in Pangasinan, I’ve always
thought that I couldn’t travel on my own. It also transformed me into a risk
taker and worry less (especially on the financial aspect LOL). I’ve met a lot
of people from different walks of life and learned from each one of them.
Traveling keeps me inspired and happy that I am living my life.

 

A lot of love, Mica and thanks for the answers 🙂 Missing you!

Alex

Interview with Edcel of SoloflightEd I met in the Philippines

October 11, 2012 interview, Philippines No comments
with Edcel and others in Cebu

I met a lot of interesting people when in the Philippines in November 2011. It was amazing 3 weeks there and I just I spent more time in there, if only visa let me!

Already before I visited, I talked online to some Filipino bloggers and then we met later on there. One of them was Ed, a guy who really knows what he is doing 🙂

with Edcel and others in Cebu

with Edcel and others in Cebu

 

So Ed,

1. Who are you? Tell us something about you.

My name is Edcel and I blog at soloflightEd.com. I’m currently backpacking in Southeast Asia after I quit my day job of 6 years in the Philippines. I’m living as a digital nomad where I bring my work with me wherever I go. I also enjoy performing headstands and crazy stunts in my travel adventures (oh yeah)

 

2. What is your favorite place, city and country and why? (all three of them)

Place – I love the beach! I love the sun.

City – Singapore, it’s very organized.

Country – Aside from my home country Philippines, Cambodia. Very relaxed and the people are genuinely friendly.

 

3. If you could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would it be and why?

Dubai, I’ll go there. I need to be there.

soloflighted in Hongkong

Soloflighted in Hongkong

 

4. What do you love the most about your home country?

So many islands, so many beaches, so many places that are waiting to be explored!

 

5. How travel changes you?

It broadens my perception towards life because of being exposed to other places and culture other than my own.

 

Thanks so much for this quick interview, Ed.

Love,

Alex

 

Interview with the best travel buddy Jason Montana of Montana the Explorer

August 16, 2012 interview, Philippines, tips 5 comments
crazy sexy fun traveler with Jason at Carmen Chocolate Hills in the Philippines

During my South East Asia trip in 2011, I decided to go to the Philippines for 3 weeks because of 2 reasons – Jason (and Mica) convincing me was one of them, and super beautiful beaches was the second one.

Jason planned a travel week together when we visited Palawan island, did some island hopping around, then I got my flights to Cebu and also Bohol. To say it was a lot of fun would be an understatement. Jason is the best travel buddy 🙂

The pic of us below is from Carmen Chocolate Hills in Bohol, Philippines 🙂

 

crazy sexy fun traveler with Jason at Carmen Chocolate Hills in the Philippines

1. Who are you? Tell us something about you.

I am Jason Montana, a certified beach bum and traveler. I live in Cebu Philippines and currently working as recruitment specialist in a BPO company. Definitely not a home buddy but an outdoor person who loves traveling, exploring, food trips (but I don’t eat vegetables), crazy long rides, doing extreme activities that give me an adrenaline rush and of course beaching. I also own a travel blog named www.montanatheexplorer.com –where I write and share my crazy experiences while hitting the road, some destination ideas and travel tips in the Philippines.

 

2. What is your favorite place, city and country and why? (All three of them)

This one is difficult because I happen to love two places and choosing one is not possible for me. I’d go for El Nido in Palawan and Calaguas Island in Camarines Norte. When I travel and choose a destination, pristine beaches must be always on the top of my list. The fine white sand, the water and the sound of the waves made me feel at home and relax. I don’t know but somehow I can feel that I’m a sea creature on my past life! Hahaha

For my favorite City and Country, that would be Singapore. The city is so clean and the people are very well disciplined. I also happen to love how small the city yet very progressive.

 

3. If you could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would it be and why?

Definitely New York, USA and to be more specific in Manhattan! Hahaha. Though NY is such an expensive city but it has so many things to do and to see. I love their super busy streets, the restaurants, the bars, the museums and of course Central Park. Plus the fact that the city happened to be the setting of my all time favorite tv series and movie Sex and the City. That already convinced me that NY USA is my dream destination and hopefully I will be able to go
there someday.

 

4. What do you love the most about your home country?

Our unique culture, the world-class beaches and other breathtaking destinations and of course the People.

Jason at the beach - his favorite place

Jason at the beach – his favorite place

 

5. How travel changes you?

Traveling totally transformed me to become more mature and wiser in dealing life. Usually I travel solo and that really demanded a lot from me. I can no longer rely to my family and friends since they are miles away. That’s why I had to take care of myself and that’s a huge responsibility already, you got to be really wise or else everything will be fucked up.

Traveling also changed the way I see life. It made me realized that life is such a precious gift given to us and we should not waste it. We need start doing what we love and always pursue our passions.

 

Jason, hun, thanks for your answers! I hope to see you soon again and have those great conversations and laughs like we had every day!

 

Love,

Alex 

Interview with Monette Fernandez of Flip Travels

August 9, 2012 interview, Philippines, tips, travel 2 comments
me with Monette and Marky at Captain Morgan Party in Manila 2011

I met this nice and beautiful girl Monette at Captain Morgan Party in Manila in November in 2011. It was sooo much fun! She is really sweet so I am sure next time when I am in SE Asia we will meet again 🙂

me with Monette and Marky at Captain Morgan Party in Manila 2011

me with Monette and Marky at Captain Morgan Party in Manila 2011

 

Find out more about Monette via her answers:

1. Who are you? Tell us something about you.

My name is Monette Fernandez. I work as a senior training manager for a third-party healthcare provider in the Philippines. I have been travelling for over five years and have been blogging with my travel partner, Ron Cruz, for over four years at Flip Travels. On regular days, I am a homebody. I enjoy ordinary bus rides to and from the office to save money for my trips. I am fuelled with caffeine, I devour books, and I breathe music. I do not know how to swim but love to go to beaches. As much as I enjoy traveling with Ron, my friends, and my significant other (together or separately), I am most blissful when traveling alone. Oh, and I hate frogs…

 

2. What is your favorite place, city and country and why? (All three of them)

My favourite place is by the beach. I’m not sure why as I don’t know how to swim… I just know that it gives me so much peace to sit, stare, and imagine what is over the great beyond. Or it just might be the beer… lol!

I love to stay in so many cities, but my ultimate choice has got to be Luang Prabang. I love its people’s almost whisper-like footsteps in the morning. I crave for its baguettes and brewed coffee sold on streets. I miss how this city warps time to make the hours passing really slowly, or stretches time to make the hours last longer. This place could lift me in its arms and cradle me to sleep.
My favorite country is Indonesia. I’ve never felt so close to one culture as this place. I feel comfortable moving along its streets and mingling with its people. I love how its food imitates my craving for home. I can feel its art as I trace my hands along its amazing islands. I can’t wait to go back there!

Monette in Muine Vietnam

3. If you could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would it be and why?

Switzerland for the Alps, chocolates, and cheese. Oh! And there is a guy who lives there who stole my heart and hid it somewhere in his basement… 

 

4. What do you love the most about your home country?

I especially like the fact that my family and friends, at least most of them, live in the Philippines. I don’t feel powerless. Also, I like how people get to squeeze in mall-ing, three-hour coffee breaks, and drinking during a work week!

 

5. How travel changes you?

Travel changed me profoundly in such a way that I always come out of every trip being better version of myself. There are always new things to discover, especially culture. I know now that people from different countries are no different from me. The more I meet people, the smaller my world becomes that I can practically wrap around my arms around the world.

 

Monette, you got me with Switzerland and their chocolate and cheese, I cannot get enough of them either 😀 Thanks for the interview!

 

Love,

Alex

 

Interview with Dominic aka Dong Ho of Escape Islands

August 6, 2012 interview, nature, Philippines, photo, tips, travel No comments
me and Dong Ho on top of a jeepney in Batad rice terraces

Dominic of Escape Islands is a person who loves nature. So when I visited North Luzon in the Philippines and found out he with some more supersweet Filipino adventurers were going to survive Batad rice terraces, I had to join them. It turned out to be a lot of sweat, but even more fun and I am sure I will never forget those green landscapes ofthe stunning  rice terraces. Nor I will top-loading jeepneys like at the photo below with Dom 🙂 My ass still hurts from that top-loading haha.

me and Dong Ho on top of a jeepney in Batad rice terraces

me and Dong Ho on top of a jeepney in Batad rice terraces

 

Have a look at the interview with this funny Dom DA BEST 🙂

1. Who are you? Tell us something about you.

An islander. A mountaineer. A backpacker. A usual traveler from the Philippines who finds great things in going places. I love the beaches as much as I love the mountains.

 

2. What is your favorite place, city and country and why? (all three of them)

I love the Philippines but for this question allow me to answer the place aside from the Philippines.

My favorite place so far is Harbin in Heilongjiang China. I like its diversity of structures and culture having a mix of China, Russia, Japan and even remnants of a Jewish community. China is also my favorite country in terms of traditions and culture.

Dong Ho

Dong Ho outside St Sophia Church in Harbin, China

 

3. If you could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would it be and why?

The Silk Road. It would be a beautiful long journey of what is considered as one of the most significant trade route to the four great civilizations (China, India, Persia and Arabia). Something that i find really interesting.

 

4. What do you love the most about your home country?

Seeing the people being joyous even on the most challenging moments. People’s smile is genuine.

 

5. How travel changes you?

It made me realize that the real treasures of a place are its people. They build the culture. They shape the structures. It’s when you start conversing with them that you will find the best things on even the simplest things.

 

Dominic, I love what you said about people. They are what I remember the most about every place, too. Thanks again for the interview and all the laugh when trying to survive Batad rice terraces 😀

 

Love,

Alex

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