Category: Destination

  • Snapshot Japan: Enchanting Kyoto

    Snapshot Japan: Enchanting Kyoto, a photo by nina_theevilone on Flickr. Kyoto, Japan’s old capital, is a Unesco World Heritage city. All the guidebooks and travelers recommend stopping by the city when they’re in Japan. Just three hours out of Tokyo via shinkansen (bullet train), the major sites can be seen in a day, but if…

  • Snapshot Japan: Just keep walking

    Snapshot Japan: Just keep walking, a photo by nina_theevilone on Flickr. Like many fans of Japanese manga, anime, and dramas, Japan ranks high in my dream destination list. Plans have been made a couple of times, but things have a bad habit of popping up, and the Japan 2010 became a Japan whenever. I pretty…

  • Marrakech

    When Morocco is mentioned, people always think of Marrakech. This vibrant city is the most popular destination in the country, thanks to budget carriers that have direct flights from various cities in Europe. After Fez, we were ready to face the touts at Djemma El Fna Square and the souks. Orange cart at Drjemma El…

  • Ouarzazate and Aït Benhaddou

    We claimed our bags from the bus’ hold and had to stop to stretch our stiff bodies. The trip from Merzouga covered a good part of the day; it was already 4pm when we arrived in Ouarzazate. This small town was added to our itinerary primarily for Aït Benhaddou and we had no idea what…

  • Hassi Labied and Erg Chebbi

    Once again we woke up inside a bus, but the landscape outside is quite different. There seemed to be a seemingly endless nothingness, broken only by small clusters of buildings every once in a while. Slowly, the bus empties, until only half a dozen tourists remain. The driver pulls up to a small town in…

  • Chefchaouen

    I was jolted awake when the bus made a sudden turn. I looked out the window and was dismayed to see that it was raining. The rain was unrelenting, following us for hours as we journeyed from Meknes to Chefchaouen. It was nearly four o’clock when we glimpsed a sea of blue on the side…

  • Fuerza Bruta in Manila

    It was a show like no other, that’s for sure. Prior to last night, I had no idea what Fuerza Bruta was. Watching the preview didn’t really give me much to go on. Still, my friend Ida was excited about it, so I figured it’s something to look forward to. What exactly is Fuerza Bruta?…

  • Snapshot Pampanga: Watching balloons fly

    This is what I miss: making a spur of the moment decision to go somewhere. Two of the raffle winners for the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta weren’t able to claim their prize. When my friend Hazel saw it, she said we should go. Lying down on the grass and watching balloons soar into the air.…

  • The 17th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

    Thursday, very early in the morning, found me stumbling around in an unfamiliar room, getting ready for the day while trying to shake away the last traces of sleep. It was the first day of the 17th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, and it’s one event you wouldn’t want to be late for. Balloons!…