Category: Preparation

  • How to renew your Philippine passport in 30 minutes

    UPDATE (May 6, 2011): The Department of Foreign affairs issued an advisory dated May 4, 2011: The DFA will extend up to one year the validity of the current expiring passports of applicants who have urgent travel. The extension will be free of charge while the applicants are waiting for the release of their new…

  • What do you bring on a one-month trip?

    I am *slowly* getting better at packing light. I managed to keep my backpack under 6.5 kilos during my one-month backpacking trip in Southeast Asia, but of course, that doesn’t count my heavy messenger bag and extra bag with my Bangkok dollie shopping. So how did I manage to pack relatively light? By not bringing…

  • Traveling in the midst of A(H1N1): Is it safe?

    I’ve been back in Manila for exactly 8 days now, past the 7-day period to screen for flu-like symptoms. In those 8 days, I did not get a sore throat (even if my sister from Melbourne had a very sore throat and was coughing and spreading germs all over the place), nor did my temperature…

  • Ways to save up for your dream holiday

    Traveling is sadly, an expensive hobby. Unless you’re filthy rich, if you want to pursue this, you need to save up a lot of money to sustain this lifestyle. Though airfare has gone down dramatically over the years, and more budget-friendly transport and accommodation has sprung up, traveling can still take a chunk of your…

  • Applying for an Australian tourist visa

    [UPDATE October 13, 2015] Here’s a guide on how you can easily, quickly, and cheaply apply for an Australian tourist visa online [Update: September 15, 2014] Philippine passport holders can now apply for an Australian tourist visa online through the IMMI website. Application fee must be paid via credit card. You can still apply in…

  • What’s in my bag?

    The long weekend is upon us, and like most Filipinos, I am headed out of Manila. As much as I prefer to avoid traveling on a peak weekend, this is my last chance to hit the beach as summer ends. Inside Viktor: clothes, battery charger, SD card reader, sunblock, googles, toiletries, underwater case, medicine kit,…

  • What’s in my bag?

    Let’s have another round of What’s in My Bag, shall we?   I’m not taking Viktor today, but instead I’m breaking in the Columbia backpack I picked out last Wednesday. I’m looking forward to testing out the other Columbia items as well, like the hiking boots, the Omni-Dry shirt, the Titanium pants. Well, here’s to…

  • From my inbox: A380 updates, Philippine passport renewal and Cebu Pacific’s latest promo

    G’day! I’ve been a bit busy settling this past few days in Melbourne. I know, I know, I’ve been here before so I should know how things work. But I actually haven’t really gone out yet, except for that trip to the market and to the Collingwood Children’s Farm (Wooly sheep! Cows with spots!). My…

  • How to apply for an Australian visa

    I am not a visa officer, nor am I migration agent. I am in no way affiliated with the Australian Embassy Manila nor with the Australian government. This post comes from my experience with preparing and submitting visa applications for family members and for myself. One of the questions people ask me when I tell…