• Escapades

    Lost and Found in Taipei

    My heart is full. That was how I felt as my semi-solo trip in Taiwan continued. Aside from meeting new friends, I coincidentally travelled with Girlie, a friend whom I met in Batanes last April. Amazingly, we had the same birthday which we celebrated together in the beautiful island of Sabtang. She happened to see a comment in one of my Facebook posts about my Taiwan trip. I arrived on the 20th of August, and she, on the 21st. We agreed to meet, but I thought that agreement wasn’t serious because she might have a different itinerary. Luckily, she didn’t prepare any. In my previous blog entry, I mentioned that…

  • Escapades

    A Trip Down to Meteor Garden’s Memory Lane

    Before there were Lee Min Ho, Song Jong Ki, Lee Jung Suk, Kim Soo Hyun, we fell in love with Dao Ming Zi (Jerry Yan), Hwa Ze Lei (Vic Zhou), Ximen (Vaness Wu), and Mei Zuo (Ken Chu). Likewise, before Song Hye Kyo, Park Shin-hye, Bae Suzy, Yoon Eun-hye, we adored San Chai (Barbie Xu) first. I felt a certain kilig when I mentioned the cast of Meteor Garden. I suddenly remembered the cat-dog-like argument of Dao Ming Zi and San Chai. Imagine how the writer and director disappointed the fans when San Chai chose the rebellious and spoiled-brat Dao Ming Zi, instead of the angel-like Hua Ze Lei. How…

  • Escapades

    I Went on a Road Trip in Taichung for FREE

    My recent article about my trip in Taiwan tells you that Taichung was the first city I’ve visited. You read it correctly! It’s FREE and here’s how… Taichung is located in the west side of central Taiwan that can be reached by bus or by train (Taiwan Rail or Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR)). The speed of their THSR is promising because it will take you there in one (1) hour. But since there are still bus-and-train transfers, the travel time will also take one and a half hours or so. This is why I followed the advice of the frequent traveler in the said city to take the bus,…

  • Escapades

    It’s Because TAIWAN-It That Way

    F4, San Chai, Dao Ming Zi… You can think and associate these names to Taiwan especially if you were born in the 90’s or just someone who heard about the Taiwanese Series Meteor Garden. I was an avid fan back then, and so the extension of the FREE visa going to the said country was good news for me. Before it’s too late, I booked a five (5) days and four (4) nights trip! Taiwan is 1,200 kilometers away from the Philippines, or a one (1) hour and 50 minutes ride by plane. This place is not yet a first world country, but during my visit, I can tell that…

  • Escapades

    iSurvivedPalauiIsland: My Very First Solo Trip

    “Seryoso ka? Mag-isa ka lang?” “Hala, ang tapang mo!” “Naku, ‘pag ikaw napano.” These were the reactions I got from my family (except Nanay) and friends when I told them about my solo trip. More or less, these were also my worries. “Paano kung nag-hike ako mag-isa tapos yung guide ko dalhin na lang ako kung saan? O kaya baka ma-rape ako.” Such worries did not stop me anyway from pushing through with my plan. It was not really intentional, but since none of my friends were available (either no remaining VLs or had plans already). Sayang naman yung 10-day scheduled mandatory leave(SMVL)/forced leave. The original plan was Albay but…