Khao Soi

“Pad Thai is overrated. Locals don’t love it. Only foreigners do,” says my newfound friend Man, who was born and raised in Thailand’s second biggest city, Chiang Mai. As a foreigner, I was quite stomped to hear that. “In the…

• Khao Soi

Balabac

Not so long ago, a trip to Palawan usually meant either Coron, El Nido, or Puerto Princesa. But the breezy southern islands of Balabac – also dubbed as the “Last of the last frontier”, is becoming subtly well-known for its…

• Balabac

Siargao Island

It’s difficult to describe the island of Siargao without resorting to cliches— palm tree-dotted roads made for biking, powdery white sand beaches, plenty of sunshine, friendly furbabies —it’s got them all, and in the best way possible. Living here makes…

• Siargao Island

Siargao’s Canines

Hundreds of dogs roaming around Siargao’s roads and shorelines may be mistaken for stray, but they can’t really be called as such. Free might be more fitting. With the ocean as their pool, free to take a bath day in, day…

• Siargao’s Canines

UFO Village

Back when the sun was in hiding in December, we ventured out to Wanli District, an hour bus ride from Taipei, to see something unearthly. It was afternoon by the time we arrived and the weather was gloomy, with hints…

• UFO Village

Elephant Retirement Park

Welcome to Elephant Retirement Park, one of the many elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai: where you could bathe, feed, and play with the elephants minus the riding activity that engages in animal cruelty. 
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• Elephant Retirement Park

Real Coast and Surf

We spent a night here in a black sand beach hidden in a secluded town, with little to no signal to the outer world. Located three hours east of Manila is a surfing spot named aptly as the town itself in…

• Real Coast and Surf

Heartland Bataan

Perched up on a hill with a 360-degree view of the town of Tanato is where Heartland Bataan resides. Just a two hour short drive from Manila, nature rules here: flowers in bloom, bushes, trees, and green vines had overtaken…

• Heartland Bataan