Whenever I have a major trip, I almost always have one song that I would listen on repeat during the entirety of the travel. And for Japan, it was Bruce Springteen's "I'm on Fire" and Dire Strait's "Walk of Life". I know "I'm on Fire" has some negative connotation when you listen to the lyrics, but I felt like dancing to it with the sub-zero winter temperature of Hokkaido.

Wala lang, I just felt like mentioning it.

Anyway, I finally finished our Hokkaido travel video after almost two months of editing. Lol 

Hokkaido was a dream, especially for us two Asian girls who experienced real snow for the first time.

I am feeling so overly productive these past few days. Three months have passed since this trip, and I finally edited a few videos we took during our trip. Whenever I'm with these two, it always feels like home. (Halata naman siguro sa mga tawa namin. Lol) Watch 'til the end on how Batangueñas really talk, even in foreign land. :)

A few of our travel diaries below!

A Day in Ubud

Seminyak & Bali Eats

Nusa Penida Island Experience

For years, I have been a fan of The Script. Partly because I have a big crush on Danny O'Donoghue (what's with musicians, really), but of course, mainly because of their music, which, like Coldplay, really speaks from the heart. Who doesn't get emo with Breakeven, and pushed back from moving on because of the The Man Who Can't Be Moved. I personally have an emotional attachment with If You Could See Me Now, as it reminds me of a special loved one. Their latest album, I noticed, is more about the current world we're living in, how we have to be united, and be there for each other.

From Camp Sawi in Cebu last year, to Broken Beach in Bali this year. Now, where to next?

It took me a while to write about our experience in Nusa Penida Island. I was hesitant, because part of me wanted to agree with all the positive reviews on the internet. But who am I kidding? This isn't gonna be a review or a where-to-go kind of travel post. You can find a lot of travel tips, itineraries and suggestions on the world wide web (Does anyone still call it like that?) or on Facebook groups where I actually got ours. Rather, this is a travel diary where I'm just gonna share our firsthand experience at the island. But for the benefit of my future self, I will (I think) publish a post about our actual itinerary, expenses and some first hand experienced tips.

Keeping up with the sequel of our Cebu trip last year, we went to Bali for 4 days last March. Pam and Alvie flew from Manila, whilst I flew from Singapore. Our first day/night was spent in Ubud. Then we stayed in Seminyak for the remaining days.

Apparently, we didn't get to to try surfing, which I would blame to our lazy asses. Lol So here's what went down on our second and last day in Bali.

Pro Tip : If you're a party goer, then stay in Kuta (although there are also decent bars around Seminyak too). But if you prefer exploring cafes and restaurants, then stay in Seminyak.

Finally, here's the sequel to our epic, adventure-filled (or lack thereof) tri-island North Cebu trip last year! (Intrigue? Find more about it here, and here, and here. )

We are three long-distance friends who basically met more than ten years ago when our only world was our precious little town of Ibaan, Batangas, Philippines; friends who now have a bit of luxury to travel and have expanded that little world over the time. We are friends who used to be inseparable, but then life threw us oceans across from each other. And that, made this trip more specifically special and exciting. Our yearly ganap, as I want to call it.

Gloomy weather in Taipei.

Recap : Days 1 and 2 were spent in Taipei City joining free walking tours. Day 3 was another day in Taipei at the Northern most part.

Day4 was perhaps the only full day that I had actually explored alone. I booked a two-way High-Speed Rail tickets going to Taichung City, a municipality located at the center-western of Taiwan. It only took an hour from Taipei to Taichung, with their always on-time and comfortable HSR trains. (How I wish, there is also such a thing in Philippines. Travelling from one province to another would be so much easier.)



There were a lot of tourist spots that I wasn't able to visit as it was very far from the city. The option of renting a taxi is quite expensive and would be very unpractical. Besides, where is the fun on renting a taxi all for yourself? And hey, Taichung City did not disappoint. It was a mix of modern-classic buildings. It was a city for artists, and the creative minds alike.

And the biggest bonus? Getting around using my MRT EasyCard was free. Yes, ALL FREE. So, I hopped on and off on buses going from one place to another, not really caring how much I have spend on bus fares.

Rainbow Village

This place should definitely NOT be missed whenever in Taichung. It was a colourful one-man masterpiece. Story is that a former solider named Huang Yung-Fu painted his settlement, so that government will refrain from demolishing his home. Over the years, he also started painting other houses in the village. Now, he is the only one left living in the village. He is popularly called as Rainbow Grandpa.

National Taichung Theater

It was recommended to me by Jaenna, a local tour guide from Like it Formosa. And she was absolutely right about the place. The architecture was stunning, both from the outside and the inside. No doubt it is regarded as the newest landmark in Taiwan, boasting three big theaters.

Miyahara

This dessert restaurant can somehow remind someone of Hogwarts with its high ceilings, glossy floors, and wooden furnitures. It sells traditional Taiwanese desserts and 60-flavored ice creams.

Tunghai University/Luce Memorial Chapel

It reminded me of university days; of the good old college days. The relax feel of the surroundings inside the university was so inviting. How nice would it be to study on a campus like that of Tunghai University? I can just sit on the grass on a relaxing day, with my book in one hand, and a drink on the other. Or maybe hangout with friends under the shade of a tree. It left me asking myself, "What if I go to school again? What if I pursue my passion this time?"


Inside the university sits Luce Memorial Chapel. It is a Christian Orthodox chapel named after Henry W. Luce.

Thank you to the kind stranger who volunteered taking my photo. May God bless your soul. :)

Din Tai Fung

Xia Long Bao or Xia Long Bae as I like to call it, could actually be my favorite Chinese food. So it would be a crime against my taste buds and my foodie self to not try XLB at Din Tai Fung's home country. Surprisingly, it tasted differently from that of in SG. The meat was not as smooth and tender. But in any case, at least now I know.


I cannot recall on the number of buses I have rode that day for FREE; on the number of kilometers it took me to reach more than 20000 steps just in one day; on the number of unfamiliar chinky faces I have seen. But one thing I was sure of, the most exhilarating, funny and faith-in-humanity-restored experience happened in this city (which I won't go into details). I went back to Taipei with my energy only enough to drag myself back to the hostel. In any case, I went back satisfied and fulfilled. It was another day of achievements unlocked.

Visited this Instagrammable ice cream parlor. Thank you to the waitress who took this photo of me. :)