Tag: Outdoors
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A Maundy Day Trip to Laurel, Batangas
Laurel, Batangas, is an underrated day trip destination from Metro Manila. This lakeside town has great views of Taal Lake, cozy cafés, and peaceful resorts.
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Downtime at Puraran Beach and L’Astrolabe
After the tricycle tour, I decide to recharge my weak social battery and enjoy the serenity in Puraran Beach. The golden sands and rhythmic waves provide the perfect backdrop for introspection and let me appreciate the beauty of the island at my own pace, an ability I’ve lacked since becoming involved in school operations. Puraran…
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A Sunrise-to-Lunch Tricycle Tour of Baras and Gigmoto
Before the first light of morning breaks on my second day in Catanduanes, I find myself aboard a tricycle, the go-to ride for cruising around these island roads. I’m getting a ride from Kuya Erap, whom I’ve hired to show me around the sights in Baras and Gigmoto. He’s about to show me some of…
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Extended Weekend in La Union: Side Tours to Ma-Cho Temple and Baluarte Watchtower
La Union is often known for its beaches and surf culture, but the province has more to offer beyond the saltwater and the waves. I’ve been to the province twice before, but I’ve never had the chance to explore outside San Juan, particularly Urbiztondo Beach. Thus on this particular trip, we do a couple of…
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Extended Weekend in La Union: Beachside in San Juan
As the school year dragged on, my craving for the beach intensified, leading me to planning a trip to La Union province during a recent long vacation. I, together with my sister and two of her former colleagues, spend three days and two nights in this province in northern Luzon. It’s all about relaxation. We…
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Unforgettable Waves of Love: Celebrating 40 Years of Togetherness in Baler
With the sea breeze brushing against us and the sound of waves crashing all around, we’re hanging out at the shores of Baler, a chill spot famous for its awesome surf and laid-back atmosphere. This weekend is going to be something special; we’re celebrating love and commitment as we head out to honor our parents’…
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The Trip to Marrakesh: Zipping through Central Morocco
The journey from Merzouga to Marrakesh follows a relatively straightforward route, albeit with a few notable interruptions. We make a brief stopover in Kalaat M’Gouna for lunch of traditional Moroccan dishes before continuing our drive. Along the way, we take a couple of pit stops, one at a roadside restaurant and another at a hotel…
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Erg Chebbi: Sunset and Sunrise at the Desert
We arrive in Merzouga at just past 5 in the afternoon, more than enough time to trek by camel to the campsite to view the sunset (scheduled at around 6:30 pm). Merzouga is the nearest village to Erg Chebbi, the most accessible of Morocco’s ergs (an erg being a large sea of dunes formed by…
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Fes to Merzouga: A Scenic Journey Through Ifrane, Midelt & the Ziz Valley
My original itinerary didn’t include a trip to the Sahara Desert. I initially planned to take the train directly from Fes to Marrakesh, thinking I didn’t have the time or budget for a desert excursion. But the owners of the riads I stayed at in Chefchaouen and Fes both suggested an alternative: a Fes-Merzouga-Marrakesh route.…
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Chefchaouen: Weekend Blues at the Rif
From Tangier, I take a bus to Chefchaouen, the famed “Blue Pearl” of Morocco, spending about two hours on the road with a short stop at Tetouan—a city I wish I had time to explore. The journey offers breathtaking views of the Rif Mountains, a striking contrast to the coastal scenery of my previous stops.…
The Tourist Gaze 