Hoàn Kiếm Lake and the Legend of the Restored Sword – Hanoi, Vietnam

hanoi vietnam

On the Chu River in Thanh Hóa Province lived a fisherman named Lê Thận. One night, Thận hauled up his fishing net. It felt heavy and Thận was filled with joy thinking he was going to have a big catch. Pulling the net to the boat side, though, Thận saw the “catch” to be nothing but an iron bar resembling a blunt knife without a handle. “Ah me,” Thận sighed, “the only catch for the whole night and it turns out to be this worthless piece of iron.” Thận threw it away. It is the start of the Legend of the Restored Sword Lake as told by the official website of Vietnam. It is a long story but the short of it is that the iron bar appeared to Thận in the following … [Read more...]

Vietnamese Women’s Museum – Hanoi, Vietnam

Vietnamese Women's Museum in Hanoi

Women rule the world. That was how I saw the world before I first stepped out of our home. As a child, I was disoriented and quite shocked to learn in school about the struggles that women have faced over time. In our home, women make the rules. My mother was the breadwinner and she always had the last say on anything. My dad would make decisions sometimes, but he would always need the approval of my mother. My sister was intimidating; she outperformed my brother in almost anything. They painted my very first picture of women, and it was a pretty powerful tandem. Apparently, the same could not be said for all families. The female lot had endured many a pain --- discrimination, on top of … [Read more...]

In the Company of Two Rivers: The Mekong and the Nam Khan – Luang Prabang, Laos

Counting boats by the Mekong

"To the city center," I said to the tuktuk driver when he asked me where I was going. The bus from Vang Vieng arrived in Luang Prabang much later than scheduled and I did not anticipate reaching the city at this time. It was already evening and my awkward social qualities made sure I didn't make any friends during the 7-hour trip. So there I was in another foreign city, alone, and wandering in the dark. "Where exactly?" the driver wanted an answer fast. My brows met as I started to rummage through my head for any place that I could go to. I had not even booked a hostel yet.  Sure, I had read about the city before, but for some reason, my tired mind was failing me. Perhaps it was … [Read more...]

Where to Stay in Bangkok, Thailand: Natra Silom Hotel and Sunflower Place Review

Photo by Nantra Silom

It was a toss between Khao San Road and Silom but my friend Bebs, who had been living in Bangkok for months already, already picked for the two of us. Khao San Road is the city's backpacking hub is the usual choice for travelers seeking budget accommodations. Bebs, however, favored Silom, Bangkok's business district, for its location and the convenience of the train (Silom Line) that connects it to the rest of the metropolis. Many of the major tourist spots in Bangkok are accessible via the MRT or BTS; Khao San Road usually requires a cab ride. Silom was built in 1851 as part of a dyke. Today, however, it is Bangkok's major financial center, harboring some of the country's biggest … [Read more...]

The Kerbside Cuisine of Bangkok, Thailand

Pork noodle soup. Just okay.

"Would you mind if we have street food for dinner?" My friend Bebs stopped on his tracks and turned 180 to face me. It sounded more like an invitation than a question. "Are you kidding me?" was my response. "Of course not! I'm a sucker for street foods!" And with that, we started our hunt for the food stall that would give me a plateful of the warmest Bangkok welcome. You see, it was my first night in Thailand and I had not eaten anything since my plane landed that afternoon. Thailand probably has the most famous cuisine in Southeast Asia. From spicy soups like Tom Yum to sweet desserts like Mango Sticky Rice, Thailand's popular dishes have made their way to dining tables across … [Read more...]

From Pat Pong to Khao San Road: A Slice of Nightlife in Bangkok, Thailand

The notorious Pat Pong

None of my friends believed me when I told them I stumbled upon Bangkok’s red light district by accident. Sure, I was curious and wildly intrigued but that moment when I just found myself in the middle of it was not planned at all. I arrived in Downtown Bangkok past six in the evening. From the Saladaeng Station of the BTS (MRT), the hotel I booked was located several blocks away. While I had the exact address, I was totally disoriented by everything in Bangkok --- their address system, the night market, the goodlooking people, and the language barrier. I had asked many but no one seemed to know where the hotel was. It was getting dark, the makeshift stores of the night market were … [Read more...]

The Budget Travel Guide to Langkawi, Malaysia

Kilim Geoforest Park

Comprising 99 islands, Langkawi lies in Andaman Sea, off the coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Its main island, Pulau Langkawi, takes its name from the reddish brown eagle that has also become the symbol of the island. The archipelago is known for its natural resources. It may be small but it is packed with all kinds of natural wonders --- glorious waterfalls, white beaches, mangrove forests, brackish rivers, limestone cliffs, and diverse wildlife. While Langkawi's popularity as a honeymoon and backpacking destination in Malaysia skyrockets, it remains unheard of to most Filipinos. During my visit, the manager of the hotel where I stayed shared that there were not many Pinoy tourists who … [Read more...]

Wat Pho, Wat Arun, and Other Questions – Bangkok, Thailand

One of the statues around Wat Arun

What's not to love about Bangkok? The ferry was rippling through the obscure water of the Chao Phraya and there I was, deep in thought, on the rightmost seat, alone and having all the time to myself. Am I visiting the wrong places? Should I be more experimental in my choices of places to visit? Should I even be in Bangkok in the first place? Is the countryside more worthy of a visit? I'm always in love with the hinterlands but big metropolitan centers like this have their own charms. Bangkok was the second stop on my first solo backpacking trip and I was starting to get used to the solitude. Slowly, yes, but moving. The sun was just about to take the sky's center stage when our ferry … [Read more...]

For the Love of Siam Square and Platinum Fashion Mall – Bangkok, Thailand

A scene shot at Scala Cineme in Siam Square

I always have to have a hat on when traveling. Have to. Always. That explains this blog's logo, huh? Never mind that my head is too big for a silly fedora hat (or any hat for that matter); it's just my thing. It is comfortable, protective, and to a certain extent expressive. Without it, it just doesn't feel right. If you're traveling with me and you lose me in a big crowd, all you need to do is spot the fedora hat bobbing across the sea of humanity and, voila, you found me! So on my first morning in Bangkok, when I realized that I lost my hat, I just had to find a replacement --- fast. It was an instantaneous reaction, almost a reflex. It was a compulsion brought about an obsessive … [Read more...]

Photos: Taipei and Taroko Gorge in iPhone 5 Panoramic Shots

Chiang-Kai Shek Memorial and Taipei 101

It was supposed to be a two-week trip to Taiwan but it was unexpectedly shortened to just five days but I wasn't complaining. The two cities I visited were surprisingly endearing --- friendly people, delicious cuisine, affordable everything, and, of course, breathtaking landscapes! It was my first trip since I got my Globe iPhone 5 so I was really excited to finally use the Panorama feature of its camera! It's my very first gadget with this feature so I just could not help but get too Panorama-happy and take as many shots as I could with it. … [Read more...]

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