Real Arabian adventures for the intrepid traveler

Tuwaiq Escarpment

Beyond the sleek urban high-rises, ultra-modern shopping malls, and the cosmopolitan attractions of its capital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia can be an intrepid explorer’s destination if one is willing put in the effort and look beyond the sand and dunes stereotype.  The opportunity to discover storied places, some dating back to ancient times, certainly make visiting Saudi Arabia as a traveler out for a real, honest-to-goodness adventure, a worthwhile thing to pursue.  That there are inexpensive Riyadh to Manila flights ticket available sweetens the pursuit all the more.

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Amazing Waterfalls Of The Philippines

Tinuy-an Falls in Bislig

Which photographic waterfalls of the Philippines’ 7,640 islands should you add to your bucket list? The options include Aliwagwag Falls in Davao Oriental, which is one of the tallest waterfalls in the Philippines with over 130 cascading falls. In 2019 such tourist destinations like Iligan City,  known as the city of waterfalls, attracted over 8 million tourists nationwide. Whether you’re traveling to Luzon, Visayas, or Mindanao, you’ll have a wide range of options from mini to majestic waterfalls. Here are some of the best places to visit if you’re planning to see waterfalls in the Philippines. 

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Mount Purro Nature Reserve: A Day of Yoga and Nature Commune

Summit of Malvar's Peak at Mt Purro Nature Reserve

Being cooped up the the city because of limited mobility can get really weary. We all need a dose of nature once in a while. I was glad when a community of yogis in our studio decided to organize a day tour at nearby Mount Purro Nature Reserve in Calawis, Antipolo. A nature escape just a couple of hours in the metro with an added those of yoga. Enjoying a day of camaraderie on hikes, river treks and chill.

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Birds of Coron and Busuanga

Birding has been one of the activities I enjoy while traveling lately. It gets me really immersed in nature. It’s a calming activity. And being able to observe bird behavior and the species found in the area gives me an idea on the state of the environment is. My travel to Coron and Busuanga got me excited to spot more birds in the province. Palawan alone has 23 bird species out of the 218 endemic found in the Philippines. Birds of Coron and Busuanga is a collection of birds I encountered from my last trip. Surely bumped my list of bird lifers.

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Busuanga Island Hopping: Malajon, Debotunay and North Cay Islands

Malajon Island, part of the Busuanga Island Hopping

A visit to the Calauit Safari Park is usually packaged with a Busuanga island hopping tour. Since they are basically in the same area, the tour is clumped together to maximize the time spent in Busuanga. With the safari tour completed by noon, our afternoon was spent on the islands of Malajon, Debotunay and North Cay islands. These islands in the west are also part of the Calamianes group of islands. Each island has unique characters of its own.

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Calauit Safari Park: Wild West Wonders of Busuanga Island

Calauit Safari Park

Coron may already be marvelous as it is, but Busuanga municipality adds a more rugged and idyllic experience to visitors in Busuanga island. I call Busuanga as the wild west. Imagine an island where exotic animals roam freely. An island with imposing limestones and stunning soft white sand beach. Our first stop in our exploration of Busuanga is the Calauit Safari Park. Ever wondered how the exotic animals are now? Me too.

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Pasig River Ferry 2021 Update: Bimodal Travel in Manila

Pasig River Ferry at Escolta

It’s the Chinese new year and I wanted to revisit Binondo, the oldest Chinatown in the world. I knew celebrations this 2021 will be quite different due to the pandemic. But since I haven’t been to this part of Manila, I thought it would be interesting to bike around the area. This time, I went bimodal too. Trying out the Pasig River Ferry service from Guadalupe to Escolta, then back to San Joaquin, Pasig in the evening. So how is it like to travel on a water vessel with my folding bike this pandemic?

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