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Once in a while, we evolve…
It’s been a few years since I last updated this site. The future is challenging to forecast. We can probably expect unforeseen changes in the world. However, we can make educated guesses in the absence of facts. Ironically, looking back at the past and assuming that past trends will continue is probably the best way to predict the future. So, I kept the dream alive, and it sustained my motivation to resume writing here again one day. With a new vision and renewed passion, I am again embarking on a journey to share my world with you. Stay tuned!—Carl
Travel Resolutions for 2023: It’s Time to Start Your List
Travel Resolutions for 2023: Time to Start Your List
carlventures.com
Before COVID-19, travel, and tourism had grown to be one of the most significant economic sectors in the world, contributing 10% of the global GDP and supporting more than 320 million jobs.
Just 25 million people traveled abroad in 1950 when the jet age began. By 2019, that number had increased to 1.5 billion, and the travel and tourism industry had almost reached a size where many economies couldn’t afford it.
According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, the global pandemic, the first of its scale in a new era of interconnectedness, has put 100 million jobs at risk, many in micro, small, and medium-sized businesses that employ a high share of women, who make up 54 percent of the workforce in the tourism industry (UNWTO).
Now is the time to think about changes that symbolize our utmost wishes for the coming year. While others think of physical fitness, weight loss, or starting a project, to name a few, travel enthusiasts like me might already be thinking about the next adventures. The pandemic experience made me realize that we only have one life to live. So I need to get out, explore the world with my husband and have a fantastic experience.
I have consistently listed my top travel goals every year. Although I don’t consistently achieve all of them, the excitement begins with planning. At the end of the year, you will be surprised at how much you’ve accomplished, not to mention the joy of remembering each experience from beginning to end. I can’t wait to read about your travel resolutions, and I wish you fantastic, happy, healthy, and memorable journeys in 2023!
Here are my top travel resolutions for 2023:
1. Explore a new city locally or abroad. What is your next stop?
Credit: mittenskittens.worpress.com
2. Learn a new language. I already know two, and an additional one would be so much fun.
credit: crony-trading-ltd.bogspot.com
3. Eat like a local wherever I go and write about my experiences. Letting go of inhibitions regarding the palate is the beginning of great discoveries in food.
Credit: Teacupsandtravelcom
4. Meet new friends, whether locally or abroad. Acquaintances and friends worldwide allow one to explore cultures and learn about different traditions.
Credit: www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/p/keep-calm-and-meet-new-friends/
5. Visit two national parks in our beautiful USA. With 50 states, I’m sure I’ll get to one or two anytime soon!
Credit: globaltraveltourism.blogspot.com
Scratching the Surface: The Splendor of the Philippines
Scratching the Surface: The Splendor of the Philippines
I was born and raised in the Philippines, with over seven thousand islands and many different smiles. Since moving to the United States over twenty-five years ago, I have been back several times at different seasons and for different occasions. This time, our trip to the Philippines was planned on a whim due to the passing of my dear older brother. This time, as much as there was sadness and excitement, there was an equally foreboding solid feeling of unpredictable emotions, memories, and reconnecting with friends and relatives. We laid my brother to rest, and it told me that as much as he was no longer with us, he paved the way for my husband to come with me. Since it was a journey of 7,000 miles, we decided to explore the islands even for a couple of days before we headed back to Los Angeles.
We arrived in Manila (the capital of the Philippines on Luzon Island, one of the three largest; Mindanao and Visayas are the other two) on a rainy day in early September, and the flight was uneventful. I truly recommend taking direct flights. It will take approximately 13 hours nonstop. Philippine Airlines has direct flights from Los Angeles. Although the fare is a little more than its other competitors, the convenience of being able to sleep it through is invaluable. Before arrival, we arranged an airport pick-up from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Our hotel, The Conrad, sits by Manila Bay around the Mall of Asia (MOA), and the trip was a few minutes from the airport. It was a luxurious Hilton brand hotel, and the amenities were above average. Our booking included a breakfast buffet with an international flair. More importantly, the view of Manila Bay from the dining area, albeit rainy, was spectacular. Our room overlooked the bay, but you must request this in advance. One of the features of this hotel is its physical connection to the MOA and a mall behind it with great restaurants and shops. You can access it from the ground floor of the hotel, and it is a door away.
While in Manila, we also booked a Gray Line tour of Tagaytay (pronounced Ta-guy-tie: this is the best dissection of its pronunciation that I could come up with), located about 2 hours away from Manila. The traffic in Manila could be unbearable, so be prepared. But for us, it was a smooth ride with no delays. The climate in this region is more relaxed, and it sits on the ridge of an active Taal Volcano surrounded by Taal Lake. When viewed from the vistas of Tagaytay ridge, Taal Lake is magnificent. Its main crater lake is a lake on an island on a lake on an island! Whew! Anyway, please feel free to research this more on the internet.
Needless to say, the experience of stopping along the way to taste the freshly cut Pineapple wedges, fresh coconut water on its shell, and small native bananas called “senoritas” sold on the side of the main highway was a sight to behold. Our tour guide also took us to “Maria’s Coffee,” which sells with pride a product from wild coffee berries that have been ingested and digested by the Civet cat (which dwells in the jungles of the Philippines). According to the coffee’s description, the Civet cat’s digestion has altered the coffee in a “magical” way for a unique aroma and taste on top of providing antioxidants, rejuvenation, and pain-relieving qualities. While it sounds gross to the imagination, it tastes like coffee to me for sure.
The tour also stopped at a place with yet another breathtaking view of Taal Volcano called “Palace in the Sky,” which was planned for President Ronald Reagan’s visit in the 80s but never happened. After former President Marcos and his family were exiled in 1986, the unfinished skeleton of the building became ruins (literally). Still, its access to the fantastic view remained an excellent reason for a photo stopover.
The last stop for this tour was Intramuros, a walled city established during the Spanish Colonial period that gives it at least 300 years of history. While it has many stories dear to the Filipinos, from Spanish colonization, American occupation, Japanese invasion, and liberation, for me, it is a symbol of cultural resilience and the Filipino’s determination to preserve its identity and independence. Thus, as we viewed the Pasig River from Fort Santiago (the oldest Spanish Fortress within Intramuros), its symbolic significance was inevitably felt.
This walled city has ruins of old dungeons and prison cells that housed the country’s national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, and his death march was memorialized by brass footsteps from his prison cell to the Rizal Monument, where he was executed by firing squad for rebellion in 1896 by the Spanish. Around the walled city were several souvenir shops and restaurants. This area of Manila gave a different feel of what it was like living in a Southeast Asian country hundreds of years ago while adapting to the Spanish culture. Roaming around this walled city was reminiscent of my grade school field trips. As we made our way back to our hotel, the torrential rains and heavy street traffic gave me some time to think of how I truly longed to see more of this country in the coming years.
The Big Easy: Although Getting There was Not
The Big Easy: Although Getting There Was Not
Our trip to New Orleans is long overdue. However, with so many travel choices, available bargains, and the ever-evolving and changing preferences, how does one pick the right one, especially to begin a birthday week celebration? My husband and I finally committed to this trip three weeks ago amidst unexpected expenses from home repairs that almost derailed our chances of having a short and sweet getaway to one of the most fascinating cities in the US, if not the world. Thankfully, patience in bargain travel shopping paid off, and we managed to get an exciting package for a 5-day stay at the Ritz Carlton for a discounted rate through Expedia.com.
Our morning started early, and we got to the Parking Place by LAX. Groupon deals made this very enticing. The fees for a 5-day parking rental are cut in half (around $10, including tax). The shuttle to the airport from the lot was also seamless. Now let’s talk about Spirit Airlines. A few days before our departure, I received email reminders to take advantage of advanced check-in baggage options. According to their website, the cost of higher airfares is defrayed by making passengers decide whether to pay for checked-in bags as fuel costs are high, and the heavier the load, the more gas is required. Thus, if one wants additional baggage, it can be done with a price.
We got to the airport, and despite our diligence in measuring our checked-in luggage, we forgot to weigh it, costing us $30 in excess weight fees that could have easily been remedied had we removed other stuff in our luggage. Unfortunately, since we did not have any carry-on, we had no choice but to pay extra for convenience. Besides that, our flight was delayed due to mechanical issues, but an hour of waiting wasn’t so bad.
Then we arrived. The Uber ride from the airport was uneventful, and my husband and I immediately felt this would be fun. Fortunately, we arrived on the Saturday of the Pride 2017 weekend. As we checked in at The Ritz Carlton, the scent of candles and the welcome Gumbo in the second-floor lobby were such pleasant surprises. The hotel is located a few blocks from the world-famous Bourbon Street, and the city surrounding it overflowed with delightful street drinking.
So, we didn’t waste time and hurried to grab a bite at one of the local seafood restaurants that served freshly-shocked Oysters and steak. Even though Bourbon Street was undergoing major street piping renovations at the time, it didn’t stop us from grabbing unique alcoholic beverages that were served in a big way. One of the things that I admired about that evening was the infusion of various sounds and rhythms that, for a moment, stamped what we came to NOLA for. The excitement of hearing jazz music from afar, finding where it was coming from, and sitting for a few minutes while sipping a cold alcoholic beverage was sublime.
The following day, we joined a tour of plantation alley, and we didn’t realize that a stretch limousine would be taking us to these sites all day. We knew this would be a satisfactory experience with just another couple on board. The plantation tour was a poignant reminder of the South’s painful past. Still, it also signifies the rich cultural history that makes New Orleans (or Louisiana) uniquely memorable to its visitors. The torrential monsoon rains marked the end of our journey there. We returned to the city and joined other tourists in a bus tour around town, including seeing the reminders and residual effects of Hurricane Katrina almost a decade later.
Later, we stopped at the famous Café du Monde to indulge in its original Beignet and beware because getting splattered by the powdered sugar that comes with it is inevitable. The following day, we took the trolley to the Lafayette Cemetery in the Garden District. While eerily walking around, I couldn’t help but think about its centuries of history and haunted stories that have mesmerized residents and tourists alike, not to mention the great movies of the recent past filmed there. On our final night, we boarded a dinner and cruise steamboat that offered an excellent experience of the Mississippi River. The sunset was a sight to behold, and we couldn’t have been any more pleased. As we bid New Orleans adieu, we’ll take memories of uniquely Cajun with us!
Pretty Little Thing Called The Wanderlust
Wanderlust: You Know You Have It!
World travel, as many may realize, is a wondrous thing. The idea that we can sit on a plane for several hours and arrive at a new destination to venture into new territory is exciting and, at the same time, nerve-racking. I have been an avid traveler for a couple of decades now. Although the word “Wanderlust” (pronounced wan-der-lust and defined as a strong desire to travel) was unknown to me as a child, I knew I was meant to roam around the world.
As an immigrant from the Philippines to the United States, I arrived in San Francisco, California, in 1992 with my two elderly parents. In my childhood, I dreamed of Disneyland as a life destination without really realizing its symbolic nature for dreamers. It was a fantastical aspiration. I have always been a dreamer of sorts. I envisioned things, imagined places, and set out on a mission to reach all of them at one point.
Life seemed magical when I first stepped foot in America by being in a new world from my perspective. I also realized early on that landing in the U.S. is like stepping on the doormat to the endless possibilities that may await a person. Thus, my longing for exploration and my vow to reach my imagined destinations began. Almost thirty years later, I continue to live the dream, having explored over 30 countries and hundreds of cities within the United States and abroad.
My sojourn is not even near completion. I don’t think I will ever have an end goal, as the options are endless. However, while there is an opportunity to continue my adventure, I will keep stepping into gateways with much anticipation. My hope is that you imagine with me as I share my travel stories and experiences. Amidst all the events around us, it never hurts to continue our appreciation of our world and the marvelous things, remarkable people, experiences, and stories that truly make us realize that each moment in time is fleeting, precious, and unique.
Traveling has changed my life. I hope to meet you one day at your next stop and hear your amazing stories.
With warmest wishes,
