I have never thought that I’ll find myself face to face with a kangaroo and more so feeding one; or even dancing with one! Continue reading »
In celebration of Singapore’s 47th birthday, here is a list of reasons why I love Singapore. Continue reading »
Take a look at my personal reasons why I love Japan, a once-secluded jewel of the far east which has become a subject of my fascination since I was 18 and cared for me for almost 2 years of my graduate studies, and who knows we might share the same appreciation. Continue reading »
“When you travel, remember that a foreign country is not designed to make you comfortable. It is designed to make its own people comfortable.” – Clifton Fadiman Continue reading »
Aside from bringing the best travel buddies and the best Nihongo level you could muster, here are my tips on celebrating New Year’s Eve in one of the best cities in Japan. Continue reading »
It is a heavenly escape. White sand and blue waters are right in front of the resort. At night, only the lapping waves and puffing whales from afar chorus with the music of the shores’ tranquility. Continue reading »
I did make the best out of the visit; thankfully, the sunny weather cooperated and beautifully enhanced the silhouettes of torn walls and fallen structures. Continue reading »
Tearing every roti with my bare hands, walking along the dusty path before sunrise, and welcoming the purple skies with prayer, I feel closer to this land where culture must extend its definition. Continue reading »
Rural scenes of Cambodia embrace the lone national highway. There are endless scenes of ricefields, water buffaloes, and small houses with ceramic bird figurines on their roofs. Few villages sit far apart from each other. Aside from the greenery, there are a lot of times that signs of life seem to be nowhere in sight. Greenery sprawls as far as the eyes can see. No buildings and few cars along the road; industrial mess has not yet tainted the pristine environment outside the city of Phnom Penh. Continue reading »
There were no more houses in sight. The bridge where I thought the rainbow ends no longer holds the pot of gold I used to chase after. The river where I swam with my childhood dreams has almost dried up. All that is left behind are rocks which hurt my feet and a narrow brook empty of what I remember of. Continue reading »
I had only 2 days in Singapore so I had to make a careful decision of which places to visit. One might think that it will be easy since Singapore is too small a state that you can visit it in one day. True, if you are merely passing by. But if you really want to “look”, then the decision will be difficult because Singapore has much more too offer than what meets the eye. Continue reading »
This is probably the widely known love story, that of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, mainly because of its regal extremity. This familiarity spares me from retelling the history of Taj Mahal for I am not an expert of history, of architecture, of art. But I understood the known intentions of the dream-weaver enough for … Continue reading »
I left the shores of Hawai’i with a heavy heart as I cross out one item from my list of dream destinations. Continue reading »
Laos gave me a fleeting sense of contentment. No metro trains, flyovers, parasitic mall buildings, intimidating skyscrapers… And yet, the country is moving, not in a haste, but like a floating, blooming lotus, or a graceful swan tracing the flow of a river. Continue reading »
The vision of the Angkor Wat would satisfy any traveler’s thirst for discovery. I had to walk through a long dirt road embraced by huge bowing trees where locals hang out to sell souvenirs and perform Khmer songs. (This is not the main entrance to the Angkor though.) The grueling heat and dusty wind accompanied my tiresome trek. Then suddenly, the skies greeted me, the trees leaned back and the great Angkor Wat welcomed me with selflessness despite its magnificence. Continue reading »
We look up and we feel humbled of how minute our existence is. We look up and something or someone might also be looking down at us. We look up aiming to grasp all the knowledge the universe can give only to look back down to this place we thought we know fully. Continue reading »
I see change as a transformation like how these leaves change their form while keeping their essence. Continue reading »
Without fences, the cliff where we were standing on provided us a vast view of the Blue Mountains with the Flat Rock in spotlight. Other than the mountains, it’s a region of gorges, falls, gum trees and rainforest. Continue reading »
It is amazing how a color can change the entire mood of a photo. Continue reading »
The Hyde Park Barracks is one of the 11 Australian convict sites collectively listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are the best surviving examples of European imperialism when convicts were utilized for building structures throughout the empire and providing presence in the occupied lands. The convicts who arrived in Australia during the British colonial expansion thrived and formed a vibrant society in Sydney. Continue reading »
The sand is a delicate beige color.
The waves are rushing as the sun sets at the horizon;
the wind, chilly.
Yet I feel warm inside as we walk barefoot along the shores of Bondi. Continue reading »
Sydney is not just about the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. There’s more to it than fine architecture and sun-kissed skins. It is a city faraway from its equals yet equally bustling. It has paved hills and flat mountains, laid back beaches and raging falls, high-end opera shows and outdoor movies. Continue reading »
The sky was much brighter that night as the moon watches from above and the stars smile upon the Earth. Continue reading »
I live in Canberra where mountains block us from the rest of the country and yet it is enlightening. Continue reading »
Here is an accounting of our travel expenses incurred during our 5-day vacation in Sydney. Continue reading »
Toad Hall and my new discovery, i.e. phoneography Continue reading »
Follow me on Instagram @theblacktwig Continue reading »
It was simply amazing to find the details of the cycle of life amongst unexpected and usually ignored places. Most of the time, I become so engrossed in the grand scheme of things that I tend to overlook the little details that make up the grand subject of my admiration. Continue reading »
Bukit Batok Nature Park is an epitome of transformation and convergence. It is an abandoned quarry site transformed into a nature park. There is also a memorial park built during WWII located just beside an operational transmission tower. Continue reading »
One of the popular tourist spots in Singapore is the Sri Mariamman Temple, the country’s oldest Hindu temple. From Chinatown MRT station, you have to pass thru alleys full of souvenirs shops and food stalls, typical of a Chinatown, before reaching the temple. It’s like a mini journey from one culture to the next. Continue reading »
Cycling is literally moving forward. Metaphorically, it renews my spirit to move on with life. Continue reading »
Candi Sewu is a Buddhist temple located 800 meters from the Hindu temple of Prambanan. It was constructed by the Hindu King of the Mataram Kingdom for his Buddhist queen. Continue reading »
Going around the complex is like revisiting the past. I may not be a Hindu but I can feel how important and sacred this place is. Continue reading »
I picked this photo to show my fascination with ancient ruins and my love for revisiting our historical past. Continue reading »
Walking around the temple walls was akin to retracing the life of Buddha and it’s just humbling to think how faith can make wonders and inspire people to build structure such as this. Continue reading »
Other than the famed UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Borobudur and Prambanan, here is a list of other mphotosust-see places around Yogyakarta. Continue reading »
Home is where I am and where he will be. It could be temporary or long-term. It is not a country or a flat; home is where we are both together. Continue reading »
This is the last from my series of posts about Bali, the magical island I’ve been tirelessly raving about the past couple of weeks. See the temples of Goa Gajah and Tirta Empul, the traditional village of Penglipuran, the active volcano of Kintanami and the process of making civet coffee. Continue reading »
