I have a confession to make. When it finally became clear to us that we were really going to Europe , what scared me most—aside from fitting all my belongings in a single hand-carry—was parting ways with rice for 12 days! Filipinos are notorious for devouring rice in every meal. We just cannot survive without rice—if you know me, you know that this is certainly true for me! And so, even if I was fulfilling the greatest trip of my life , European cuisine just didn’t appeal to me. Cheese? Sausage? Come on, give me some rice! But all my fears about missing rice flew out of the window when we finally set foot in Vienna.  ...

#Europamore,  noun : 1. a word play between “Europa” and “ Pa More ,” a Filipino expression usually attached to a noun or verb to give further and greater emphasis. 2. by far, the greatest trip of Girl Chasing Sunshine’s life Today was a long day.  The moment my passport was stamped by the Vienesse immigration—which was, compared to our ordeal since the Dubai leg of this trip, easy breezy—I felt like I was ready to explore and conquer Europe despite feeling woozy and dizzy because of the long flight.   We were whisked off from the airport to the city via the transportation service we have arranged through our guest house, Benediktushaus.  ...

When I started planning my Eurotrip, I excitedly took out my pen and notebook and scribbled all the places I told myself that I MUST see.  I was almost halfway through a page when I realized that I can only afford to see so much with 12 days!  While I was relatively satisfied with how my 12-day trip to Europe turned out, I am still a little bummed out about skipping some of the European cities and towns I’ve long been dreaming.  ...

  Travel Truths is a series about facts, practical tips, awesome advices, and plain truths I know of a place based on first-hand experience. Judging from the love letter I have written for El Nido, you must have known by now how crazy I am for this little corner of paradise. Simply put, this place wowed me to the core! I was blown away the first time I went there in 2012. Fast forward to 2014, on my third visit, nothing has changed—I’m still completely awe-struck about El Nido. That thing they told you about a place losing its magic after your first visit? This holds no truth about El Nido (at least in my case and that of many others). ...