#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 “Europe, here we come!” These were the first words I told myself upon waking up on October 29, 2015. I remember feeling pumped up despite having slept past my lola- vibes slumber time the previous night. I was awake until 2 AM, trying to stuff all my belongings into my cabin luggage and fixing last minute train bookings. It was so ironic that on the greatest trip of my life, I was not able to do detailed planning—like what I usually do—and was forced to only have a hand carry ( insert super sad face here ). ...

#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 I can’t absolutely pinpoint the exact moment when I decided that I will conquer Europe one day . I remember watching the films Eurotrip and Chasing Liberty in high school and I thought how thrilling would it be to ride a train around the continent. I remember stumbling upon travel blogs about France, Italy, Germany, Greece, and Sweden. I remember watching Letters to Juliet and promising myself that I would visit Verona someday. I remember seeing social media posts of colleagues on incentive trips around Prague and Bratislava and how exotic their trips felt like.   I can’t certainly say why I wish to visit Europe but I knew what I wanted: I wanted to see the world. I wanted to experience Europe. ...

A dream come true—this pretty much sums up my whirlwind trip to Europe late last year. Never have I ever imagined that I would be able to take this trip in this lifetime, let alone in my early twenties, in my own capacity, and for the most part, all by myself. Like most avid travelers, I’ve always wanted to go to Europe but the seemingly expensive cost of travelling around the continent, along with the difficulties in getting a Schengen visa , held me back. But thankfully, everything just perfectly fell into place this year and I found myself wandering and gallivanting around seven cities and six countries in Europe for 12 days. ...

October 30, 2015 1:53 AM (Philippine Time)  Exactly 29 days from today, I'll be celebrating my 26th birthday. In less than ten hours, I will find myself stepping foot on a new continent—one that has been floating in my travel dreams since I was a teenager. ...

As we opened our van’s windows to take a peek into the abandoned, locked property in front of us—the former site of the infamous Hyatt Hotel that was devastated in the 1990 earthquake—we knew it was not just the famed cold Baguio City weather that made the hairs on our skin go up and our spines chill a little. It was something else—something unexplainably and eerily ominous. After all, this was no ordinary stroll around the summer capital of the Philippines. ...

Photo by Julia Caesar   You know what I like best about blogging? I get to connect with like-minded people from halfway around the globe who share t he same longing and eagerness to explore the rest of the world! They are also some of the most hardworking and supportive people I've ever met.  About a month ago, Jackie from the Globetrotting Teacher surprised me with a nomination for The Sisterhood of the World Bloggers’ Award . If you want to learn how to use miles to travel more miles, go and indulge on her travel stories. Thank you so much again, Jackie! The Sisterhood of the World Bloggers’ Award, which recognizes the unique voices of women bloggers, is usually peer-nominated, given by a female blogger to another female blogger, as a way of getting to know each other. ...

When the last rays of the sun blur the skies, Taiwan transforms into an outrageously bustling city filled with endless streams of people, infinite culinary wonders, and affordable shopping finds.  Welcome to the night markets in Taiwan!   Anyone would tell you that a trip to this island country would never be complete without visiting its infamous night markets. If you are after a truly authentic experience, head over to the night markets in Taichung. Home to the largest night market in Taiwan and the original bubble milk tea, you’ll surely go crazy, like I did, over the variety of cheap yet quality choices—both in fashion and food—in the night markets in Taichung.  ...

Editor's Note: This post is for one of my best friends and best travel buddies of all time who celebrates her 25th birthday today, July 10. To you, Eury, here's to chasing your sunshine!  One of the most astounding and exhilarating trips that you will take in your life is a trip with your best friend. Traveling brings an entirely new wonder into your life; you journey through various cultures, new places, strange faces, and distinct tastes. It’s true what they say: it matters who you take those journeys with.  Indeed, travel takes on a deeper meaning when shared with someone who feels exactly the same way you do about seeing the world. After all, there’s a reason why we call them our BEST friend. The best adventures must be taken with only the best people in our life. Fortunately, there’s this girl I can always travel with and have fun with despite the mishaps and misadventures.  I call her my best friend. ...

Updated 07 July 2017 You would be surprised to know that despite having been to various provinces around the Philippines and some countries in Asia, I have never been to Puerto Galera. Puerto Galera is one of the most-visited beach destinations near Metro Manila. It’s touted as a mini-version of Boracay not just because of it overdeveloped beaches but because it’s also notorious as a wild party destination. That reputation has stuck on me and that’s why I’ve never longed to visit Puerto Galera. Not until I came across Buri Resort and Spa. ...

It is easy to be swept away by Batanes, the so-called “Land of the Winds.” Batanes is the smallest and the northernmost province of the Philippines, found at the tip of the archipelago. It is comprised of ten islands and only three are inhabited: Batan, Sabtang, and Itbayat. The capital, Basco, is found in Batan along with three other municipalities. ...

Summer has always been my favorite season ( Sidenote: akala mo naman kumpleto ang seasons sa Pilipinas! Haha! ). I have always associated this sunny time with vacations—a means to get away from all the hustle and bustle of life. Often, when the distractions and chaos of our daily life drain us of moments and energy, we are quick to give up the one fundamental thing we need the most—quiet, sacred, and reflective time. Time to pause, time to think, time to escape, time to dream, time to evaluate our life and the course we want to take.  ...

Updated 16 September 2017 This 2017, the Xinshe Sea of Flowers Festival will run from November 11 -26, 2017.  Everywhere we went, there were splendid hues. Everywhere we looked, there was vibrance. There were wild flowers swaying with the autumn breeze and blossoms bursting with colors made even brighter with the kiss of sunshine. Somehow, visiting the Taichung Sea of Flowers Festival in Xinshe was like seeing a piece of heaven.  ...

“This beach better be worth it,” we keep on muttering to ourselves, cramped in a 40-seater banca along with other strangers on our way to Mahabang Buhangin in Calaguas. Calaguas is a group of Islands located within the jurisdiction of Vinzons Town in Camarines Norte. Over the years, it has gained popularity for its long-island beaches.    For this trip, I was with my college friend and roommate, Ela, her sister, Ate Tin, and some of Ate Tin’s colleagues.  You cannot blame our bickering. We just spent sixteen freaking hours on the road going to Camarines Norte. And that was only the beginning. ...

#25AdventuresTo25Years is a salute to the people who and places that matter. As I celebrate my 25th year this month in this beautiful world, I remember the most memorable places, blissful memories, and amazing adventures that left an indelible mark on my existence.  Here's to more travels! See you on the road! :)  Let me tell you of one of life’s cruelest ironies I have ever seen: a land surrounded by the vast ocean where residents don’t have access to water. Does it even make sense?  I’ve come to realize that while there are breathtaking places that would leave you awed and thankful, there are also some that would open your eyes to the harsh reality that life is, sometimes, really unfair.  Gibitngil Island is one of those.  ...

#25AdventuresTo25Years is a salute to the people who and places that matter. As I celebrate my 25th year this month in this beautiful world, I remember the most memorable places, blissful memories, and amazing adventures that left an indelible mark on my existence.  Here's to more travels! See you on the road! :)  It was like taking a free fall. Without knowing how high the jump is; without knowing what’s waiting for you down there; without knowing when you would be pushed. It was just about embracing the leap along with the consequences it would bring. Rice Terraces of Sagada That glorious sunrise up north ...

So, you already know that I’m clearly obsessed with this little corner of paradise in the Philippines called El Nido, right? Think of your idea of an island paradise—turquoise, glistening waters, white sand, limestone karsts and cliffs carved to perfection, amazing beaches and lagoons—yes, that’s El Nido! Just when I thought I couldn’t be floored even more, El Nido surprised me (yet again!) on my third visit. ...

If my special someone was not deployed to Taiwan , I would never thought of visiting the country this early in my life. In my travel priority list prior to him working in the land of milk tea and night markets , Taiwan was nowhere to be found. Today, I have visited the country twice (first time in November 2013 then on May 2014) and currently planning my third one (set on Chinese New Year 2015). Hurray for seat sales! Well, the wanderlust fairy must have something in store for me and I’m just glad that I discovered the many thrills of traveling in Taiwan —lots of unique yet cheap finds, places teeming with culture and tradition, the beauty of nature, one of the most hospitable people in the planet, and the culinary wonders. Oh joy! But before setting foot in Taiwan to experience all these, we, Filipinos, have to go through the hurdles of applying for a visa. ...

Dear El Nido, As I write this, I am in my office desk, in front of my laptop and piles of papers, about 260 miles away from you. I may be here physically but my heart is beating for you. No one and nothing prepared me for your breathtaking beauty. I first laid eyes on you in 2012. Two years, two succeeding epic trips, four butt-numbing, 6-hour bus rides and a thousand infinite moments after, I’m still on a high about you. You blew my mind like nothing else did. Two different moments. One fleeting feeling. Photo on the right was taken during my first visit to El Nido in November 2012. The other one was in July 2013. ...