The Poor Traveler

Sunrise at Culion Church and Fortress – Palawan, Philippines

The Poor Traveler — Sat, 18 May 2013 09:18:49 +0000

I was able to beat my alarm clock. At five in the morning, I woke up from a short and shallow slumber, opened my eyes, got up and out of the bed, and then the alarm clock went off. It was one of those rare mornings that I was able to score against it. That’s [...]

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6 Simple Ways to Avoid Getting Lost

The Poor Traveler — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:59:41 +0000

What’s with men and asking for directions? How many times has this question been raised by friends traveling with me, I lost count. I can’t speak for all mankind but, in my case, just utter bashfulness and a dash of ego. I used to think that I was just not wired to ask for directions. [...]

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Restaurant Review: Ketchup Food Community – Baguio City, Philippines

The Poor Traveler — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:58:31 +0000

My bowl was brimming with hot tom kha gai but the brewing envy inside me bubbled over through my eyes as I threw wanting looks to the other bowls and plates on our table. We were a big group, celebrating the recent success of the 2nd Baguio Blog Conference, where I gave a short talk. [...]

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8 Philippine Travel Blogs You Should Read and Follow

The Poor Traveler — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:40:13 +0000

It almost always happens. Whenever I finish giving a talk or lecture about travel blogging (and blogging in general), I am almost always asked which other travel blogs I read and recommend. Travel blogs come in various forms, shapes, and colors and each has its own purpose. Some promote destinations by providing useful information (travel [...]

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Lusong Shipwreck and Coral Garden – Coron, Palawan, Philippines

The Poor Traveler — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:20:37 +0000

I can tell you a thousand reasons why I am not a diver but they all boil down to one thing — fear. For a traveler who was born and raised in Batangas, a diving hotspot, I am unusually afraid of the dark and beautiful depths of the sea. Yes, it is the fear of deep [...]

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Restaurant Review: Cafe by the Ruins – Baguio City, Philippines

The Poor Traveler — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:19:25 +0000

My fingers flipped the pages straight to their list of house specialties. One look and I knew I would be having my most expensive lunch in years at this restaurant. The prices were intimidating, almost threatening, and I was just used to the affordable meals of Baguio City’s most reputable dining establishments. Still, after a [...]

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Review: Tameta Pension House – Coron, Palawan, Philippines

The Poor Traveler — Fri, 10 May 2013 17:05:11 +0000

If I ever wondered what it would feel like to stay inside an oven, I would have had an idea on my first day in Coron, Palawan. Summer had just started but it already felt like we were in the inner layers of hell. Mind you, Coron is infinitely beautiful but the late March heat [...]

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Pamalican Island – Busuanga, Palawan

The Poor Traveler — Fri, 10 May 2013 01:51:50 +0000

Even before coming to life, my plan of circumambulating the island died when our boatman, Harold, told us we only have 15 minutes to spend. He was worried about the weather and the time, since we were set to make one more stop before calling it a day and the sun was already threatening to [...]

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Chasing Sunsets at Mt. Tapyas, Coron – Palawan, Philippines

The Poor Traveler — Fri, 03 May 2013 07:27:39 +0000

Why do we keep chasing sunsets? Is it the sight, the picture of the sun surrendering all his glory to the restraints of the liquid horizon? Is it the warmth, the feeling of the king’s last-born rays caressing our skin as he dives into the sea? Or is it the chase, those jading moments when [...]

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Culion Museum and Archives – Palawan, Philippines

The Poor Traveler — Wed, 01 May 2013 19:10:16 +0000

All four of us stood by the door of the museum, waiting for the caretaker. “If the whole island had been declared leprosy-free,” I couldn’t help but scratch the back of my head in confusion, “where are the former patients now?” “Most of them have gone back to the outside world,” answered Kuya Toto, a [...]

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Review: Isla Culion Hotel Maya – Palawan, Philippines

The Poor Traveler — Wed, 01 May 2013 14:13:05 +0000

She raised her left arm and led my eyes to the round-roofed church perched on a cliff by the shore. “Beside it,” My friend Mica said as-a-matter-of-fact-ly, “is where we will be staying.” Before I could respond with “We’re staying outside the church?” complete with a half-joking half-violent look to match, my eyes caught the [...]

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