Landless Drifter

The Great City that is Istanbul

This is where the east and west married their contrasts to create a uniquely beautiful amalgamation of their similarities and differences. This is the land where kings and emperors gained their power and lost it. It is a city which encompasses the wide spectrum of victory and defeat, honor and disgrace, life and death. While it connects the continents of Asia and Europe, Istanbul also symbolizes both unity and divide. While it divides two cultures, it also serves as the point for differences to find a common ground. Continue reading →

How to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Hiroshima

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 →

At Peace in Panglao

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 →

The Ruins of Ayutthaya

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 →

On the Roads of Cambodia

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 →

Take Me Home to Aurora

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 →

Fort Siloso, Singapore Survived to Tell the Tales

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 →

In Love with India: Taj Mahal

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 →

HAWAI’I: Harbored Thoughts

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 →

Vientiane, LAOS: The Perfect Escape

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 →

CAMBODIA: Angkor Wat

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 →

[VIDEO] Discovering Istanbul

Istanbul, how can I even begin to describe you? The poverty of my words won’t give justice to the richness of your culture and history. I will still try but to start my series of posts about Istanbul, here is a video of short clips I stitched together during my 4-day stay in this city where two continents kiss. Continue reading →

[Video] Timor-Leste: Southeast Asia’s Final Frontier

This is a collection of short clips I took during my 3-week stay in Timor-Leste. It features Dili, the country’s capital, Maliana, and Jaco Island. This video is inspired not only by the natural beauty of Timor-Leste but also by its stories of struggle, independence, and state-building. Continue reading →

Weekly Photo Challenge: ON THE MOVE (Whirling Dervishes)

In this era of porous borders, instantaneous communication, and affordable transportation, there is no doubt that we had produced a generation of people who are always on the move; but movement is not just that of physical. Continue reading →

Traversing Timor-Leste from West to East

I can repeat the dizzying bus rides and the challenging 2.5-hour walk just to see again this paradise I owned even for a while. Burying my feet with powdery white sand and studying my reflection on the clear waters, I feel like I am stranded on an island far from everywhere and everyone. If there is an edge to the world, it is here in Jaco Island. Continue reading →

Jaco Island: Timor-Leste’s Hidden Paradise

Fatigue, hunger and thirst probably caused this hallucination but I prefer to believe that the island is indeed enchanted, casted a spell on me, and it was, at that time, calling me, encouraging me to continue walking towards it. Continue reading →

Dilly-Dallying at the Sights of Dili

“Three weeks in Dili? You’ll get bored there.” A friend warned me. Here’s a list of top attractions in Dili to prove that my stay is not even enough to take in everything this city has to offer. Continue reading →

Children of Lafaek: The People and Culture of Timor-Leste

“Lafaek” is the Tetun word for crocodile and it is sacred for the Timorese. Legend says that the land is the body of the lafaek; the whole island of Timor is shaped like one–the lower body is West Timor and the head is East Timor. Whichever comes first–the legend or the map–lafaek is deeply embedded into the life and culture of the Timorese then and now. Continue reading →

Through the Windows of Dili, Timor-Leste

I was finishing the last pages of Gordon Peake’s book when the Sriwijaya pilot announced that we were about to land to President Nicolau Lobato International Airport of Dili. I raised my window shade and looked at this land I’ve been dreaming to see since I started studying about the humanitarian intervention and post-conflict rebuilding. “The Land of the Sleeping Crocodile,” I whispered to myself. The bright sky and blue waters awaken my tired body and sleepy mind. Continue reading →

The Road to Balibo

The lives of the Balibo Five do not outweigh the lives of tens of thousands of Timorese slained during that period but it proves something about wars: that they do not recognize anyone; every person who crosses the frontline is an enemy; and neutral zones are hardly delineated. Continue reading →

The Lakes of Peace in Tasitolu

“Tasitolu” means “three seas” in Tetun. The three salt lakes are guarded by hills and ocean waves and surrounded by simple houses of Tasitolu villagers. It is a painful reminder of the past, a peaceful refuge from the city today, and most importantly, a glaring example of what needs to be done. Continue reading →

Island Hopping in El Nido, Palawan

Located at the western most part of the country, Palawan is known to be the final frontier of the Philippines because of its unspoiled beaches, preserved sites, and vibrant flora and fauna. Continue reading →

A Nature’s Wonder: Puerto Princesa’s Underground River

Inside, protected from the noise of the outside world and enveloped by the sound of those that had been there before us, is like having traveled through time, in time where silence evokes more meaning and darkness creates more direction. Continue reading →

Baguio City: The Summer Capital of the Philippines

Because of its cooler climate, it’s no surprise that for decades, Baguio City in the province of Benguet is one of the must-visit destinations among Filipinos every summer. It’s a province of abundance, colorful traditions, and rich history. Continue reading →

A Day in Bali

Love is sweeter the second time around, and so is Bali. It is a place that I could easily go back to because despite its touristic characteristics, Bali keeps on protecting its unique charm that has seduced travelers way back and continues to share its beauty, spiritualism, stories and smiles to people who keep coming back for more. Continue reading →

Timor-Leste Travel Expenses

Here is an accounting of my travel expenses incurred during my 20-day field research in Dili, Timor-Leste. Continue reading →

Weekly Photo Challenge: LETTERS (Heroes)

Letters alone mean nothing. The power of letters comes from the meanings people attach to it. Continue reading →

From Dusk till Dawn over the Rice Fields of Maliana

It is still dark and other than the reflection of the evening light on the tips of rice stalks, I’m in an ocean of darkness, which is comforting because here I can easily drown in strangeness…or maybe not. I know we are surrounded by vast rice fields. Maliana is the rice bowl of Timor-Leste especially during the Indonesian occupation when it supplies the staple food to the rest of the country. Continue reading →

Meet Jia Jia and Kai Kai and the red pandas they didn’t name

The Singapore River Safari is the first ever river-themed park in Asia. The main attraction of this newest theme park are the adorable giant pandas, Jia Jia and Kai Kai. Continue reading →

Tonle Sap: A Reflection of Cambodia’s Life, Faith and History

Like the merging of the Tonle Sap with Mekong, which flowed passed the mountains and lakes of the past, Cambodia will also merge its history with the present while coursing through the river of the future. Continue reading →

Weekly Photo Challenge: SELFIE (Yes yes yes!)

I left the guesthouse early to make sure I won’t be late for my appointment. It was my first interview during my fieldwork in Cambodia and I had to start it right, the way I planned. I hailed a “moto” (motorcycle taxi), showed him the destination on the map, and negotiated for the fare. He … Continue reading →

The Royal Palace in the Kingdom of Wonder

I was told that in Cambodia, the impossible can be possible, that’s why it’s called the Kingdom of Wonder. For a country with two prime minister after the UN-hosted elections in 1993, one can’t help but wonder. True enough, This idiomatic expression represents both the positive and negative aspects of Cambodian society. Continue reading →

Phnom Penh Travel Expenses

Here is an accounting of my travel expenses incurred during my 20-day field research in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Continue reading →

The Killing Fields, Their Resting Place

An eerie feeling engulfed me as soon as we entered the Killing Fields. The surroundings were peaceful yet the silence of that place was painful. Continue reading →