Travel Hard, Hannah!

Showing posts with label Attraction. Show all posts

Saturday, February 7, 2026

Up close and personal with the wildlife.

After six long years, I was finally able to revisit the Philippines. I want to say that coming back felt like a dream, but the truth is it felt more like a punch of hot, humid air. I am not proud to say I had acclimatized to the temperature in the North-western hemisphere so that every second outside of an air-conditioned room in the country felt like the entrance to hell. I thought planning outdoor activities such as going on zoos and safaris in Vigan City (especially during the summer) was a huge mistake. Thank goodness staying at the Safari Hotels and Villas offered us the reprieve and relaxation we needed from the heat in between outings.

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

A street-scape replication of 1958 Tokyo.

If anyone were to ask me if there is one Japanese food I could eat every day without fail, I'd probably struggle to respond. After all, Japanese is one of my favourite cuisines in the world and there's no way anyone could favour just one among the likes of pork katsu curry, oyakodon, okonomiyaki, sushi, and karaage. My closest answer, however, would have to be ramen. I will forever be grateful to instant noodles for being a part of my childhood and for saving my life during my college years. While they are still a staple in my pantry to this day, actually tasting the genuine article made me realize that there is more to ramen beyond a cup or a pouch.

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

"Everybody's Favourite Pikachu" Set Meal.

Pokémon has always been a big hit in our household. I remember waiting in front of the television set every Friday night as a kid in 1999 for the cartoon to start. I remember collecting the cheap Pokémon cardboard cards that came with a one-peso packet of puffed cheese crisps because the whole point of the game was to "collect them all," emulating the show's catchphrase "Gotta catch 'em all!". I had the merchandise and the games. I could recite all of the Pokémon from Generation 1 in numerical order. Needless to say, I was a big fan. And to this day, I still am.

So during our visit to Osaka in Japan, we could not pass up the opportunity to visit the infamous Pokémon Café to treat ourselves to exclusive merchandise, novelty dining, and meet the dancing Pikachu of our dreams!

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

Mount Fuji during sunset is a sight to behold from the village of Oshino Hakkai.

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

No scientific facts and tidbits in this "museum"-- but you'll love it anyway!

Saturday, March 16, 2024

The novelist, essayist, and poet Wendell Berry put it rightly so: "The Earth is what we all have in common."

When I came across an advert for the BBC Earth Experience on my social media timeline, I did not know what to expect. It marketed itself as a "multisensory experience" for all ages from all walks of life in a bid to raise awareness about our planet's diverse topography and ecosystems-- and how, if we are not careful enough, we can cause irreversible damage. Curiosity made me shell out £26.21 but honestly, they had me at "narrated by Sir David Attenborough".

Sunday, July 4, 2021

"Autumn dresses up in gold-- the richest season of the soul."

Thursday, August 27, 2020

Dream World's cute and colorful facade is manned by an antlike mascot. I didn't know why, but somehow a wave of déjà vu then hit me while I stood in front of the gates waiting for them to open. I actually half-expected to see a giant revolving globe or a hovering surfboard (ridden by a mouse mascot and his loyal pooch) inside the gates.

Friday, July 17, 2020

Isdaan Floating Resto-fun Park is chock full of wonderfully-made statues of famous figures and animals. In the above image, a gigantic representation of Buddha overlooks a swimming school of Koi.

Friday, June 12, 2020

This blog post is dedicated to the pregnant Indian elephant who died a very pointless death in Kerala on May 27, 2020. You are beautiful and majestic; you deserved better.

Five years ago, a "suggested" video in my Facebook news feed caught my interest. It was of a steampunk wonderland that, to a travel-eager younger me, looked like Disneyland designed by an alternate Walt who was high on steroids and stanned Verne and Lovecraft with a passion. I remember gazing at the clip of what is probably the most unconventional merry-go-round in the world, replaying over and over again the part where sea dragons and giant angler fish made out of repurposed machinery screeched while they ran endlessly in a circle, like the competitors of a fierce yet never-ending race.

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

The mountaintop town of Montserrat in Barcelona, Spain.

It can be said that here in the United Kingdom, where I currently reside, the weather is almost always unpredictable and the temperature is fickle. It can be summer here, but the sun will be hiding behind a thick fluff of cloud. Or it can be spring, but the temperature is close to 5 degrees. Judging by the color of the skies, you can either bring an umbrella and find out that you won't be needing it, or you could forgo bringing your umbrella but later on regret it when that 24-degree warm weather decides to be a total a-hole and gives way to a surprise shower.

Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Afternoon has turned to evening over the vineyards of Theescombe.

If, one day, a mad scientist would approach me claiming to have discovered a drug that can banish all despair in the world, I would grimly tell him that his tonic is already being used even long before ancient civilisations came to thrive to modernity-- and it's affectionately called 'vin', the ever-sophisticated 'wine'. Some parts of the Bible even feature this specific fermented solution, while the ancient texts of Greek mythos have a god named "Dionysus" claiming dominion over vineyards and, subsequently, the fruit and the wines cultivated from them.

Saturday, January 5, 2019

The European-style Boardwalk in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

~* This post is dedicated to my father:

the reason why I went to South Africa in the first place.*~

Since childhood, I rarely saw my father. His work as an electrical engineer in cargo ships means he's usually gone for most of the year. Whenever he came home, he just stays for two to three months until he's called to duty and had to leave again. When I was relatively younger, I would cry whenever he'd leave; this happened lesser and lesser as I stacked up on the years.

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem! (Luke 2: 10-11)

Monday, October 9, 2017

Shelves full of pre-loved (and some brand new) sneakers and boots from an ukay-ukay in Bayanihan, Baguio City.

Before the year 2017 ends, by God's will, I might be traveling to somewhere with negative temperatures.

While I'm all consumed with the excitement of flying off to my third G7 country after Canada and Japan, 'til a few weeks ago I was plastered with worry about what I should wear to keep my fingers and toes attached to my hands and feet and where I could shop for them. Just as I resigned myself to making orders for winter boots and ski apparel from online shops, my mom presented her brilliant idea of staying for a few nights in Baguio to scout all the ukay-ukay establishments within the city.

And if there's any place in the Philippines where ukay-ukay shopping is a pleasant experience because of the constantly cool climate and the wide variety of items for sale, it's gotta be the Summer Capital, Baguio City.

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Old Heritage Houses standing on the edge of a canal in Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar.

There's something fascinating about old architecture.

I remember writing a 300-word essay explaining my stand on a question that went, "Should old heritage buildings be kept as they are or demolished to give way for progress?" It sounded like it was an easy question wherein any immediate opinion could easily be formed, but it was not.

Friday, August 11, 2017

The facade of Oedo Onsen Monogatari-- a spa lover's paradise! Image from GaijinPot.

As the days of our 12-day pleasure trip to Tokyo slowly dwindled to a close, I found myself ticking off items in my "Must-Do in Tokyo" list just to make sure that I didn't miss anything significant.

Theme parks: Check, check, check, and double-check.
Shop for anime figurines in Akihabara: Check (and bill, please).
Witness the tuna auction at a local fish market: No check, since we were informed too late that we needed an advanced reservation for that. This item goes into another itinerary for another time.
Taste staple Japanese street food which include but are not limited to: takoyaki, ramen, okonomiyaki, karaage, yakisoba, and yakiniku: Checkity-check check.

(Related post: These Tokyo Metropolitan Gardens offer relaxation amidst beauty!)
(Related post: Acquisition of your very own Japanese Tourist Visa made easy! Find out how!)

I have more activities in mind that I wanted to accomplish that I've organized in tiers. From the second tier and above, the items in my dream itinerary are mainly comprised of more localized, non-touristy experiences that will give me a more intimate feel of Japan which I swear I WILL accomplish some other time in the near future. My heart welled up with an overwhelming sense of fulfillment as I realized that-- except for the tuna auction-- I've gone and done all of my Tier One "Must-Do" activities. As I reread my list, however, I saw to my horror that there was one un-ticked item in the one-foot long sheet of paper.

Bathe proud and naked in a Japanese onsen (hot spring) house: No check mark here yet.

I immediately grabbed my best spa-buddy, food-buddy, and travel-buddy to explain the horrendous situation and just as I expected, she was all up for it even at 7:30 in the evening! That's my mom for you!

Friday, July 21, 2017

The tulip garden at the Kyu-Furukawa Gardens in Tokyo, Japan.

Most people think of Tokyo as a densely-populated, high-intensity city. It's easy to imagine hundreds upon thousands of Japanese rushing up and down the streets in every hour of the day, busy queuing outside restaurants and stores, or briskly walking or urgently running to catch their train or bus. But let me tell you this: there are places found in the gigantic, bustling metropolis where there are little to no people and visitors looking for retreat can enjoy the temporary delusion of being far away from the city while physically still being smack-dab in the middle of it.

Sunday, June 11, 2017

The Mushroom Disco area of Kawaii Monster Cafe in Harajuku, Tokyo. Image from Spoon and Tamago.

When the word "MONSTER" is mentioned, my three-year old princess' immediate response is a somewhat unique and isolated process of its own kind. She instantly freezes with her mouth agape for three seconds, drops whatever she is holding, hesitates for a few nanoseconds before her flight response activates. She runs screaming to the nearest caregiver (usually me) for comfort or to the nearest blanket where she hides like a cute little kitten threatened with a bath. I point out that Mike and Sully from one of her favorite Pixar film are monsters. She points at the empty wall behind me and quietly whispers "A monster. Wearing white."

Either she's learned the art of trolling people back or she has an active third eye. I pray to God it's the former.

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

A part of the Mugiwara Crew Banquet at the Landing Port, Tokyo Tower One Piece. Image from this link.

Imagine living in a world where the ultimate dream for most people is to be able to sail under the vast blue sky with bits of swashbuckling adventure on the side. Think of the proposition that there exists a world where the ocean so greatly divides the lands that much of the world is left unexplored. Imagine a world not run by any technological advances but is instead driven by the people's magnanimous love for the need to satisfy their natural curiosity about the world and its unsolved mysteries. Wouldn't it be nice to set sail in an alternate universe where the romantic call of the ocean is all the fad? While this kind of dream is far from becoming reality, the experience is within reach via boob tube.