Sleeping on Desert Sands under the Sheltering Stars in Jaislamer | India

Marky Ramone Go October 19, 2015

I did not rejoice seeing my camel struggle to walk and carry my weight across the vast desert sand dunes of Jaisalmer. In fact, I see a tear form near its eyelids. I pat its back gently and run my palm over its rough skin I hear it made a sound of acknowledgement. I realized I can’t go overly sensitive at their plight – as these kings of the desert have thrived on this landscape performing what it is asked of them; to transport men and supplies across this harsh environment which at the same time pepper the eyes with visually stimulating scenery.

wilderness Read more

Out of the Shadows and Into the Light: Songs of Hope at the Ginsiyaman Music Festival in Leyte

Marky Ramone Go October 17, 2015

It was like a hand from heaven came out of the sky and pointed to a spot in the middle of the vast Leyte farmland, and out appeared a spacious campsite and festival grounds encircled by towering trees and green pasture. In the middle stood the main stage waiting to be rocked by the night’s list of musical artists. All around from where I stood, I saw people lying scattered in small groups all over the greens. Almost instantly, I felt the vibe at the The Farm in San Miguel, Leyte mirroring the strong camaraderie harnessed together by the Yolanda survivors, the Leyte residents, and the many volunteers from all over world.

Yolanda Read more

CheChe Lazaro Probes the Fertile Land of Lotus Pod Farm in Bay, Laguna

Marky Ramone Go October 16, 2015

A man of many hats; early 20th century environmentalist, forester, ecologist, scientist and author Aldo Leopold wrote on his 1949 non-fiction book A Sand County Almanac, “There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from the furnace.”

Known for her gritty investigative journalism that threads the layers of stories she covers like needles, deeper into probing every facets of truth; renowned journalist CheChe Lazaro is taking that same passionate approach as she now follows Leopold’s train of thought - that man should foster a good relationship with the land they dwell on, by advocating organic and backyard farming.

reviews Read more

A Morning Rock Scramble to Taraw Cliff in El Nido | Palawan

Marky Ramone Go October 12, 2015

After a couple of days of island hopping exploring the many white sandy beaches and hidden lagoons of the Bacuit archipelago, another adventure awaited us the next day. The previous night’s rain worried me a bit, as I expect the jagged trail to Taraw Cliff to be extra slippery. Despite being my second time in El Nido, It’ll be my first time to scale Taraw Cliff. Making the short but arduous scramble to the top extra special is the company of my girlfriend Monnette.

wilderness Read more

Junction Hostel and the Truck Elevate Backpacker Accommodation and our Favorite Street Foods

Marky Ramone Go October 04, 2015

I remember it was around five years ago when the growing influx of boutique and affordable hostels started making its presence felt in Metro Manila – giving backpackers decent choices for accommodation. As a budget traveler I have my own shares of hits and misses when it comes to sleeping in hostels. This is the reason why I was so eager to experience Junction Hostel and see if it belongs in the same league as my favorite hostels I stayed at in South East Asia, Sri Lanka and India.