The Renovated Jones Bridge at Night | Manila

Marky Ramone Go December 18, 2019

My not-so-fond memories of passing through Jones Bridge was always associated with grinding traffic, that I never appreciated the bridge’s neo-classical design by architect Juan M. Arellano, nor the three arches resting on the two piers. First constructed in 1920 spanning the Pasig River to connect ...

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Inside the Athlete’s Village and the Controversial New Clark City | Tarlac

Marky Ramone Go December 12, 2019

For two days, I experienced what it’s like being inside an athlete’s village. Ever since I started following the Olympics, I became curious about what’s it like being in such place. Fortunately, I got invited as part of a small media team to spend a night at the one the Philippines built for the...

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National Museum of Natural History | Manila

Marky Ramone Go December 10, 2019

The renovated 1940 neoclassical Agriculture and Commerce Building wowed everyone when it re-opened as the National Museum of Natural History in May 2018—thanks to an arresting design element addition. Not even a week later, social media were flooded with photographs of the museum’s imposing atrium...

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Where to Eat in Baguio City | A City of Pines Culinary Tour

Marky Ramone Go December 01, 2019

Some of my fondest memories of Baguio City always include food—well, and the company I was with. There’s Sarah giggling non-stop at Oh My Gulay, my former girlfriend Lauren giddily explaining to me the ingredients of Spinach and Chicken Galantine at PNKY Café (now closed already) and the heavenly...

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Jpark Island Resort Cebu Celebrates 10th Year with a Bang

Marky Ramone Go November 17, 2019

After numerous trips to the province of Cebu and skipping the opportunity to stay in the island of Mactan, I must admit of never hearing about Jpark Island Resort and Waterpark before. I have my assumptions managed to a middling level when I joined fellow travel and lifestyle writers on a media...

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Have a Guilt-free Meal at these Vegan Places in Teacher’s Village, QC

Marky Ramone Go November 11, 2019

More and more people are choosing to embrace the vegan lifestyle not only to become healthier but also to advocate cruelty-free eating. Doing so, believers of greener dining habits are shattering previous misconceptions about veganism: “vegan food doesn’t taste good”, “there aren’t many vegan...

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10 Reasons why you should visit Siargao Island

Marky Ramone Go November 07, 2019

Facing the mighty swells of the Pacific Ocean, the teardrop-shaped island of Siargao has garnered numerous accolades in recent years; including being voted as the "World's Best Island" by Conde Nast Travelers—an esteemed travel and luxury magazine—and a number of widely-read travel...

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Witnessing Hushed Bartering Scenes at Bulungan sa Pandawan

Marky Ramone Go October 22, 2019

Every morning with daylight yet to ooze from the sky, a multitude of motorboats is heard roaring off the coast of Mercedes town in Camarines Norte. Buoyed by a prayer and a resolve to provide for their families, fisher folks head out to the abundant waters of San Miguel Bay intent on taking home...

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A Taste of Maa To Ro’s Bagobo-Klata Heritage Cuisine

Marky Ramone Go October 11, 2019

As a melting pot of crisscrossing cultures, Mindanao is a land of diverse heritage, where one can savor a myriad of cuisines each distinct to every region. In Davao City, where there are 11 known tribes, a culinary movement aimed at promoting olden traditions of preparing food is slowly partaking...

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Freediving Record Holder Marese Secades Deep Dives on her Passion for the Sport

Marky Ramone Go September 30, 2019

I was a few minutes into taking a seat inside Black Scoop Café in Maginhawa Street when a towering morena lady walked through the door. I instantly recognized her as Marese Secades—a freediver whose spectacular underwater photographs arrested my attention. Freediver Marese Secades sets the women’s...

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Where to Eat in Iloilo City

Marky Ramone Go September 28, 2019

Iloilo City is one of the known gastronomic haven in the Philippines where the cuisine culture is best represented by a fusion of traditional and modern way of cookery. Situated around the throwback downtown and the modern bustling part of the city are a number of establishments that serve both...

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Nueva Ecija | Spectacular Wow atop Mount Sawi

Marky Ramone Go September 23, 2019

In this age of Filipino ‘hugot’ culture one can easily assume the name of this mountain was coined as a reverence to such Filipino movies like “Camp Sawi” and “This Thing Called Tadhana”. The real story behind it though stems from a tragic suicide that happened a few years back right on top of...

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AirAsia’s In-flight Celebration of 600 Million Passengers Milestone

Marky Ramone Go September 22, 2019

We were flying at above 30,000 feet for about half an hour when a flight attendant of the AirAsia Davao-Manila flight started speaking over the public-address system. “Ladies and gentlemen, because we are celebrating a momentous occasion, we have prepared a short program for you”. The short program...

Things to do in Da Lat, Vietnam

Marky Ramone Go September 01, 2019

At almost 5,000 feet above sea level, Da Lat dishes a chill vibe—both literally and figuratively—that appeals to travelers. The cool weather coupled with an array of nature and man-made attractions—make this city in Central Vietnam—an ideal place for wanderers crisscrossing the land of Pho, to...

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River Tubing and Kawa Hot Bathing in Tibiao | Antique

Marky Ramone Go August 17, 2019

As my companion’s “ooohs” and “aaahs” synchronize with the sloshing sounds of the rapids of Tibiao River, I would stare at the blue sky while my tube swirls me endlessly. Lying relaxed, I then just let the movement of the water send my consciousness to a Zen state of mind. Occasionally, I would...

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One Fine Autumn Day in Nikko | Japan

Marky Ramone Go August 15, 2019

As I stare at the carved maxim of the three wise monkeys pinned on an overhead panel at Tōshō-gū, the proverbial mantra it personifies was made apparent to me almost immediately; "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil". Recognizing where I stood at that very moment, surrounded by temples—concealed...

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Developing a Liking to Tainan’s Street Art and a Fondness for Her | Taiwan

Marky Ramone Go August 07, 2019

My memory of this vibrant neighborhood of Tainan revolves around the pleasing smile of Emily—the EVA Air manager who traveled with our small media group to Taiwan. Mirroring the captivating cobalt art installations at Blueprint Culture and Creative Park, her stares rapid fires into me with invisible...

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Cebu Pacific Kicks-Off the 2019 Juan for Fun

Marky Ramone Go August 01, 2019

It has been eight years since Cebu Pacific Air introduced “Juan For Fun”—a backpacker challenge participated by university students. Since then, Juan for Fun has evolved from an Amazing Race-like challenge, to a platform where one will not only discover the wonders of travel—but also use traveling...

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Hiking to the Mist-Veiled Peak of Mount Pha Daeng | Nong Khiaw, Laos

Marky Ramone Go July 05, 2019

At the foot of Mount Pha Daeng, a sign reads “Unexploded Bombs, Still in this Area. Dangerous!” remains a chilling reminder of the horrors of the Vietnam War. Collectively unmindful of the warning, we reckoned every bomb ordnance buried along the trail stretching to a radius of a few kilometers,...

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Dipping (sans Brooke Shields) in the Blue Lagoon of Datu Odin Sinsuat | Maguindanao

Marky Ramone Go July 04, 2019

Despite expecting Maguindanao's blue lagoon to be concealed deep in the forest reachable by at least an hour or two of trekking, I still expected a good ole surprise. When I stepped out of our van and saw a few kids dripping wet, I simply figured they came frolicking from a nearby stream....

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Calayan Island | A Sweet Hereafter Return

Marky Ramone Go July 02, 2019

Not missing the blustery 7-hour lampitaw ride of my first journey here, I stepped out of the plane—moments after it made a historic first landing on the island—buoyed by a feeling akin to rekindling a tryst with a former lover. Calayan Island has that effect on me. It could be because last time,...

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Exploring Poblacion in a Sober Mood | Makati

Marky Ramone Go July 01, 2019

Despite witnessing Poblacion's transformation from a seedy quarter to an exciting neighborhood, I mostly visit to get drunk and dine with friends. So when I heard that Meaningful Travels PH is organising a Poblacion Makati Discovery Tour, I jumped at the chance to discover the neighborhood's other...

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A Brief Travel Guide to Istanbul, Turkey

Marky Ramone Go June 15, 2019

Situated in between two continents—and former capital of two empires—the city of Istanbul teems with diverse cultural influence and a storied history. This alone make the city a must-visit for travelers in search of fascinating discoveries. Add on the fact that Istanbul also boasts of a robust...

2019 Spartan Race SEA Series in Lima Park | Batangas

Marky Ramone Go June 06, 2019

Founded by adventure racer Joe DeSena in 2007, the Spartan Race has grown to become the world standard for endurance and strength races. A total of 240 races are now being held in 25 countries every year including the Philippines. The first leg of the 2019 Spartan Race Southeast Asia Regional...

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Kumarakom Lake Resort: A Charming Backwater Haven | Kerala, India

Marky Ramone Go June 05, 2019

Fresh from spending a night in a fancy houseboat which cruised the famed backwaters of Kerala, our #KeralaBlogExpress2 crew headed to our next destination: the City of Kottayam. Set against the backdrop of Vembanad Lake—the largest lake in Kerala—the Western Ghats on the east and the lush rice...

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The Raviz Resort & Spa | Kollam, Kerala | India

Marky Ramone Go June 03, 2019

A cheery welcome capped by a fun banquet highlighted Kerala Blog Express' stay at this hotel I've had many great memories of Kerala Blog Express 2 surrounding the great camaraderie formed among 30 travel bloggers from around the world, the organizers and of course—our jovial new friends from...

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Revisiting Marinduque

Marky Ramone Go June 02, 2019

Whenever people ask me how I fell in love with traveling. I always tell them I got inspired by Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road” novel. An autobiographical narrative of Kerouac’s post-war road trip across the United States amidst the background of poetry, jazz and the emerging beat culture. Thinking...

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Scenes from a Weekly Market and a Local Village | Seoni, Madhya Pradesh | India

Marky Ramone Go May 15, 2019

“Ask them what their names are”, a father manning a street food stall gently commands her young daughter of not over ten years old. The beaming but shy little girl obliges, “What is your name?” she inquired staring wide-eyed at my friend. “I am Karla and this is Marky and your name is?”...

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Inaul Festival Celebrates Maguindanao’s Traditional Weaving Art

Marky Ramone Go May 05, 2019

“Life is a loom, weaving illusion” [1] and in Mindanao’s storied sundry of woven heritage, a diverse weaving art scattered across the region abounds with dream-like patterns and fascinating backstories. Anecdotes encompassing historical origins and local legends shaped the roots of the various...

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A Fine Morning of Swimming and Drone-ing at Calatagan Sandbar | Batangas

Marky Ramone Go May 02, 2019

After waking up with a terrible hangover—no thanks to the previous night’s drinking game—to a beautiful moonset and a hearty breakfast by the beach, we hurried up renting a small boat for a side-trip to a nearby sand bar. It appears during low tide a few clicks off the coast of Puting Buhangin...

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Pursuing Wildlife in India with Pugdundee Safari

Marky Ramone Go April 18, 2019

Like leafing through the pages of "Man-Eaters of Kumaon" – Jim Corbett’s memoir of his experiences hunting man-eating Bengal tigers in India’s Kumaon region, I find Chinmay’s tales of these wild beasts’ sightings very engrossing. Unlike Corbett’s experiences, fortunately today in this part of...

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Maiden Flight Makes Historic Landing on Calayan Island

Marky Ramone Go April 10, 2019

Onboard our chartered 30-seater Dornier aircraft from Platinum Skies, I steadied my eyes towards the window as our plane circled Calayan Island. I quickly gazed at the azure colored waters of Cibang Cove, recognizing it instantly from memories of my first visit here four years ago. ...

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To the Batu Caves | Malaysia

Marky Ramone Go April 10, 2019

Other than the Petronas Twin Towers, the Batu Caves is the other place I wanted to see in Kuala Lumpur when I started plotting the itinerary of my trip to the capital of Malaysia way back in 2007. That was my very first airplane ride courtesy of my brother who let me tag along with him. Coincidentally,...

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Of Fireflies Night and Quaint Vibe of Mararison Island | Antique

Marky Ramone Go April 06, 2019

Memories of my first visit to Mararison Island played vividly on my mind as we approach it aboard a motorized boat from the port of Culasi. I could still hear in my head, the angelic voices of the Mararison Children's choir belting out a harmonious Kinaray—a traditional welcoming song. Known all...

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Aquaria Waterpark and Crusoe Cabins | A Cool Hidey-hole Beach Destination

Marky Ramone Go April 01, 2019

Also, a great place to have a fun shindig with friends. All I could remember from the night before was me crawling to my upper bunk bed inside the cabin I shared with fellow travel bloggers Mujee and Joel. I recalled vomiting violently on the toilet – no thanks, to losing consistently on our...

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Postcard Series: Maiden Flight | Calayan

Marky Ramone Go March 29, 2019

When I said "yes" to an invite to join the Calayan-Batanes media famtrip, I never expected the historic firsts happening on the beautiful island of Calayan. We arrived aboard the first ever plane to land on the island to inaugurate their airport—and today—we also become the first set of passengers...

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This Year’s #LakbayNorte8 Highpoints Must-see Places in Clark, Subic and Baler

Marky Ramone Go March 25, 2019

Now on its 8th year, Lakbay Norte once again concluded a media familiarization tour participated by travel writers from online and print publications. It is organized by the North Philippines Visitors Bureau in partnership with Victory Liner as a way of promoting Northern Luzon as a premier tourist...

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Where to Stay in Luang Prabang, Laos | Satri House

Marky Ramone Go March 19, 2019

The narrow entrance of Satri House betrays the gem of a place hidden inside: A stunning collection of charming colonial buildings inspired by Lao architecture and culture. Adding a layer of lure are the quaint corners and the lush gardens surrounded by towering trees. As the female staff...

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A Beautiful Glimpse of Egypt

Marky Ramone Go March 07, 2019

Egypt was the last of the triumvirate of nations which consist the Holy Land tour I joined. After kicking off our trip in Jordan and spending almost a week in Israel, the last leg of our journey took us to the land of the Pharaohs and Cleopatra. Along the way we passed by endless stretch of deserted valleys...

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Where to Stay in Luang Prabang: Lotus Villa Boutique | Laos

Marky Ramone Go March 05, 2019

It was starting to darken when I arrived at Luang Prabang causing me to hurry my pace in locating my hotel. Guided by my Google Map, I walked pass the main street of the city's historic district. It was a lovely surprise finding out a few days before, that Lotus Villa Boutique Hotel situates...

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Cebu Pacific Air Highlights Some Must Things-to-do in and Near Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia

Marky Ramone Go March 04, 2019

As one of the major hub in Southeast Asia, Kuala Lumpur is often overlooked by some travelers as a mere pit-stop just to have a sumptuous meal of Nasi Lemak before flying a connecting flight to their final destination. Bad travel take. Kuala Lumpur, as it turns out, and as my more than...

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