Tag: philippines

FAQs Answered By a Woman Traveler: Traveling Solo Around Southeast Asia

Posted on by Marya The BeauTraveler

Hi everyone!

So, in case you didn’t know, I’m finally back to Vietnam after 3 years. It was the first country that I visited as a solo traveler.

And while this time I kinda get used to doing everything alone when I travel, I understand as someone who comes from Southeast Asia region, some people just ask you a lot of questions about your journey.

Some ask questions out of curiosity, some do it because they’re inspired to do it too, while the other one has a little concern about the idea of you traveling alone. And that’s totally fine with me. After all, not everyone has their privilege to experience solo traveling, I guess?

Now that I’m in Chau Doc, I’ve got some spare time to write as I’ll be on my way to Ha Tien tomorrow, and then continue my journey crossing the border to Cambodia the next day.

This time, I’ll share with you some questions frequently asked about traveling solo in Southeast Asia. The questions that I often get asked, especially as a woman traveling alone around the region.

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New Year’s Bucket List: Places to Visit in the Second Half of 2020

Posted on by Marya The BeauTraveler

Hi everyone!

In case you’ve missed the first part of the series with some recommended places to visit in the first half of 2020, you should probably read it first before moving on to this one… But, if you’re actually looking for some holiday inspiration for the second half of the year starting in July, you’re on the right track!

I mean, of course… July and August seem to be the peak holiday seasons in some places. And maybe you’re a parent who needs to travel with kids during the school holiday. Or maybe you just love summer that you simply don’t want to miss the season to enjoy the heat and the sun.

Are you curious on which places that have been recommended by other fellow travel bloggers in the second half of 2020? Carry on!

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What You Could Get in Manila for $10 – Walk Back to Spanish Era Time in Intramuros, Manila’s Walled City

Posted on by Marya The BeauTraveler

Hi, everyone!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas while also enjoying the holidays to the fullest. And just because the holiday vibes are still around, it doesn’t mean that the $10 series ceases to exist.

In fact, this week we’re going to cover a city that is quite famous for its condensed traffic: Manila. The capital city of the Philippines was also appointed as one of the venues during the recent SEA Games 2019 in the country. Yep, after we’ve covered Angeles City last year, finally we could have the capital city in the series!

I’ve been to the city for a short layover during my flying time back in 2013, and I had a great time there despite the traffic jam. So today, I’m excited that we have Jing from Finding Jing to share with us how far you could get in Manila for $10! 🙂

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Less than 100 Reasons Why You Should Think Twice Before Begpacking in Asia

Posted on by Marya The BeauTraveler

There was this article that has been shared for way too many times on the travelers’ group lately, and it is the one about Bali reporting begpackers to their embassies.

Look, I know I’m some kind of a failed Indonesian as I’ve never been to Bali before. However, I’ve seen this begpacker phenomenon a few times in Bangkok and Hong Kong. I don’t know though, there’s probably somewhere else that I’ve been where there were also begpackers. But at the time, I wasn’t familiar with what begpacker is.

However, I remember I was curious about why so many white street musicians around Tsim Sha Tsui when I was about to see Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade. It was only a few minutes when I saw some hippies spreading a floor mat and taking out some stuff from their traveling printout pics to even their friendship bracelet whatever.

I was amused and annoyed at the same time. And let me speak for myself, as a traveler holding a weak passport like the Indonesian one. Frankly speaking, if I were to do the same thing as they did in their country, I would be deported in no time.

But life isn’t always fair, so the only thing I could do about it is to spread the awareness on why you should think twice before deciding to begpack around Asia. This especially applies in the less developed countries like those in Southeast Asia region.

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Top 9 Active Vacation Destinations

Posted on by Marya The BeauTraveler

Sometimes, we need a break. A proper break, from our lives and stresses, but also from activity. We need to lie by a pool for hours at a time, sipping cocktails and reading easy books. We need slow walks across the beach and afternoons in the spa. We need time to do as little as possible to recharge our batteries and catch up on our rest.

Sometimes, it’s good to be lazy, to chill out and to give ourselves time to relax and unwind. These kinds of vacations are ideal after a busy period of work, or when you’ve got a lot on your mind, and you need to take some time just to think. You can come home feeling refreshed and ready to get back into things.

But, these kinds of a trip aren’t for everyone all of the time. Sometimes relaxing by the beach all of the time feels like a waste. When you’ve got energy to burn you might want to spend your time being more active. Some people even find it easier to clear their minds when their bodies are moving. They find it easier to think and to sort through their thoughts when they are moving, seeing new sites and enjoying all that the world has to offer.

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