Ever since I finished reading the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy (and fell in love with the film adaptation), I’ve been dreaming about visiting Singapore again. I’ve been there twice already but it seems there’s so much more to do than visit Gardens by the Bay, the Merlion, and Orchard Road.

If you caught the Singapore travel bug, too, you can win a trip to the Lion City because the Singapore Tourism Board launched the SINGapore Karaoke booth, where you can sing your heart out and possibly win tickets for two and four-star accommodations! The contest ran from October 19 to 21 at the Cortes De Las Palmas in Alabang Town Center, and the winners will be announced on October 25.

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The holidays and the summer season are coming up, so I’m sure everyone is already planning their trips around the country and/or abroad. As for me, I’m preparing for a quick Hong Kong getaway next month and I’m thinking of celebrating my 30th birthday with a trip to Japan. I’m half-Japanese but I haven’t been there in so long that I’m thinking of going on a solo trip. It’s now easy to book flights because of promo fares, and now vacationing is even easier because you can also book travel deals at the upcoming Klook Travel Fest 2018!

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Ever since airlines started offering budget fares, more and more Filipinos began traveling and exploring the world. I am one of those Filipinos and I now no longer think twice about flying to Hong Kong for a weekend of rest or going to Bangkok for a dose of culture. I don’t have trips lined up for this year and I can already feel my feet itching to fly somewhere and discover new things.

As many Filipinos are already planning their next destinations, I’m wondering what the profile of the Filipino traveler is like. Are they like me who is fine sharing a room with eight other strangers from around the world? Or who prefers visiting temples and museums instead of amusement parks?

Amadeus, a leading provider of advanced technology solutions for the global travel industry, published Journey of Me Insights: What Filipino Travelers Want, which is part of an Asia Pacific traveler study spanning 14 markets. And what they found was incredibly interesting.

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Lately I’ve been thinking about Africa. I don’t know exactly what triggered it. Could it be the long summer days? My excitement over the recently-announced staging of The Lion King musical in the Philippines? Whatever the case, the beauty of Africa has captivated me and I am longing to visit and see its wonders.

One of the countries I want to visit is Ethiopia. Ethiopia is rich in culture, tradition, history, and wildlife. In fact, the country has eight World Heritage Sites and is the home of Lucy, a fossil dating back 3.2 million years ago. Because of this, the country is being called the birthplace of humankind.

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I started using Grab after I was held up on a bus ride in 2014. It was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life, and one I would never want to go through again. At first, I would only use Grab at night, when commuting became more dangerous. Slowly, I got used to the premium service and convenience that I would find any excuse just to book a ride. Incredibly hot? Grab. It looks like it’s about to rain? Grab. About to run late? Grab. Now I don’t even make an effort to come up with one. I simply whip out my phone and book a ride.

Yes, it’s convenient and luxurious, but it’s an expensive habit. I live all the way in the south so my fare can skyrocket, especially during peak hours. While I happily sit in the car, my credit card is crying in my wallet. Luckily, I can still enjoy the Grab experience for less, because GrabShare is now in Manila!

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One cannot go to Hanoi without exploring its rich past.

On my last day in the Vietnamese capital, I stopped by a bookstore and picked up a copy of A Brief Chronology of Vietnamese History, and was surprised by its troubled beginnings. The country has experienced wars since 218 BC, most famous of which are the Indochina Wars that shaped modern-day Vietnam. As a reminder of its past, the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long still stands and serves as a tourist attraction for those wanting to study Vietnam’s history.

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One of the highlights of my trip Hanoi was the food. Vietnamese cuisine is known worldwide, and I got a firsthand experience of how good it was. I tried the staple banh mi, pho, and spring rolls, and I still crave for it today.

The trick to eating in Vietnam, and anywhere else, is to eat where the locals eat. Many of them eat in holes in the wall or on humble stands next to busy intersections. Most of the time, proprietors set up clusters of low tables with even lower chairs, a challenge for someone like me who stands six feet tall. The experience was definitely worth it.

In the six days I spent in Hanoi, my favorite meal would have to be the bún chả at Bún chả Hương Liên. It became famous when food authority Anthony Bourdain took US president Barack Obama, there and the food they ate became the Obama special: bún chả (fatty grilled pork in soup, vermicelli noodles, and loads of leaves), fried shrimp roll, and a cold bottle of Hanoi beer. Not bad for P180.

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I am very jealous of Hanoi because it has so many museums. In my trip, I was able to go to seven, an impressive feat considering they are within (relative) walking distance to each other. The museums offer different things, which isn’t surprising considering Vietnam has a rich cultural history. I wish we could do the same for Manila.

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