Maaya Legaspi

Finally, Cebu!

Maaya Legaspi — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 22:39:00 +1000

Okay, the first thing that comes to mind is — oh my gosh. Am I really writing this down in a new blog? And self-hosted at that?! Last blog post was 2020 and six years later here I am again. Feels surreal! I am just so amazed. I could geek out so much about the new blog (did you see the landing page?? I’ve been envisioning that for the longest time!) but here’s the new blog post first!

Osaka in Photos

Maaya Legaspi — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 23:31:00 +0800

On my 6th day in Japan, I really don’t have anything planned because I do have work. But what’s a good day to waste? I haven’t really explored Osaka that much during my first visit and as you know I am always pressed for time. So to me, this seems like a good day to see the tourist-famous Glico man which until now is not clear to me why the said spot is so famous. It’s also Christmas season so I can use the day to buy Christmas gifts for my loved ones. hehe.

Chilling Around Seminyak Bali

Maaya Legaspi — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 16:00:00 +0800

We don’t have any tiring activities lined up for this day. Just pure relaxation and chilling all day long. We started the day with Cara Cara Inn’s amazing breakfast. If you’re a heavy breakfast eater then the serving might not be enough for you but for me who’s not really used to eating breakfast, the serving is just okay. Enough to give me energy. Each day has a different breakfast menu and breakfast is not buffet type. You’ll have to give your stub for breakfast then you can choose which one you want for breakfast from the menu of the day. Guess who chose rice for breakfast? Yep, not me. Haha!

Myanmar: Inle Lake

Maaya Legaspi — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 22:20:00 +0800

Finally!!! The last day on our Myanmar tour! Haha. It took me almost 2 years to finish this blog post but hey.. At least I was able to finish it. The silver lining in this quarantine is that I was able to write this blog post. Planning to write more but it really depends on my mood. Still have work during daytime plus I am also catching on my Netflix backlogs and I’m kinda hooked up with two-point hospital so if I am not watching Netflix, it’s either I am playing switch or busy scrolling through my social media accounts to see the latest news about COVID-19.

Anxiety and the Feeling of Helplessness in the Time of COVID-19

Maaya Legaspi — Sun, 29 Mar 2020 19:05:00 +0800

Photo by Glen Carrie on Unsplash

It’s been two weeks since the president ordered Metro Manila lockdown which has now escalated to Luzon Lockdown. Everyone I know is working from home, my carpool telegram group doesn’t have any new post about finding a ride going to BGC and Pasig. And now, as I am typing this, Peter just told me his body aches which apparently is a symptom of COVID-19

Just the start of this year, the whole world was shaken when a new virus was suddenly making everyone sick in Wuhan, China. At the time, people don’t seem to look at the situation as very critical or would become serious which is why we are where we are at the moment. The virus is new and no one knows how to stop it, information is limited, everyone is racing against time to find the cure or even just a vaccine to protect those who haven’t contracted the virus yet.

Touring Around Mandalay

Maaya Legaspi — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 16:57:00 +0800

Prior to this trip, I didn’t really know anything about Mandalay as well as Inle Lake. I just know that I need to visit this country just to see the Bagan hot air balloons. And when I booked our tickets via Air Asia, this is when I only knew there is really a lot of good stuff Myanmar has to offer too. I mean why is this country not as popular as Thailand and Vietnam when there are also a lot of temples, palace, and an amazing view?

Myanmar: Mandalay Hill

Maaya Legaspi — Sat, 01 Feb 2020 16:22:00 +0800

Once we arrived in Mandalay, I already knew that this one is a whole lot different than our experience in Bagan. After alighting the minibus that transported us from Bagan to Mandalay, we rode a tuktuk going to our hotel, Royal Pearl Hotel. Our hotel is perfectly situated inside the city and getting a ride to different places in Mandalay is a breeze. Since we arrived at the hotel around the afternoon already, I made it sure that our itinerary for the day is just simple and not so tiring.

Myanmar: Bagan Day 2

Maaya Legaspi — Sat, 01 Feb 2020 14:10:00 +0800

It’s been almost 1 year and 6 months since we went to Myanmar and I am sooooooo delayed in writing this down. I can’t remember the tiny details anymore huhu. That’s why it’s always good to write while your memory is still fresh. This is one of the highlights of my 2018 and it just sucks that I didn’t blog about this sooner. I’ll just probably write what I can remember and believe me when I say I don’t really trust my memory that much but I’ll try. hehe. I’ll take notes from the photos I took and see if I can remember something from that. So yep, here it goes…

Kyoto: Sceneries from Old Japan

Maaya Legaspi — Sun, 19 Jan 2020 11:26:00 +0800

The last entry on my Japan diaries, for now. :) I can’t believe I’m down to the last one. I am missing every bit of my vacation to Japan. Almost all the stuff on my Facebook timeline reminds me of Japan. It’s really calling me back. LOL. Imagine the self-control I had to do when Cebu Pacific had their Piso sale just this week! I was really thinking of booking a plane ticket to Osaka again but figured that I don’t have the slightest clue yet of my schedule for this year so I set the thought aside for now. But you get the point right?!!! If not this year, I’ll definitely come and see their Spring season for the Cherry Blossoms.

In Photos: Universal Studios Japan

Maaya Legaspi — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 15:42:00 +0800

First of all, my 14 years old self is so so so so happy about this. I am a big fan of amusement parks ever since I was a kid. Most, if not all Filipino 90s kid would agree that EK was their first happy place. I mean I don’t remember much from my childhood but I sure did remember going to EK with my family. Good times. Still warms my heart just by thinking about it.

Rokko Snow Park, Kobe Chinatown, and Karaoke Night

Maaya Legaspi — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 20:30:00 +0800

I haven’t seen real snow in entire life. I mean the Philippines is a tropical country and there are just 2 seasons here plus all the countries I’ve been too are also tropical countries. LOL. It’s either hot or super hot. Yup, that’s a joke but you get the point. It’s currently January and it should be the coldest month in the Philippines but it feels like summer. Ugh. I can only imagine how hot it will be in the upcoming summer season. Tank tops all way.

2019: What A Year it Has Been

Maaya Legaspi — Tue, 31 Dec 2019 12:03:00 +0800

Oh wow. I don’t even know where to start but let me just say this before everything else: 2019 is my plot twist. **It went extremes to extremes. If 2018 was all the good stuff like making me finish my SEA bucket list (this is a pretty big deal to me), loving my job but had to leave it, invested in something that both me and my boyfriend will benefit in the future, and many other things, 2019 started out like I want it to end already. I’ve been meaning to write this for a while now so here it is. This is just my experience and I don’t blame anyone or condemn anyone or any entity or any stuff, just to be clear.

Wearing a kimono around Nara

Maaya Legaspi — Fri, 27 Dec 2019 13:24:00 +0800

On my third day in Japan, I didn’t have to wake up early as I will only roam around Nara Park and see the different temples together with my tita. And as you might know from my previous blog post, my tita lives in Nara so going to Nara Park will only take about 10-15 minutes from their house.

My head was really hurting from the night before maybe because of exhaustion from my Osaka exploration or partly because my body’s still adjusting to the insane low temperature but I really got a good night’s sleep. I slept at around 7-ish and woke up around 8am already so yeyyyy for catching up on sleep. Haha! I was really sleep deprived prior to this trip because of preparations and work and gym and juggling my social life all at the same time. Believe me when I say it shows on your skin when you’re sleep deprived. I am starting to hate my skin and I felt ugly. Ugh.

Osaka at a Glance

Maaya Legaspi — Mon, 23 Dec 2019 15:08:00 +0800

I call it Osaka at a glance because well, for one, Osaka cannot be roamed around on a single day (just like the other places I went to on this trip), and secondly, I barely scratched the surface. There are many places I wanted to visit but time didn’t allow me to.

I planned on going to leave early because I feel like I’ll need to have extra time in case I get lost somewhere. Well, I didn’t get lost but the places I need to go to are just so damn hard to find. Lol. Plus, admittedly, I didn’t research well enough and that my itinerary for this trip is not as specific as my previous trips. So the plan is to wake up at 7 and leave by 8 but my cousin’s bed just won’t let me get up. It’s one of the most comfortable beds I’d slept with. Lol. Or it could be the weather and the cozy comforter.

8 Days in Ja-FUN

Maaya Legaspi — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 20:11:00 +0800

If you know me personally, then you probably know that I love the Japanese culture so much. Japan is probably the place I would want to visit countless times. I grew up watching animes, loving Japanese food and is always amazed at the culture of Japanese people. This could be because I have relatives that worked in Japan that influenced me about its amazing culture. My grandmother, my uncle, and my aunt all used to work in Japan. I remember all the big boxes coming from Japan that contained all the instant noodles and chocolates. It was a lot of noodles that we can even share some with our neighbors HAHA! The days.

Taiwan: Yehliu, Jiufen, and Shifen

Maaya Legaspi — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 18:18:00 +0800

For our second day in Taipei, what I planned was to go to Yehliu Geopark, Jiufen, and Shifen. I mean what’s a trip to Taiwan without these 3 right? Whenever I see people posting about their Taipei trips, these 3 destinations are always in their itinerary.

I’m just not sure if these 3 destinations can be enjoyed in 1 whole day but I found a tour in Klook that have these 3 destinations. Unfortunately for us though, the only time slot remaining for the tour is at 10AM and I’m pretty sure that’s already late but we really have no choice since I cannot also put these tours on another day because it won’t fit by then.

Taipei: Inside the City

Maaya Legaspi — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 21:54:00 +0800

Finally, my first international travel this year! After Bali last November, this is the next international travel I had because of many factors. Well for one, and I’ve said this countless times in my blog already, it’s because I resigned from my previous work and had a new work starting December 2018. Apparently, this company does not allow VL’s and even SL’s for the first 6 months. Should you be absent for any reason, then it will be tagged as leave without pay.

Bali Day 1: Hindu Temples and Instagram Places

Maaya Legaspi — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 09:53:00 +0800

The photo was taken by Alesi Almario

Ahhhh, Bali. I miss Bali just by writing this here. Bali is my definition of chill and laid back.

You see, this Bali adventure is almost a year in the making. There is much stuff that we need to take care of just so we can finally push this travel through. One is if you know me, you most certainly know I don’t book airline tickets with its regular price. I am always counting on seat sale because hell yeah, you can really save a lot of money with that sale and call me weird but finding promo tickets is fun for me. With all the website crashing, the heavy stress load on the website, with everyone on the hunt, it just feels satisfying finding tickets on your preferred dates. :)

Myanmar: Bagan Day 1

Maaya Legaspi — Sun, 04 Aug 2019 16:04:00 +0800

Hola!! It’s been over a year now since our Myanmar backpacking and I promise I’ll try to blog all of these backlogs as fast as I can now. I’ve been busier than ever because of new work, you know the stuff… Trying to learn as fast as I can so I can be effective in the role right away… And because I’m also fixing requirements for this stuff I’ve been praying for since I don’t know when. Life’s just been so pretty darn good in the past days it’s like God telling me He or maybe She? Haven’t forgotten about me. It’s quite an emotional topic for me so I’ll blog it maybe some other time. Hehe.

Sompong Thai Cooking Class

Maaya Legaspi — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 16:51:00 +0800

If you’ve visited Bangkok many times now, you’ll eventually run out of things to visit the first time. I mean, food is probably one of the reasons you’ll visit Bangkok countless times but if you’re into new stuff and exploring new places most of the time, then the third vacation in Bangkok would probably bore you already. I’m not saying I got bored during our vacation in Bangkok because I totally did enjoy but of course, I am one of those people who wants to experience something new whenever they go on vacations.

Myanmar: Yangon Downtown, Sule, and Shwedagon Pagoda

Maaya Legaspi — Sun, 30 Jun 2019 01:32:00 +0800

I’m excited to share with you the final stretch of my Southeast Asia bucket list!!! If you’re reading my blog way back 2016, you would know that I am trying to visit all Southeast Asian countries and guess what?! I’ve finally visited it all!! (Except Brunei and East Timor) Visiting it all (okay maybe not all but I’d like to think it was all, lol) wasn’t really my plan when I got hooked up on traveling. I just wanted to experience the culture and explore new cities until I realized that if I wanted to connect the history piece by piece of these countries, I really need to visit it all. My goal was to finish it all before I turn 30 but I was able to visit it all a week before my 25th birthday (Bali, Indonesia is the last location and Myanmar being 2nd to the last).

La Union with my High School Constants

Maaya Legaspi — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 15:21:00 +0800

Believe it or not but this is actually my first time in La Union. Been wanting to go for months now but I have no one to go with me. So when my best friend is coming home from her vacation, we immediately planned a weekend getaway. My high school friends are mostly into staycations so it’s really something when we finally push a getaway like this. Baby steps. Haha! And also, this almost didn’t realize because Atheena had a traumatic experience with beaches so we were looking for other places we could visit while she’s on vacation. But fortunately, we got her blessing. Lol. The only condition is that she’ll not go to the falls.

The Grand Palace and Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise

Maaya Legaspi — Tue, 14 May 2019 18:22:00 +0800

This is our second to the last day in Bangkok. As for Ton, this is her last day because she’ll be going back to Manila a day earlier than us. This is actually my second time now in the grand palace (first time here) and it still never fails to amaze me. I mean guys, if you have to visit at least one temple, then this is it.

As usual, there are a lot of tourists, especially Chinese people in the temples. And even with the high number of tourists, they are still strict in terms of dress code. For one, my mother was asked to cover her knees even though her shorts are just above the knee. And that’s one thing I really admire about them, they really put the rules in effect and make sure everyone follows it.

Quick Escape to Baguio

Maaya Legaspi — Sat, 04 May 2019 16:00:00 +0800

I never really appreciated long weekends that much until I need it to have a vacation. I would say I am in my longest streak of not filing a VL and SL and so far I am doing okay. I mean, it’s a struggle but with my situation right now, I really don’t have a choice. So when holy week approached, I feel like I’m a student in a sembreak because, for the longest time since the Christmas holidays, I can get a decent vacation from work.

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and Siam Niramit

Maaya Legaspi — Fri, 03 May 2019 08:51:00 +0800

I’ve been to Bangkok a lot of times but this is my first time visiting Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. And by far, this is one of the nicest floating markets I’ve been to. It is literally, a “FLOATING MARKET” where people can buy goods from the sellers in the boats. When I first went to Ho Chi Minh, we are told that we will be seeing a floating market in the Mekong River but what we imagined was different from the actual floating market they have there.

Cambodia-Thailand Border Crossing and Airbnb-Agoda Misadventures

Maaya Legaspi — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 17:14:00 +0800

It was our third day backpacking and this I swear is one of my most hassle days in 2018. I am not exaggerating that. We had a very stressful problem with our Airbnb host and Agoda booking. But first, let me start the post by narrating how we did border crossing by land!

I am always a fan of border crossing because living in the Philippines means we don’t have a neighboring country that we could travel to by land so it was really fun crossing borders and observing how just by one single border changes how the way people live. This is most evident when we crossed the Laos-Thailand border. The way the drivers navigate is different from both countries. In Laos, they follow right-hand drive while in Thailand, they follow left-hand drive. So you could literally see differences by just how we changed lanes when we arrive in the border of Thailand. Little things like that fascinate me.

Weekend Adventures in Sagada

Maaya Legaspi — Sun, 03 Mar 2019 22:41:00 +0800

I have always been a fan of chilly weather because let’s face it, the weather here in Manila is not good for the skin. It gets too humid and hot sometimes so when there’s a long weekend where I can experience Baguio weather without actually staying in Baguio, I grabbed the opportunity and went there with my father.

I’ve been to Sagada before and I would say that I already saw every tourist spot this place has to offer so this trip is actually just more of chilling and experiencing the weather. Since this is a long weekend we are talking about, I am pretty sure the place is much more crowded than normal days. Knowing this, I’ve booked our accommodation in advance via Agoda. And if you’re not familiar with Sagada yet, know that Sagada is just a small province without hotels, just inns and small bed and breakfast.

Siem Reap: Face to Face with Angkor Wat

Maaya Legaspi — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 16:14:00 +0800

Our day 2 had us waking up very early in the morning. We woke up like 4AM so we can catch the sunrise over Angkor Wat. Based on my research, it is one of the most anticipated events for tourists who want to see Angkor Wat. And if you’re visiting Siem Reap, you haven’t really visited Angkor Wat if you didn’t visit it’s UNESCO world heritage site, Angkor Wat. This temple is so famous Khmer people included this in their flag. Have you noticed? Yup, that’s how proud they are because temple symbolizes a win from Siam.

Siem Reap: Real Life Temple Run

Maaya Legaspi — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 13:20:00 +0800

If you read my Singapore travel, you would know that I am on my 6/10 of my Southeast Asian bucket list. And visiting Siem Reap Cambodia means I’m on my 7th country! Sooo sooo close in completing all of it.

So yeah, for this trip, I am with my mother, my sister, and my high school friend Ton. Hi, Ton! :) It was fun because I think we planned this like for a very a long time and now it is here.

Gringo is now open in Greenhills!

Maaya Legaspi — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 02:38:00 +0800

I’m pretty sure by now you already see many Gringo restaurants popping out from your favorite hang out spot. I’m also sure you are somehow intrigued and tempted to try this new Mexican food spot in the metro.

If you are not yet aware (where are you living btw?), Gringo is your new fave Mexican dinner to late night hang out spot with your friends and family. They serve a wide variety of choices that I’m sure people of all ages will like.

Universal Studios Singapore

Maaya Legaspi — Sat, 07 Apr 2018 15:49:00 +0800

Last blog post on our Singapore getaway last January. And yes, it took me 2 months to complete the blog posts. =))) Our last day before we depart for Manila is spent on the famous USS. We also planned on going to Singapore Flyer but unfortunately, it was closed and we weren’t notified. Take note that we already bought our tickets from Klook.

Universal Studios Singapore isn’t that big. I mean if you really put your head into it, you can see, roam, and even ride everything in a day. We’re also lucky that it didn’t rain on our visit! If you will compare it to Disneyland (HK Disneyland at least), more of the rides are intended for adults. Well, there are rides for kids but if you’re looking for that adrenaline heart-stopping rides, then you came into the right place!

Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay Sands

Maaya Legaspi — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 01:28:00 +0800

What’s a trip to Singapore without seeing the iconic Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay Sands? I don’t know about you guys but a trip to Singapore isn’t complete without a visit to these places. So on our third day in SG, we planned to visit the most famous Singapore tourist places.

I only see these places in social media, from marketing materials to photos of my friends that’s already been to SG. I mean, hello? Who among us doesn’t have a friend that’s already been to SG, right? It’s as if it’s just a province of the Philippines that Filipinos just come and go. And with this trip, I surely know why!

Sunway Lagoon Malaysia

Maaya Legaspi — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 00:11:00 +0800

Sunway Lagoon is the first theme park I’ve gone to that both have attraction rides and water theme parks. I mean it’s like 2-in-1 which means twice the fun of a regular theme park! I actually haven’t heard about Sunway Lagoon until we went to Kuala Lumpur.

People often think of Legoland when they go to Malaysia but what people don’t know (including me) prior to research, is that Legoland is really far from Kuala Lumpur. I mean if you want to visit Legoland, might as well come from Singapore. It’s actually closer to Singapore than Malaysia’s capital.

Singapore: Punggol Waterway Park and Kampong Glam

Maaya Legaspi — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 17:34:00 +0800

Trying to finish all of my Singapore blog post to avoid backlogs for this year! haha. I still have my Malaysia backlogs so bear with me. Anyway, let me just say that our second day is the mosttttttt tiring day. At least during the morning.

We didn’t expect to walk a lot and under hot weather condition. Well, we do know that we will walk but we just didn’t expect to double the walking on our first day. And that’s just the first half of the day!

Singapore's Festive Chinatown and Hippie Tiong Bahru

Maaya Legaspi — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 01:10:00 +0800

Just came back from a fun and well-deserved vacation in Singapore. Actually, I don’t have any plans to visit SG anytime soon as I want to cap off my Southeast Asia travel bucket list there so my original plan is to visit it as the last country in my SEA bucket list. What pushed me to book a ticket and a 5 day one (they say 3 days are already enough to see SG) is purely not for vacation.

2017 Wrap up and 2018 Aspirations

Maaya Legaspi — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 18:22:00 +0800

First of all, happy new year guys!! This is a little bit late already since it’s already January 4, but yeah.. better late than never right?

I know I’m not updating my blog these past days. I don’t want to promise I’ll be blogging more often this year but what I’m sure of is that I’ll still document my travels this year.. which reminds me that my Kuala Lumpur travel is not yet done.

Kuala Lumpur City Tour and Batu Caves

Maaya Legaspi — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 22:53:00 +0800

Hola! So I’ve been MIA in the past weeks and it’s only until now that I had the time (because ASEAN summit holiday) and the feels to blog. I’m not really in the mood to write and blog in the past weeks and I don’t wanna force it so I just had some time off with blogging and enjoyed life outside the blog. Lol!

A lot had happened recently but what I am about to blog right now is our first day in Kuala Lumpur last April. Haha yeah.. last April. This is already a throwback post but regardless, I hope you guys still enjoy this entry as much as I enjoyed that vacation.

LASIK Experience at Shinagawa Ortigas Branch and Everything You Need to Know

Maaya Legaspi — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 23:01:00 +0800

Yup! I just underwent LASIK procedure last September 15 at Shinagawa and I still couldn’t believe what my eyes see! I still sometimes feel like I am just wearing contact lens (because you know, dry eyes) and sometimes my subconscious tells me to fix to my glasses only to find out that I am actually not wearing one! How’s that!

But first, What is LASIK you ask? LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis. This procedure is done to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and other vision problems. People who are dependent on prescription glasses, like me, usually takes this procedure to have a better vision.

Tagaytay: Crosswinds Resort Suites

Maaya Legaspi — Sun, 27 Aug 2017 01:27:00 +0800

If you want a truly calm and home away from home type of staycation then Crosswinds in Tagaytay is the place to be. The place is tucked in a very quiet neighborhood making it a very peaceful place to unwind and de-stress. You know, the kind that makes it hard to get out of bed and just lets you be in your own kind of bliss.

We got our passes to this luxurious staycation at a travel expo last February and we definitely got good deals as we got this for buy 1 take 1. We can also use the voucher anytime we want as long as it’s within validity date. In short, we only paid for one night but we are to avail two nights! How’s that? One of the reasons why I love travel expos. You just really have to look for the best deals. We also had the choice to use it on separate days or use the voucher consecutively. For this stay, we used one voucher.

SEA Life Bangkok Ocean World and Khao San Road

Maaya Legaspi — Sat, 26 Aug 2017 17:36:00 +0800

Our official last touring day in our backpacking journey! So our last stop? Bangkok! We’re allotting 1 full day for Bangkok as we don’t need much time to see this city as we’ve already seen Bangkok’s beauty on our last backpacking journey before this one.

You see, Thailand is beautifully placed in the middle of everything that’s why when you see people backpacking in Southeast Asia, Thailand is always on the list. You will not run out of things to do and buses to its neighboring countries are easily accessible.

Vientiane, Laos

Maaya Legaspi — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 22:03:00 +0800

Before anything else, I know you might be wondering why would a person visit Laos, and what can we see in Laos, btw? So for starters, if you haven’t seen my Luang Prabang travel diaries, better head there now. And Vientiane? Well, this is the capital of Laos and to be honest, there isn’t much to see but as an avid traveler, I am trying to visit all Southeast Asian countries before I explore other places. As the saying goes, love your own. You see, Philippines is part of SEA so there…

Luang Prabang's Hippest Cafe, 1 Dollar Buffet, and Many More!

Maaya Legaspi — Sat, 15 Jul 2017 01:13:00 +0800

Our second day in Luang Prabang was mostly about touring other scenic spots that don’t include temples. If you have already visited Indochina, then you’ll probably get what I mean when I say temples. Not just one or two. Heck, not even five! There’s just too many that after some time in the country, you’ll get used to seeing temples everywhere.

We’re not on a long term travel, unlike Western backpackers who stay in a certain country for weeks or even months. We only have 2 days in Luang Prabang so we have to get the most out of it. And to get the most out of this trip, we also had to slow down a little because that’s what this place is known for. A very laid back town where everyone takes their time.

The Best Place to Stay in Kuala Lumpur

Maaya Legaspi — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 20:57:00 +0800

Hi, you guys! So this is the official start of my Kuala Lumpur blog series although I haven’t finished my Vietnam-Laos-Thailand travel series yet. Rest assured though I will blog about it as well. If you follow my blog, you’ll notice that I usually overlap travel posts just to you know, balance the posts out and not bore you with content of the same destination. And that is why sometimes it takes months for me to complete 1 travel series. Lol.

In Photos: Luang Prabang's Kuang Si Falls

Maaya Legaspi — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 21:53:00 +0800

If you’re going to search for things to do in Luang Prabang, then I’ll tell you, every page you will see will most certainly suggest going to see Kuang Si Falls found on the South part of the province and is 29km away from the town center.

It might be far but I swear, it is worth it. At least for me and to most of the travelers I see online. What I am not sure though if this place is man-made or natural, if it is indeed natural, then wow! Its stairs like structure are very picturesque. Very Southeast Asian, if I must say. :)

Tea Appreciation: Art of Tea with CBTL

Maaya Legaspi — Sun, 02 Jul 2017 03:10:00 +0800

If you know me personally, you know that I love drinking tea. I will not say that I’m not a coffee drinker but for me, tea can be my substitute to water. It helps me feel less bloated while being warm at the same time. What’s nice with tea is you can partner it to almost any food. Whether you’re having snacks or big meals. You can even choose among different teas which ones suit your palette.

Hanoi, Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Temple of Literature

Maaya Legaspi — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 23:31:00 +0800

Our second and last day in Vietnam is all sorts many adventure and misadventure. Well, for one, I got to see many visit worthy places, while the other is if you haven’t read this post (From Getting Ripped Off in Hanoi to Struggling to Change Money and Almost Losing my Passport in Luang Prabang) yet, you better check it now. :)

We actually want to try the biking tour in Hanoi on our second day but it is not any more feasible because our time is already limited and we didn’t know there’s one not until the end of our tour on our first day. On our second day, after eating our scrumptious breakfast at the hotel, we hailed a cab going to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum**. This is where the remains of Vietnam’s greatest leader is laid to rest.

Iloilo: Isla de Gigantes

Maaya Legaspi — Sat, 10 Jun 2017 14:14:00 +0800

This is actually the highlight of my first solo travel ever. Remember my trip to Roxas City and how it almost didn’t push through? It was indeed a memorable one as I’ve experienced a lot of first times. I was even adopted for the night by my father’s friend that’s living in Roxas. The locals are indeed very nice. I also got to see many visit-worthy places in Roxas.

And you know what’s intense? I had mumps all throughout this trip that it barely pushed through, but luckily, the odds are in my favor. ;) And don’t worry, I was already recovering so I am assuring you guys I am no longer contagious when I took this trip. :)

The Beauty of The Ruins

Maaya Legaspi — Sat, 27 May 2017 00:47:00 +0800

Finally! This is the last post on our Bacolod-Iloilo-Guimaras tour last January. Yes, you read that right, last January and I am only blogging it now. Haha! I’m trying to catch up on my backlogs one by one but it just keeps on coming! Loool. But anyway, I am not really complaining, keep the new adventures coming. 😉

what you will see upon entrance

Our activity on our last day was to see the stunning The Ruins. I am always seeing this beauty every time my friends post their Bacolod trips and oh my gosh, if it is already this beautiful in the pictures, what more in real life?

Top 5 National Parks in India

Maaya Legaspi — Tue, 16 May 2017 02:02:00 +0800

Guest Post by Himanshu of Pearls India Tour

With the rapid urbanization and industrialization taking its toll on the planet’s forest cover, it is not surprising that only a few countries can flaunt their natural beauty and claim to be rich with flora and fauna. One such country is India. Through its various projects, wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, it has successfully created a safe haven for many of its plant and animal species. Many of these are World Heritage Sites.

Dear Travelers, Do not Travel for the sake of Passport Stamps - Explore the Country

Maaya Legaspi — Fri, 12 May 2017 12:35:00 +0800

We’ve all been there. Being such in a hurry to visit as many places as we can. To get as much passport stamps as we can. It’s not bad to visit all as many countries as you can in one go. But you know what’s bad and is not doing any good in the long run?? It’s when you visit as many countries as you can in a few days!

Welcome to Luang Prabang, Laos!

Maaya Legaspi — Sat, 06 May 2017 18:00:00 +0800

Luang Prabang is a small province but definitely has a big history to boast. I never thought I will be able to visit Laos anytime soon as this country doesn’t have a direct flight from Manila. I also know no one who already went to this country so I was quite excited to incorporate this place in our backpacking tour around some countries in Indochina. What I know when planning this trip was I just have to create an itinerary that will let us travel to different Southeast Asian countries, and by Southeast Asian countries, I mean Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand.

Guimaras: Mangoes and Beaches? What Else Can You Ask For?!

Maaya Legaspi — Sun, 16 Apr 2017 23:23:00 +0800

Oh yes, you read the title right. Contrary to popular belief, Guimaras is not only famous for its sweet world class mangoes, some of us don’t know this but this amazing province also has amazing beaches to offer! And I only knew it prior to planning this trip. If you don’t know yet, we had a 4 day trip to Bacolod, Iloilo, and Guimaras. Guimaras being our 3rd stop before we go back to Bacolod for our flight back to Manila.

From Getting Ripped off in Hanoi to Struggling to Change Money and Almost Losing my Passport in Luang Prabang

Maaya Legaspi — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 15:51:00 +0800

I’m writing this on my iPad’s note app. We’re currently here in Luang Prabang and it’s 11:14 PM local time as I write this. (If you’re reading this, I am probably already home) Well.. This is our second day touring. We’re supposed to tour Hanoi, Luang Prabang, Vientiane, and Bangkok.

We left Hanoi this afternoon and well… This day was all sorts of misadventure. Our first day in Hanoi was fun. Really fun. We saw Hoan Kiem Lake, watched Water Puppet Show (my second time to watch, the first one was when we visited Ho Chi Minh city last 2015), watched the locals, and eat Vietnamese food.

Coron, Palawan: Bulog Dos, Banana, and Malcapuya Island

Maaya Legaspi — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 15:24:00 +0800

Since it’s holy week and I am just home for the holidays, I’ll make a throwback post about our last day Coron, Palawan. Well, this was supposed to be published months ago but there are a lot of things that happened. So here it is, a little late but should still be documented in my online travel journal. :)

When you have an amazing country such as Philippines that is full of amazing beaches, you just can’t help but notice that even though it’s less than a month before Christmas, people still explore the beauties of this majestic and world class beaches. Like us, celebrating my birthday in Coron and not minding the season even if it’s not summer. BTW, beaches are a great destinations no matter what the season is. I can attest to that. :)

Call it Magic, Call it True: Coldplay Manila Experience ♥

Maaya Legaspi — Sun, 09 Apr 2017 00:36:00 +0800

Okay, first of all, omgggg it was an amazinggggg~ night. Coldplay was super awesome! Nope, that’s an understatement. Whatever is the most super duper superlative for awesome, great, and superb, that is the best description.

When did my love for Coldplay materialize? I was actually not a fan back then. I know their songs, the ones that are very famous like Yellow, Fix You, and The Scientist. But little did I know that behind those famous songs, there are much more that’s not so mainstream.

Hanoi, Vietnam: Exploring the Old Quarter

Maaya Legaspi — Sat, 01 Apr 2017 15:23:00 +0800

11:58AM local time of Hanoi, plane going back to Manila. *

This trip was superb! In a sense that I experienced a lot of mishaps but at the same time had a lot of fun. I got to learn a lot. Like, really a L O T. And as much as it bores me to death going to museums and different history specific establishments, it pays to know where the nation has come from as it says a lot about where the country is today. I personally believe Vietnam is a great country and with great food too! (no brainer) And I don’t mind eating lots of Pho for the rest my life if it means getting also to eat other Vietnamese food and a good Ca Phe Sua Da (Vietnamese coffee: black roasted coffee with condensed milk)

Upside Down Museum: Imagination & Creativeness

Maaya Legaspi — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 19:07:00 +0800

Is your life too stressful and busy lately? Don’t have time to loosen up? Well, chill out girl! Life’s too short to be taken seriously. Just look at me, always thinking of new ways to spice up my weekend. And so when I saw this upside down museum on my news feed, I didn’t let the week pass without visiting this not so usual museum.

For some of us, we want to indulge in history, in those old pieces that can take us back to the old times. We marvel at the paintings and its amazing strokes, we look at the things used by known people in our history… We’re intrigued with that sculpture… You know, traditional art. And if your not part of that population who goes to a museum to see different paintings and works of art, then you are probably the ones who want to let loose and be a kid again.

Adventures in Roxas City: Seafood Capital of the Philippines

Maaya Legaspi — Sun, 12 Mar 2017 19:35:00 +0800

If you have read this post, then I’m pretty sure you know how this trip almost didn’t push through. But just like what others said, it might be that the universe conspired and helped me experienced my first solo travel ever! Everything is just scary because I was alone in a foreign city, not mentioning that I’m not really well because I have mumps to take care of. I got long stares because my face is not proportional. Lol!

The Solo Travel That Almost Didn't Push Through

Maaya Legaspi — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 20:07:00 +0800

Me: Malayo ba dito yung Sta. Monica church? Yung may malaking bell? (Is Sta. Monica church far from here? The one with the big bell?)*

Tricycle driver: Malayo din ma’am, sa Panay na po yun. (It’s far, it’s already in Panay.)

There I was, riding a tricycle going to the public market in Roxas to find some delicacies that I can eat for breakfast. I found in some blogs that I should try baye-baye when I’m in Roxas. It’s like a pinipinig delicacy. You see, this trip is all sorts of excitement and being scared. Scared of what lies ahead and scared of not knowing anyone along the way. But that’s the very core and very reason why we travel alone at least once. To see how far can we make it, and have all sorts of misadventures that’s one for the books.

Weekend Daytrip: Marian Orchard & Some Life Realizations

Maaya Legaspi — Sat, 25 Feb 2017 23:34:00 +0800

It was one fine day when we visited Marian Orchard. Although it was raining in the morning, it didn’t stop us from exploring this beautiful garden situated at Balete, Batangas. Yup, South. And thanks to Ian, it was an instant road trip with him, Rae, and Atheena. Like I would always mention, South is so foreign to me that if you ask me to go there alone, I would probably end up getting lost. No exaggeration.

Batangas: Dreamland Arts & Crafts Cafe

Maaya Legaspi — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 01:12:00 +0800

Here I am! Back in South. The last time I went here was my sister’s birthday celebration at Canyon Cove. I am not complaining though because I refuse to book more flights and so I am just exploring the nearby places I can go to while busy being a Manila girl. (lol whut?!) Actually, this isn’t the original plan, we actually planned on climbing Mt. Maynoba in Tanay but unfortunately, news about NPAs around Tanay is going around. Even though we want to, we can’t risk being hostages. And while our Mt. Maynoba climbed is moved on to another unknown date, we’re off exploring other places that can satisfy our wanderlust.

7 Reasons Why You Will Always Go Back to Baguio

Maaya Legaspi — Sun, 12 Feb 2017 19:13:00 +0800

There was never a year I didn’t go to Baguio. I have so many fond memories that consists of Baguio, and this goes way back to when I’m still a kid. I saw how the city evolved and how it has never failed to amaze me even though I’ve been there for so many times already. As if there’s always a reason to go back. I remember strolling around the city with my parents, staying in Teacher’s Camp back then, and I remembered how they used to make me eat red rice for the first time. Then there’s this YMCA leadership camp I attended when I was in grade 6 and I remembered how happy I am to travel this far without any of my parents accompanying me and how I saw some of my classmates too in my previous school. I don’t have a functioning camera back then so I bought a disposable one but I wasn’t able to develop the film. Then there came casual year enders with my mother where we would go to Baguio just because of the weather. Then there’s a day trip too with my father.

Iloilo: Dinagyang 2017

Maaya Legaspi — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 01:50:00 +0800

Spell lucky! We actually didn’t think that the day we’ll arrive at Iloilo is also the day they celebrate Dinagyang! It was complete coincidence but who are we to complain? We really had fun! Plus this is all our first times to celebrate festivals like this. Well, we all know that Sinulog is celebrated every January but who’ve thought we’ll stumble with Dinagyang!

For my non-Filipino readers, Dinagyang festival is a religious and cultural festival at the province of Iloilo Philippines in honor of Sto. Nino. Well you see, Philippines is a Catholic country and Filipinos celebrate different festivals to honor saints. Two of the most known religious festival is the Sinulog of Cebu and Dinagyang of Iloilo. And since we love celebrating, we also do have festivals of different kinds like festival of flowers (Penagbenga of Baguio) and many other stuff. The festivals alone are good reasons to visit Philippines. You will be greeted with colorful decorations and warm smiles of people (Because we’re hospitable like that). :)

Bacolod: A day in the City of Smiles

Maaya Legaspi — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 17:42:00 +0800

You know my personal challenge of going to the 81 provinces of the Philippines? Yep.. I just crossed out 3 province off at once on that list! It’s a known fact that I love to travel (who doesn’t?!) and I am just happy to travel with some of my high school friends. I’ve been trying to ask them before if they want to travel and it didn’t happen until now! So one random evening when I have nothing to do at work and there came a seat sale going to Bacolod, I just tried my luck asking them if they want to go.. and ta-dahh.. the rest is adventure. So my actual plan was just to tour around Bacolod, but there aren’t a lot of stuff to do in Bacolod. I guess a 4 day excursion is too much to explore just one city. Even the famous “The Ruins” is not located in Bacolod.. it’s in Talisay City, another city in the province of Negros Occidental. So when I was about to do our DIY itinerary, my friends told me that it’s also possible to do a 4 day tour of Bacolod, Iloilo, and Guimaras. And me being my adventurous self, I drafted a 4 day itinerary which by the way is just perfect for our schedule. It was not strictly followed because of the delays of the ferries and some factors we cannot really control but nonetheless, we all had fun and we were able to go to places that we never knew existed!

Rodriguez, Rizal: Mt. Balagbag Experience

Maaya Legaspi — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 13:06:00 +0800

I’m so back into hiking again! Yep, that’s right! I think this is the best time of the year to climb mountains because the weather is still cold but it’s really not raining. As they say, January is the knitted sweater season. I can’t blame them though, I’m liking the sweater weather and how it gives off an instant glow! LOL! It’s also part of my goals this year so climb as many mountains as I can because it’s less expensive than a normal travel plus the view from the summit is always soooo worth it.

Coron, Palawan: Kayangan Lake and its Beauty

Maaya Legaspi — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 13:31:00 +0800

First off, I want to say Happy New Year!!! I hope you had a wonderful NYE and new year’s day. Let’s welcome 2017 with positivity.

To start off my blogging journey this year, I will continue our Coron adventure last November. I am trying to complete my back logs so please bear with me. :)

Our second day in Coron was so much fun and so much #beachgoals. Yes, it rained but it didn’t stop us to have fun and be in the moment! As I was saying on my previous blog post, the storm was also in Coron the moment we landed there. And there’s no other way but to pray for a better weather the next day.

My 2016 in a Simple Blog Post

Maaya Legaspi — Sat, 31 Dec 2016 12:23:00 +0800

2016 is like a roller coaster ride, I know I know, it sounds cliche, but I couldn’t describe it in any other way. This year is like a ticking time bomb because it felt like I need to live a fast paced life. It’s not a negative thing though, it’s just that a lot has happened that if I won’t keep up, it felt like I will be left behind. It trained me to always be on the go. Well, if you do know me personally, this 2016, I am the person who can’t be at home even just for a day. Even on my rest days, I am out and about. And it’s actually fun because I’ve experienced a lot of first times and a lot of happy adventures. I met a lot of people, I ate my heart out, and somehow, I’ve managed to take care of my career. I cannot list all the things I am thankful for this 2016 because it would be a long boring post already.. rather, I just want to run through all the stuff that made my 2016 extra special. :) So here you go..

What the World Would Be Like If Social Media Didn't Exist

Maaya Legaspi — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 23:22:00 +0800

So I was just scrolling through my feed like always. Then I remembered my childhood where there were barely smartphones. Facebook isn’t a thing yet and it feels like the world is such a wonderful place to live in. I remember talking to my grade school best friend over the phone while watching Naruto.. and maybe if it did happen today, we will just be chatting over messenger or some other chatting apps. What if we have the internet but there’s really no Facebook or Friendster to begin with? Will it have a big impact on how we live our lives now?

Coron, Palawan: A Trip to Remember

Maaya Legaspi — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 01:09:00 +0800

Coron is actually one of the places that I really want to visit here in the Philippines. It’s part of my bucket list, and that never mind I won’t be visiting other places so as long I can visit Coron. I categorize places I want to visit into 2 kinds.. the first one are the places I want to visit because it’s accessible, because it’s easier to travel there, and because it’s still a new experience. The second kind are the places I would definitely visit. These places are the ones I need to visit before I die.. the places I am dying to visit.. and Coron is part of the latter. Palawan is home to the best beaches not just in the Philippines but also in the world. Filipinos and foreigners would include this in their travel must visit list because of the majestic and stunning beaches. Out of all the three famous destinations in Palawan, which are namely Puerto Princesa, El Nido, and Coron, Coron as they say is the least urbanized, you can’t have those “walwal”* night life here. And truthful enough, Coron is a quaint quiet town where life is very simple. Bars can be counted on the fingers of your hand. I would say the town is very laid back and to be honest, the locals are very nice.

Baguio Home Stay: Le Coq Bleu

Maaya Legaspi — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 19:17:00 +0800

For starters, this is one of the best accommodations I had that is not a hotel. It’s quite refreshing to stay in a place where you would live with the locals (Yes, in case you want to book this place, note that you will be staying with the home owners, AKA, the locals). Plus points for the French rustic vibes! So we’re originally planning on staying at Kamiseta hotel but for some reasons, the rates suddenly went up and we thought it’s not sulit* anymore. So maybe when we come back to Baguio, we’ll stay there for sure.

Canyon Cove: Stress Free Weekend

Maaya Legaspi — Sun, 06 Nov 2016 18:15:00 +0800

Nestled in the province of Nasugbu Batangas is an amazing weekend staycation place for friends and families. I’ve been hearing a lot about Canyon Cove but I haven’t really got the chance to to stay in the hotel and swim in the beach until recently, when we celebrated my sister’s birthday here. Though we didn’t really stayed in the hotel, we got the chance to see and swim in the beach. We also went kayaking!

6 Good Reasons to Finally Get Your Own Credit Card

Maaya Legaspi — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 19:45:00 +0800

Okay, for starters, I really don’t want to get my own credit card because let’s face it, it’s basically creating a debt when you can (or cannot) already pay in cash. We have this mindset that having a credit card means the owner is well off and too rich to have cash on hand. Sometimes we even think that having credit card means no control over your shopping splurge. But all these stuff that I mentioned are all before I was managing my own finances. I have learned that it’s all in your discretion.

Ho Chi Minh City: Mekong Delta

Maaya Legaspi — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 21:48:00 +0800

This is actually my second out of the country travel in my whole life, Hong Kong being the first one. Well, for most of us, usually HK is the first country we visit as this is the most accessible country for us Pinoys. Also, if you follow my blog or read my blog since 2012, you would know that the pictures I had for that travel was lost, and gone with the wind forever. :( For the mean time, let’s talk about our Ho Chi Minh City travel last May 7. :)

Eighteen Bistro in the Heart of Quezon City

Maaya Legaspi — Thu, 06 Oct 2016 15:12:00 +0800

Before Maginhawa and other food scenes booming side by side, Tomas Morato has been the go-to place in Quezon City for good food and night outs. Tomas Morato is known for catering to different taste buds as it offers a wide choices of restaurants. From cafes to bars, to Filipino food to Korean. I guess it’s safe to say that North people just cannot simply miss Tomas Morato.

But don’t get me wrong, even though the food industry is growing bigger, Tomas Morato has maintained its reputation for being one of the place that one can go to if he/she cannot decide where to eat.. you just can’t simply run out of choices here. And to be honest, I want to explore all the food choices the place can offer.

Photo Walk: Quezon Memorial Circle

Maaya Legaspi — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 23:12:00 +0800

In the true photographer fashion, these photos shouldn’t be needing filters anymore but since I’m just a beginner and it’s a shame to call me a photographer, I still had yet need to apply minor edits. And I have still a lot to learn. ~

One afternoon, my father and I went to Quezon Memorial Circle to have a photo walk. So me, who just bought my first camera, is excited. I just remembered Quezon Memorial Circle as something we go to when I was still a kid to ride a bicycle. I can’t remember what’s like inside or if it has been renovated ever since. To my surprise, there are really lots of people. And when I say lots.. it’s really a lot. From students practicing to families bonding and having their mini picnics inside. It’s also quite tiring since we roamed around the whole vicinity.

Weekend Brunch: Rustic Mornings by Isabelo

Maaya Legaspi — Sat, 01 Oct 2016 16:15:00 +0800

What’s a perfect brunch setting for you? Well, if you would ask me, it’s a good vibes morning with the sun not too hot, just the perfect temperature. Waking up to the sound of nature, smelling the pancakes, jazz or country music and well, waffles**. No car or motor sounds.. just the calming breeze of air and a good view to ponder. Sounds dreamy? Too bad, we’re living in the metro.. and unless you have your own garden in a super secured subdivision with no outside noise to distract you, then we’re the same. Perfect brunch setting doesn’t exist in the metro. But! Thank God we have restaurants that serve an all day breakfast that gives you just the same experience, at least for the food. :)

Manila International Book Fair: Book Launching of Vins Santiago

Maaya Legaspi — Sun, 25 Sep 2016 14:01:00 +0800

If you’re a total bookworm you would have probably heard about Manila International Book Fair. And if you’re a super duper mega bookworm, you have probably went to this event to score lots of discounted books. This year, Manila International Book Fair happened at SMX Convention for a week full of events and discounted books that surely all book worms, kids and adults, boys and girls will like. Whether you’re into young adult books, studying law, or probably into DC and Marvel comics, Manila International Book Fair has got you covered with lots of exhibitors and books to choose from.

Canon EOS M3: Because Every Picture Tells a Story

Maaya Legaspi — Sat, 10 Sep 2016 23:58:00 +0800

Hello! I just can’t contain my happiness! Do you know the feeling when you want something so bad then you save for it and eventually bought it?? That’s what I’m feeling right now!!

I. JUST. BOUGHT. MY. FIRST. EVER. CAMERA.

Now, don’t tell I’m overreacting. This is something I’ve wanted ever since. And today, I just bought it with my hard earned money. Blood and sweat (I’m overreacting on this statement but you get the idea. Haha!). Okay, so to tell you the truth.. I’m hesitant to actually buy this because I’m thinking of just saving the money. You know, I feel guilty whenever I splurge on something like this because I’m not used to having and buying this kind of stuff. I always use my iPhone whenever I take photos. My phone’s camera feels like overused already but I had no choice. My iPhone has been my battle gear whenever I travel, I eat, and you know.. basically everything I do, my iPhone’s with me (And I get compliments regarding the photos I take from time to time. Hihi). As we all know, iPhone has one of the most amazing phone cameras. Just a little bit of editing and it’s already good to go. But then again, let’s face it.. an SLR quality is still different. A tool that’s built to be used for taking photos is still different from a tool that is built to text, to call, to multitask, and do a lot of other stuff.

What it's Like to be an Introvert

Maaya Legaspi — Sat, 03 Sep 2016 12:19:00 +0800

Being an introvert person, I sometimes wonder if it would have any difference if I were an extrovert. Sure, it’s a known fact that I’m an introvert and that I am shy. But it is sometimes ironic how I express myself to other people because they say I am very frank with what I want to say. I guess being an introvert and being shy is not synonymous. Will I have many friends if I were an extrovert? I often wonder if it would have affected my blogging if I liked spending more time with people. How does it feel if you have many friends as you have no problems hanging out with different people?

Brick Burger: Where Everything is Awesome

Maaya Legaspi — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 23:17:00 +0800

I’ve been waiting for ages for this lego themed burger joint to open! Ever since I saw their tarpaulin and the picture of their soon to be served burgers, I already wondered on how will they craft that lego looking burger bun.. and if it really looks like that in person. And now that they’re open and currently on soft opening, I didn’t miss the chance to finally see for myself if this burger joint really serves lego looking burgers and if it really tastes good or it’s just all about appearance.

Hong Kong: The Peak Tram, Victoria Peak, and Sky Terraces 428

Maaya Legaspi — Sun, 28 Aug 2016 17:19:00 +0800

Our last day in Hong Kong was luckily, also my mother’s birthday. So in the back of my head, yey.. birthday treat! haha! We don’t have any scheduled activity for the day but we’re thinking of going to Sky Terraces 428 as well as visit Madame Tussauds. We didn’t book our tickets in the Klookapp for this one because we’re still not sure if we will visit these prior to the planning of this trip. Luckily, the caretaker of the inn we’re staying at is selling discounted tickets of different Hong Kong tourist spots. I forgot how much we saved when we bought our tickets from her but what I can remember is it is still cheaper if we buy our tickets from the Klook app.

The Porch at Anonas Extension

Maaya Legaspi — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 18:03:00 +0800

One cannot simply ignore a 12 inch burger together with a giant milkshake on the side. It was a casual Saturday. My high school friends and I planned this little get together weeks prior to our scheduled meet up (we’re part of the labor force now so it’s definitely hard to schedule meet ups). And well, we’re semi grown ups na *(semi lang coz we’re still kids at heart. naks!) so it’s kinda different now. Before, we would only go to SM Manila after class and sometimes we would stroll around Robinsons Manila.. but times have changed. And so is the food scene around metro manila. I suggested we meet around Maginhawa to have casual chitchats. So while I’m on the way to Maginhawa, they told me to go to The Porch *na *since I was running late to our meet up time and it’s dinner time na din.

The Hippest Food Park: The Yard at Xavierville

Maaya Legaspi — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 21:49:00 +0800

Unless you’re living in a cave or has not been online for the past month, you’ve probably already heard about The Yard. The another addition to the booming food parks around and outside the metro. And being me that always wants to try out new food scenes, me and the boyf braved the Sunday rain to try and see what’s the fuss about this food park and how is it different from the others we’ve tried.

Stuff I'm Liking Lately

Maaya Legaspi — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 20:15:00 +0800

Well, well. Making this blog post because I want to share the cool finds I found while strolling around. This I believe are meant to me the first I saw it. LOL!

Eat Well. Travel Often.** Travel journal. Bought it at Kikki.k Times Square Hong Kong. Well, you see, I didn’t bought many stuff for myself when I was Hong Kong but when I laid my eyes on this one, I am having a debate with myself if I should get it or not. And in the end, I just had to get it! It’s very useful and I couldn’t wait to fill its pages with everything related to travel! I wish I had this sooner so I could already use it prior to all my trips on the first half of the year. Seems like I will have to wait for November before I can finally use it. If you are addicted to stationery, and happen to be in Hong Kong, you should definitely visit this store. This is such a heaven of notebooks! Just by visiting their website, I know you will want to buy one for yourself!

Macau: Senado Square & St. Paul Ruins

Maaya Legaspi — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 17:09:00 +0800

Our afternoon activities in Macau consists of going to Senado Square and to see the famous St. Paul Ruins up close. And as I’ve mentioned on my previous blog post about the Venetian, transportation around is Macau is just a breeze. City of Dreams Macau has got it all covered because they have shuttles that go to and fro different tourist destination around Macau. So right after Venetian, we went to City of Dreams to ride the shuttle and alight at Taipa. From there, we walked our way through Senado Square. It was hard to ask directions from the locals but it’s really nice that they try their best to help us. One local even has a translator app in his phone so he can understand where we want to go.

In Photos: Inspire Everyday at Ayala Museum

Maaya Legaspi — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 22:16:00 +0800

Just for one day, Ayala Museum’s entrance is free last July 30. And though me and my father already went here, we didn’t let the opportunity pass by without visiting (because free art entrance are awesome!). Together, with my high school best friend, we braved the sea of people and the long queue just to see and experience this one day full of art. There are many activities for the day and there are a lot performers to see. But seeing some of the art for the second time doesn’t appeal to me that much. We roamed around area for I think 2 hours which is very sulit *knowing this is just a free entrance.

In Photos: Art in Various Form at Pinto Art Museum

Maaya Legaspi — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 17:35:00 +0800

I’ve been wanting to visit this place since last year. Living in Pasig and Antipolo being just a neighboring city, I should have visited this months ago but apparently, I don’t have anyone to come with me (introvert problems are real). The boyf’s busy with responsibilities and well, most of my friends are from Manila and they’re not a fan of long land travels. But one fine Saturday, my workmate Den told me that if our Marinduque trip won’t be pushed through, then we can go to Pinto Art Museum because she also wants to visit this enormous art place too. And btw, she lives in Antipolo but this was her first time to go here too. Never mind that our Marinduque trip wasn’t pushed through, travelling isn’t part of my priorities right now. HAHA. I’m trying to save for something big. And I’m trying to discover more of Manila’s hidden gems and cafes on that matter. Food is love.

The Inconvenience of Having a Poor Eyesight

Maaya Legaspi — Sun, 17 Jul 2016 22:07:00 +0800

Growing up as someone with poor eyesight, it was really hard to sometimes do things because we’re bound to wear eyeglasses all time. But I have a confession to make, when I was younger and my vision was still 20-20, I wished that my eyes will become blurry so I can wear eyeglasses. But boy, if I had known back then how hard it is, I wouldn’t wish for this. I forgot the fact that I can still wear eyeglasses without me having to suffer for poor eyesight.

Lilac Eats: Singlish Cafe

Maaya Legaspi — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 22:45:00 +0800

This is one of the best around Lilac. Been wanting to try this resto for ages now and on my first time, I know this will be one of my favorites. With its generous serving and glorious food, I bet everyone would love this place. It’s actually one of the reasons why I think this place is famous around Marikina and its neighboring cities. Lliac St. is the Maginhawa of Marikina, and with the food industry booming in every corner, this resto still manages to be one of the best. And I believe it will remain that way for a long time.

Manila Eats: Boy Shawarma

Maaya Legaspi — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 18:26:00 +0800

Okay, so for starters, I’m not a fan of shawarma. But my boyfriend and his friends are on the search for the best and authentic shawarma in town. This isn’t your typical shawarma stand on LRT/MRT stations. What they or should I say ‘we’ (because I’m part of the searching team already. LOL), look for are the authentic ones. Those are carefully made from fresh produce and stays true to the real taste. There are those that claim they are the best shawarma in town, but there are those that claimed their shawarma isn’t the typical ones but is definitely authentic. One of those is Boy Shawarma.

Hong Kong: Mickey and Friends at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort

Maaya Legaspi — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 19:23:00 +0800

Disneyland is one of Hong Kong’s most famous attractions. And you haven’t been to Hong Kong if you didn’t go to Disneyland! For kids and kids at heart like me, this is definitely a happy place especially if you’re a Disney fanatic. I won’t deny though, my first time here is more magical compared to my second visit. It feels like I was a kid again. I remember my first time, the parade was sooo cool, and the fireworks was super magical! If I remember it correctly, the song back then was A Whole New World and I was holding back my tears while watching the majestic fireworks show. (no judging please! Haha)

Snacks & Ladders: Bonding over Board Games and Good Food

Maaya Legaspi — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 00:15:00 +0800

I’ve been dying to try a game board cafe ever since it became a hit in the metro. I love playing one and it used to be part of my childhood. Well, not the fancy ones. Just the Monopoly, Snakes and Ladders, and Millionaire’s type of game. I never knew there are loooooots of it. And when I say lots, I mean actually a loooot. One of my favorite board game ever is Monopoly (like duh, this is the only I used to play always). I once was able to play Clue which by the way is very nice and what was made me inclined into playing board games and look for other “fancy” ones. It also made me thought of buying one already but I couldn’t find a seller so I just shrug the idea off.

Macau: The Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian

Maaya Legaspi — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 18:13:00 +0800

Ever heard of Venice Piazza? I’m sure you’ve heard it somewhere, or if not, you’ve already took a selfie in the infamous “bridge”. I’m not actually fascinated with Venice Piazza in Mckinley but rather I’m just overwhelmed on how many visitors it has everyday. Working in Mckinley for quite some time now, I would notice the number of people coming in and out of the grand canal. And so when we had a day trip in Macau, I didn’t miss the chance to see the Macau counterpart of this famous “pasyalan*” spot in Taguig.

Zambales: Capones Island and Talisayen Cove

Maaya Legaspi — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 18:33:00 +0800

This is probably my last beach getaway before summer officially ends. And it may take a while before I probably go to another beachscapade because it’s already raining from time to time. The next beach getaway that’s planned on my list is still months from now. I would definitely be taking the next coming months to rest for awhile (because every weekend is an adventure this past few months), and try to focus on other stuff.

How I Manage to Save and Travel at the Same Time

Maaya Legaspi — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 15:02:00 +0800

I’ve heard it. Most people would stereotype people who travel often as rich, maraming pera, walang ipon, walang responsibilidad,* and the like. But why is that? I would even hear them say, “Kung san san nakakapunta yun no? Daming pera.” Bet they don’t even know what they’re saying. I’m not sure if I’m the right person to say this because I’m not the type who already has traveled the world. I’m not even close to 1/8 of the places I’ve had yet to visit. But hey, what’s certain is the first half of 2016, I’ve managed to travel at least twice every month. Most of it domestic but to travel is to travel. Whether by land or by air. I’m making this post not just to tell people that, “HEY! You can travel too!”, but also to share how I manage to travel that often during the first half of the year. I’m pretty sure everyone I know wants to travel. Because what else can we do in this world and what else can we accomplish in our lives if we’re just bound to live it in one place? Some wants to travel but has strict parents.. hmm.. this one, I don’t know the answer because fortunately I have awesome parents who lets me travel. But for most of the people I know, main factor is money.

Hong Kong: The Scenic View and Lantau Island

Maaya Legaspi — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 00:39:00 +0800

It was such an awesome vacation! It was actually my second time in Hong Kong but this is the first time I’ve seen most of its attractions. Though of course, first times will always be the best. The last time I went there, I was with my father and to be honest, the streets somehow changed a little bit.

Also, even though I already went there last 2012, all the pictures (yes all of it) were gone with the wind, and so I don’t have any memorabilia with me except for an edited cover photo I had on my personal facebook page taken at HK Disneyland. It was lost together with all the files on my laptop before.

Challenge Accepted: The 81 Provinces of the Philippines

Maaya Legaspi — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 10:56:00 +0800

If you frequently visit my blog, then you would know that most of my blog post since I started blogging again this year is about my travel and adventures. Yes, I love to travel.. who doesn’t?!!

But the thing is, this blog isn’t just for travel. This is my personal comfort zone, my go to spot for everything I want to document. I’m not saying that I’m starting to become a lazy ass blogger again but this is a reminder that I should start blogging more stuff aside from my travel diaries.

Bicol: Cagsawa and my first time to try ATV

Maaya Legaspi — Sat, 28 May 2016 18:48:00 +0800

Our last day was more focused on touring the Bicol center and it was a dream come true for me to see the Mayon Volcano up close. Lol! But yeah.. Mayon Volcano was finally ticked off on my bucket list.

The panoramic view at Lignon Hill

Authentic Bicol Express! Yummers!*

Our first stop was in Lignon Hill to see the panoramic view of Mayon Volcano then we went straight to Cagsawa Ruins to see the old ruins of Cagsawa Church. Just a little background, Cagsawa Church was built in 1733 and was destroyed when the eruption of Mayon Volcano on February 1814 took place. With the eruption happening, it buried the town and has killed an estimated number of 1200 people. It has been the most strongest eruption of the volcano recorded in history. And that is also why this place is famous. Because it has a big impact on the history of Albay. And well, who couldn’t resist that perfect cone btw?

Northern Mindanao: Bukidnon Dahilayan Adventure Park

Maaya Legaspi — Thu, 26 May 2016 12:10:00 +0800

Our last stop before we go back in Manila is Dahilayan Adventure Park in Bukidnon. Well, for starters, it looks like a fusion of Sandbox and Tree Top Adventure Baguio. Our package includes an all zipline ride where it includes their 840m (Asia’s first longest dual zipline), 320m, and 150m ziplines.

The place is very nature -ish and I would definitely want to try all of their attractions however, we are limited in time. So we just tried their ziplines and had too many selfies. Lol.

Overnight in Baler

Maaya Legaspi — Tue, 24 May 2016 17:08:00 +0800

One of my must do’s before I die is to try surfing. It looks cool and fun on tv but I also felt like it is hard to learn in real life. I am just amazed on how surfers can ride and be in sync with the waves.

Lucky me, my father used to go to Baler a lot of times during the campaign period. He already know the places, tourist attractions, and everything you need to know when travelling to Baler by heart.

The Highlights of our Ilocos Tour

Maaya Legaspi — Thu, 12 May 2016 12:54:00 +0800

This was my second time in Ilocos and I must admit, my first was much better. Me and my family are just part of the joiners and we’re on a 50 seating capacity bus. We departed Manila at around 9PM so we could arrive at 6AM in Ilocos. To be honest I’m not really impressed anymore. I was just being irritated by how hot the weather is. We’ve visited a lot of tourist destinations and attractions but it felt like some destinations are just there for the sake of quantity. It also felt like we’re always in a hurry to go to the next destination which is one of the cons if you’re in a guided tour.

Underrated Beauty of Sorsogon Philippines

Maaya Legaspi — Tue, 10 May 2016 17:42:00 +0800

This is one of the best adventures I had so far for 2016. Do you ever just think and smile because you’re having a good time? Yup! This trip is so memorable not just because of the activities we had but because it’s a once in a blue moon opportunity for me and my boyfriend to travel together. I’m starting to get attached with beaches because of how calming it is. I’m so glad I’m living in a tropical country.

Packing Tips & Tricks for Travel

Maaya Legaspi — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 11:20:00 +0800

If you’ve been a reader of my blog or if you check it from time to time, you would know that most of my blog entries are about my previous travels. It is because one of the purpose of this blog is to document my life journey while giving details or information to my readers (if I have any btw. lol) as well. But given that my post most of the time is about travel, did you know just how much planning it occurred before it actually came to life? I’ve always been a budget traveler. Most of the times, I don’t even consider myself a traveler because there are other people out there who has a vast knowledge about travelling and has more experience. But hey, isn’t travelling about experience? :)

Northern Mindanao: Cagayan de Oro White Water Rafting

Maaya Legaspi — Sat, 16 Apr 2016 19:00:00 +0800

Another amazing experience! I’m not actually familiar with rafting, all I know is that it’s for adrenaline junkies. And I’m very glad I was able to experience it! Not that I’m an adrenaline junkie, but for people like me who wants to experience new things.. this was definitely fun and exciting!

We had to wake up early on our last day in CDO because our call time was 8AM. We were picked up by a large jeepney where the rafting boats are placed on top. Given that it would be a long day because after lunch we will also go to Bukidnon for our last tour, we need to act fast and be on time. But of course, we were a bit delayed with our itinerary because we had to wait for other people.

Mystery Manila: Buried Bodies

Maaya Legaspi — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 19:52:00 +0800

If you ever been a person on who’s on the look out for something new in the metro, then you might have heard about Mystery Manila and Breakout. If not, then just a simple intro.. Mystery Manila and Breakout are offering interactive puzzle/mystery rooms where you have to solve and find clues so you would be able to go out from the room. If you’re a detective by heart, then this is you! Hehehe. :) I’ve been hearing good reviews about this and I also wanted to try this even before. So when my friends kidnapped me from McKinley, we went straight to Mystery Manila to try it out.

In Photos: Tierra de Lago - The Intersection of the Mountain and Lake Breeze

Maaya Legaspi — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 00:29:00 +0800

One fine Saturday, I was blessed enough to be part of the people that will have an ocular visit at Tierra de Lago. It was a great and amazing opportunity to meet some fellow bloggers and photographers alongside with the founder of SJCAM Users Philippines group, sir Troy. It was also a very nice and inspiring experience to meet the owner of Tierra de Lago wherein all his vision and ideas are sooooo cool and so on point! It’s like he has planned this resort his whole life because his vision is very firm and well documented. Also, this trip was a major milestone in my blogging side as this is my first time to meet other bloggers. Not really a big event but you see, opportunities like this are rare, at least for me.

Thailand 2015: Kingdom of Ayutthaya

Maaya Legaspi — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 20:18:00 +0800

Our last stop in Thailand before we went back to Bangkok is the Kingdom of Ayutthaya. Actually, I never heard of Ayutthaya before so I really don’t know what to expect with this city. I don’t know if it’s like Bangkok or Chiang Mai, or is it a small rural area? Ayutthaya is 80 km above Bangkok and is only 3 train stations apart, if I remember it correctly.

9 Quick Tips on Planning for Summer Vacation: Employee Edition

Maaya Legaspi — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 11:49:00 +0800

We’re both on the same page if you can’t plan your summer well because you think you will run off of vacation leave balances or well, you just can’t because you have a lot of stuff to do at work. Loosen up a little, girl! Summer is here and you should enjoy it while it lasts! We all know that Philippine weather is always hot but there’s this thing about summer that makes it good in the mood. Just like how Christmas season gives me extra chills and good vibes. After all, who doesn’t like vacations and traveling with good company, right?

San Mateo Hot and Cold Spring Resort, Irosin Sorsogon

Maaya Legaspi — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 01:30:00 +0800

Sorsogon was never really one of the places I wanted to visit. Maybe because I don’t know what this province offers. But being my adventurous self, I thought that maybe this is a good time to visit this place. Exploring a place that’s not so main stream is definitely fun. Our original plan was to tour around the Bicol area for Holy week. But a week before, the tour agency texted us that it wasn’t pushed through because there are no enough joiners for that particular tour. At first, I was quite disappointed because I was already looking forward to see the buntandings *in Donsol. Whale shark encounters are very exciting! Oh well. Maybe next time. And because of that, they offered a refund or asked us if we wanted to join other tours. Choices are Cagayan and Sorsogon. And we chose Sorsogon. We do not have enough time to look for other Bicol tours that offer whale shark encounters in Donsol due to our busy sched and because upon researching before, there are no other travel agency that offers such activity. The main deciding factor in choosing Sorsogon was the fact that we wanted to look for a lobster as Sorsogon is very abundant in sea foods. Haha! And because part of the itinerary was a stop over at Cagsawa Ruins. I really wanted to see Mayon up close.

Northern Mindanao: Camiguin White Island

Maaya Legaspi — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 16:41:00 +0800

I realized that being a Filipino, I am so blessed to be able to live in a country where beaches are a common sight. Not that I get to see it everyday but an hour or 2 can already get you to an amazing beach get away. During our trip to Camiguin, I was lucky enough to witness another amazing creation. This isn’t your typical beach or commercialized tourist spot. I am proud to say that even though this is a must see destination in Camiguin, it has preserved its beauty without being contaminated by vendors/businessmen.

Thailand 2015: Chiang Mai

Maaya Legaspi — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 17:51:00 +0800

Chiang Mai is one of the must visit place in Thailand aside from Bangkok and Phuket. I haven’t been to Phuket but I think it’s a great place to unwind too. After visiting Bangkok and Mae Sot during the first 3 days of my tour in Thailand, I can already say that it is centered in Buddhism. With all that temples and Buddha scattered around the place, it’s not hard to define Thailand as something that has high regards and respect with Buddhism. After visiting the Grand Palace in Bangkok, I was also able to have a glimpse of Thailand’s history pertaining to its kings and relationship with Burma.

Throwback Post: Tagaytay Staycation at Discovery Country Suites

Maaya Legaspi — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 02:16:00 +0800

I’m not really a south person. I don’t even know which cities consists south, but well.. let’s not talk about Geography. I felt very lucky to stay in a very country yet classy suite type hotel in Tagaytay. Actually this wasn’t part of the plan, my college close friend Nadine and I really planned to go to SG this year, however, we can’t seem to find a package that will suit our budget well. We went to Travel Expo this year held at SMX and searched for the most budget friendly package we could find but it seems that it wasn’t for us. Most of the packages that were offered in the expo didn’t have an airfare yet, and as we all know, airfares aren’t cheap! We went through all the booths but found nothing so we decided to try to book our airfare in AirAsia. The line was very long and we’re kind of hungry already. After waiting, we don’t know how we got unlucky but they said they don’t have a direct flight to Singapore like WHUUUUT?! We wanted to try Cebu Pacific but the line was too long (like double the queue in AirAsia), and we’re already hungry.. so yeah, we stopped.

My Thoughts on Mercato Centrale BGC

Maaya Legaspi — Sat, 19 Mar 2016 19:34:00 +0800

With the food industry getting bigger and bigger, there sure are many hungry stomachs waiting to discover new food choices. This type of food scene isn’t new in the metro though. We’ve heard about Banchetto, BAGA Manila, and yes Mercato Centrale.

Being a mid shift employee, I decided to try and know what’s the fuss about this Mercato Centrale in BGC. For food lovers in BGC, Mercato Centrale is in 25th street corner 7th avenue every Fridays and Saturdays, from 6PM to 3AM. So yes, we headed to this weekend food crawl to satisfy our hungry stomachs. Before you judge me, please be informed that these are all just my opinion and that food tasting is a subjective matter. All opinions here are from what I observed and tasted.

Mt. Gola and Mt. Manalmon Twin Day Hike

Maaya Legaspi — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 12:44:00 +0800

Hiking and climbing mountains has now become a popular activity not only for full pledged mountaineers but also for those who are trying explore the world one mountain at a time. And me? I belong to those who wants to explore. I’m no mountaineer. HAHA. And I guess it’s a great thing that we can see the world in a whole new perspective every time we climb new mountains.

Northern Mindanao: Camiguin Countryside Tour

Maaya Legaspi — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 00:42:00 +0800

Hello Mindanao! Wow.. this is my first time in Mindanao and it felt like I left Philippines in a few days. Lol. I should remind myself that Philippines isn’t only Metro Manila. It was a really fun weekend. So many firsts on this trip. Well, for starters, my first time in Mindanao, first time to travel via plane with my college friends, and many more. As I go along narrating our trip, I might mention some new firsts for me. :)

88 Hotspring Resort: Stress Free Weekend

Maaya Legaspi — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 00:36:00 +0800

This isn’t actually my first time in this resort. We already went here sometime before. And what makes us come back? Or in this case my mother because she is always a fan of water spas and hot springs? I think it’s the relaxing ambiance.

If you’re looking for something new in Laguna and is getting tired of the usual swimming pools or resort, then head on to this resort!

Thailand 2015: Mae Sot

Maaya Legaspi — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 10:55:00 +0800

Mae Sot is a very interesting place in Thailand as it shares a border with Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) and the people staying there are culturally diverse. Why? Because Mae Sot found at the province of Tak doesn’t only have Thai nationals. Since it’s sharing a border with Myanmar, there are an unknown number of refugees from Myanmar. There are Burmese, Karen, Thai, and NGOs from different parts of the world.

20th Hot Air Balloon Fiesta: A Weekend of Everything that Flies

Maaya Legaspi — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 08:48:00 +0800

This is actually my first time to go into a hot air balloon fiesta. And probably my last time too. So.. I was with friends. We drove all the way from Manila to Clark to witness this hot air balloon thingy. For introductions, I thought this fiesta was just all about hot air balloon until I read the entire program flow. They also features different objects that fly. They have skydiving, paragliding, they even have aircraft radio control aerobatics show (whatever this is).

The Round Table Kapitolyo Review

Maaya Legaspi — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 00:08:00 +0800

The Round table isn’t your typical buffet menu that overwhelms you with the number of dishes served. In here, it is quality over quantity. According to their Facebook page info “The Round Table is an innovative and contemporary restaurant that serves both latest international trends and their own versions of our favorite traditional Filipino dishes.”

I’ve eaten here twice and both my experience are amazing. FYI, The Round Table buffet specializes in having a different theme of menu for every night of the week. If I’m not mistaken and if my infos are still updated, they serve whole day breakfast during Mondays, Italian every Tuesdays, Japanese every Wednesday (Mongolian before), Filipino every Thursday, and roast carving during Fridays. As for weekends, it varies every week. The first time I went, they had a Street food theme where they serve Filipino street foods such as Pares, fishball, kikiam, squidballs, kwek kwek, pansit, and other food I can’t remember already.

Mt. Pamitinan Climb

Maaya Legaspi — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 13:43:00 +0800

This was another fun yet challenging hike my workmates planned. If you read my blog post about Mt. Binicayan, that climb is supposed to be a twin day hike but unfortunately, due to exhaustion after the first mountain, we weren’t able to climb the second one. And that second mountain we weren’t able to climb was Mt. Pamitinan. And that’s why we decided to go back and finish what we weren’t able to finish the last time.

Why You Should Try Four Seasons Hotpot City

Maaya Legaspi — Sat, 23 Jan 2016 00:09:00 +0800

As a hotpot fan, I couldn’t contain myself when I found out about this buffet restaurant. I didn’t know this hotpot heaven exists until their Manhattan Parkview branch opened late last year. And when I found out about it, I wanted to try it right away! But you know, I’m on a diet (screw diets!) so I waited for the right moment to try it.

And after some months, finally! I was able to taste and try this hotpot heaven. So yesterday was Boyfie’s birthday and as we all know.. most of the buffet restos around metro manila offer birthday promos such as free birthday feast for the celebrant as long as there’s one paying adult. And this hotpot buffet is one of those. The celebrant can eat free on the day of their birthday itself given that there is one full paying adult. Otherwise, the celebrant can eat for free during his/her birthday month provided that there are four full paying adult. Just don’t forget to bring a valid ID with your birthday in it for validation purposes.

Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City Diary Part 3

Maaya Legaspi — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 15:59:00 +0800

I know this is already a super late blog post. You can even dub this as a throwback Vietnam blog post. Lol. But it’s better to be late than never, right? And besides I’m being a responsible blogger now. Just look at my previous post. I’m currently trying to work on back logs one by one so please bear with me. :)

Alright. Our third day in HCMC consist of a tour to Cao Dai temple and a half day tour to Cu Chi tunnels. It was a veeeeery long day and it was scorching hot too.

Thailand 2015: Bangkok

Maaya Legaspi — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 23:09:00 +0800

Finally!! I can now tick off Thailand from my bucket list. But I am looking forward to go back whenever I can as I believe there’s still so much to see. I am also very proud to say that this is my first backpacking experience. Uhuh! It was awesome but kinda hard. I was travelling with my father and I am lucky enough because he’s quite familiar with the places in Thailand as he used to be a volunteer in Mae Sot. That’s the time I was living alone for almost a year. And I’m happy I get to see the place where lived and volunteered. But that’s for another post. We’re able to go to 4 different places in Thailand: Bangkok, Mae Sot, Chiang Mai, and Ayutthaya. For this blog post, I’ll be focusing on Bangkok first.

Mt. Binicayan & Wawa Dam

Maaya Legaspi — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 13:30:00 +0800

It was just the start of the year but I already have one new adventure. How amazing is that? Yes, I like to go on different travels and adventures but didn’t expect it to be this early. Again, thanks to my officemates for always bringing something to look forward to. This is actually my first hike (not counting the tree planting we had during my NSTP days) and I didn’t expected this to be this fun! And it was a little bit hard for first timers like me. Maybe if I wasn’t going to the gym regularly, I wouldn’t survived this. Or maybe I’ll survive but with injuries. Lol hashtag buwis buhay!*

A Day in Baguio

Maaya Legaspi — Sun, 10 Jan 2016 13:40:00 +0800

Who says you can’t go to Baguio without booking an accommodation? Well, for first timers, I don’t think you can see the beauty of Baguio in just a day so it’s recommended to stay there for 3 days. But for people like me who’ve been to Baguio numerous times and has seen the tourist spots many times, a 3 day vacation is not needed anymore. Baguio has evolved ever since. It’s not only the Baguio for family vacations and for summer getaways anymore. It has become a go to spot for barkadas, for couples, and even for the heartbroken people.

Looking Back: The Highlights of my 2015

Maaya Legaspi — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 15:43:00 +0800

2015 has been one of my best years yet. Every year is a roller coaster ride of emotions but 2015 was different. Although it wasn’t perfect (because there’s no such thing as perfect year), it has given so much blessings that even myself doesn’t know what did I do to deserve all those blessings. It was a hell of a year for me. From travelling, to meeting new people, to eating.. a lot! I was also able to finally abide by my new year’s resolution to lose weight and eat healthy.

Hello there new blog!

Maaya Legaspi — Mon, 04 Jan 2016 14:28:00 +0800

As the new year unfold, I also made a new blog for a fresh start of blogging more. And when I say more, it is MORE. I have made a lot of blogs which some are just for reblogging (my tumblr days), some are for day to day rants, some are just.. well.. I don’t know. Of all these blogs, there’s only one blog that’s been like a real and fully functional blog to me but unfortunately, I’ve been a sore blogger and didn’t update it often in the past days. So as part of my new year’s resolution.. I will try to blog again. This time more serious, and more often. But the subject remains the same and the purpose is still the same. To write my experiences for the purpose of documenting it.