The morning fog held on to the mountainsides like a silk veil as our vehicle navigated the winding roads of the Cordillera Central range. I had arrived in Mountain Province, Philippines, just as the first light of dawn broke over the eastern peaks. This remote highland region, nestled in the northern part of Luzon Island, had long been on my list of destinations. As we ascended higher into the mountains, the promise of ancient traditions and … [Read more...]
11 Safety Tips for Solo Female Travelers in Korea
Is Korea safe for a solo female traveler? For the most part, yes! Korea is a generally a great destination for female travelers, until you want some authentic Korean food or KBBQ. Some restaurants might not accommodate solo diners. But it's not because of your nationality. Their minimum order usually starts at a two-person portion, so they would refuse to serve me as well. Back to safety, it's always better to be safe than … [Read more...]
Alphabet People, ‘Ya Ice,’ and Wanton Penetration: A Bangkok Story as Old as Time
Originally published via Armageddon Safari: Sodom and Gomorrah had nothing on modern Bangkok. Via Bangkok Post (emphasis added): “Forty-four men, many wearing only underwear and testing positive for illicit substances, were arrested during a raid on an illegal drug party early Saturday in Bangkok’s Wang Thonglang district. The operation, led by the Metropolitan Police Bureau, took place around 1.30am at a three-storey building on Soi … [Read more...]
The Low-Trust Society and Hard-Earned Expat Insights
Originally published via Armageddon Safari: I recently stumbled upon a true gem of an X post from @kunley_drukpa — not necessarily a ringing endorsement of expat life in India, but an expert treatise on the “low trust society” that rings all too true for anyone with experience in the Third World. A small excerpt: “A few years ago now I spent some time in India. One of the more lasting impressions I have from that period was the degree to … [Read more...]
An Amazing Experience of Riding Above 18,000 Feet in the Himalayas
Last Month in July, I did something I had been dreaming about for many years - I was riding over 18000 feet above sea level where the cool mountain air greeted me. It was an absolute adventure with Brahman Tour Motorbike Tour in Himalayas, India covering many high-altitude motorable passes. This place is a land of stark beauty with its rugged mountains, gorgeous lakes and endless open skies. I knew it would be amazing, but it came from the actual … [Read more...]
The Backseat Butcher of Bangkok: Busted!
Originally published via Armageddon Safari: Sometimes stereotypes hold true. Case in point: Asian men do indeed, as a rule of thumb, as anyone who has watched Japanese pornography may have noticed, tend to have smaller-than-average packages compared to those of the European persuasion and definitely pitted against the Africans. (I discuss issues related to the phallus in the context of living in East Asia as an expat extensively in my … [Read more...]
On the Third World’s Insatiable Appetite For Hollow Consumerism
Originally published via Armageddon Safari: "Have you beauty, that leads the heart from things fashioned of wood and stone to the holy mountain? Tell me, have you these in your houses? Or have you only comfort, and the lust for comfort, that stealthy thing that enters the house a guest, and becomes a host, and then a master?" -Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet Of all the cancerous cultural exports America has inflicted upon the unsuspecting innocents … [Read more...]
Olongapo: Where Navy History Meets Filipino Soul
The first thing that strikes you about Olongapo City isn't the visual – it's the energy. As our jeepney rumbles down Magsaysay Drive, the main artery of this bustling port city about 80 kilometers northwest of Manila, the vibrant pulse of street life emerges against a backdrop of mountains and sea. Once home to the largest U.S. naval base outside American soil, Olongapo has transformed itself from a military outpost into a dynamic Filipino city … [Read more...]
Chasing Sunsets in Zambales
The minibus wound its way along the National Highway, leaving Manila's concrete jungle behind as the landscape gradually transformed into a tapestry of green fields and distant mountains. I was headed to Zambales, a province on the western coast of Luzon that had long captured my imagination with promises of pristine beaches and hidden coves. After four hours of travel, the familiar salt-tinged breeze of the West Philippine Sea welcomed me to … [Read more...]
Ekas, Lombok: Life in the Slow Lane
There are places in the world that demand nothing of you but your presence. No sightseeing checklists. No need to rush. Just space to slow down, breathe deeply, and let life roll by at the pace of a coconut drifting on the tide. Ekas, a tiny surf village tucked away on the east coast of Lombok, Indonesia, is one of those rare places. I stumbled into Ekas after a week in the chaos of Kuta’s surf scene, craving quiet. What I found was a village … [Read more...]
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