Mt. Mariglem in Cabangan, Zambales is a 573 MASL minor peak famous for its "Ridge-to-River" trail. While often labeled "beginner-friendly" due to its short 2–3 hour ascent, the open trail exposes hikers to extreme heat (Heat Index >40°C), making it a High-Intensity Short-Duration (HISD) challenge. The reward is a refreshing descent into the emerald waters of the Maligha and Agbobotilya Rivers. If I had to describe Mt. Mariglem in one … [Read more...]
London: Battersea Power Station, the iconic building immortalized by Pink Floyd became a luxury shopping destination
Battersea Power Station, the iconic brick building with four white chimneys located on the south bank of the River Thames in southwest London, stood abandoned for nearly four decades. Today, however, it has fully reemerged as one of the capital’s most ambitious redevelopment projects, welcoming millions of visitors each year as a major retail and leisure destination, and a popular stop on many food tour London itineraries. Following a 9 … [Read more...]
What to Do During Quiet Evenings in a New City
Not all evenings in foreign countries have to be a big night out. The most gratifying travel experiences occur during the less busy times, as the day-trippers have retired to their houses, and the metropolis begins to seem more like your place. Are you free in the evening at a new location? Here is how you can spend your time. Take a Slow Evening Walk Something about the fact that you are just wandering through a new city at night and have no … [Read more...]
Mt. Makiling Hiking Guide 2026: The New Rules, Limatiks, and the “Paved Agony”
Mount Makiling is an ASEAN Heritage Park rising to 1,090 MASL in the CALABARZON region. Managed exclusively by the UPLB Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems (MCME), the standard 2026 hike requires a mandatory guide (PHP 1,200), strictly enforced cut-off times, and a physical ID for entry. The Mariang Makiling Trail (MMT) is a 4/9 Difficulty minor climb, taking 5-7 hours to complete. Rising like a sleeping giant over the Southern Tagalog … [Read more...]
Trail-Proofing Your Best Friend: The Realities of Rugged, Off-Grid Adventure with a Dog
The idea of exploring remote trails with your dog sounds like the perfect adventure. Fresh mountain air, winding forest paths, and the quiet of landscapes far from crowded cities create an experience that many travelers dream about. But when you bring a dog along for these off grid journeys, preparation becomes essential, and many hikers now rely on tools like gps collars for dogs to keep track of their four legged companions when trails … [Read more...]
Thomas J. Elpel, Author, Builder, Wilderness Educator and Conservationist
Thomas J. Elpel is a wilderness educator, author, and founder of Green University in Montana. He completed a five-month, self-supported expedition down the Missouri River. His work focuses on plant identification, survival skills, and sustainable living, blending hands-on experience with ecological awareness. Q. What inspired you to start learning and teaching wilderness survival skills? My grandmother mentored me in learning edible and … [Read more...]
Chinese Fashion: As Obscene and Perplexing as Ever
Originally published via Armageddon Safari: “Horrendous” also applies here, but I didn’t want to oversaturate the headline with adjectives. (Tucker Carlson’s “more verbs, less adjectives” mantra is the best writing advice perhaps ever dispensed.) Often, in East and Southeast Asia, picking out the Chinese based on purely physical features is more of an art than a science. Related: My Gold-Standard Expat Memoir: Back and Better Than … [Read more...]
Which business class seats are the best?
Airlines across the globe have been improving their business class experience. Whilst this covers everything, from check-in to lounges, and then the planes themselves, the biggest improvement can be found in the seats themselves. What used to be a bigger, more plush economy seat is now much closer to what you’d expect (and get) in First Class. Seats have become suites, complete with walls, and drinks cabinets, large TVs and massage … [Read more...]
Bacolod: The City of Smiles
At first glance, Bacolod might seem like just another bustling Philippine city, but beneath its modern veneer lies a sweet soul that earned it the moniker "City of Smiles." As our plane descended over sugarcane fields stretching to the horizon, I began to understand why this capital of Negros Occidental province has become a vital stop on the Filipino food trail. The city's connection to sugar runs deep – quite literally. For generations, vast … [Read more...]
Mississippi Delta Culture and African American History
CLARKSDALE, MISSISSIPPI–MARCH 2026–For more than 150 years, Coahoma County has been home to vibrant Black communities that have been central to the development of the Delta. They played key roles in the farms that were the engine for region’s the economy, in transforming the music that created Clarksdale’s lore as “ground zero” for the Blues and in the Civil Rights Movement that changed America. Clarksdale, Mississippi, is in Coahoma County, … [Read more...]