If you’ve been thinking about hiking but keep telling yourself, “Baka hindi ko kaya,” this is your sign to start. Your first mountain doesn’t need to be extreme. It doesn’t have to be a multi-day expedition with tents, heavy packs, and survival-mode energy either. In fact, the best way to fall in love with hiking in the Philippines is to begin with a minor climb—the kind of trail that challenges you just enough, gives you a beautiful summit … [Read more...]
Why Mt. Daraitan is the Ultimate Wake-Up Call for New Hikers
In the Philippine mountaineering community, there is a notorious concept known as the budol climb. It usually starts with a friend messaging you: "Let's hike this weekend! It’s just a minor climb, rated 4/9. We’ll be down by lunch." For thousands of unsuspecting beginners, that budol happens at Mt. Daraitan. Sitting on the windward edge of the Sierra Madre range in Tanay, Rizal, Mt. Daraitan has built a reputation that heavily contradicts its … [Read more...]
Aaron Linsdau, American Polar Explorer
Aaron Linsdau is an American polar explorer. He is best known for completing a solo expedition from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole - the second American to complete the journey. His other expeditions include a winter trek across the Greenland Tundra and three ski expeditions across Yellowstone National Park. He also crossed the Greenland Ice Cap in 2023, leading an unsupported and unsupplied team expedition. In addition, he has climbed Denali … [Read more...]
Ultimate Guide to Mt. Tapulao 2026 | 36KM Challenge
There is a specific sound that haunts every hiker who has set foot in Palauig, Zambales. It isn’t the howling wind of the Cordilleras or the rushing water of a river trek. It is the rhythmic, hollow crunch-clack-crunch of hiking boots striking loose stones. For 18 kilometers going up and 18 kilometers coming down, this sound is your soundtrack. Welcome to Mt. Tapulao, the "High Peak" of the Zambales Mountain Range. Standing at 2,037 meters … [Read more...]
Lisa Steinmann, Minnesota Writer and Journalist on Nordic Sauna Culture
Lisa Steinmann is a textile artist, educator, writer, and student of fiber arts. She authors Bad Sauna/Good Stories, a blog exploring sauna as sanctuary and daily practice. She is developing a book examining how textiles have been integral to sauna throughout history -- as functional, sensual and creatively considered materials. Sauna bathing and textile-making are intertwined practices rooted in the natural environment and ancestral ways of … [Read more...]
5 Must-Try Water Experiences In Sunshine Coast, Queensland
If you’re visiting the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, either as an interstate or overseas traveller, one thing becomes clear very quickly: life here revolves around the water. Besides the picture-perfect beaches and laid-back coastal towns, the Sunshine Coast water activities give you immersive experiences of its natural bounty. Winding rivers, rare Everglades systems, sunny coasts – you name, the Sunshine Coast has it! If you’re planning your … [Read more...]
A Cultural Odyssey: Where Ancient Greece Meets Modern Wonder
There are few places on earth where the past feels so alive that you can almost touch it. Greece is one of them. From the sun-bleached marble columns of the Parthenon to the laughter echoing through seaside tavernas, every corner of this country carries a heartbeat that blends ancient myth with modern vitality. My journey through Greece was not just a trip—it was a cultural odyssey where history, art, and human connection came together in ways … [Read more...]
The Mountain Province
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...]
Vilnius Three-Day Light Festival Returns
Vilnius, Lithuania – January 2026 – The Vilnius Light Festival returns January 23-25, 2026, transforming Lithuania's capital into an open-air gallery of contemporary light installations across the UNESCO-listed Old Town. Now in its eighth year, the three-day event marks Vilnius' 703rd birthday and features an evening route with 24 illuminated artworks from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. The festival, which happens during the darkest time of the year, … [Read more...]
Five Wine Regions That Changed How I See the World
Wine has a way of turning geography into memory. Not just places on a map, but moments burned into your senses—the smell of hot stone, the scrape of gravel underfoot, the way a long lunch quietly becomes dinner. Over the past 25 years, including the formative years spent training to pass the Master Sommelier exam, these experiences have shaped how I understand wine and the world around it. These are the places I return to in my memory—and the … [Read more...]
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