It's nice to be part of the generation that wants to explore every inch of the world. Airfares are cheaper, travel guides are more extensive. We are in a travel revolution after all, as they say. This generation's so into the wanderlust lifestyle and for whatever reason we may have, too -- may it be soul-searching, meeting new friends or plainly just to have something breathtaking to Instagram. It's a generation that inspires friends, and friends of friends to move.

But why travel alone when you can do it with people you already know? Below, I have listed seven reasons why you should never ever travel solo.

1. It could be scary and unsafe. 

Going on your own means you have no one checking on you to see if you have been abducted like what happens during your Taken nightmare. The worse part is you don't have Liam Neeson as your dad, who will give your abductors this speech. 

Kota Kinabalu Fishermen's Port. Every local I ran into before going here said "Be careful! There are many thieves there!"

Traveling alone will require a great deal of courage and willpower. You need to always be doubtful of too-good-to-be true moments. You need to be alert at all times. Do you really need to prove to yourself that you can do it on your own?

2.  No one to look after your things. 

Whether you need to pee, order at a fast food restaurant, or try to look for the nearest money changer, you will need to lug your bag/s all around with you. There's no one else you could tell, "Please look after my stuff so I don't have to carry them all the way to the women's restroom!"

Airport Nomad. Those on the left were my bags. I brought them everywhere with me, even when I had to go pee.

And when you're out of luck, the restroom stall won't have a hook to hang your bag on. Sorry girl, you will have to carry all that weight on your lap while you squat to pee! (Because you should never a. put down your bag on the bathroom floor, and b. sit on the toilet seat, especially when traveling. You don't wanna risk catching anything and then consequently ruin your travel plans.)

3. No one to share the nice view with. 

So you saw the magnificent sunset over where Survivor Borneo was filmed. It was glorious and it was a dream come true for you. But guess what, no one really witnessed you saw it. You will immortalize that memory in your brain and bask in its realness at that moment... on your own. 

Sunset at Pulau Tiga beach. I had this whole beach on my own. Took a quick snap before I let my camera retire for the day.

The screaming sound of serenity will be too loud. Can you handle it?

Scenario: I'll arrive in Puerto Princesa City before noon and I wanna catch the last overnight bus that leaves for El Nido at 9PM. How can I maximize those 10 hours without tiring myself? 



As a born and bred Palaweña currently residing in Metro Manila, I get this question a lot. Not the same 10 hours, the what-to-do questions whenever friends will be in Puerto Princesa for only a short period of time before they go off to wherever. Of course, if you're not staying overnight, the options will be lessened as well. Through the years, I have made myself some sure-fire itineraries that kept my Manila friends more than happy.

In this blog post, which I'm planning to do as a series, I'll let you know about insider information on how to DIY Puerto Princesa like a Palaweña would for her Manileñan friends.


Puerto Princesa's public beaches are stunning. Emphasis on stunning because you can't really see anything like that near Metro Manila. And by near, I meant this specific white sand beach is only 30 minutes away from the airport, 10 minutes away from our home. The entrance fee costs Php 10 per person and if my memory serves me right, the stilt cottages at the beach can be rented for Php 100 for one whole day.

For this trip, I took my friends to BM Beach, located in Brgy. San Pedro and nearby Robinsons Palawan. You can reach this place via tricycle or you can do what we did; rent a private van that can take you anywhere. The going rate for a half-day van rental is around Php 1000.

Intro to Seafood Coma. What better way to introduce friends to Palawan than eating seafood by the beach with bare hands?

The first meal my friends will eat is usually my family's treat to them. Mama will go to the wet market for crabs and prawns and cook them buttered-garlic style. I call this the Introductory Palawan Experience for my friends, because this usually sets the mood and the seafood benchmark for the whole trip.

Today Last Friday, I used a masking tape as a bra strap.

Yes, you read that right! Allow me to narrate how this happened... (If this was a TV series: cue the montage and goofy music)

I woke up late and had to be at the office to submit my reimbursable receipts by 2PM. However, I was still at home by 1:30PM. Being not the kind of person efficient and OC enough to plan what to wear for the whole week, I usually just clothe and dash. I picked out the first skirt and tshirt and then, it came to underwear.

I got hold of my tshirt bra (seamless; the one to wear underneath shirts to prevent unnecessary imprints) but unfortunately, it doesn't have its straps on. Knowing that I didn't have time to look for it, I did the most logical thing, I went out strapless.

At first, it wasn't a problem but when I started running around the office to catch the deadline, I had to pull it up several times. I got fed up and my back started to hurt so I went to 7Eleven, where there's always cheap transparent bra straps for sale. And just my luck, they were out!

Seriously, people buy those?! Ever since, there has always been a stock that I wondered if there was no demand at all. So when I needed it most, I was so sure that I would be able to get my hands on a pair. I WAS WRONG.

After calming myself down, I carefully scanned the school supplies section. "Of course, I can probably use a tape as a strap to hold them together!", I thought. And there I was, rushing to the restroom as soon as I bought the masking tape.

It was pretty simple DIY strap as I only made it into a halter. It was the least time-consuming and it did the job alright.

INSTRUCTIONS (should this happen to you too)

1. Buy a tape, masking tape is more preferred as it doesn't stretch like a scotch tape.
2. Measure the length from one bra strap hook holder to the other. Make sure it passes behind your nape. Or not, just pull a long strip. You can always cut it anyway. 
3. Cut the measured strip.
4. Fold it lengthwise. The adhesive part should stick together.
5. Go the the restroom and remove your bra.
6. At the one end, fold it two more times or more until it could fit the bra strap hook holder.
7. Do it with the other side.
8. Wear the bra.
9. Adjust to desired comfort.
10. Lock the ends by tying each of them into a knot.

P.S. I still feel sexy, even with a flat chest.