Travel Guide: Biking in Taipei, Taiwan (2023)

While biking around Taipei, I couldn’t help but marvel at how amazing and safe the whole cycling infrastructure was. Right in the middle of the busy city, we could pedal for miles and miles along riversides flanked by lush greens and mangroves and scenic natural views.

The bike lanes weaved seamlessly through urban parks and gardens protected from the main highways where motorized vehicles pass and were set apart from motorcycle lanes with proper cement barriers, trees, or are placed on elevated cycle lanes and bridges over busy highways. Along the routes we took, there were numerous rest stops with water stations, public bike repair facilities, vending machines, clean restrooms, and bike parking areas.

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Trip Machine Moto-Lifestyle products now in the Philippines 

For those who love to ride, a motorcycle is not just a mere conveyance. It is about personal expression. Adventure. A loyal steed with which to discover new places, experience different cultures, and to have a deeper understanding about oneself and his or her place in this world. The beauty of the ride is not just about the rider, the motorcycle, or the destination. 

It is everything.

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Travel Guide: Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan (2023)

Anyone who grew up playing old school video games dreams of visiting Super Nintendo World. This themed section inside Universal Studios Japan in Osaka is a geek-filled paradise where you warp right into Princess Peach’s Castle, punch question mark blocks in real life, and dine on cute Mario-themed food items.

After years of being stuck at home and escaping to virtual worlds, it felt great to get sucked into this immersive video game world in real life in Japan during a recent family trip. 

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La View Mountain Resort in Real, Quezon

We first discovered La View Mountain Resort in January 2022. After trying to ride to Jariel’s Peak one weekend by motorcycles, we were forced to turn back because checkpoints and border restrictions going to Infanta, Quezon were still being enforced. 

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Travel Guide: Things to do in Subic Bay (2023)

The Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone, simply known as Subic Bay, is a coastal northwest of Manila frequented by families and water sports enthusiasts for weekend getaways. Formerly the location of U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay before it was decommissioned in the early 90s, the area is now known for its beautiful coastline with sandy beaches and dive sites.

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Mt. Fuji and Hakone day tour from Tokyo, Japan

Mt. Fuji is Japan’s highest peak and one of the country’s most famous landmarks. Commonly called “Fuji-san, this active volcano about 100 kilometers southwest of Tokyo is the country’s tallest peak, at 3,776 meters. 

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Where to stay in Lucban, Quezon: Batis Aramin Resort and Hotel

The town of Lucban in Quezon is celebrating the Pahiyas Festial soon. Known as one of the most colorful festivals in the Philippines, Pahiyas is celebrated every May as a means to give thanks after a bountiful harvest. ‘Pahiyas’ literally means “precious offering,” and the practice dates back to the 16th century. People celebrate it in honor of San Isidro Labrador, the farmer’s patron saint. 

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5 unique outdoor adventures near Manila to try this summer

Summer months always call for new adventures. With travel restricted the past two years, now is the perfect time to chill out by the lake with the family, hike up mountains with friends, go on car camping dates, or just get out of your comfort zone.

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Travel Guide: Taal Lake Bike Loop

A year before the most recent eruption of Taal Volcano and the start of the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns in 2020, we rode our motorcycles from Metro Manila circling Laguna Lake and Taal Lake. Back then, it was just for the thrill of the joyride and so we could hike to the crater lake on Volcano Island afterwards.

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Travel Guide: 82 Provinces of the Philippines

UPDATE: In September 2022, the province of Maguindanao was split into two, so the Philippines now has 82 provinces. This travel guide was originally completed and written in 2019 before the split and the pandemic, but has been updated to reflect the new province and newer photos from more recent revisits.

The Philippines is made up of 82 provinces, spread out under three major island groups: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanano. Currently, there are 38 provinces in Luzon, 16 in Visayas, and 28 in Mindanao. The provinces are grouped under different regions based on their geographical, cultural, and ethnological characteristics.

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