I was not always a fan of scarves. I thought they were meant to be worn when you're in Europe or New York. I bought my first scarf when I was looking for an ensemble for my first meeting with a publisher for a fashion magazine. I wanted to look good. I had a white top and a black skirt. All I did to spice up my outfit was a ruffled scarf.

I did not stop buying scarves. I thought they were perfect for corporate and smart casual attires. It was not until my trip to Bangkok that I fully appreciated my pretty, pink, floral scarf.



I used it almost everyday. I had it in my bag everywhere I went. I used it when the aircon was too cold at our secretariat. I made it my head cover when it started drizzling on our way to Ronny's pizza. I used it as a belt. I covered my cold water bottle with it before placing in my bag. I used it to tie my hair on a hot day. I used it not to get wet during our river tour. There is so much you can do with a scarf. It wont also take up so much space in your luggage. You can bring basic tops and have your scarf brighten your outfit. Scarves are now one of my travel essentials.

Sunday church

Bonus: here's a short video on different ways of wearing scarves I found in YouTube.

Bangkok is made for shopping. We spent most of our post-event days just riding the BTS and going to shopping places. Therefore, here's a guide going around Bangkok by BTS. This is to actually save money from taxis that can rip you off as much as tuktuks.

Click image to enlarge

It's important to purchase a Smartpass ticket for your stay. It's their version of our MRT's stored value ticket. We got ours as a giveaway at our conference.

Naraya shop beside Emporium
Naraya has an impressive collection of bags and quilted items. They're quite cheap. You can buy a big bag fit for your laptop for just 470 Baht*. Makeup pouches are around 60-90 Baht. They come in every girly color and pattern possible. Basic colors are red, black, blue, gold, and purple. Basic patterns are animal print, polka dots and stripes.



To go to the two-floor store of Naraya beside Emporium (another shopping place), ride the BTS (Sukhumvit line) and get off at Phrom Phong station.


Chatuchak Weekend Market (Sat-Sun open until 6pm)
We came past 5pm of a Sunday at Chatuchak so we weren't able to spend all our money there. It's your version of Greenhills+168 mall but way cheaper. You can get dresses and chiffon tops for 80-100Baht. I got two pretty belts at 39 Baht each.

To get to Chatuchak, ride the BTS (Sukhumvit line) going to Mochit. Get off at Mochit station. It's the last station of the BTS Sukhumvit Line.


Narai Phand Royal Thai Government Handicrafts Center at President Tower
Our local event partner representative brought us to Narai Phand to shop for speakers' gifts. The prices at Narai Phand is controlled by the Thai government. You get 10% off if you use Visa. They have a great collection of Thai silk, lacquer ware, bronze, ceramics and wood carvings. We got these Thai silk covered business card wallets and notebooks for only 100 Baht each. They also have nice paper bags for your purchase.

Products are arranged by section, similar to what Kultura does in our country. The place is ideal for shoppers who have no time to go around looking for Thai souvenirs. It is open Mondays to Sundays from 10am to 8pm.


To go to Narai Phand, ride the BTS (Sukhumvit line) and get off at Chit Lom station. It can be found below Intercontinental Hotel.



Mah Boon Krong (MBK) Center at National Stadium
MBK Center has it all (just like SM!). It has six floors with souvenirs, cameras, clothes, mobile phones, and two food courts. You can spend your days here shopping and haggling. We went to MBK every day of our post-event days.



Going to MBK can be via taxi. Don't forget to say the Thai name of the place for the drivers to know exactly where you're going. If you're riding the BTS, you have to ride until the Siam station. Get off and transfer to the  other BTS line (Silom) and ride to National Stadium. MBK has a walkway straight from the National Stadium.




Enjoy shopping and going around Bangkok!


*Exchange rate: Php1.00 = THB1.4

The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. (Into The Wild - Jon Krakauer)

I never rode an airplane when I was a kid. My first road trip to the far north of Luzon took place when I was ten. All those young years I traveled not through planes or cars but through books. I read adventures of people going to places. They experience life in a way no one could while being stuck in their own homes. They walked around unfamiliar streets. They meet an array of personalities. Each encounter opened their mind to a bigger world. Frankly, I want to experience that every single day of my life.

I wanted to have my own adventure. I wanted to stop reading about other people's stories and start writing my own. I may have started late and I may be doing smaller steps than others. But that doesn't stop me from writing my own stories and capturing memories through photographs with my three-year old point and shoot camera. I travel because I seek adventure. I travel to have a more open eye and mind.



It is when you travel that you are pushed beyond limitations. You leave your own safe bubble. You are tested to become a better person. You develop a self of identity while being lost in a foreign land.

There's also no such feeling as coming home after being away. You learn to appreciate the simple things you've taken from granted before you were away. You appreciate the unlimited gravy in your local fast food chain because other countries charge you for one small cup. You indulge in that cheap cup of Milo because it became an expensive luxury when you were in another country.

Then there's that sense of enlightenment every time I'm away from home. I remember my friend telling me she is in the "I don't need a boyfriend" state while she was in Vigan. I told her it was because of the place. New places tend to give me a sense of accomplishment, confidence and independence.


I am to do more as the years pass. I am yet to hitchhike, do my own RTW and backpack around the Philippines.




(This was inspired by this post and this tumblog)

Milk tea shops sprouted like mushrooms here in the Philippines this year. I have been in love with tea ever since college. Or after my heart started palpitating after two cups of coffee. It was such a joy to have more options of tea rather than Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. Moroccan mint was my fave tea latte.

Milk tea was cheaper then my usual cup of SBC. Still, I spared my wallet from having a daily fix of milk tea. Bangkok was a different case. Milk tea shops were everywhere! From the BTS stations to Ploenchit center to Dreamworld to the streets of Grand Palace. They were really everywhere. And they were a lot cheaper than in Manila.

I had my first Thai milk tea from Zipp bar in Ploenchit center. It was an impulsive buy. I hadn't had coffee since we came but I was sleeping late everyday. I needed caffeine. So I bought myself a trio milk tea. It had fruit jelly, pearl tapioca and coconut jelly. Definitely for a sweet tooth.




The second time I was there I decided to have the Thai milk tea. Thai milk tea is sweeter than pearl milk tea. Yet, it had the right kick of tea. It's preferred by my taste buds than those here in Manila.  And they cost only 40-50 Baht.

Enjoying my Thai milk tea at our secretariat

We bought this 10 Baht cup of milk tea shake while walking to the Reclining Buddha. It was such a refreshing drink that hot Sunday noon. It was even tastier than the 35Baht pearl milk tea from a stall in Dreamworld.

Cheap street milk tea!

Dreamworld cute but too watery milk tea

I wasnt able to try Paruu Paruu found in MBK Center (ground floor in the supermarket) and Ochaya in the National Stadium station. Their prices range almost the same with Zipp bar.

You can never have enough milk tea in Bangkok. Try those on the streets because they're cheap and can be a surprising treat. As for my Manila days, I'll settle for red bean milk tea with extra mousse from Chatime or that cheap choco milk tea from Bubbatealicious.

You can find a list of other milk tea shops in Bangkok here.

Back from the land of smiles. Achieved riding an elephant even for a short while. Skipped watching a live show due to heavy rains every night of our stay. Tried to window shop only and failed miserably. Rode the BTS going around. Walked on the streets of Nana.

Next time, I'll ride one that crosses a river.

Look how happy I am!

Stories soon. I have more than a thousand photos to sort.

Two days before flight.I will be flying off to a place where I'll be watching a live show, visiting a Grand Palace and Reclining Buddha, riding an elephant and shopping at a night market.

Whoever thought about rolling clothes when packing is a life-saver. All my clothes fit already inside half of my luggage bag. The other half is for all the conference materials my team would require us to carry. You can also see my Fitnesse cereal as provided by my guy to get me through mornings without breakfast.

I'd be doing a more detailed "what's in my luggage" post probably when I get to the hotel and have free time.

Bangkok! What to see?

Tips on Seat Sales:
1. Best way to know there's a seat sale is through Twitter. Follow those airline accounts to score those cheap flights! @cebupacificair @flyPAL @ZestAirZ2 @airphilexpress @AirAsia
2. Have a ready list of places you want to visit on-hand. Seats are being booked as you ponder where to go. Also, you and your companions can share scouting the dates and flights for different locations you all want to visit. Makes it easier than deciding on-hand where you want to go. Saves you time and regret (for not getting the flight). 
3. Know the taxes included. Your base fare does not translate to your total airfare. Review every detail. You might end up paying so much because of the baggage costs, travel insurance, donations, etc. In short, thread slowly but surely.
4. (as informed by my friend), Cebu Pacific tends to overbook their flights by 20%. So make sure once you've booked yourself, arrive early at the airport to check-in.
5. Sometimes, impulsiveness can take you places. So if you have the money, then book a weekend at an unfamiliar place and discover something new.


Let me know if you have your rules/tips during seat sales! :)