A trip back to Siquijor, the Philippines’ most mystical island. 

HOLY WEEK 2015. THE FIRST TIME I VISITED SIQUIJOR with new friends Mya, Rachel, Mel and Nelia. We’ve all heard stories of (shapeshifting evil sprits) aswang and shamans and their magic potions. We even went up to Mount Bandilaan on Good Friday to meet some of the sorcerers and witches (mangkukulams). Our group rule was, never to go out alone or drink from open bottles. One night, we went home riding a tricycle. I sat in the back of the driver. All my life, I lived in big cities so I never expected the town shut down at 8PM. Everything was dark, still and disturbing. The experience was nothing like any other – eeriness reeked the streets. I did not dare look at the cemeteries we passed. Only one or two locals popped from behind trees. All the while I kept thinking, “I hope our tricycle doesn’t break down.”

[READ: Siquijor Island, Philippines]

4 years later, in 2019 I came back for my second visit. This time, I went with Nina, Jessica, Efren, Aldrin and Evelyn. Just a few minutes ride from the Larena port, we found Siquijor’s first and only Jollibee. The eerie nights were long gone – it seemed like hundreds of new accommodations popped up along the highway. On the boulevard near Siquijor town, enterprising locals set up BBQ stands where hordes of tourists feasted on grilled chicken, fish, pork and balbacua soup. Siquijor’s dark streets were now illuminated by road studs which were tiny reflectors on the ground that help drivers see better at night.

[READ: 7 Amazing Places Near Cebu, Philippines]

Siquijor has evolved for the better. My mother-in-law said 10 years ago, she stayed in one of the two known accommodations on the island. I bet when she comes back now, nothing will differentiate Siquijor from Valencia or Camotes. Tourists now can only see glimpses of the “Mystic Island” through love potions and healing wines sold in the souvenir center. Yet to me, I remember that recondite air about Siquijor so real it never quite left me. I was glad I felt it then.

Practical Tips

Getting There from Cebu City is convenient. We took the 8AM Saturday fast craft from Cebu City to Tagbiliaran then Tagbiliran to Larena, Siquijor, arriving at 12noon (total travel time 4 hours). The trip cost about Php1,200 per person. There’s also a new GP line service from Cebu to Siquijor leaving on Friday 10PM and arriving in Lazi, Siqujor at 5AM.

Stay We loved the beachfront property of our accommodation in D’s Ocean View Beach Resort. Located in the Dumanhog area, it’s just a 5-minute tricycle ride to Siquijor town’s many food choices, including the boulevard night BBQ.

What to see and do Become tarzan for a day rope swing jumping in (1) Cambugahay Falls. The (2) Lazi Convent built in 1887 using indigenous hardwood and coral stone is one the largest convent in the Philippines and a historical landmark worth seeing.

Transportation We found the best transport rates with Kuya Noynoy who drives a spacious blue tricycle that fits 6 people. Reach out to me if you want his contact info. Also, try to avoid the drivers by the ports– we found them overpriced. We simply asked our accommodation’s front desk if they knew anybody and they gave us more affordable options. Motorcycles without a driver can be rented starting at P300 per day.

About the Author

Crystal Neri is a freelance writer who has filed stories in the US, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Australia. She lives in Cebu City where she covers travel and entrepreneurship at crystalneri.com. Say Hi to her (@nericrystal) on Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to her newsletter:

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Rome, the capital of Italy and Catholicism, is one of the most visited cities in the world.  Here’s how we found our peace and avoided the crowds. Originally published in Sunstar, November 2018

ALONG PASTEL-COLORED MEDIEVAL BUILDINGS of Trastevere, we found Da Enzo, a sibling-run trattoria serving Roman cuisine for more than 70 years.

Owner Maria Chiara Di Felice greeted my husband Jovi and I with a plate of bruschetta, composed of sweet and velvety burrata from Andria and hand-picked Daterrini tomatoes, assembled on top of crusty wood-oven baked bread. While the lively restaurant crowd chatted away, we ate elbow-to-elbow with a Thai Catholic priest who has taken up residence in Rome to study canon law. His group shared with us red wine from Lazio, while a local played an upbeat guitar solo.

We came to Trastevere, a colorful neighborhood located across the Tiber river, to get away from map-toting crowds of Rome. We felt suffocated by tourists at the Trevi Fountain, fighting for every inch of space. Even late at night, we found it a challenge to find seats along the walls of the Sistine Chapel. With a real overcrowding problem in Rome’s top spots, the goal was to outsmart thousands of stomping tourists and enjoy the sights in some semblance of peace.

Handling the masses

Rome, the capital of Italy and Catholicism, is one of the most visited cities in the world. Its ancient ruins and art masterpieces, however, have always been calling my name. I’ve spent countless hours reading Roman anthologies, rewatching the 2000 movie Gladiator and learning about Renaissance and Baroque masters in art school.

Our plan to avoid the lines in the Eternal City was to follow the quintessential travel tip: go out very early or late. We found the shortest line to buy tickets to the Colosseum/Forum/Palatine Hill was at the Forum’s entrance early in the morning. At this time of the year, the Vatican Museum offered late night openings on Fridays. We found it a steal that for €37, we got a ticket and buffet appetizers, including classical music performance, at the museum’s Pinecone Courtyard. A well-planned evening ensued, leaving us room to enjoy the Sistine Chapel for a long time. There were still crowds but we noticed they were the upscale type: group tour joiners dressed in suits and families with older kids who can stay up late.

The best obscure show

One evening, Jovi and I watched the greatest lights and sound show we’ve ever witnessed, Viaggio Nei Fori. Available for a limited time only, this nighttime open-air multimedia show uses music, lights and historically correct commentary to bring ruins to life. There were two shows to choose from – Forum of Augustus and Caesar – but we only had time to watch the former.

After being handed earphones and asked to sit down on wooden benches in front of the Forum of Augustus, we were ready. Soon we were transported to ancient Rome, climbing up the Temple of Mars Ultor and settling land disputes in a court of justice. Cutting-edge technology reconstructed the forum as it once was. We listened to famous scholar Piero Angelo as he narrated a typical day in imperial times. Romans cried to death as the porticoes burned down during the fall of the great empire. In daylight, the Forum of Augustus might look like a bunch of ruins along the road. But Viaggio Nei Fori was a spellbinding show, eliciting shrieks and claps from the group of male backpackers behind us.

Off the beaten path

Looking for the best ways to avoid crowds gave us a unique perspective of Rome. Instead of paying for mass organized tours, we used audio tours. One of them was called VoiceMap, a location-aware paid app. We saw Europe’s finest open-air museum: Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and more – through an immersive audio experience created by a local storyteller. My favorite was by Antonius called What Emperor Hadrian Lost which pointed to us an ancient arch, built in 1 AD and now hidden under a Fascist building; and Grom, a gelateria known as one of the best. Both stops were devoid of tourists.

We also slept away thoughts of pickpockets and mobs by staying at an Airbnb in the Jewish quarter. Our host Rita renovated the studio in 2005. Despite the new flooring and modern touches like a shiny red table and life-sized movie lights, the building’s heritage was obvious with 10-foot doors and whitewashed stone walls. “Trolleys not allowed in this 15th-century staircase,” greeted the sign on our doorway.

On our last day in Rome, we planned to commute to the airport. We later found out that buses stopped running because of a marathon. We only knew because a local spoke to us in rapid-fire Italian and two English words, “No bus.” I thought this little detail stood in for a whole narrative. Rome blesses visitors with ancient sights and modern vibrancy but curses them with crowds and chaos. Touring the city on our own and in control of our discoveries gave us the time to explore it in depth and allowed us to see its pervasive beauty.

*Originally published in Sunstar, November 2018

About the Author

Crystal Neri is a freelance writer who has filed stories in the US, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Australia. She lives in Cebu City where she covers travel and entrepreneurship at crystalneri.com. Say Hi to her (@nericrystal) on Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to her newsletter:

The post Finding Peace in Rome appeared first on Crystal Neri.

Blue-skied Brisbane may not be the first in mind to visit in Australia, it was worth it just for a chance to hug a koala. Originally published in Sunstar, March 2019

IN A LUSH SANCTUARY IN BRISBANE, our group lined up to cuddle Australia’s most iconic animal, the koala. It was a dry February with threats of a heat wave, but the humidity did not quash our excitement. Once I held the koala, I peeked into its beady eyes and felt its sharp claw and dense grey fur against my shoulders.

This unique photo-op with the adorable marsupial, exclusive only to a few states in Australia, was just one of the many highlights of our Brisbane fam trip. Sponsored by the country’s flag carrier, Philippine Airlines (with tour escort Marijo Araneta) and coordinated by Uni-Orient Travel (Jerome Mendaros), our 17-person delegate included travel agents from Cebu, Iloilo, and Davao.

Philippine Airlines (PAL), awarded recently by London-based air transport rating organization Skytrax as a four-star airline, took their motto Buong Pusong Pag-alaga to heart for our journey. Given access to the Mabuhay Lounge in Cebu and Manila and choice seats, I was comfortable enough to sleep during most of the seven-hour plane ride to Brisbane. As part of its ever-expanding fleet, PAL is now offering daily direct flights to and from Manila and Brisbane.

Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, has long been living in the shadows of Sydney and Melbourne. “Beautiful today, perfect tomorrow,” locals say about the weather in Queensland, also called the Sunshine State, for its warm climate. But while blue-skied Brisbane may not be the first in mind to visit in Australia, it was worth it just for a chance to hug a koala. Beneath its humble reputation, Brisbane’s a buzzing city – a place where locals get bronzed in a man-made sandy beach while staring up at dazzling skyscrapers.

Behold, Gold Coast

It took us just an hour drive south of Brisbane to get to Surfers Paradise in Gold Coast City. “Anybody knows what barbie means? What about arvo or mozzie?” asked our blonde tour guide, Deborah. She was giving us a lesson about local vernacular while on the bus. “No, we don’t know!” we answered back. “It means barbecue, afternoon, and mosquitos. We Australians love using shortcuts to our words,” Deborah explained. “We call it, strine.”

This lecture on Aussie peculiarity made us giggle and warmed us up to the local culture. Soon after, our bus pulled up to a show-stopping sight. In Surfers Paradise, a vast white-sand beach served as a backdrop to busy streets lined with shops and al fresco dining.

For the first few days, we stayed at two different hotels, Novotel Surfers Paradise and Mantra Legends Hotel. Both had ample-sized balconies, offering views of the beachfront boulevard vista and were as perfect a spot as anyone could find in the heart of the neighborhood. The location was unbeatable – just a few minutes’ walk from the famous beachside night market where 120 stalls sell everything from opals to homemade nougat.

There are thousands of vantage points to see Gold Coast, but none are quite the same as Skypoint, an observation deck atop the 230-meter tall Q1 building. As soon as I stepped out of the hyper-fast elevator, I was floored by the view. The white-sand coastline seemed to stretch infinitely into the horizon. I thought I’d seen the end at one side, and instead saw the other extension of the pristine seaboard surrounded by houses and commercial spaces interlaced by wide canals.

Far beyond was a glimpse of the hinterland, where a more dense seat of mountain and forest awaited. In Skypoint’s 360-view observation deck, I took the best photos of the trip, wearing my striped light blue and navy cotton dress that mimicked the color palette of the sweeping seascape.

A Hotel of Dreams

Another highlight of the trip was staying at the Star Gold Coast, a five-star hotel known for its world-class casino. Our Pinoy group enjoyed a buffet of dreams at Harvest with just-caught spanner crabs, oysters, and prawns. As a chocoholic, I especially loved the decadent chocolate fondue which dripped off large green cocoa leaves made of glass.

Star Gold Coast on Broadbeach was just a seven-minute walk from Pacific Fair, Queensland’s largest shopping and dining hub. I got to buy souvenirs from American brands Target and K-Mart and macadamia nuts in an Australian supermarket, Woolworths. Some folks in our group bought so much stuff that they had to buy extra luggage. We shopped at Harbour Town too, the country’s biggest outlet shopping center.

At the end of the trip, I stepped onto our hotel balcony to take in the view of Surfers Paradise. It was early, so there were sunrise surfers already out at sea. Seagulls screamed and waves crashed against the shore. The wind gusted and tugged at my sunglasses. I watched birds hop from one roof to the next and thought how lucky I was to have spent a week in Gold Coast, stunned by its postcard-perfect views.

*Originally published in Sunstar, March 2019

About the Author

Crystal Neri is a freelance writer who has filed stories in the US, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Australia. She lives in Cebu City where she covers travel and entrepreneurship at crystalneri.com. Say Hi to her (@nericrystal) on Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to her newsletter:

The post Buzzing Brisbane appeared first on Crystal Neri.

IN MY ANNUAL REVIEW, as usual, I measure the year’s successes and failures and what I learned from them. “The days are long but the years are short,” says author Gretchen Rubin. It’s incredible how much can happen in one short year. Here’s a review of 2018, hoping that it serves as a blueprint for myself (and you) to guide us into the new year.

TRAVEL

As a travel addict, it’s really hard to swallow the concept of one big trip per year. I used to book random trips the same way a shopaholic clicks “Add to Cart”.

2018 was different because Jovi and I booked one big, hairy, and ambitious 3-week holiday in Paris, Switzerland, Rome, Milan, and Florence. It was so expensive, it took us a year to save.

All being said, what did I really take away? A few things:

1. The best moments of trips are during downtime or when you’re alone or lost. I broke down in tears after stepping solo inside Milan’s Duomo, gripped by the church’s massive, holy interiors preserved in perfection. I talked about it on Atlas Obscura, a platform that features the world’s unique wonders.

2. I planned the trip the obsessed way, down to train seats per country and discount Metro tickets. It was downright exhausting. What’s the upside? It improved my research skills, going as far as asking Lonely Planet forums to get Swiss train travel advice.

[WATCH: Bernina Express, Riding One Of the World’s Most Scenic Train Rides]

3. When traveling with family or with a partner, schedule time to be apart. Some of my most thrilling travel experiences happened when I was simply by myself. One was in Paris’ Republique neighborhood, where a bespectacled art gallery owner invited me for coffee. A long time ago, I learned that no two souls in this world have the same interests, so alone time had always been mandatory for Jovi and I.

4. When you come home after a vacation, print your pictures. Not just upload in FB or IG but print in real paper and insert into frames. I made an album of our trip to Europe and used it as a birthday gift for Jovi. (It’s a gift for him that turns out to be a gift for me, too.)

WRITING

I’ve had the great luck and honor to work with the Philippine Airlines’ in-flight magazine, Mabuhay. Aside from an article about the Cebu Safari, I organized a front-cover photoshoot and wrote a 1500-word feature story on Bisaya music. I’m especially thankful to my photographer friend RG for connecting me to Mabuhay and to James, who is a thoughtful editor.

[READ: “Let the Music Play” Mabuhay Magazine, July 2018]

CAREER

I left my work as a marketer to become a full-time freelance writer. As someone who valued high income, I took the scary leap to have almost none. I would describe this year as risky, where I traded job security to pursuing writing. And what a life-affirming challenge that was, to become the opposite of my perceived identity.

Through this experience, I learned temperance, the ability to restrain one’s desires. At the start of the year, I embarked on a successful “NO SHOPPING” policy only derailed on the 90th-day mark when I bought the perfect bootcut jeans in F&F. Still, for the rest of the year, I had to let go of so much of my “wants”, just so I can extend my writing experiment. I learned a few more things:

1. I don’t need much
2. Exactly how much I need to survive

Folks I worked with this year. (1st top left: Carmen del Prado and Mia Arcenas for Mabuhay December 2018 “Going Global”. 2nd top right: Cebu Safari VP Eduard Loop and my husband, Jovi. 1st bottom left: Photographer Takeshi, Musical Director Jude Gitamondoc and singer-songwriter Jerika Teodorico. 2nd bottom pic: Caohagan Quilters)

When I learned of how little I need, it gave me to courage to keep writing. And I got a lot better. Not just in the way I normally blog (which took a backseat this year so I can focus on published work) but how to make real money getting published. I felt like I was dropped in a bubbling pot of publishing shabu-shabu. Just as cabbage and mushrooms are essential to a good hotpot, I learned how necessary it is to add details and fact-check in creative nonfiction writing. I never thought I’d want to pull out my hair at 6 AM, my favorite time of day, but I did while editing. As Chris Sykes once said, “Anybody who thinks writing is easy is someone who never really tried.”

HEALTH

Most people’s capacity for pain is low. Nobody even takes cold showers anymore. Much more lift heavy weights, which I did for the better part of the year. Strength training transformed my body into a shape unrecognizable to me. I’ve been active all my life but to see rippling muscles on my arms and quads was a surprise.

I remember all those 4:30 AM wakeups to get to the gym alone or the moments I almost passed out after swinging 40-lb kettlebells on deadlift day. I’ve never worked out harder and have been rewarded greater. I’ll continue my training in 2019, only more despacito this time.

RELATIONSHIPS

Every year, I grow deeper in love with the family I married into. I’ve spent a lot of time with my nephews and nieces this year, learning things about them like how they simply want pens and notebooks and who their real favorite cousin is. Sometimes, it’s easy to get lost in big family gatherings but nothing beats genuinely listening to one person.

“To understand and to be understood, those are among life’s greatest gifts,” wrote Brainpicking’s Maria Popova. I’m thankful for the opportunity to spend time with friends and young family members, revel in the joy of their company and get infected by their energy.

The man I married gets better with age like fine leather. This year, Jovi achieved a lot, too. He successfully shut down Redgolf, his golf business of 10 years; ran several half-marathons; healed his plantar fasciitis mainly by losing weight; and lined up for an extraordinary 24-hours to get in front of U2 in Paris. Not to say we didn’t fight all year but indeed the squabbles are getting better, ending with forgiveness and understanding soon after.  Jovi’s “my person”  in Grey’s Anatomy jargon. My 2018 would be chaos and mush without him.

In closing, I hope that you’ll be inspired to make a similar reflection of your past year. It’s surprisingly fun and a great reminder that through God’s grace, we are alive and thriving. May 2019 bring you health and happiness. Happy New Year!

2018 Highlights:

• Transitioned from marketing to writing
• Read about Stoicism every day
• Celebrated my 3rd wedding anniversary with my husband in Bantayan Island’s Annika Resort
• Reached my peak strength at deadlift 1.5x my body weight
• Traveled to 6 countries: France, Italy, Hongkong, Singapore, Switzerland, Vatican
• Camped solo to a place I’ve never been before
• Explored Coron, Palawan with my husband where we got to hug giraffes
• Learned how to edit my work
• Learned how to do calligraphy
• Learned how to do basic self-defense
• Celebrated my 27th birthday with my family over rose-covered table setting and lechon (roasted pig) served 4 ways
• Planned a DIY trip to Europe and got our Schengen VISAs approved
• Worked with Mabuhay Magazine, the Philippine Airlines’ in-flight magazine
• Hosted my close friends in Cebu like Lyra who flew in from Hongkong and Jonathan from Manila
• Traveled to Singapore’s Resorts World Sentosa on my first media familiarization trip
• Read almost a hundred books. Thanks to reading subscription, Scribd!

About the Author

Crystal Neri is a freelance writer who has worked across media platforms in places as diverse as US, Singapore, and Australia. She lives in Cebu City where she covers travel and entrepreneurship at crystalneri.com. Say Hi to her (@nericrystal) on Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to her newsletter:

The post 2018: Year in Review appeared first on Crystal Neri.

Singapore has a constant presence in my life even if I haven’t stepped foot in it for more than a decade. Even if I live in Cebu now, I used to work remotely with startups based out of the Lion City. When I did video calls with my former bosses, I could see tall skyscrapers behind their windows. I once had round trip tickets to go there but had to cancel. At that time, I had a Singaporean dollar salary.

[READ: Things I Like About JFDI]

My first trip to Singapore was when I was 14 years old. My brother and I were part of the Philippine Junior Golf, so we flew there to play a golf tournament. I remember Tanah Merah Garden course’s lake on the par 5 last hole. I even cried my eyes out at the ladies locker after a bad game. But what I remember most what that my Dad got lost at the Night Safari. After we found him, we went to a mall basement in Orchard Road to eat bulgogi. I haven’t been back to Singapore since. Why would I? I’ve already checked it off my bucket list.
 

A Sweet Invite

One day, I received an invitation to write about Resorts World Sentosa, a 49-hectare integrated entertainment and dining complex off the coast of Singapore. “First class all the way,” my veteran journalist mother-in-law forewarned me. When I arrived at Changi Airport on a rainy Monday morning, my complimentary BMW transport was already waiting. Everything’s been laid out but I don’t plan or pay.

I had express passes to the resort’s SEA Aquarium, Maritime Museum, and Universal Studios Singapore. Every morning, I took sunrise photos overlooking the coast from my massive balcony at the Equarius Hotel. At night, I indulged in multiple courses of Italian cuisine and Japanese teppanyaki. To top it all off, I got a chance to hug and kiss a dolphin. Press trips are a much more luxe experience than the normal way I travel.

Some people sneer at touristy and expensive theme parks, using the term “manufactured fun” to describe it. My experience in each one of them was genuine fun, reminding me of fond memories when my siblings were still young. Nothing beats a place engineered to bring together quality amenities, convenience, and a touch of luxury. I have no complaints about manufactured fun.

Despite the superstar treatment, the best part of touring the resort are the pockets of silence. One staffer told me about normal life in Singapore. Kids can choose to learn either Tamil or Mandarin in school, that on-site employees eat for free at a cool cafeteria, and that certain neighborhoods in the city’s outskirts are up for expansion to decongest the center. It was a treat to revel in the comfort of quiet conversation.
 

Sightseeing: National Gallery and Gardens By The Bay

After the press trip, I extended my trip to Singapore one more day to explore on my own. It would have been a perfect day of shopping for discounted Charles and Keith bags in IMM in East Jurong except that I was carrying my 20-lbs worth of stuff on my back. I promised myself that this was the very last time I’ll carry all my luggage in a backpack. I was already hunched and depressed by the time I found coin lockers just outside the building by the taxi stand.

My next destination on this solo outing is the home of the largest collection of Southeast Asian art, the National Gallery. I go to museums not just for the art but for the magnificent architecture. The National Gallery, in the heart of the Civic Center, is the largest museum in Singapore. It occupies two national monuments, the Supreme Court and City Hall. I took lots of pictures at the upper link bridge that connects the two junctions.

Out of all the artwork, I loved the realistic portrait of Lee Boon Nga, painted by Chua Mia Tee in 1957. The female subject looked it could have been any of my classmates in high school, reminding me of young Filipina beauty. This oil painting is part of DBS Singapore Gallery’s inaugural exhibition called “Siapa Nama Kamu?” (literally, “What is your name?”) that covers Singapore’s art history from the 19th century to the present.

Next up was the futuristic nature park, Gardens By The Bay, whose thrilling beauty was only eclipsed by my misadventures getting there. There were two conservatories inside the Gardens: Flower Dome, the world’s largest glass greenhouse; and Cloud Forest, known for having picturesque vegetation, rare flowers, and the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. My research suggested that I choose the more unconventional Cloud Forest for its architecture.

Where is Gardens By the Bay?

Google Maps got me lost. The app told me to get off at the Marina Bay South Pier Station, which was empty except for boats, naturally. I asked a local guy standing behind a grey counter where the Gardens was. He said in broken English, “Too far. This is bike path. Go back to the MRT and go down South Bay.” Thinking that he was probably exaggerating, I proceeded to walk anyway.

After a few kilometers, I saw highways on my left and bushes to my right. But I knew I was going on the right path because I could see the tips of supertree grove, the recognizable maroon and green top of the Gardens, peeking behind trees. While walking alone, I took a quick stop to take a picture. I planned to post it with a caption: “Gardens by the bay naging gubat” (Gardens by the bay turned forest)

Was Cloud Forest worth the trouble and the $28 Sing dollar entrance? Yes. It was so pretty, I had to go back twice. By early evening, the place was illuminated by magical yellow and white light that made the blooms pop. For something that is indoors, it smelled like mild, freshly cut grass. I buttoned up my black sweater all the way to my neck, hoping for more warmth.

Standing beside orchids, pitcher plants and ferns supposedly from the Tropical Montane region, I snapped what turned out to be the favorite photo of myself from the entire trip. I would have loved watching the award-winning light and sound show Garden Rhapsody, but I had friends waiting for me at dinner. I pulled my phone out of my pocket only to see that it had died.
 

Getting Lost

Singapore is an easy place to navigate without a phone, internet, tour guide or map. Every few meters or so, there are clear signs pointing to landmarks, “MRT”, or “Taxi”. Since I didn’t have a phone, I simply walked up to the information booth at Marina Bay Sands to ask the concierge to google my next destination. In good sense, I memorized my next destination, Scissors Cut Curry Rice in Jalan Basar, before my phone conked out. The concierge, an agreeable Indian man, took a picture of his computer screen using my digital camera, which I then used as my map.

After 2 metro stops, I reached my destination with no problem. I gave out an inaudible, thin laughter after seeing my friends’ faces. I made it! Within moments, we were digging in piping hot plates of chicken and pork curry rice. I told my friends that I couldn’t believe we’re all in Singapore, but what I was really thinking was I can’t believe I found them after my misadventures.
 

The People Of Singapore

This trip in Singapore represented the past, future, and present for me. The same friends who ate chicken curry rice with me were the same ones I worked with in my first ever job in Cebu. They were my wedding entourage and my dining companions for game nights, birthdays and holiday celebrations in the last few years.

[READ: I’m Married! Our Wedding]

More recently, I’ve been writing feature stories for Mabuhay Magazine. Ever since I read this world-class publication on my first Philippine Airlines flight to the US at age 13, I’ve been a fan. This trip to Singapore gave me a chance to meet the magazine’s editor, James. He toured me around the Ink Global office, where busy teams worked on pieces for several other in-flight magazines in Asia. He showed me the draft of the newest issue with my bio as a writer to 7-page feature on Cebuano music. Reading that magazine and seeing my photo in it is realizing my wildest fancy for the longest time.

The surprises in Singapore continue. On one of my long taxi rides, the elderly taxi driver offered me something unusual. “Have you eaten lunch, Miss?” He asks while pointing to his tablet on the dashboard. The time was 1:13 PM. With my self-defense instincts kicking in, I said no. I made an excuse that my bags are too heavy and I have to check-in. He said that he ’d be happy to invite me to the hawker stall a few meters away.

When I look back at that offer, I wonder what if I had agreed. More than 10 years ago on my last trip here, I was a just a teenager who played golf, ate bulgogi and spent an hour in the Night Safari. For a while, I worked with Singaporeans remotely. Now, I’m here as a journalist on assignment. In the future, I hope to come back more than just as a writer destitute for ideas. I hope that Singapore’s spirit and people continue to bless me.

About the Author

Crystal Neri is a freelance writer who has worked across media platforms in places as diverse as US, Singapore, and Australia. She lives in Cebu City where she covers travel and entrepreneurship at crystalneri.com. Say Hi to her (@nericrystal) on Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to her newsletter:

The post Singapore Once More appeared first on Crystal Neri.

THE WORLD NOMADS WRITING SCHOLARSHIP is an annual competition for aspiring travel writers. How it works: You write a 2500-character story about one topic. You can choose 1 out of these 3: “Make a local connection”, “A decision that pushed me to the edge”, and “The last thing that I expected”. Finally, 3 winners get a 14-day travel writing workshop with Tim Neville in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

I didn’t win but the experience gave me a nice #throwback to my past trips and taught me how to write a travel story in this specific format. I read books (’The Best American Travel Writing’, ‘Journey of A Lifetime) and essays (‘Rites of The Caquelon’ by Tim Neville, ‘Floating the Mighty and Easy’ by Tim Cahill). All beautiful works, which I can only aspire to do someday.
How did I decide which travel experience to write about? Out of all my trips, my solo adventure to Surigao Del Norte remains the most memorable. It’s because I went there alone and in pure good luck, met a capable guide, Alan. I’ve recycled this storyline 3 times: on my blog, local newspaper Sunstar, and now again for the scholarship. Here’s my story about Alan and how he gave me an excellent tour of Surigao Del Norte.

—-

Alan, My Angel

Alan’s eyes are on me, not to harm, but to guide.

“Maam, what would you like to see? We have caves, a boulder beach, and a floating village…”In the Philippines, a young, married woman traveling alone is almost unheard of. Even rarer is for her to go caving deep in Mindanao with strange men.

“Kuya (Big Brother), I’m alone. Is that the final price?” I negotiate with Alan seconds before making up my mind that I could trust his kind eyes. We are in Surigao City, a town at the Northeastern tip of Mindanao. Virtually no one comes here as a tourist. The first time I met Alan, he was standing in front of the hotel lobby, wearing casual shorts and t-shirt. For $28, he’ll drive me all day to see Surigao City’s landmarks.

We head to Silop Cave, a 12-system cave so big that it will take three days to see everything. Alan spoke in Surigaonon dialect, negotiating with two guides for their services. Before entering the first cave, the four of us bowed our heads to pray for safety.

“We are only visitors here, and our wish is to come out OK,” Alan translated to me. Inside, we came five feet away from two grey snakes, coiled, and ready to attack. Virgin-white stalactites glistened like diamonds as if serenading us to touch it.

Surigao was once so rich with nickel deposits, they believed it was one of the world’s biggest sources. In the Day-asan Floating Village, I confirmed the news I see on TV – miners are taking away large chunks of land, so painfully obvious at the next bald island. Where are the giant ships off to – China or Japan? No one really knows.

An hour later, Alan asks Julito, our fisherman guide, where we could find lunch. “In my house,” he replies. Julito’s wooden home was on stilts, perched in a shallow part of the ocean. Around us, almost every house looks the same: one bedroom, one living room and tiny kitchen at the back. “Our bathroom is the ocean water because it just washes it away,” Julito says to me because I kept looking around for the restroom. Hundreds of locals live in this floating village, dependent on the ocean’s moods to keep them fed, safe and alive.

They served us saang, a local shellfish, together with salt and hot white rice. I look outside at the late afternoon shadows reflecting on the water. Alan chats away with Julito, calling the wife in the kitchen to join us. Alan’s eyes caught mine, and I take an appreciative smile at how our day turned out. Soon it’s time to say goodbye.

About the Author

Crystal Neri is a freelance writer who has worked across media platforms in places as diverse as US, Singapore, and Australia. She lives in Cebu City where she covers travel and entrepreneurship at crystalneri.com. Say Hi to her (@nericrystal) on Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to her newsletter:

The post Why Surigao Del Norte Is My Favorite appeared first on Crystal Neri.

In 2017, I saw Grand Teton’s famous snow-capped peaks and Yellowstone’s buffalos, boils and bubbles.  More than ever, I spent time with my Neri and Superal families. I cooked, read and worked out more. We travelled to Bohol, Batanes, US, Korea, Japan and China. But it wasn’t a perfect year – there were tears and hardships too.

In July, my husband Jovi and I got separated for almost 2 months because my family needed me. In November, we seriously asked ourselves when’s a good time to have kids. This year was particularly difficult for me at work. I learned that I’m extremely tolerant and good with time, but I also have blind spots in big-picture thinking and making decisions too fast. Here’s a look back at all the happy and sad memories in 2017:

January

2017 started with sad news: the project I was working on will have to end abruptly, and my sisters Princess and Ace will be leaving for the US as green card holders. After wiping a few tears, I went about my month focused on lifting weights in the gym and travel planning for the year.

February

As I was slowly wrapping up my tasks at work, I received happy news. I got invited to speak at the first ever Tech Ladies Meetup in Cebu to talk about how I got into marketing. My major in college, Multimedia Communications, was really what lead me to this path. I was nervous for the entire duration of the 15-minute speech, but I had a great time preparing and meeting the other ladies in tech like me.

Also in February, I signed up for my longest run ever (7 kilometres) for the SM to SM Marathon. I have many friends and a husband who are avid runners, so I felt like a beginner in their world. But running in the rain at 4:OO AM for 7km rain was not a joke!

March

March was a challenging and busy month for work, travel and my husband’s 8-day absence. Every year, Jovi the PAL Men’s Golf Championship. I’m always sad to see him go, but I’ve found ways to fill up his absence in the last couple years. One time, I travelled solo to beautiful Surigao, and this year, I updated all my Inbound Marketing certifications.

On the first week of March, Sierra arrived in Cebu. We got massages, pedicures and sampled Filipino food. With Jovi in tow, we spent a weekend in Bohol to see tarsiers and Alona Beach. I was so glad that despite the years, Sierra and I remained good friends and that 2017 was finally the year that she visited the Philippines.

With the end of my work project, came two big opportunities right after. I was sourced by a recruiter for a social media project and got hired to consult as Inbound Marketer. In March, I had to juggle three jobs (at one point) that I remember spending nights at a cafe just to finish my long to-do list.

Jovi and I travelled to Seoul, South Korea on the last week of March. What a trip! Within 4 days, we saw the Changdeukgung and Changgyeoggung palaces, visited DMZ and ate some of the world’s best street food at Myeongdong. If you’re ever visiting Seoul, check out the video above and my blog about things to see and do there.

April

I’m a big fan of birthdays, so April is always a special month as I turn 26 years old. As a pre-Holy Week and early birthday celebration, Jovi and I travelled to Batanes, the northernmost tip of the Philippines. Many Filipino dream of visiting Batanes, but many are put off by the price and how hard it is to get there. Batanes does not look like anything else in the Philippines – rolling hills, ‘Honesty’ stores, and having four seasons make it unique. If you ever dream of seeing Batanes, stay tuned for my next blog about how we got an affordable travel package there.

When we got back from Batanes, it’s already Maundy Thursday. Holy Week in the Philippines is always a very big deal – everything shuts down and families tend to travel or stay home. We usually spend Holy Week in Amara and I’m thrilled to have my sister Ace fly in for the week. This year, my 26th birthday landed on Easter Sunday. My family had dinner in Italian heirloom restaurant Trattoria Gianni, with a special appearance from Matteo De Guidicelli.

May

After Seoul and Bohol, we had to plan for another mammoth trip – the Neri family cruise. My in-laws brought the entire family (15 of us!) to a 5-day Royal Caribbean cruise from Shanghai, China to Kumamoto, Japan. I volunteered to handle all cruise registrations and help with the Chinese VISAS.

To take advantage of the trip, Jovi and I flew to Shanghai one day earlier than everyone else to see the Bund and the Shanghai Museum. That turns out to be one of the best decisions of the year! We saw some of the oldest artefacts of jade, porcelain and silk in the Shanghai Museum. And we rode the Maglev train, the first and fastest commercial train in the world. Stay tuned for my next blog about 24-hours in Shanghai.

The cruise was perfect – my in-laws, Nelia and Julius, spent a wonderful 51st anniversary onboard Quantum of the Seas and everyone enjoyed our bonding time. My family especially loved shopping in Yatsushiro, and some of us even got to do a side trip to the Kumamoto Castle. This deserves a blog post on its own, so I will write one soon. We hope that we can continue to do family trips like this in the future.

June

My mom asked me to fly to San Diego, California to help my sisters acclimate as new immigrants there. I thought this would be the perfect time for an extended trip, but I felt bad leaving Jovi for 6 weeks. This would be the longest separation we had since 2014. (Turns out, Jovi will end up losing 10 lbs. and be in the best shape of his life in my absence.) I spent most of June freelance writing, hiking, driving and caddying around Escondido and San Diego. Thinking of visiting San Diego soon? I highly recommend the San Diego Safari Park! Here’s a list of things to do and see there.

July

Every year, July is the highlight of our year because of the Callaway Junior World Championship, an annual golf tournament for elite junior golfers. Even if I don’t play that tournament anymore, I’ve been delegated as driver and caddy of my sister Ace.

Mid-July, me, my mom Grace and sister Ace went on a trip of a lifetime – to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park. We saw 500 buffalos, dozens of elk and moose and some of the best views of waterfalls and snow-capped mountains in the entire U.S. From San Diego, we flew to Salt Lake City, then drove through Jackson Hole to Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. Anyone who’s had any similar long drives with the family will attest to how fun this was. I’m so thankful for my Mom for this trip and for teaching me to be an adventurer!

August

After 6 long weeks in the US, I finally came home to Cebu. My husband has lost so much weight, we had to go shopping and alter his clothes. I’m so proud of him! He’s back to running and going to the gym again. It’s time to double down on my work again as I committed to a bigger role in the company where I was freelancing. I felt travel exhaustion, so Jovi and I cancelled any other trips for the year (even our fully-paid tickets to Clark, Pampanga).

September

I prepare for one big golf tournament at the end the year – the PAL Ladies Golf Championship, the biggest ladies golf team event in the country. It’s like going on a tournament with your closest friends and also be with other friends you rarely see. I’m so happy to have my sister Princess and best friend Inez fly in for the PAL tournament. On our free days, we would sneak out for dessert, lunch or a movie. To prepare for this tournament, I start my weight lifting two months prior and reach up to 88% max for deadlifts and squats. I play a whole lot more, too. This year, I didn’t finish the tournament well, but that’s just how golf is. We’ll try again next year!

October

October continues to be busy with the birthday of my husband, golf tournaments, and the annual Cebu Country Club Halloween party. On his 40th birthday, Jovi played golf with me and some friends who joined us for dinner at the Japanese restaurant, Kamakura. It was a night of memorable fresh soba noodles flown in from Japan, then served and cooked in front us. 

As an ode to my time in San Francisco, I’ve taken the Halloween costume to a serious level. We join the Cebu Country Club Halloween costume contest every year. In 2016, I won as Wonder Woman. This year, I wanted to be Linda Blair from The Exorcist. My costume was so scary that I had to sleep with the lights on for so many days. At the party, I’ve never made so many kids cry. It was so great to share this experience with my best friend Jonathan, who not only flew in for Halloween but was also my partner priest.

November

November was a time for reflection and finally investing in a few procedures. Jovi and I seriously asked ourselves if we should have kids, but we’re just not ready yet. My husband is the most incredible, supportive person and I have to keep reminding myself how rare it is to be married to someone like that. Also this month, I’ve finally decided to pay for laser hair removal. Just imagine a future where you never have to bring any razor to any trip – that alone makes it worth the hassle and expenses for me. To prepare for 2018 travel,  I volunteered to process my family’s Japanese and US VISAS. I’m so impressed with the US Embassy’s Interview Waiver Drop Box Program. If you’re a Filipino who wants to renew your US VISA, this is a must-read.

December

The only way to avoid traffic and jam-packed streets and malls in the Philippines during December is to do Christmas shopping early. Every year, we have a 30-person gift list. I started shopping for them 6 months ago, so our December was stress-free! Yet, this month is still always a whirlwind of parties and hosting friends and family. For some miracle, my sister Princess was in town, so she spent 9 wonderful days with us. Daizo, Ryoko and baby Ryusei, our friends from Tokyo visited Cebu for the first time in years. When I married Jovi, I didn’t expect a whole barangay of family and friends who would accept me and love each other so much. When my big family is being loud while eating and laughing, my simple happiness is knowing that I’ve helped organise the get-together in some way. December is always a reminder of that.

2018….

My goals for the year:

• To give away more free stuff for my readers (ebooks, itineraries, travel packing lists, etc)
• To learn more about Stoicism and do my daily journal.  In November, I signed up for the Daily Stoic, a free daily newsletter about Stoic lessons. Stoicism was invented by the Greeks and perfected by the Romans – as a way to deal with everyday life. It’s the best thing I read every day
• To learn how to say no more often and be more “authentic”
• To take on a 30-day no shopping challenge. No shopping clothes, accessories, bags or shoes. The reason is that I already have too much stuff and I need to pull back
• To take on monthly 24-hour fasts. My goal is to calibrate my need to eat. I find that it really curbs my appetite for the next few days/ weeks
• We hope to go to Europe at the end of the year. I’ve been saving up for this!  So far, we’ve already booked flights to Coron in March
• To eat more mindfully. I’ve always been an intuitive eater, but I could be better about eating when I’m not hungry
• To reach my goal of lifting 2x my body weight. That means I have to deadlift and squat 240 lbs. The reason is that I’ve hit a plateau and want to take my strength to the next level

About the Author

Crystal Neri is a Content and Social Media Marketer. She is a Hootsuite and Hubspot certified expert, covering travel, self-improvement and marketing trends. A graduate of Academy of Art University in San Francisco, Crystal currently works as a marketer in Cebu City, Philippines. Say Hi to her on Twitter (@nericrystal) and Instagram (@nericrystal).

Let me know if you have any travel stories or tips to share in the comments section below. Also, say Hi to me on Twitter (@nericrystal) or subscribe to my newsletter:

The post 2017: Year in Review appeared first on Crystal Neri.

THIS BLOG IS A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE to how I received my 10-year US VISA in just 2 days! I’m a Filipino so I went through Embassy of the US, Manila, Philippines using their Interview Waiver Dropbox Program.

My husband and I received our 10-year US VISA using the Interview Waiver Dropbox program (IWDBP). It was fast, easy and convenient – since we live in Cebu City, there was no need for us to fly to Manila for the US Embassy interview or get bulky paperwork (Employment Certificate, Bank Statements, etc. ). In this blog, I’ll give you a rundown of all the things I did, but I still recommend that you check out the official directions from the USTRAVELDOCS website.

What’s the Interview Waiver Drop Box Program?

According to Travel Weekly, the Interview Waiver Dropbox Program (IWDBP) was “made permanent in 2014 to save applicants time and money, allow them to travel to the United States more frequently, and free up consular resources to focus more on first-time applicants.”

How did we qualify for the Interview Waiver Drop Box Program (IWDBP)?

My husband and I are both Filipino citizens and residents of Cebu City. Since I was 14 years old, I’ve been travelling to the US every year. In 2009 to 2014, I had a student (F1) visa as I went to college in San Francisco, California. I still fly to the US often to see my family based in San Diego. As one blogger who talked about the IWDBP, I go the States like it’s my “Quiapo.”

My husband Jovi is also a frequent traveller to the US. Fun fact: We both got our 10-year US VISAs almost at the same time 10 years ago. Now I’m married to him and applying for the same thing at the same time.  If you don’t travel to the US like it’s your ‘Quiapo,’ the next important paragraph is for you.

STEP 1: Make sure you qualify for the Interview Waiver Drop Box Program (IWDBP)

USTRAVELDOCS lists down  Eligibility Criteria for Drop Box Applicants. As of November 2017, the questions are:

• I have a previous B1/B2 visa that I wish to renew.
• My visa was issued after July 1, 2007.
• My prior visa was valid for at least five years.
• My prior B1/B2 visa is still valid or expired within the last 12 months
• I am a citizen of the Philippines.
• My prior visa does not say “Clearance Received” or “Travel with Employer”.
• I have my passport with my B1/B2 visa in my possession.
• My most recent visa was issued on or after my 14th birthday.
• The last time I applied for a B1/B2 visa it was approved.IMPORTANT: Check out this USTRAVELDOCS link to that lists down the official steps of getting a US VISA

STEP 2: Get organised

There are going to be lots of documents, links, and passwords that you have to keep track of. Mighty pen and paper are always good, but I since I use the productivity app Asana, that’s what I recommend. It’s also good to have a digital backup of all your files while doing this. Here’s a screenshot of my Asana:

Note that I blocked sensitive information, kept track of my DS-160, added links to the application sites, used a separate tab for the VISA application fee and a separate ‘section’ for my husband’s information

Step 3: Fill out the DS-160 form, including your photo

The US Embassy recommends you pay first before you even apply. I didn’t do that because I know the DS-160 can take up a bit of time to fill up first. The results were still successful but I did have to wait one extra day for the transaction to come through, which we’ll discuss later.

Think of the DS-160 Form as the “root” of your application. It’s a one-page summary of all the answers in your application such as current job, passport information, length of stay, etc. It’s more or less around 20 pages and it took me less than an hour (for each applicant) to finish answering.

5 Last Trips To The US and Duration Of Stay

The hardest part of our DS-160 Form application was the question about our last 5 trips to the US, including date of entry and duration of stay.

How did I do it? I looked at my passport stamps and wrote down the arrival in the US and arrival back in Manila. Then, I used a date calculator (any will do, just google ‘date calculator’) to count the days/months/weeks for the total duration of stay.

After that, the DS-160 Form questions were straightforward. Answer as truthfully as possible, because they can block or red flag you if you fake anything.

Continue or Retrieve An Application

Since filling up the DS-160 Form is a delicate and long procedure, the website allows you to ‘save’ or ‘pause’ answering. I did this several times because I had to get my ID photo right.

ID Photo

This site describes specific guidelines for getting the correct US VISA application ID photo. Please make sure you follow that – you don’t want to mess up your application just because you sent the wrong photo! Just note:

If you keep getting an ‘error’ message when you upload, try taking another photo in better light or cropping it in different ways

How did I do it? I got a professional photo (since they know the requirements for US VISA application) and then took a picture on my phone. Next, I uploaded it my phone’s Google Keep and saved that file on my computer. Some people may choose to scan the photos or get the digital version but this is what I did and it worked just fine.

Step 4: Pay the US VISA FEE and save the original receipt

This is the link to the US VISA fee application page. Note that each time you click on the specific fee/page, a unique set of numbers will pop up. This is your ‘receipt number,’ a very important number to remember when paying and confirming your US VISA application.

How I paid US VISA fee:

1. I went to BPI in Ayala Centre Cebu
2. In the BPI machine, I looked for ‘US VISA’ payment transaction
3. I entered all the information asked
4. I went to the teller to pay the amount (as of November 2017, it was $160 USD or PHP 8320)
5. I kept the original receipt from the transaction. DO NOT LOSE this paper, it’s one of the five things you’ll submit with your application

There was also a way to pay online using BPI Express, but when I tried it, the page kept giving me error messages. That’s why I resorted to going to a local bank.

STEP 5: Print out the DS-160 Form

After paying the US VISA fee, I waited for 24-hours to give time for the bank transaction to come through. Next, I logged back into the DS-160 Form Application. Once I’ve finished double-checking my answers and photo, I hit ‘Submit.’ The last page showed me my DS-160 Confirmation printout. I saved it as PDF and also took a screenshot as a backup copy. As a final step, I printed out the DS-160 Confirmation page. The top part of it looks like this:

I blocked sensitive info

Step 6: Register an account on CGIFEDERAL

The CGIFEDERAL link allows you to schedule your VISA appointment. In our case as IWDB program, they are going to be a set of questions that will verify and then give us the Dropbox Confirmation Letter.

Question: Did you change your name since your last US VISA?

One confusing part for me here was the question asking if I need to change my name since my last US VISA. Since I got married in 2015, yes I did. But there was a reminder on top of each question: “If applying as a family or group, all members must be able to answer yes to the following question”

Despite that, I still answered “No” because I have my current passport in the new name and I’m willing to supplement documents to confirm my name change.

Traveling With Family Members

I used my husband’s account to login CGIFEDERAL. Since the questionnaire asked for family members travelling together, I entered my name, US VISA payment receipt number, DS-160, and all other info required.

The result is one piece of Dropbox Confirmation Letter with my husband as main “Applicant” and myself as “Dependent”. I know I got this right because I saw two unique UID numbers and bar codes. Even if I logged in to my own CGIFEDERAL account, I can no longer use my US VISA payment receipt because that was already used in my husband’s account, thus generating the UID code.

This might be confusing: Two (2) DS-160s, two (2) CGIFEDERAL accounts, Two (2) US VISA payment receipts – but only one Dropbox Confirmation Letter. That’s okay, I still printed out the Drop Box Confirmation TWICE because each applicant needs to send individual Drop Box Confirmation letters. This is what it looks like:

STEP #6: Compile Requirements and Send Via 2GO Courier Service

IMPORTANT: Each applicant needs an individual application or folder

Photocopy everything

The worst case scenario is that all my documents get lost in the mail, so I made sure to photocopy everything I sent.

Packaging

I was paranoid about waterproofing and making sure all our passports (3 pieces each) were safely intact on the way to Manila, so I forked extra money for nice plastic envelopes with strings. I assume that you can simply use a regular short brown envelope because TO GO wraps the package in a plastic anyway.

Sending via 2GO

I went to Ayala Centre’s 2GO branch to drop off my US VISA application. Remember that this service is FREE, no charge at all. They will need your UID code though, so I prepared and printed an extra one just in case.

STEP 7: Wait and check US VISA application status

I sent our papers on Friday and received confirmation that our VISAs were issued on Tuesday. That’s just 2 business days! However, the TOGO people said that our passports have not yet arrived from Manila, so we waited another 2 days. They advised us to wait for “binasaya text” or the text directly from the messenger before we come back for pickup.

Check US VISA STATUS

I also used this link to check our US VISA APPLICATION STATUS. Here’s a screenshot:

SUMMARY:

1. Make sure you qualify for the Drop Box program by answering the questions from the US Embassy. This is also the link to official instructions from the US Embassy, which I recommend you to follow. (Link)

2. Pay the VISA application fee. (Link)

3. Prepare 2 pieces of suitable passport photos in 2″x2″ size. (Link to photo guidelines)

4. Complete the DS-160 Form. This is your 10-15 page ‘application questionnaire.’ (Link)

5. Register an account at CGI Federal to get your Drop Box confirmation letter. (Link)

6. Deliver your requirements to the nearest To Go Courier Outlet.

7. Check VISA application status. (Link)

8. Wait for the email/text confirmation and the return of your passports.

Finally, that’s it!

Looks like a lot of steps but it was pretty easy. I didn’t see anyone writing any detailed instructions about the IWDBP program, so I hope what I wrote is a clear guide for you. As a final reminder, these were the steps I took but your best bet is to consult the official US Embassy guide here.

About the Author

Crystal Neri is a freelance writer who has worked across media platforms in places as diverse as US, Singapore, and Australia. She lives in Cebu City where she covers travel and entrepreneurship at crystalneri.com. Say Hi to her (@nericrystal) on Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to her newsletter:

The post How I Got My 10-Year US VISA In Just 2 Days appeared first on Crystal Neri.

SELFIE WITH A RETICULATED GIRAFFE. Safari Park’s animals live in open outdoor areas and have room to roam in a way you feel nature had intended it

It’s just past 6 in the evening, and I’m taking the last excursion of the Africa Tram. This safari ride will guide me through the biggest field exhibit and one of the highlight features of San Diego Safari Park. Approximately 300,000 people ride it every year. If there are comparisons between the world-famous San Diego Zoo and the Safari Park, just imagine this: the entire Zoo can fit inside the Africa Tram’s field exhibit alone. Today I get to experience the most expensive and up-close encounter of a wildlife savanna through different animals of Africa.

THE AFRICA TRAM takes guests into a 30-minute guided tour where they can observe animals roam freely

On the front row bench where I’m sitting, a European-looking family is occupied not by the chance to see buffalos and cranes in relative wilderness, but with keeping their two kids under control. Mom, with her heavy infant bag, is holding on to dear baby girl while Dad is calming down a hyper 3-year old son. They both look at me narrowly wondering if I’m taking secret photos of their children using my action camera propped to a selfie stick.

I look to my left and see a Bongo with long horns and beautiful caramel skin. The Safari Park is home to 3,000 animals belonging to 300 different species. San Diego Zoo Global (who also owns San Diego Zoo, among others) is committed to conservation and animal care. As I shift my attention back to my surroundings, I realize it’s a glorious chance to see the Safari Park one last time. Bathed now in sunset gold, this is my second time around to try the ride today.

[READ: 7 Days in Oahu, Hawaii]

SMALL AND FAST. The most outstanding feature of the Somali Wild Ass are the horizontal stripes on its legs

DID YOU KNOW THAT the myth of the unicorns may have come from someone seeing a single-horned Scimitar Oryx?

San Diego Zoo, the most popular zoo in America, is located in downtown San Diego, California. Every year, when 3.2 million visitors see the Zoo, just 2 million people visit its sister, the San Diego Safari Park. Most don’t care to drive 35 miles north to San Pasqual Valley, Escondido where the Safari Park is located. Originally designated as a closed “breeding area” for the main Zoo, the owners of Safari Park realized that people will pay to see animals roam free in the open, so they opened the facility in 1972.

I ENJOYED FEEDING LORIKEETS, a very colorful type of parrot

Even though I just spent half the day in this Park, I’ve decided I like it better than the main Zoo. I saw a cheetah, the world’s fastest land animal, run 300 meters in under 60 seconds. I fed colorful lorikeets with a $4/per cup special nectar. I even spotted a single-horned Scimitar oryx, which fulfilled my dreams of seeing a unicorn in real life. Upon entering, the first thing that greeted me was a well-arranged animal stage, lush plants and misters so magical and necessary it made me forget I was in the middle 100-degree Escondido summer heat wave.

SOUTHERN WHITE rhinos are the second largest land animal, next to elephants. They are farmed for their highly-valuable horns, which some Asian cultures claim is a cure to many illnesses

I learned that along the driver’s side is ideal seating for the expansive views of animals and land. Only towards the end of the excursion will it really look like an actual African savanna. It’s one of the few times the driver takes a few seconds to stop giving me sweeping views of Safari Park’s 1,800 acres of protected wildlife and native species habitat. Here, giraffes and a few of the world’s last white rhinos walk side by side. Occasionally, I spot the $150/per person “Caravan Safari” tours that bring guests face-to-face with the animals. I see people feeding giraffes by hand and make a mental note of a great gift to any animal-loving friend. I’m envious of the people who can afford that on top of the $52 one-day pass.

The driver, also the guided narrator of the tram ride says, “Most of the animals you see in the park no longer exist in their natural habitats. They are under preservation all over the world. Even if you fly to Africa today, this isn’t what you see anymore.” One of the animals in the collection is the Grevy’s Zebra. They are originally from Somalia, whose history is marred by constant civil wars so dangerous tourists need to hire a small army for protection and where no physical US consulate exists. I may never step foot in Somalia, but I’m sure glad these Grevy’s Zebras are in good hands today.

FEVER TREES, one of the few trees where photosynthesis happen in the bark, are native to eastern and southern Africa. Notice their unique green barks

Within 30 minutes or so, the ride ends. It’s all too quick, but my companions seem ready to step off the tram already. Perhaps those children can finally get to leave the Safari Park, which is closing in a few minutes anyway. As everyone takes a quick right turn to the exit signs, I head solo the opposite direction. To the “African Loop” it says, another one mile featuring animals like Greater Flamingo, Southern White rhinoceros, and Abyssinnian Ground Hornbill. I’ll eventually see active Okapis, a family of ducks crossing a footbridge, hear hundreds of birds chirp and walk through a mystical collection of fever trees with green barks. I’m taking another few precious minutes to catch wildlife, to extend my alone time, hoping that Safari Park employees won’t catch me just yet.

SAN DIEGO SAFARI PARK is located in San Pasqual Valley, Escondido. It’s about a 2-hour drive from Los Angeles Airport or an hour drive from San Diego Zoo

Tips on getting the most out of your trip to San Diego Safari Park

How To Save Money Inside The Safari Park

Food and drinks inside the Safari Park are overpriced, but you can bring your own food. Just rent a small locker near the entrance ($.75 cents). I also recommend buying a Safari Park souvenir cup ($12), which gets you unlimited drink refills throughout the day.

How To Find Cheap Tickets

One day rates for the San Diego Safari Park run about $52/adult. If you are planning to stay in San Diego for a few days, I recommend getting a San Diego Go Card. You can choose different time durations, but we did the 2-day version. We got to visit San Diego Zoo, all the museums in Balboa Park, and the San Diego Safari Park for just $100 per person.

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About the Author

Crystal Neri is a freelance writer who has worked across media platforms in places as diverse as US, Singapore, and Australia. She lives in Cebu City where she covers travel and entrepreneurship at crystalneri.com. Say Hi to her (@nericrystal) on Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to her newsletter:

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A friend once said that Seoul, Korea is in “no one’s bucket list.” A harsh statement, but it may be true. If Seoul is so great, then how come so many Koreans visit or move to the Philippines? As a Filipino, there are many things we can learn from South Korea. Some say the problem is its location. The Korean peninsula is surrounded by mega-powerful countries such as Russia, Japan, and China; some of which have taken advantage of them at one point. The country’s history is marred by violence and civil war. Their history and culture have been almost obliterated many times over. Despite that, South Korea today is a rich country and a source of many inventions in science and more. How did South Korea rise from the ashes of its past?

In Seoul, I experienced the best street food in the world. The city was safe, clean, and a true modern mega-city with world-class museums, architecture, technology and sites like the DMZ and the Incheon International Airport. But sometimes, the things that go wrong also become the best memories. Two months before I left, I’ve been using the Memrise app to learn some basic Korean language. Only on the last day of our trip that I realized I’ve been saying ‘thank you’ (goma subnida) all wrong. Instead, I’ve been saying ‘sorry’ (goma woyo). No wonder the locals kept giving me such odd looks! It goes without saying that I highly recommend Seoul as a place to visit.

[WATCH: 1-minute vacation to Seoul, South Korea]

How to get to Seoul, South Korea

I already wrote about how to use the Skyscanner app to book and find cheap tickets in my Tokyo, Japan blog. This time in Seoul, I got a free round-trip Cebu Pacific ticket from my mother-in-law. My husband and I just had to pay for Php5,000 (USD $100) in taxes, which I’ll include in the budget breakdown in a separate post.

Getting a VISA to South Korea

In Cebu City, the Consulate General of The Republic of Korea is located on the 12th floor of the Chinabank building, Cebu Business Park. Some basic requirements include your passport, proof of ticket and accommodation, bank statements and income tax return from the Bureau of Internal Revenue. We received our VISAs within 5 business days. For more information, visit their website.

Where to stay in Seoul, South Korea

Seoul is the capital of South Korea (Republic of Korea), with a population of about 10 million. As I usually do when traveling to cities with great public transportation, I stay near major bus or subway stations. Using a quick search in Booking.com, I found Ekonomy Hotel Central in Myeongdong. Here are some of the pros and cons of staying there:

Pros of staying at Ekonomy Hotel Myeongdong:

– Affordable at Php 3,500 (USD $70) per night

-24-hour front desk and friendly staff

– 3-minute walk to Euljiro 1-ga station and right at the heart of Myeongdong food street

– Clean, modern, designs. We loved the tiny and efficient bathrooms

– Private bathroom and a communal kitchen

– Free basic, cold breakfast of oats, bread, jam. They offer free coffee and a great selection of Western and Korean teas (my favorite was the nuts and barley tea)

Cons of staying at Ekonomy Hotel Myeongdong:

• Construction and some noise at time ofcheck-in (March 2017)
• Hard to find, even for locals
• The room itself is very tight. No cabinets or tables, or space for clothes and food. They make up for this with their communal kitchen

Pro tip: Print out the map directions from the hotel staff. I usually get this before I even leave the country. The hotel is on the 15th floor and is very hard to find.

What’s the weather in Seoul, South Korea

I was monitoring the weather in Seoul, South Korea for months, knowing that it would be cold when we arrive in March. Seoul gets the draft from Russia, so it’s known for harsh winters. My husband and I came prepared with the thickest winter clothes, Uniqlo heat gear, fleece and double-lined parkas. But when we got there, we were surprised by the pleasant 8-degree Spring weather.

How to Visit Seoul, Must-Have Items:

1. Pocket Wifi (Wide Mobile)

I’m a big fan of pocket Wifi, just like what I recommended in Tokyo, Japan. A friend of ours, Tommy, who is a tour guide in Seoul, recommended Wide Mobile. It cost about Php 250 (USD $5) per day.

2. 

   
   T-money card photo from Visit Korea website

The T-money transportation card is very similar to Tokyo, Japan’s Suica, which you can use in public buses and subways. It costs about Php 100 ($USD 2) each. We purchased ours from a 7-eleven store and reloaded it in the stations.

     3. Apps to download

These are the useful apps in my trip to Seoul:

• iTourSeoul – made by the government. It’s a handy app with maps, travel guide PDFs. When I got lost, I simply used one of the area maps when I lost my paper version.
• Seoul Subway – Metro map and route planner. I couldn’t have survived Seoul without this map, which I used to commute all over the city.
• XE Currency – a basic currency converter
• Google Translate – I just discovered a nifty trick in Google translate. Turns out, I can type in English, click the Korean version and make it view full screen on my phone. When I was in a bookstore looking for a paperback version, that’s I what I showed to the store associate. They understood right away.

One of the best airports in the world – Incheon International Airport

If I have to fall in love with an airport, Incheon International is the one. It’s consistently awarded as one of the best airports in the world. There are free museums, shower and sleeping areas. The shop and food sections are plentiful. On the 4th floor, there’s a “Korean Town” where my husband and I shared a large traditional Korean meal for Php 415 (USD $8). My favorite is the automatic tax refund machines that scan passports in seconds.

How to get from Incheon Airport To Seoul

The Incheon International Airport is about 50 kilometers to Seoul. There are several options to get to and from the airport:

1. Airport Limousine Bus – If you just do a quick Google search of “Seoul airport limousine bus,” you’ll find lots of information. This blog also talks about it here. I didn’t use this one because there was none running at our arrival time of 11:00PM.
2. Taxi
3. Seoul Subway + AREX Airport Railroad Train
   

   Arex photo from Seoul Guide website

Several blogs have mentioned the AREX Airport Railroad Train as clean, fast, and convenient. We used this on the return trip from Seoul to Incheon airport. Just make sure you don’t have heavy luggage because you’ll have to carry your it up and down stairs. Each trip costs about Php 700 (USD $14) per person from Seoul Station to Incheon Airport.

How to Visit Seoul: Summary

1. Even before you go, start reading about Korea. I read the usual guidebooks Lonely Planet, Fodors, etc. and watched Youtube explainer videos about North Korea (my current obsession).
2. If you have questions or have specific tours in mind, please reach out to our friend Tommy, who runs WonderPlanet. I’ll talk about our tour to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in a separate post.
3. Learn basic Korean words using phrasebooks, videos or lessons. Personally, I love the Memrise app. I used it a few months before our trip, and it has helped me remember and pronounce landmarks such as Cheonggyecheon, Changdeokgung, and Changgyeonggung.
4. Book accommodation as VISA requirement. Choose a location without any cancellation fees
5. Prepare all Korean VISA requirements. Apply.
6. Check weather report.
7. There are lots of money exchange booths all over town, so exchanging to US dollars to Korean Won is not a problem.
8. Download all the necessary Seoul apps.
   

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This is Part 1 of my series “How To Visit Seoul, South Korea” discussing all the preparation. In Part 2, we will talk about the things to see and do in Seoul, including how much it costs to travel there. Tune in!

About the Author

Crystal Neri is a freelance writer who has worked across media platforms in places as diverse as US, Singapore, and Australia. She lives in Cebu City where she covers travel and entrepreneurship at crystalneri.com. Say Hi to her (@nericrystal) on Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to her newsletter:

The post How To Visit To Seoul, South Korea (Part 1) appeared first on Crystal Neri.