Mostar, A Gem in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Recently, I visited Mostar, a city in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina, straddling the Neretva River. This small but beautiful town can easily be reached through a three-hour bus ride from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital.

Philippine passport holders and other nationalities can visit Bosnia and Herzegovina without needing to obtain an actual Bosnia and Herzegovina Visa if they have a valid dual or multiple-entry Schengen Visa.

Top Reasons To Visit Mostar

It is cheap! With that being said, your dollar can go a long way in this city. An amazing dinner with one main course, one pint of beer, and a plate of dessert would only cost you less than 10 Euros. Accommodations are very affordable as well, the average nightly rate for an Airbnb apartment is only around 15 Euros.

It is a city like no other! Mostar is one of those places which instantly transports you back in time. Its stunning old town will make you feel as if you are in a medieval era.

Very Hospitable Locals! Mostar is one of those very few places which has made me feel very welcome during my stay. The hospitality of the locals is just beyond compare.

Things to do:

Explore The Old Town

There are definitely tons of things to do in this stunning town. But if you are only spending a day or two then I highly suggest that you explore the old town and dine in one of the local restaurants and try some local cuisine.

Visit the Stari Most a.k.a Mostar Bridge Stari Most, also known as Mostar Bridge, is a rebuilt 16th-century Ottoman bridge in the city of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This spectacular bridge is basically Mostar’s most famous and beautiful landmark. This year, the bridge was the backdrop for the spectacular Red Bull cliff diving competition. It was the tournament’s sixth stop.

I stayed at ‘APART AS’ an amazing Airbnb apartment very close to the old town and I highly recommend it! Our host Almir even picked us up from the bus station for free, and not only that, he also served us some homemade fig cakes and a glass of homemade wild fruit juice to welcome us. Probably the best Airbnb Experience I’ve ever had. So when you are looking for an affordable and nice Airbnb apartment to stay at in Mostar, then this place is definitely a must.

Our Airbnb Host Almir.

Photo courtesy of Apart AS

Photo courtesy of Apart AS

Photo courtesy of Apart AS

You can check the apartment on Airbnb here.

Here are more images to finally convince you to visit Mostar on your next travel 😀

I’ve spent a total of two days exploring and discovering everything this stunning town has to offer. I can say that it is one of the most underrated destinations in Europe. Maybe probably because of its past, but I am happy that I was able to visit this underrated gem and witness its Beauty.

Thank you for reading! Happy travels!

Philippines, Top Reasons to Visit and Explore This Paradise

The Philippines is an archipelago (an extensive group of islands) divided into three major areas, mainly: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The Philippines has over 7107 islands, so imagine all the things you can do in this country.

In this article, I will be discussing about some of the top reasons as to why you should visit the Philippines NOW! But before that, here are few facts about the Philippines:

-The people in the Philippines are called ‘Filipinos’ and the official Languages in the Philippines are ‘Filipino’ and ‘English’.

-The Philippines is the second largest archipelago in the world, next to Indonesia.

-For three-consecutive years, Palawan in the Philippines has bagged the award for being the Best Island in the Whole World, that’s according to Conde Nast Magazine.

-It is my home country! 😀

Top Reasons to Visit The Philippines

White Sand Beaches

-This is something that the Philippines is proud of, having too many white sand beaches. Well, it has 7107 islands in the first place. Palawan, Boracay, Cebu and Siargao are some of the best places in Southern Philippines which offers amazing white-sand beaches. 

Countless Islands to Explore

-The Philippines has over seven thousand one hundred seven islands in total and most of these islands are covered by tropical rain forests. You will basically never run out of things to do in The Philippines, just imagine how much time you’ll be needing to be able to explore all the country’s islands.

Thousand of Waterfalls to Chase

– Aside from having countless Islands and beaches. The Philippines also has a lot of waterfalls. One of the most picturesque waterfalls in the whole world is situated here, the Kawasan Falls in Badian, Cebu. 

Friendly People

-I’m pretty sure you have heard or read tons of foreign visitors praising the Filipino people for their hospitality. It is true, most of the time, We Filipinos aim to make you feel welcome in our country. As a Filipino myself, this is something that I’m proud of.

Scrumptious Local Cuisines

-We Filipinos love to eat, but more importantly, we love to cook as well. I am being objective when I say that the Philippine cuisine is one of the best in the world, otherwise it wouldn’t be featured in a lot of mainstream Food Channels and Magazines. 😀

Did you know that boiled duck embryo is also a very famous cuisine in the Philippines, yeah you read that right ‘boiled duck embryo’. This is a must-try when you’re in the Philippines

It’s cheaper than most countries

-This is one of the main reasons why the Philippines is one of the best places to travel to, your dollar can go a long way! An average meal will only cost you around $1-$2 in some restaurants and an average AirBnB accommodation will only cost you around $20 per night. 

The best Islands in the whole world is in this country!

For the past years, Palawan has been bagging awards for being the most beautiful island not only in the Philippines but in the whole world! I’ve been to Palawan myself and can testify together with all these other people who have voted this island as the best in the world. Honestly speaking, it is not only the best island in the world but it is indeed one of the most beautiful places here in the planet when it comes to everything.

Recently, Siargao Island also bagged the award for being the most beautiful island in the whole world for this year!

Again, I always tell people to go to these places to see what I’m talking about. 

Top Places to Visit in the Philippines

This is a list of all the places which I always suggest whenever someone asks me as to where the best places to go to in the Philippines are.

El nido, Palawan

I’ve been here many times, and each visit I always feel the same excitement as if it’s my first time visiting the place. During my first visit in El Nido, It felt like I was in another ‘place’, not another country, but another ‘place’, I just can’t describe where that place is because of its extreme beauty, I was struck, it felt like I was in heaven. 

There are like four major island tours in El Nido, mainly Tour A, B, C, and D. Each tour has an itinerary which will bring you to several group of islands. Each tour has a duration of approximately eight hours. So if you want to explore all these beautiful islands, make sure to stay for at least a week in El Nido. 

Coron, Palawan

I’ve only been here once but this is one of the many places in the Philippines which I would like to visit again. Like El Nido, Coron also offers different Island Tours. So make sure to spend at least a week in this place as well. 

The main highlight of Coron is the beautiful Kayangan Lake. The Kayangan lake is dubbed as the cleanest inland body of water in the Philippines. It is also one of the most photographed places in the Philippines. 

Siargao Island

Siargao, a tear-drop shaped island in the province of Surigao del Norte. Famous for its stunning beaches and surfing sites. This island was recently named “The 2019 Best Island in The World” by Conde Nast Traveler. How is that for an award?! It is one of the major surfing capitals in the Philippines as well.

Photo courtesy of: @iamuras

Photo courtesy of: @iamuras

Malapascua Island, Cebu

Malapascua Island is an island located on the Northern Part of Cebu. From Cebu City, you can easily reach this island through a five hour van or bus ride and another hour boat ride. Malapascua is famous for its pristine white beaches as well as a famous place for divers. It is also here where you can witness one beautiful shark specie, the Thresher Shark. Definitely a place to go to when in the Philippines. 

When you’re visiting Malapascua Island, make sure to stay at Malapascua Budget Inn, the best place to stay in the island. They offer both private rooms and dorms-for those who are traveling on a budget.

Kawasan Falls, Badian, Cebu

Kawasan falls is one of my favorite places here on earth. It is located in Badian which is a small town in the province of Cebu in the southern part of the Philippines. In spite being one of the most famous tourist spots in the Philippines which led it to gain its  name as the most picturesque waterfall in the country and one of the most beautiful destinations in the world, It has become one of my favorites simply because of its magnificent beauty that captivates my soul whenever I visit it. Definitely a playground for travel photographers and film makers.

Sagada, Mt. Province

Sagada is basically an option for travelers who loves to hike. This place is famous for it’s waterfalls and caves. One of the highlights of Sagada is the Sumaguing Cave. The Sumaguing Cave is an expansive cave network with ancient stalagmites & steep descents. Definitely a must-visit place for spelunkers.

Aside from waterfalls and caves, Sagada also is one of the coldest town in the Philippines as it has an altitude of 5000 feet above sea level. That’s why it’s one of the most popular destinations for both lower-land populations and foreigners during the summer.  

One thing I want to highlight about Sagada is their yogurt. It’s basically one of the best home-made yogurts I’ve ever tasted! So make sure to try one when you are in Sagada. 

Buscalan Village, Tinglayan, Kalinga

-Buscalan Village is famously know as the home of Kalinga’s Oldest Traditional Tattooist, Whang-od Oggay. 

I remember the first time I visited Buscalan, I was 16 and went there alone! I don’t know what’s gotten into me but it surely was the start of my wanderlust story. Since then, I haven’t kept track as to how many times I’ve been there already. Well, basically, I’ve been captivated by its breathtaking landscapes and its rich culture resulting in many countless returns. Definitely a place that would surely make you wanna’ come back for more. 

Have you been to the Philippines? How many of these places have you been to? Tell us about your experience through the comment section below!

North Macedonia Travel with my Philippines Passport

Few weeks back, I traveled across several countries in the Balkan Region in Europe. I was able to cover four Balkan Countries in eight days. Well it took a few days of planning like booking all accommodations and transportations in advance to get the cheapest deal available.

As a Philippines Passport holder, I needed to have a valid visa to be able to visit these countries. But fortunately, all of these countries allow passport holders from several countries to enter without having the need to obtain a visa for each, as long as they are holding a valid multiple-entry Schengen Visa. And obviously in my case, I used my valid Schengen Visa to travel across these countries.

Traveling to several countries in a single trip doesn’t need to be tough, especially when you are traveling across Europe. Whenever I go on a trip, I try to cross-out at least two countries in each trip to save on flight costs. And countries in Europe are pretty much situated near each other and can easily be accessed through land transportations such as buses, trains, etc. which makes it more easier. I travelled pretty much through buses across these countries with seven hours being the longest time.

Crossing the border to some of these countries can be quite tough though, especially to people who are holding passports from third-world nations. So I highly suggest that you should always have all the useful documents like onward tickets, accommodations etc. ready with you whenever you cross a border to prove that your main purpose of visit is merely for tourism.

Skopje, North Macedonia

My first stop was in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia. Skopje is a pretty compact capital surrounded by beautiful mountains. I spent a total of two days exploring this city. It is also quite affordable to travel in this city, like a pint of beer ordered from a pub or restaurant would only cost you less than a Euro.

So far, the best places that I recommend in Skopje are Canyon Matka and Skopje’s Old Town. Canyon Matka is one of the main highlight of North Macedonia, it is also one of the most beautiful canyon I’ve ever seen. It can easily be reached through a 20-minute taxi ride from Skopje’s Town Center. The old town is just located in the city-center itself. Here you can see countless different giant statues and stunning cobbled streets.

Pristina, Kosovo

My second stop was in Pristina, the capital of Kosovo. I arrived in Pristina through a two-hour bus ride from Skopje and spent a day exploring everything that this city has to offer. Crossing the border from North Macedonia to Kosovo is one of the quickest and easiest border crossings I’ve ever done in my whole life of traveling.

Pristina is a beautiful city, you can pretty much explore everything in this city within a day. Mother Theresa Boulevard is a must-visit when in Pristina. Here you can find countless hip cafes and authentic local restaurants where you can have a taste of amazing Kosovo cuisines. The same as Skopje, this city is also quite affordable to travel to.

Sofia, Bulgaria

My third stop, Sofia! Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria and one of the most beautiful European cities. I spent a total of three days exploring everything that this city has to offer. Sofia can easily be reached through a four-hour bus ride from Skopje in North Macedonia or Pristina in Kosovo.

Sofia has so much history, and you can see it from the ruins which still remain intact until today. Some of the few things I recommend worth visiting in this city is the Vitosha Boulevard, their main street and the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the whole of Europe.

Belgrade, Serbia

Belgrade or Beograd, the capital of Serbia is my final stop on this trip. I arrived in Belgrade’s main bus station after a seven-hour bus ride from Sofia, Bulgaria. From the bus station, the city center can easily be reached in less than ten-minutes by foot. I stayed for a total of four days exploring and discovering everything this city has to offer.

Belgrade is a big and beautiful city, I know it’ll be beautiful prior to visiting it but I wasn’t expecting it to be very vast. It has also been dubbed as ‘the city that never sleeps’. The capital has two main areas worth exploring, New Belgrade and Old Belgrade. New Belgrade is on the left side of the Sava river while Old Belgrade is on the opposite.

Although the whole city itself is worth exploring, there are few things in Belgrade that I highly recommend worth visiting. The Knez Mihailova Street and the Belgrade Fortress shouldn’t be missed when you are visiting Belgrade. The Knez Mihailova Street is one of the oldest and most valuable landmarks of the city and there you can find countless shops, restaurants, cafes, pub, etc. While the Belgrade Fortress is one of the most beautiful spots in Belgrade for sunset viewing and it can easily be reached from the other end of the Knez Mihailova Street.