#travel-essentials

How I got a Two-Year Multiple  Entry Schengen Visa on my 3rd Application
Germany

How I got a Two-Year Multiple Entry Schengen Visa on my 3rd Application

Sep 5, 2022 7 min read

This has been an overdue post and I am glad to finally write it. I have been wanting to share my visa experience but I honestly do not know why the German embassy decided to give me a longer visa validity. I also haven't found official rules on granting multi-year visas. I read unofficial Schengen blogs saying that you need to have obtained and use

Common Philippine Immigration Interview Questions to Non-OFWs | Tourism & Meeting a Foreign Partner
The Philippines

Common Philippine Immigration Interview Questions to Non-OFWs | Tourism & Meeting a Foreign Partner

Jun 9, 2021 6 min read

Going through Philippine Immigration can feel like going through a job interview. And some say it's a matter of luck because there are some super strict Immigration Officials and some who won't even ask a single question. It can be stressful when you do not know what to expect but it doesn't have to be if you're prepared and clear with your travel

A Year as a Digital Nomad: The Things I Miss & Do Not Miss Working in an Office
#digitalnomads

A Year as a Digital Nomad: The Things I Miss & Do Not Miss Working in an Office

Feb 4, 2021 10 min read

It's been over a year since I started my digital nomad journey. It took me years to decide and finally submitted that resignation paper. For over 10 years, I worked in an office. It was a difficult decision to leave as it was my sense of identity and my stability. But the dream of traveling the world without worrying about limited vacation time was

Why Travel Alone? Thoughts About Solo Female Traveling 10 Years Later
#traveladvice

Why Travel Alone? Thoughts About Solo Female Traveling 10 Years Later

Jan 18, 2021 6 min read

A disclaimer before anything else. I'm no longer a solo traveler as I found my other half while traveling and we prefer to travel as a couple now. This write up was from my very first blog reinforest.wordpress.com from over 10 years ago. Back then solo female traveling was unusual especially for Filipinos who like traveling as a group.  While I'm n

How to Become a Digital Nomad in 2023 | 10 Things to Do Before You Quit Your 9 to 5 Job
#traveladvice

How to Become a Digital Nomad in 2023 | 10 Things to Do Before You Quit Your 9 to 5 Job

Jan 15, 2021 15 min read

How to become a digital nomad an quit your 9 to 5 job? Most digital nomads I met are from rich countries and this is still an uncommon path for us, Filipinos. But I'm here to tell you that it is doable for us. One of the most difficult process in becoming a digital nomad is leaving your comfortable life. So I'm here to share how I was able to quit

SafetyWing Review: Why it’s the Best International Travel Medical Insurance for Filipinos
#traveladvice

SafetyWing Review: Why it’s the Best International Travel Medical Insurance for Filipinos

Jan 13, 2021 7 min read

Who doesn't love to budget? I will search for hours to find the best value accommodation and the cheapest flights. I don't buy expensive clothes so my money goes to my travel funds. But travel insurance is something I won't compromise on! Before I started my long term and indefinite trip, I thoroughly researched for the most affordable travel insur

Avoid Getting Offloaded 2020 | Tips to Pass Philippine Immigration During the Pandemic
Pasay

Avoid Getting Offloaded 2020 | Tips to Pass Philippine Immigration During the Pandemic

Dec 29, 2020 10 min read

 This blog is an updated guide based on my recent experience with Philippine Immigration. Non-essential travel was allowed late October 2020 but Philippine Immigration remains very strict. Sadly, I still see several stories of people getting offloaded by our Immigration Officers. I have a separate post on tips on passing the Philippine Immigration

Germany Visa Application Cover Letter Template
Germany

Germany Visa Application Cover Letter Template

Dec 28, 2020 2 min read

<Date> Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany 25/F Tower II, RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Ave 1200 Makati City, Metro Manila Subject: Visit Visa Application for Unmarried Couple Dear Madam/ Sir, 1st paragraph: Introduce yourself (provide full name as written in passport), purpose of letter, name of partner, requested number of days with dates,

Earn 6% Interest on your BTC through BlockFi: How to Register, Review & Referral Code
The Philippines

Earn 6% Interest on your BTC through BlockFi: How to Register, Review & Referral Code

Dec 27, 2020 3 min read

What is BlockFi? BlockFi is a platform where you earn interest by lending your BTC, other cryptocurrencies, even gold and US dollars. I know there's a lot of sketchy platforms in the crypto space but we have tried and tested BlockFi, it's one of the few crypto lending platforms that we trust. It is backed by the Winklevoss twins (most would be fami

Tips to Get a Schengen Visa for First Timers with No Strong Ties | Germany - Unmarried Couple VV
Germany

Tips to Get a Schengen Visa for First Timers with No Strong Ties | Germany - Unmarried Couple VV

Dec 26, 2020 13 min read

The visit visa for unmarried couples that I applied for in November 2020 was a new visa category created in response to the Love is Not Tourism campaign. This allowed binational couples with a German partner to reunite in their home country despite travel restrictions. UPDATE 2022: The post below is for first time applicants but I still applied the

Wise 2021: Why Filipino Travelers & OFWs should open a borderless account to save money
#travel-essentials

Wise 2021: Why Filipino Travelers & OFWs should open a borderless account to save money

Aug 4, 2020 12 min read

 Update: TransferWise has renamed its company to Wise.   Sending money abroad, remittance and even withdrawing money abroad using our Philippine local bank costs a lot! Thankfully, revolutionary FinTech companies like Wise [formerly TransferWise] is changing the game. This gives us, Filipinos, easy access to USD, EUR and other major currencies. Thi

New Delhi Travel Scam: Why I almost wanted to leave India
Delhi

New Delhi Travel Scam: Why I almost wanted to leave India

Feb 6, 2020 8 min read

Scam: Delhi is shutdown due to the election We took the a flight from Bangkok and arrived at the Delhi International Airport. From there, it was a breeze to take the metro to New Delhi and it only costs Rs. 50 for the ride. As soon as we got out of the airport, it was a struggle getting a ride to our guesthouse. Only auto rickshaws and rickshaws