About

The Author

The author with Burmese monks at
Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, Myanmar
April 2014

I love traveling. It is both an interest and passion.

I also love doing travel research. I find it de-stressing, relaxing-therapeutic.

Whenever I travel (with friends or my sister), I always volunteer myself to be the travel researcher, coordinator and organizer. It's just something I wholeheartedly enjoy. 

I like poring over Top 10 lists of must-eat dishes, must-try restaurants, must-do activities, must-go places and other travel-related lists of musts. 

And weeks before a trip commences, I would have already created a travel itinerary detailing "must" places, costs, activities, food and whatnot, collated from different travel blogs and sites I have gone over. I'm sure I'm not the only one who do this.

Although some information would be outdated already, they are still very helpful in knowing the culture and history of the place. And they also serve as great conversation starter.

Backpack PH

Traditional Ifugao hut at Batad,
Banaue, Ifugao Province
November 2013

For the longest time, I have always wanted to backpack the Philippines. I dreamt about going to remote areas in the country, interviewing locals, weeklong (or more) immersions, and documenting everything. 

I have been to different parts of the country but I feel it's still not enough. 

I believe the Philippines is so diverse in its beauty and mystery. It has so much to offer that spending a few days here and there, and in between vacation leaves, is not just enough. It feels incomplete. 

So to spend at least three (3) months traveling the country would truly be an unforgettable and life-changing experience. A dream come true, to say the least.

Welp, I have yet to fulfil that dream. I have yet to cross that out from my bucket list. 

While I am daydreaming for that day to come, I have decided to apply the Law of Attraction here. Hey, don't laugh.

I will be doing my research in advance. 

Backpack PH will publicize my Philippine travel research-where to go, what to do, how to get there, what to eat, and many more. From Batanes to Naga, from Bacolod to Bohol, from Davao to Zamboanga, Backpack PH will give you lists of musts for each city (or province or town or region). 

My goal is to make this the ultimate guide for every backpacker traveling the Philippines. 

Since I am unable to make good use of this right now, I hope this would help every traveler visiting the Philippines. 

Happy traveling!

-----

Jewel