Madam China goes to Kenya
By Maria Carmel P. Geverola
Photos by Olaf Goerke
“Boda-boda, Madam China,” a driver of a bicycle-for-hire calls out. Kenyans have difficulty determining my nationality. They say I’m Chinese, Japanese or Korean. Filipinos are not on their top list when it comes to guessing Asian races.
I met the boda-boda driver in Kakamega in western Kenya, about a six- to nine-hour drive from the capital Nairobi.
The chosen route and road condition (number and size of potholes as well as bumps) determine how long the trip takes.
Boda-boda, whether a bicycle or motorbike, is a cheap way of going around town. The term is slang for “border to border” which started when bicycles transported passengers into no man’s land in Kenya and Uganda.
Kenya shares boundaries with Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia.
The main attraction in Kakamega is its forest national reserve. It is the only tropical rainforest in Kenya that survived human encroachment and is worth exploring.
Birdcalls fill the air while walking under the canopy of giant trees. About 350 species of birds have been spotted in the forest.
With my not-so perfect vision, I opted to look out for primates.
A piercing shriek or sudden rustling of leaves are signs for Olive Baboons. They call out to each other, as a warning, when they see their human cousins in the forest.
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Musical history in Salzburg
Text and photos by Albert Alvarez
Two main things come to mind when I think of Salzburg, namely, Mozart and the movie, Sound of Music. It is a wonder that we have come to associate these two musical giants with such a small and quaint city.
The name Salzburg literally means “Salt Castle”, and originates from the barges that carried salt along the river of Salzach. Continue reading ‘Musical history in Salzburg’
A savory trip to Lyon
Text and photos by Albert Alvarez
Lyon, known in English as Lyons, is the third largest city in France, next to Paris and Marseilles. This famous city has also known to be the French capital of gastronomy and plays an important role in French cinema.
Lyon’s beauty can also be attributed to the two rivers that surround it, the Rhône and Saône. This is accentuated by two large hills, one to the west and one to the north of the historic city center. Continue reading ‘A savory trip to Lyon’
A quiet treasure
By Albert Alvarez
Called the “Venice of North”, Bruges, also known as Brugge, is a jewel waiting to be found by more and more people.
It was no wonder that I could not stop myself from joining the frenzy of photographers who were taking pictures of the beautiful canals and houses that dotted the city of Bruges.
Who would have ever thought that this treasure of a place, not too far from Brussels, the capital of Belgium, would be a stunning and romantic getaway.
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Feng Huang
By Cathy Perez
It may have been the relaxing sound of flowing water from the Toujiang River, or the age-old edifices reminiscent of the Ming and Qing dynasties, or because of its people – friendly and simple – with its laid-back lifestyle, that convinced me that Feng Huang would be a place I would love to visit again and again.
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No place like Bavaria
IT’S the place where BMW and Oktoberfest come from, but how much more do we know about a beautiful place like Bavaria? Known as Bayern in German, it is the largest of the 16 states, or bundesländer, in Germany. It lays to the south and shares borders with Austria, Czech Republic and Switzerland through Lake Constance.
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Heritage warriors
Katrina G. Coloso finds out what else one can do after stepping out and smelling the flowers.
What happens to those who hate to be tied to a desk and prefer the great outdoors? If you ask old wives, they’ll simply wag their heads and predict the worst.
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Jeju: Korea’s island paradise
By Nelia G. Neri
If the Philippines has the island of Boracay with its incomparable beaches to be proud of, Indonesia its celebrated Bali and Thailand its famed Phuket, then Korea has Jeju Island to offer travelers in search of rest and recreation, culture and heritage.
Named by Unesco as a World Natural Heritage site, the volcanic island with more than 120 lava tubes, is fast becoming the destination in Korea. Quiet and peaceful, clean and green, Jeju is only an hour away from Seoul by plane. Continue reading ‘Jeju: Korea’s island paradise’
Viva Barcelona!
By Albert Alvarez
If one can picture a city that has it all—from beaches, nightlife, museums, outdoor fun and almost everything you desire under the sun, then Barcelona could be the place for you.
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Following the steps of St. Paul
By Mar and Lita Ortiz
Eight Cebuanos flew to Athens to join a multi-denominational pilgrimage “Steps of St. Paul” along the coast of Greece, aboard the luxury liner “Orient Queen”.
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