Seven must-sees across the seven seas

IN THE end, we only regret the chances we didn't take. So much so that whenever a window opens, I put on my travel shoes and go. I have had countless of memorable experiences during my travels it is hardly pleasurable to narrow it down to a few extraordinary ones. But in honor of Sun.Star Bacolod's 7th anniversary, I will relive seven of the most life-changing experiences I had been lucky to witness. 

For me, these have been the most spiritual yet ethereal, intoxicating and blissfully nostalgic, magical and awe-inspiring must-sees across the seven seas. To eloquently capture superlatives these sights and sounds offer is elusive. So, fasten your seat belts as we re-discover these wondrous places.

1. Machu Picchu. The Incan citadel set high up the clouds in the Andes Mountains in Peru is always the high point of any adventure. Glorified by Hiram Bingham, a historian at Yale University, Machu Picchu nudges the spirit and nourishes the soul—especially at dawn when the sun dramatically and majestically rises. One's laborious breath at such high altitude instantly vanishes as thoughts of the divine rush in. A place where heaven and earth brushes each other's cheeks and, body and soul come as one, Machu Picchu is where you should be to reawaken the weary spirit.

2. Aurora Borealis. Standing on rarefied grounds atop a frigid mountain at 2 a.m. couldn't have been more worthwhile if not for the sublimely impalpable show we witnessed. Out of nowhere, the Northern Lights made its ghostly appearance. Its soft and delicate hues glowing ever so daintily painted a sharp contrast against the pitch-black Icelandic sky. Silence ensued in our party as we were given front seat to this unworldly celestial show that can only be orchestrated by a divine master. Should you need to catch a glimpse of heaven and see how angels paint the vast cosmos, this is where you should go.

3. Caviar and vodka in Russia. The cold Siberian winter embracing this vast country may have caused the brewing of vodka— a clear case of necessity being the mother of invention. While getting our fix with the drink goose stepping at the Red Square and walking through the Hermitage, a teaspoon of fish eggs did us in. We didn't think much about it until we knew it came from a rare albino sturgeon found in the Caspian Sea. We realized we were partaking seafood ambrosia. Paired with intoxicating vodka, the 'Almas' caviar spoiled our palates. Enjoying it in the midst of opulent Russian history simply screams unparalleled grandiosity.

4. Nostalgia in Cuba. Its exclusion from the rest of the world created for it a capsule frozen in time. Now that sanctions are slowly chipping away, it may no longer remain icy for long. Its perceived anonymity resulting from its antagonism with the West only served to solidify its Latin soul and its resolve to preserve what is distinctly Cuban. Standing in the middle of the Plaza de la Revolucion, sipping authentic mojito where Ernest Hemingway used to enjoy this drink and riding in a vintage 1950s car, were, for me, rebelliously groundbreaking. And setting foot in Havana before diplomatic relations with the West are starting to thaw was and will always be half the thrill.

5. Traditionally Magical Kyoto. Japan's former imperial capital is the epitome of anything and everything traditionally Japanese. The many picturesque shrines gracefully framed by cherry trees, ancient wooden houses, impeccable imperial palaces, whispering bamboo forests and still zen gardens beckon the silently magical poise and delicate beauty of geishas and maikos elegantly performing tea ceremonies and ikebana. It is one of the most perfectly preserved places I have ever visited that, should I need to go back in time when it was profoundly beautiful, delicately quieter and naturally simpler, Kyoto's soft and familiar embrace always awaits.

6. The Nile River Inspires Awe. Cruising the very cradle that gifted Egypt inspires. Sailing through the Nile River and exploring the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens across Lake Nasser to Abu Simbel, the temples of Rameses and Nefertiti at Luxor and running my hands through the Great Pyramids below the gaze of the Sphinx is always one for eternity. Nothing leaves you smaller than standing in front of these magnificent ancient monuments where civilization was born. Resting beneath its shadows makes you even more insignificant. You will, surely, be awestruck.

7. Palatable Coup de Grace. Booking it a year and a half in advance may seem far off. But actually dining at this restaurant was most definitely a coup. We did not mind the hour and a half drive from Barcelona to El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain. As soon as we saw the expansive grounds of the restaurant and the chic ambiance, we knew we were in for a treat. Taking the full feasting menu which included endless complimentary starters, we were absolutely, deliriously speechless. Creative dishes, polished service and incredibly impeccable food, I wouldn't mind waiting another year to book another reservation. And you should, too.

Then there's the formidable Forbidden City in China, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, hot air balloon ride at Myanmar, the cool designs of Copenhagen, quaint and lovely Quebec and more. A thousand and more sights and sounds that await the next 100 years for this local publication that has become the window to my incessant passion for adventure.

So, go pack your bags and go! The world awaits. Happy Anniversary Sun.Star Bacolod!