Articles Written By: JB & Renée Macatulad

This author has written 593 articles

Helga’s Folly: The Strangest Hotel in Kandy, Sri Lanka

Kandy / SRI LANKA / WHEN WE WANDER Mar 22, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Helga's Folly is a hotel / acid trip located in the mountains surrounding Kandy, Sri Lanka. It's owned by Helga De Silva Blow Perera, a Sri Lankan socialite and eccentric who started painting on the walls of the hotel as a form of therapy after going through a traumatic divorce.

SRI LANKA VISA: How to Apply for an ETA to Sri Lanka 2019 (for All Nationalities)

Badulla / Colombo / Galle / Hambantota / Kalutara / Kandy / Matale / Polonnaruwa / SRI LANKA / VISA INFORMATION / WHEN WE WANDER Mar 21, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

ETA stands for Electronic Travel Authorization. It's basically the same thing as an e-Visa. It's issued electronically and allow you double entry into Sri Lanka for a maximum stay of thirty (30) days.

INDIA VISA: How to Apply for an e-Visa to India 2019 (for All Nationalities)

Agra / Delhi / INDIA / Kolkata / Mumbai / VISA INFORMATION / WHEN WE WANDER Mar 21, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Being granted a tourist visa is usually the most nerve-wracking hurdle but thankfully, applying for an e-Visa to India was one of the quickest and easiest processes I’ve ever had to go through. Here’s how you do it.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Mumbai, India (2019)

INDIA / Mumbai / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Mar 21, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Mumbai is home to some of the world’s grandest Victorian Gothic architecture and an equally impressive Art Deco heritage. I never expected this, but Mumbai has the second largest collection of Art Deco buildings in the world, behind only Miami.

Dharavi Slum Tour: The Real Slumdog Millionaire

INDIA / Mumbai / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Mar 20, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Dharavi is a settlement in Mumbai, India. It's the third largest slum in the world by population, housing an estimated one million people living in an area of around 1.75 square kilometers. By those estimates, Dharavi is one of the most densely populated slums in the world.

From Dhobi Ghat to the Dabbawalas: Explore Mumbai on this Public Transportation Tour

INDIA / Mumbai / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Mar 20, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

There were three things I really wanted to do on my first-ever trip to Mumbai – visit Dhobi Ghat, see the dabawwalas in action, and go on a tour of Dharavi Slum. With just two full days in the city, I needed to be efficient with my time so I had to find a tour that covered as many of these places as possible. Thankfully, I found this one.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Yogyakarta, Indonesia (2019)

INDONESIA / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER / Yogyakarta Mar 11, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

If Jakarta is Java's political and financial capital, then Yogyakarta is its cultural soul. It's home to Indonesia's most important archaeological sites – Borobudur and Prambanan – and is the only province in the country still ruled by a sultan.

Locavore: Creating Modern Cuisine with Local Produce in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

Bali / INDONESIA / THE WORLD'S BEST / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Mar 11, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Locavore is a modern European-Indonesian restaurant located in Ubud, Bali. As its name suggests, they're all about using local products. About 95% of their ingredients are sourced from within the country, from the Balinese Kintamani coffee and hand-crafted sea salt to the pickled seaweed from Lombok to the beef short ribs from Malang, Java.

Toyo Eatery: The Most Inventive Filipino Restaurant in Manila?

Metro Manila / PHILIPPINES / THE WORLD'S BEST / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Mar 5, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Nationalistic in his cooking approach, Chef Navarra is known for his playful and inventive takes on classic Filipino dishes like lugaw (rice porridge), relyenong pusit (stuffed squid), and pork bbq. His presentation may be contemporary but the dishes themselves – and ingredients used – are staunchly Filipino.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Singapore (2019)

SINGAPORE / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Mar 18, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

In spite of its facade of steel and glass, Singapore retains much of the ethnic and cultural diversity that earned it its nickname – “the melting pot of Asia”. Iconic structures like Marina Bay Sands and Supertree Grove are impressive but equally of note are the ethnic pockets within the city that preserve each culture’s unique heritage and traditions.

Singapore Food Guide: 25 Must-Eat Restaurants in Singapore

FOOD GUIDES / SINGAPORE / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Mar 18, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Singapore may be small, but it isn't lacking in great food. Inch for inch, it's one of the most delicious destinations we've been to so far. It's defined by a wide spectrum of food choices ranging from cheap but legendary hawker stall meals to trendy envelope-pushing dining concepts.

The Day-Tripper’s Travel Guide to Nara, Japan (2019)

JAPAN / Nara / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Mar 2, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Because it was Japan's first permanent capital, Nara remains a culturally rich and historically significant city, second only to Kyoto in its wealth of traditional temples and shrines. There you'll find eight historical attractions that make up the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara.

Kura Izakaya: Where to Eat in Nara, Japan

JAPAN / Nara / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Feb 17, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

An izakaya is a type of informal Japanese pub. They're typically small and casual spaces where Japanese salarymen would get a drink and unwind after work. Jovial and relaxed in atmosphere, you can think of them as the Japanese equivalent to American taverns or Irish pubs, maybe even Spanish tapas bars.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Kyoto, Japan (2019)

JAPAN / Kyoto / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Mar 16, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Kyoto served as Japan's capital for over a thousand years. Many today still regard Kyoto as Japan's cultural and historical center, home to over a thousand temples and gardens that have earned it a reputation for being the country's most beautiful city.

Singapore Food Tour: Go Off the Eaten Track with A Chef’s Tour

SINGAPORE / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Mar 18, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

This tiny island nation no bigger than New York City is one of our favorite destinations for food. From its myriad hawker centers and heritage stalls to its Michelin-starred fine dining restaurants, there is so much good food to be had in Singapore.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Osaka, Japan (2019)

JAPAN / Osaka / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Mar 16, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Osaka is Japan's third largest city by population and the central metropolis of the Kansai region. It's a food lover's paradise which is why it remains one of our favorite cities to visit in Japan. If Tokyo is Japan's most exciting city and Kyoto its center for culture and the arts, then Osaka is arguably its most delicious.

Osaka Food Guide: 18 Must-Eat Restaurants in Osaka, Japan

FOOD GUIDES / JAPAN / Osaka / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Mar 16, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Osaka is often referred to as the "Nation's Kitchen" for one obvious reason – the food. It's one of the best places to eat in Japan. If you're visiting Osaka and looking for the best places to eat, then this list of 18 restaurants is definitely for you.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Bangkok, Thailand (2019)

Bangkok / THAILAND / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Mar 18, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Bangkok is the capital of Thailand and its biggest city by far. It's a top tourist destination which is consistently ranked among the world's most visited cities. In fact, so popular and beloved is Bangkok that it was voted the "World's Best City" by Travel + Leisure magazine readers for four consecutive years.

READ! Cebu Pacific’s New Baggage Policy

WHEN WE WANDER Jan 14, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Beginning January 15, 2019, Cebu Pacific will be implementing a new baggage policy which limits the number of bags you’re allowed to check in.