Articles Written By: JB & Renée Macatulad

This author has written 505 articles

The First-Timer’s Winter Travel Guide to Sapporo in Hokkaido, Japan

Hokkaido / JAPAN / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Dec 12, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Sapporo is one of Japan's most popular tourist destinations – famous for its miso ramen, Sapporo beer, and playing host to the Sapporo Snow Festival which draws in over 2 million tourists annually.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Bagan, Myanmar (Burma, 2019)

Bagan / MYANMAR / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Dec 5, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Over 10,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas, and monasteries were constructed in Bagan, of which an estimated 3,822 still stand today in varying states of preservation. This cluster of religious monuments built in an area of about 104 square kilometres (40 square miles) is what makes Bagan one of Myanmar's most popular and intriguing tourist destinations.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Yangon, Myanmar (Burma, 2019)

MYANMAR / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER / Yangon Last Updated: Dec 5, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, is Myanmar's former capital and its center of commerce. It's one of the most visited destinations in Myanmar and where you'll find the country's most sacred Buddhist temple – Shwedagon Pagoda.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2019)

Kuala Lumpur / MALAYSIA / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Nov 29, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

To be honest, Kuala Lumpur was never one of my favorite cities. It reminded me too much of Manila. It's big, it's hot, it's crowded, and it can often be overwhelming. For us, it was always a point of entry and quick stopover on our way to more interesting destinations in Malaysia.

Hue Food Guide: 14 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Hue, Vietnam

Central Vietnam / FOOD GUIDES / VIETNAM / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Nov 27, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Together with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Hue is definitely one of my favorite food cities in Vietnam and a place we'll be looking to visit again and again. It's home to interesting and delicious food like bun bo, com hen, nem lui, and banh hue.

What to Eat in Northern Kyushu: 10 Food Experiences to Try in Fukuoka, Oita, and Nagasaki

FOOD GUIDES / Fukuoka / JAPAN / Nagasaki / Oita / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Nov 15, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Ren and I first visited northern Kyushu in 2017 and got to enjoy regional specialties like champon, basashi, and everyone's favorite Hakata ramen. Everything we had made an impression and got us excited to come back and explore more of the island and its myriad delicacies.

Hue Coffee Guide: 9 Instagrammable Cafes in Hue, Vietnam

Central Vietnam / FOOD GUIDES / VIETNAM / WHEN WE WANDER Nov 6, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Like ca phe trung in Hanoi, Hue is home to a unique blend of coffee as well – ca phe muoi or salt coffee. As its name suggests, it's made with salt and fermented milk and served with ice.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Hanoi, Vietnam (2019)

Northern Vietnam / TRAVEL GUIDES / VIETNAM / WHEN WE WANDER Nov 1, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Among the Vietnamese cities we've visited, we found Hoi An to be the most charming and Saigon to have the best food, but Hanoi is the most liveable. It's a big city, much bigger than Hoi An so there's more to do, but it doesn't swallow you up like Saigon.

Hanoi Street Food Tour: A Gastronomic Adventure with Backstreet Academy

Northern Vietnam / VIETNAM / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Nov 1, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

This Hanoi Street Food Tour by Backstreet Academy is a 2.5-hour eating binge that takes you to some of the best local spots in Vietnam's capital. It costs just USD 19 per person and gives you a taste of about a dozen Vietnamese street food dishes.

Saigon Coffee Guide: 10 Instagrammable Cafes in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

FOOD GUIDES / Southern Vietnam / VIETNAM / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Nov 6, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

I had the most fun coffee hunting in Hanoi but Saigon held its own. They don't have homegrown creations like egg coffee or salty coffee, but what they lacked in unique recipes and history they more than made up for with their plethora of Instagram-worthy cafes.

Hanoi Food Guide: 25 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Hanoi, Vietnam

FOOD GUIDES / Northern Vietnam / VIETNAM / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Nov 1, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Vietnamese cuisine has won me over completely. It was the main reason why I did this month-long trip, to really delve into the cuisine and come up with the best and most insightful food guides, starting with Hanoi.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Ella, Sri Lanka (2019)

Badulla / SRI LANKA / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Oct 24, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Located about 200 km east of Colombo, Ella is a small mountain town in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. Due to its higher elevation, it's known for its cooler climate and landscape characterized by cloud-covered hills, waterfalls, and tea plantations.

Porto Food Guide: 15 Must-Eat Restaurants in Porto, Portugal

FOOD GUIDES / Porto / PORTUGAL / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Oct 24, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Before arriving in Porto, we had little experience with Portuguese food except for what we'd seen in travel food shows. I knew the Portuguese ate a lot of seafood, especially bacalhau or salted cod, and were the inventors of those delicious eggy custard tarts known as pastel de nata.

Granada Food Guide: 13 Must-Eat Tapas Bars & Restaurants in Granada, Spain

Andalusia / FOOD GUIDES / SPAIN / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Oct 24, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Aside from being delicious, there's really nothing special or unique about the tapas in Granada. What makes it different, is the culture. Unless you want to, you never have to order a la carte from a bar because a small plate of tapas comes free with every drink order. Order a small glass of beer, and you'll get a small plate of tapas. Every time.

Saigon Food Tour: Eat Your Way Through Ho Chi Minh City in a Vintage Citroen 2CV!

Southern Vietnam / VIETNAM / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Nov 6, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

I went on a few organized tours in Vietnam, including a motorbike tour in Saigon which I thought was pretty different from anything I had done to that point, until this shiny red Citroen 2CV pulled up in front of our hotel.

Hanoi Coffee Guide: 13 Instagrammable Cafes in Hanoi, Vietnam

FOOD GUIDES / Northern Vietnam / VIETNAM / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Nov 6, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

You can have great coffee anywhere in the country, but for me, the most enjoyable was in Hanoi, largely because of its plethora of interesting and quirky cafes. If you're planning a trip to Vietnam's capital, then here are thirteen coffeehouses to perk up your palate and your Instagram feed.

Hanoi Food Tour: Explore Hanoi’s Best Markets with A Chef’s Tour

Northern Vietnam / VIETNAM / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Nov 14, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Most of the time, we visit wet markets during the day but thanks to A Chef's Tour, I got to experience one of Hanoi's biggest markets at the crack of dawn, when it's at its liveliest. The difference in market activity between 5AM and 11AM is literally like night and day.

Time Out Market: 6 Stalls to Visit at Mercado da Ribeira in Lisbon, Portugal

FOOD GUIDES / Lisbon / PORTUGAL / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Oct 12, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Time Out Market is a food hall located inside the historic Mercado da Ribeira, a traditional market hall built in the 1890s in Lisbon's now trendy Cais do Sodre waterfront district.