TRAVEL GUIDES

I’m not an expert, but I’ve learned a few things from our trips that I wish I had known beforehand. Here are a few travel guides that I hope can benefit first-time travelers to these destinations.

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

Kandy / SRI LANKA / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Mar 28, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

A popular pilgrimage site, Kandy is regarded as a holy city and is home to The Temple of the Tooth Relic (the sacred tooth of the Buddha), one of the most sacred places of worship in Buddhism. It’s a key religious site not just in Sri Lanka, but in the entire Buddhist world.

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

INDIA / Mumbai / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Apr 7, 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.

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

INDONESIA / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER / Yogyakarta Last Updated: Apr 7, 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.

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

SINGAPORE / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Apr 7, 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.

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

JAPAN / Nara / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Apr 4, 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.

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

JAPAN / Kyoto / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Apr 3, 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.

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

JAPAN / Osaka / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Apr 3, 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.

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

Bangkok / THAILAND / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Apr 5, 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.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Seoul, South Korea (2019)

SOUTH KOREA / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Apr 7, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Korean brands like Samsung and Hyundai are globally recognized brands. People worldwide watch K-dramas and listen to K-pop. Myeongdong has become a hotbed for cosmetics and nearly everyone I know loves Korean food! Needless to say, South Korea is booming, and at the center of all that excitement, is Seoul.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Sagada, Philippines (2019)

Mountain Province / PHILIPPINES / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Apr 7, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

As much as Sagada has changed over the last two decades, one thing remains the same – it's still the blissful mountain enclave that made me want to escape to it so many years ago. I still do.

Two Weeks in Taiwan: A 14-Day Itinerary Exploring the Best of Taiwan

Hualien / Kaohsiung / Nantou County / New Taipei City / Taichung / Tainan / Taipei / TAIWAN / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Apr 5, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Taiwan is a small country with an efficient rail system so you can easily explore the entire country on your own. If you have two weeks to spare and want to experience the best of Taiwan, then I hope this 14-day itinerary can help you plan your trip.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Ephesus in Selçuk-Izmir, Turkey

Izmir / TRAVEL GUIDES / TURKEY / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Apr 6, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Drawing in over two million visitors annually, it's no surprise that much of the activity in Selçuk revolves around Ephesus. But as much attention as the ruins get, we were pleased to find that there is much to love in the town of Selçuk itself.

The Day-Tripper’s Travel Guide to Macau (from Hong Kong)

MACAU / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Apr 4, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Because of its multitude of mega hotels and casinos, Macau has been called the "Las Vegas of Asia". It's the gambling capital of the world, generating more gambling revenue than anywhere else on the planet.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Penang, Malaysia

MALAYSIA / Penang / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Apr 4, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

We had often heard Penang described as the street food capital of Malaysia so it was only a matter of time before we travel-ate our way here. The food is reason enough to go, but if you appreciate interesting architecture and urban art, then you're going to LOVE Penang.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Pamukkale, Turkey

Denizli / TRAVEL GUIDES / TURKEY / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Apr 6, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Pamukkale is an area in Denizli province in Southwestern Turkey. It's famous for its white terraces made of travertine, a sedimentary rock deposited by water from the seventeen naturally occurring hot springs in the area.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to La Union, Philippines

La Union / PHILIPPINES / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Apr 6, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

San Juan in La Union has been making waves lately as a hip surfing destination in Northern Luzon. Its proximity to Manila makes it a popular weekend getaway, especially for people looking to do a little more than lay around on a beach.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Hong Kong

HONG KONG / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Apr 4, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

For people my age or older, Hong Kong had always been a colony of the British Empire until it was handed back to China in 1997. It's been a major tourist destination for as long as I can remember and one of the most important hubs for business and trade in Asia.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Cappadocia, Turkey

Nevsehir / TRAVEL GUIDES / TURKEY / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Apr 6, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Cappadocia is an area in Central Anatolia in Turkey. It's best known for its unique moon-like landscape and strange rock formations called fairy chimneys. For centuries, people have utilized the region’s soft volcanic rock to carve houses, cave churches, and monasteries, even underground cities going hundreds of feet deep.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul / TRAVEL GUIDES / TURKEY / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Apr 6, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Istanbul is a city steeped in history and culture so there is much to see and do there. From its Byzantine churches adorned with mosaics and frescoes to its magnificent mosques decorated by sky-high minarets, Istanbul is a city that will mesmerize you at every turn.