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 Jiufen & Shifen in Taiwan

New Taipei City / TAIWAN / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Jan 19, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

There's a character to this preserved mountain town that's unlike any we experienced in Taiwan. It's a character you can appreciate in its architecture, its tight alleyways, and of course, in its food. If you're looking to visit Shifen and Jiufen on your next trip to Taipei, then I hope this guide can help you plan your trip.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Hualien, Taiwan

Hualien / TAIWAN / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Jan 19, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Just a day after our tour of Taroko Gorge and we were already talking about coming back. There's so much natural beauty to be found here that the two days we spent in Hualien felt hardly enough. But as breathtaking as Hualien is, it wasn't just its natural beauty that resonated with us. We fell in love with the atmosphere too, and its vibe.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Bohol, the Philippines

Bohol / PHILIPPINES / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Jan 3, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

As beautiful as the Philippines is, many destinations offer mostly sand and surf. But not Bohol. Apart from its many white sand beaches and world-class dive sites, Bohol is known for unique attractions that you can't find anywhere else in the Philippines. Curiosities like the Chocolate Hills and the Philippine Tarsier come foremost to mind.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai / THAILAND / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Jan 16, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Chiang Mai is the largest city in Northern Thailand. It was once the capital of the Lanna Kingdom and is considered one of the most culturally significant cities in the region. But don't let its historical and cultural appeal fool you. Chiang Mai has modernized in many ways and expanded far beyond the walls of the Old City. In fact, it's become a haven for backpackers and digital nomads in recent years.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Chiang Rai, Thailand

Chiang Rai / THAILAND / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Jan 16, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Chiang Rai is regarded as the northernmost "large city" in Thailand, though it isn't actually that big. It's much smaller and less developed as a tourist destination than neighboring Chiang Mai. It's perhaps best known for Wat Rong Khun, a striking all-white structure that serves as both a Buddhist temple and an art exhibition.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Manila, Philippines (from a Local)

Metro Manila / PHILIPPINES / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Jan 3, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Many travel bloggers have come to Manila and fallen in love with my city and its people, so much so that some of them are actually considering moving here. And they all said the same thing – when you're here, you're family.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Batad Rice Terraces, Banaue, Ifugao, Philippines

Ifugao / PHILIPPINES / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Jan 3, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Batad is a remote village of around 1,500 people in Ifugao province. It's said to be home to the best and most well-preserved rice terraces in the Cordillera region. These terraces are between 2,000-6,000 years old and have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City / TRAVEL GUIDES / VIETNAM / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Mar 9, 2018 JB & Renée Macatulad

Saigon's pulsating nightlife didn't appeal to us. What we did find appealing, was the city's vibrant street food culture that exceeded every other destination we had visited in Vietnam. Despite spending little more than two full days in Ho Chi Minh City, we left with some of the most memorable dining experiences from our trip.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Hoi An, Vietnam

Hoi An / TRAVEL GUIDES / VIETNAM / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Mar 9, 2018 JB & Renée Macatulad

Hoi An is a city in Quảng Nam Province in Central Vietnam. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was one of the most heavily-frequented trading ports in Southeast Asia from the 17th to the 18th centuries.

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

Hanoi / Ha Long Bay / TRAVEL GUIDES / VIETNAM / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: May 20, 2018 JB & Renée Macatulad

As chaotic and busy as Hanoi can be, its also a city teeming with character. Walk around the Old Quarter for a day and you'll see what I mean. An eclectic mix of foreign influences, you get the sense that this city has seen a lot in its thousand year history. Stick around long enough, and you may just get to hear its stories.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Nagasaki, Japan

JAPAN / Nagasaki / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Mar 9, 2018 JB & Renée Macatulad

Nagasaki is a strange city in the sense that in many ways, it feels very “un-Japanese”. Much of this has to do with it’s prominence as a port city. From the 16th to the 19th centuries, it was the only port in Japan open to foreign trade hence the proliferation of foreign influences.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Kurokawa Onsen, Japan

JAPAN / Kumamoto / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Mar 9, 2018 JB & Renée Macatulad

Kurokawa Onsen is a hot spring town high up in the mountains of Kumamoto prefecture in Kyushu. Set in a forested valley with a river running through it, Kurokawa Onsen is widely considered to be one the most scenic onsen towns in Japan.

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

JAPAN / Osaka / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Dec 25, 2018 JB & Renée Macatulad

I love Osaka. I love everything about it – the atmosphere, the weather, the shopping, the food. Often referred to as the "Nation's Kitchen", it's one of the best cities in Japan to visit for food. If you travel for food like we do, then you're going to love Osaka too.

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

JAPAN / Kyoto / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Oct 23, 2018 JB & Renée Macatulad

Kyoto is a special place for all Japanese. When you're there, you feel it. An historical and culturally significant city, there is a mystique and reverence unique to Kyoto, one that I haven't felt in other parts of Japan.

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

Langkawi / MALAYSIA / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Jul 3, 2018 JB & Renée Macatulad

Known as the "Jewel of Kedah", Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 islands about 30 km off the coast of northwestern Malaysia. It was awarded UNESCO World Geopark status in 2007 and is home to lush forests, white sand beaches, waterfalls, caves, limestone cliffs, and mangroves.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Siem Reap, Cambodia

CAMBODIA / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: May 28, 2018 JB & Renée Macatulad

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Angkor Wat is the biggest religious monument in the world and probably the reason why you're visiting Siem Reap in the first place. With its five intricately-carved spires, it's an impressive sight, especially at sunrise, and is just one of several temples you can explore in Angkor Archaeological Park.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Davao City, Philippines

Davao del Sur / PHILIPPINES / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Jan 3, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Davao is a model city. It's one of the most progressive cities in the Philippines and one of the safest in Southeast Asia. We got to experience this first-hand on our trip to Davao and with this guide, we hope you do too.

The Ultimate Sapporo Winter Travel Guide

Hokkaido / JAPAN / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Mar 9, 2018 JB & Renée Macatulad

Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido. It's home to the annual Sapporo Snow Festival, not to mention some of the country's best seafood, most notably crab. If you're planning a trip to Sapporo in winter, then this guide will be very useful to you.