Top FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

General Travel FAQ

Where and when was your first international travel trip?

Growing up, the concept of ‘travel’ for my parents was primarily about doing a necessary business trip to the capital while bringing the kids along. They were busy people, so we never really had the chance to do trips abroad. It never even crossed my mind to make it a goal to travel out of the country — but that was until I started university.

After all, my view of the world expanded and I realized that there was more to see and do than what’s inside my home island and home country. An opportunity arose when a friend of mine invited me to tag along on a trip to Hong Kong and I must say, it was such a memorable experience! …Or at least from the bits and pieces that I still recall because sadly, I lost all of the photos from that trip. I don’t even remember what year it was, but I believe it was around 2009 or 2010.

Either way, from then on, I made it my goal to travel more; but, life as we know it isn’t always easy. When I graduated, I was faced with the harsh reality of adulting. I barely had the time nor the savings to make a trip — until I decided to quit my job and pursue a profession as a digital nomad.

The rest, as they say, was history!
(…Or you could read all about how I did it in this post.)

You’re so young when you quit your 9-to-5 job! How did you do that? And why?

Looking back, after a 4-year business management course, I graduated from university at 19. A few months after that, I got a job in an investment bank. I worked there for 2 years and I handed in my resignation at 21 to pursue my dreams of traveling the world and creating my own business.

At that time, even if the future looked bright for me, I was terribly uninspired. I honestly thought that a desk job was the only ‘ticket’ for securing my future AND for gaining the chance to travel the world. But such was NOT the case because ascending the corporate ladder takes time and I was even underpaid (I worked in a third world country after all, and a fresh graduate at that too). Plus, given the rat race environment, I never really had much time for myself.

With that said, I gradually realized that it was not the kind of profession that I wanted — it wasn’t my passion either. So before I hit yet another year in my past job, I swiftly looked for ways to create a sustainable profession that would enable me to travel the world WHILE earning through a profession that I love and own. Going by my life story, I thankfully became successful in doing so!

If you want to learn more about that journey in detail, you can read this article that discusses the steps I took on how to travel the world.

I’m also from a 3rd world country like you. Do you also recommend quitting my day job to start a travel lifestyle?

I do, because I saw for myself that it’s possible and doable despite my dire circumstances. However, you must do this leap with caution because the transition will NOT happen overnight. Add the fact that if you don’t have a safety net or some sort of plan B, it can be hard to bounce back if your travel plans happen to fall apart.

Either way, as long as you make a concrete plan AND as long as you’re sure that it’s what you really want, then it’s definitely a plan that I would recommend!

To help guide you even more, you can read through these steps on how I created a life of travel.

How can I convince my parents to let me start a life of travel like you?

It’s a natural thing for our loved ones to worry about us especially when it involves a big decision like this one. I’ve gone through it myself and I hope this article I wrote that talks about tips on how to convince your parents to let you travel will help initiate a productive discussion.

How can you afford to travel non-stop? Are you secretly rich?

No, I’m definitely not some sort of heiress with a secret inheritance (though… that would be nice lol).

But then again, if I look at it in another way, I actually think that I’m rich in matters of experiences, love, skills, loved ones, and more! *wink*

Anyway, I get this question a lot and I can understand why anyone would instantly assume that I was rich in the first place because travel is typically seen as an expensive lifestyle. However, such is NOT true. Travel does require money, but it does not have to be costly — it will only be costly if you choose to lead it extravagantly.

So in order to correct all of the misconceptions about me once and for all: NO, I did not come from a rich family. My parents have never given me money for my travels nor have they given me money ever since I graduated college (but, of course, I’m forever thankful for the education and moral support that they have given me over the years). I don’t even have some sort of secret sugar daddy or mommy who is funding this lifestyle because apart from the fact that my values don’t align with that, I ultimately don’t like to depend on other people. Even for my past residency in Belgium, I paid for all of my own costs: from flights and visas, to rent and daily expenses.

I made this lifestyle happen by myself through my online work + businesses’ earnings, my savings, and my blog’s income and partnerships. With that in mind, I hope my story will be some sort of living proof to you that a life of travel is absolutely possible even if you’re NOT rich and even if you only have a limited third world passport as I do.

P.S.: If you’re rather wondering about how I afforded my travels right after I quit my job, it was mainly through my previous online jobs that involved graphic design, web development, marketing, etc. Learn more about this in detail by reading through my article that discusses how I afford to travel around the world.

Can I earn money while traveling?

Of course! I’ve been doing it, so you can too.

To get started, check out the best travel jobs to make money while traveling. You can also take your pick from these top websites for remote work.

Do you travel solo? If not, who do you travel with?

Yes, I typically travel solo. In times that I don’t, I travel with friends and family — or with other bloggers and influencers if it’s a sponsored trip for my blog.

Is doing solo travel safe?

In general, YES.
On a case-by-case basis, it depends.

My reason for saying the latter statement is mainly because of how ‘safety’ can mean differently to you as dependent on a number of factors: the kind of destination, the culture you grew up in, etc. After all, what feels safe to me might feel unsafe for you. So it’s best to gauge your expectations beforehand whilst doing proper research in order to prepare yourself when planning a solo travel trip.

Overall, I find solo travel safe. Just stay ‘street smart’ like you always are when you go out of your home, or when you go to a dodgy area in your neighborhood during the late hours of the night. Of course, more caution is needed since it’s a foreign country but I’m sure you get my point.

Remember: don’t ever let your fear get the better of you and give solo travel a try because it’s truly one of the best travel experiences! You can read here for more tips about solo travel.

How often do you travel?

In the early years of this blog, I actually traveled every month — if not almost every week. I was grabbing opportunities left and right as if I was in a frenzy, and it was crazy!

Naturally, that quickly burned me out.

So since 2018, I made it a point to slow down because I wanted to have a better feel of a place at my own pace rather than breeze through countries in a hurry. Sure, I may have the goal of visiting all countries in the world, but I’ve decided that I’m in no rush. (Not to mention that I want to lessen, if not offset, my carbon emissions).

If it seems that I am still traveling a lot, that might be because of how I repost some of my content from time to time.

As of 2020, I’ve based myself back in the Philippines to be closer to family and friends, but that might change in the future. We’ll see!

Can I travel with you?

Due to personal and work reasons, I’m not doing this anymore — however, I wouldn’t mind meeting up for drinks or a meal if I happen to be in your neighborhood!

Please drop me a line because I’d love to say hi.

Can you help me plan my trip?

Of course! But if you’re looking for a one-on-one live chat, I’ve stopped doing that for quite a while now. The good news though is that my blog posts and guides are detailed for a reason: I’m making up for the fact that I can’t do personalized queries.

That being said, I hope that the tons of posts that I got on my site are able to help you out. I can still reply to your email or comments when I have the time too, so don’t hold back on that.

What tour companies do you recommend?

I rarely do tours because I like to DIY my trips. In the rare times that I do, I only go for the companies that I trust the most and they are either with Klook or Viator.

Do you purchase travel insurance?

ALWAYS. Experience has taught me to always prepare for the worst, and as such, you must NEVER go on a trip without travel insurance. Trust me on this one.

For a hassle-free experience, I recommend purchasing from SafetyWing! (For more info on what other travel insurance companies you should consider, go here).

Do you have any websites that you use for travel planning?

Apart from research, I use a number of sites that I trust and use for a number of years now.
You can find all my favorite travel planning websites here.

What can you tell me about visas?

A lot! Especially if you’re from the Philippines like me. To start off, check out my visa guides here.

What countries have you been to?

You can find a detailed list over at my destinations page.

Did you pay for all of your trips?

If it’s not a sponsored trip for my blog then, of course, I pay for all of my trips.

Rest assured, I always indicate on the post if the trip was hosted by a company, hotel, or tourism board.

What is you favorite country?

One thing that you must know about me is that it’s quite difficult for me to play favorites. In fact, I don’t even know my favorite food, music genre, or color (no, it’s not pink).

Plus, if I think about it, every country has its own charm that makes it entirely unique on its own; so, it wouldn’t be fair to pitch it against another great country, for example, that has an entirely different culture or topography. Add the fact that I haven’t been to at least half of the total countries in the world so yeah.

Oh, another fact about me: I overthink and talk too much. Lol.

Anyway, again, it’s a very difficult question. What I am sure of though is that if I have to come up with a list, the Philippines and Japan will surely be in there!

How do you stay in shape while traveling?

Staying fit while traveling can be a challenge — especially when a destination has far too many delicious delicacies, right?

But I guess, in my case, it already helps that my travel style is ‘active’ in the sense that I always make it a point to do hikes or nature activities for as much as I could. I wouldn’t even mind walking long distances as opposed to riding a taxi or some other public transport. I also have some habits (e.g. using the stairs, doing room exercises, etc.) that may seem small at first but as a whole, help keep me in shape.

To add, when I’m back home after a trip, I would often do a short detox to reset my body’s cravings and diet, while also resuming my regular trips to the gym.

For more tips, check out my post: ‘How to Stay Fit While Traveling‘.

How do you pack for a flight?

You can read all about it by checking out my packing guides. I also wrote a carry-on packing list to give you guys an idea of the items that you must pack for your flight.

P.S. If you sign up for my newsletter, you can download a FREE printable of a packing checklist!

I’m scared of flying… do you have any tips for me?

You and me both, pal! I’m still coping with it, but I’m doing great if I say so myself. For detailed tips, just read my guide on how to overcome fear of flying.

Money & Blogging FAQ

Why is this blog called ‘I am Aileen’?

Because I am terrible when coming up with names. But I guess… at least it has my name? *pats myself on the back*

P.S. In case you want to come up with a more unique and special name for your website, check out my guide about how to choose the best blog names.

Who designed this website?

I did. I’ve done graphic and web design for my previous online jobs, and since this blog is ‘my baby’, what better way than to design it myself, right?

If you’re asking this because you want me to design yours, just send me a message!

When did you start this blog? And why did you start blogging?

Technically, this travel blog started in September 2014. But the domain first appeared on the internet when I bought it way back in August 25, 2008.

So, why did I start blogging…?

  • For Documentation
    I blog to document my life, just like how I kept diaries when I was young. You see, with all the wonderful things that started happening to me, I stumbled into an alarming realization that my head was full of these memories… so full that I began to forget a LOT of things. For fear of forgetting more as well as the fact that I wanted my life’s ‘record’ to be in a place other than my unreliable hard drive and flammable physical journal, iAmAileen.com was a personal domain that I bought and brought to life in 2008. I stopped blogging in 2012 but I officially relaunched it in September 2014 as a travel blog — or basically, this blog.
  • To Inspire
    I blog because I want to help and inspire others with my story. I want to send a clear message that following one’s passion in life is always the best action to take. I also want to show that a travel lifestyle is absolutely possible no matter the circumstances and odds that you may have in your life. For instance, I was broke and I even held a limited third-world passport, yet I made this lifestyle possible despite my dire circumstances — so surely, anyone can do it too!
  • For Sharing
    I blog because I like to share travel tips and hacks that I’ve learned over the years. I want to impart this not only to my friends but also to the strangers of the internet, in the hopes that it could help them reach their short, mid, and long-term goals.
  • My Love for Writing
    I blog because I simply love to write… A LOT. In fact, because of this, most of my posts tend to be in long-form writing. I don’t plan to stop doing that because I want to be as detailed as I could!

Did you learn about blogging and design in college?

I wish — but no. My course in college was all about business and corporate management.

Graphic design was actually a hobby that I started since I was about 12 years old (mainly because I wanted to customize the clothes and hair of my cartoon avatar on this website called IMVU). To meet my needs as well as to satiate my curiosity, I scoured the internet for articles and resources in order to learn Adobe Photoshop editing. I enjoyed it a lot and I’m still continually learning new techniques.

Blogging, on the other hand, was an accidental by-product of my love for writing. I also learned it together with web design and SEO by reading through numerous posts online.

I never underwent formal training nor did I sign up for costly courses to learn all of these. I hope this fact helps show you that it’s easy to learn new skills nowadays with the power of the internet. You just gotta look!

How do you make money if you’re always traveling?

Through passive income, and it’s actually how YOU should aim to make money too — no matter if you’re traveling or not.

The beauty of earning this way is that if let’s say, I ended up stranded on an island with no internet, I’ll be fine because I know I’m making money somewhere even if I don’t do anything for weeks (unless of course, by some freak accident, the internet becomes obsolete lol).

So where does this passive income come from? Mainly from my blog’s advertisements and affiliate links, my stock + Bitcoin investments, as well as my other online businesses (e.g. Amazon FBA, etc.). This doesn’t mean that everything is easy to manage because I still work on all of them from time to time —  yet again, the advantage is that it involves minimal effort. I can still disappear for months and it will be fine.

If I may add, maybe it will amuse you to know that I don’t have a team for this blog (which is unlike most big blogs out there). I’m still the sole ‘manager’ and I’m not gonna lie: it’s nerve-wracking.

I know, I know, I should start coming up with a team to back me up. However, this is my first business so I guess it’s taking me some time to let go of things that could be managed by someone else (unlike my other succeeding businesses). But I’m working on it so that through other people’s help, I can further scale this site as well as start making more regular content for everyone. Do stay tuned!

Do you make money with this blog?

Yes! iAmAileen.com has various revenue streams namely through…

  1. Advertisements
    I have partnered with an ad company like Mediavine and with their help, this website remains FREE for use!
  2. Affiliate links
    At no added cost to you (in fact, most links even come with a discount for you to enjoy), I make a commission when you click a link and make a purchase.
  3. Sponsorships and partnerships with brands
    I work with various entities may it be airlines, brands, hotels, or tourism boards. In exchange for producing content for them on the blog and/or my social media channels, they will pay me while also covering travel expenses (if applicable). Rest assured, I always disclose in a blog post if I’m working with a company for it.
  4. Lightroom Presets
    In response to queries about how I edit and color-grade my photos, I started selling custom Lightroom presets that act like photo filters. To enjoy a 50% discount on this pack, click this link.

If you want to learn about other ways, you can check out my blogging tips. You can also read articles about how you can earn and work remotely.

How can you afford to travel non-stop? Are you secretly rich?

No, I’m definitely not some sort of heiress with a secret inheritance (though… that would be nice lol).

But then again, if I look at it in another way, I actually think that I’m rich in matters of experiences, love, skills, loved ones, and more! *wink*

Anyway, I get this question a lot and I can understand why anyone would instantly assume that I was rich in the first place because travel is typically seen as an expensive lifestyle. However, such is NOT true. Travel does require money, but it does not have to be costly — it will only be costly if you choose to lead it extravagantly.

So in order to correct all of the misconceptions about me once and for all: NO, I did not come from a rich family. My parents have never given me money for my travels nor have they given me money ever since I graduated college (but, of course, I’m forever thankful for the education and moral support that they have given me over the years). I don’t even have some sort of secret sugar daddy or mommy who is funding this lifestyle because apart from the fact that my values don’t align with that, I ultimately don’t like to depend on other people. Even for my past residency in Belgium, I paid for all of my own costs: from flights and visas, to rent and daily expenses.

I made this lifestyle happen by myself through my online work + businesses’ earnings, my savings, and my blog’s income and partnerships. With that in mind, I hope my story will be some sort of living proof to you that a life of travel is absolutely possible even if you’re NOT rich and even if you only have a limited third world passport as I do.

P.S.: If you’re rather wondering about how I afforded my travels right after I quit my job, it was mainly through my previous online jobs that involved graphic design, web development, marketing, etc. Learn more about this in detail by reading through my article that discusses how I afford to travel around the world.

How did you get so many followers and readers?

From a mixture of using the right SEO techniques, posting consistent updates, making engaging content, and promoting unique stories.

Case in point, when I first started this blog, one of my articles went viral thereby giving me exposure to an international audience that is not limited to big publications that featured me, namely BBC, Business Insider, and more.

Up to this day, I continued to apply the various blogging and social media knowledge that I’ve learned and that’s basically how my platforms retain and continue to attract the audience that it has.

At the very core, I think it’s all about proactively learning and applying the right trends. For more helpful things to take note of, you can check out my blogging tips and social media tips.

How long did it take you to make this blog into a success?

It depends on how you define success.

If it’s about success in gaining a bigger audience than what I initially expected this blog to have, then it happened in 2015 which is a year after I launched this travel blog. That moment was mainly ushered by my viral article that resulted in several big publications featuring my story.

If it’s about success with regard to inspiring other people in following their dreams, then it happened also in the same year because through a wider audience, my story helped showcase to more people worldwide that there IS a way to go after one’s travel dreams despite the odds. In fact, to this day, I think of it as a constant ongoing success because it always warms my heart when I hear about how my posts helped you guys, may it be for planning a trip or for jumpstarting a life of travel.

If it’s about success in money, I had my first six-figure month around 2018, followed by seven-figure months at the start of 2019. It was definitely a surreal milestone because I honestly never thought that the earnings of this blog could get that big – and yet it did!

As you can see, blogging was clearly NOT an overnight success for me. I have put hours and hours of effort into this site and I basically built it from the ground up while acting as a sole ‘jill of all trades’: the writer, copywriter, researcher, photographer, videographer, editor, designer, developer, model, manager, promoter, and SEO specialist all wrapped into one.

Sounds exhausting? No worries, it’s fine! I enjoy it a lot and I LOVE what I’m doing after all.

To sum it up, blogging is a business that’s definitely not for everyone, BUT if you have the drive to do it, you’ll surely be creating something amazing.

I want to become a travel blogger too! How should I start?

You’re off to a great start once you read my guide on how to start a travel blog. After that, make sure to read my other blogging tips!

What camera do you use for your photos?

Check here for a complete list of my camera gear!

I usually bring two or three lenses with me for my DSLR when I travel: (1) a wide stable lens for landscapes and vlogging, (2) a zoom lens, and (3) a prime lens for portraits.

If you’re just starting out and have a small budget, it’s fine to purchase a point-and-shoot camera in the meantime. Just make sure that you start learning the ropes on how to properly edit photos with either Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Lightroom, as well as on how to take great photographs.

 

Who takes your photos?

Given that I travel solo, I take most of my photos with the help of my trusty tripod and timer remote. Asking strangers is definitely an option but it’s tricky even if I direct them with my instructions (not to mention that I’d be too embarrassed to ask too much of them). So, I only ask strangers if it’s something that my tripod and I can’t do.

If I’m not traveling solo, my photos are taken by my human tripods—err, my companions haha. All of it is mostly done after I frame the shot and tell them how to take it.

FUN FACT: Unless it’s my sister who is with me, I don’t take too long nor get too bossy when asking others to take photos of me. It’s still a fact that I’m not super comfortable when taking photos of myself; which is an irony, I know, because my work partly revolves around taking photos of myself!

How do you edit your photos?

I edit my photos using software like Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom. I have even come up with customized Lightroom presets or photo filters if you want to check those out!

How do you design your blog post graphics?

Mainly with Adobe Photoshop.

If you’re a total beginner at design but don’t have the time to learn Photoshop yet, you can make use of Canva. It’s a FREE application that does all the work for you by providing you with design templates and a beginner-friendly interface.

Do you accept guest posts on your blog?

Yes, I am! Feel free to send me a message.

Why do you have so many advertisement banners on your blog?

Because it helps me earn and keep this site FREE for use :)

I’m sorry for those distractions but I hope for your understanding. Feel free to ignore them or just scroll through. Thank you!

How can I add advertisements on my blog too?

You need to sign up with an ad network in order to display advertisements on your blog.

The most common ones used by bloggers are AdThrive and Mediavine, but they each have requirements of 100,000 and 50,000 pageviews respectively.

I love your posts and images! Can I repost them?

Thank you, but please don’t repost the entire blog post. What you can rather do is:

  1. Share the link
  2. Copy only two sentences and link back to my site

If you plan to reuse my photos, please don’t do that as well. I have partnered with a legal entity called as Copytrack who scans through the internet daily in order to find those who have used my images illegally. If you have been caught by them, they will immediately send you a legal document and invoice. So please refrain from reposting my images without my permission. Thank you!

How do you get invites to press trips?

If you’re wondering about how brands or sponsors can discover your blog, apart from joining influencer networks like TapInfluence and Upfluence, you can try sending a message to local and international PR companies to present your media kit*. Through this way, your profile would be exposed to potential businesses that are looking to partner with bloggers like you.

*A media kit or press kit is a document where you can show the key demographics, facts, and statistics of your blog so that a brand can see the kind of ROI (return on investment) that they can achieve when they partner with you. It’s basically about what you can give them in return for the payment or sponsorship that they’ll be giving you.

We’d like to invite you on a press trip! How do we get in touch?

Thank you so much! Please send me an email with more details at [email protected].

How do you choose which opportunities to accept or not?

It highly depends on some factors…

  • If it will interest my audience and if it aligns with my blog. If I feel like it won’t, then I will decline even if the pay is high. After all, I value the relationship I have fostered with my community, so I will only partner with brands that are a fit for me or my reader’s niche and interests.
  • If there’s compensation. My blog is a business and I’d rather spend my time doing something that will benefit me rather than work on something that won’t pay me for the effort I will put in. Sometimes, however, I will reduce my rates if it’s an amazing opportunity that I don’t want to pass up for myself and for my audience.
  • If it’s something I’m excited about. Life is short, so I always choose to take on things that I actually enjoy and love :)

My business is still new, can you help promote it for free?

Congratulations! Unfortunately, I don’t do free work. If you want me to help bring more exposure to your brand, please check out my ‘work with me‘ page and then send me an email so that I can send you my rates.

Do you have a team? Can I work or intern for you?

As of this moment, I don’t have a team nor do I accept interns — but when I do, I would announce it via my newsletter.

Vlogging FAQ

What camera do you use for your videos?

Check here for a complete list of my camera gear for vlogging! 

Do you have an underwater camera that you use?

I have a GoPro and you can never go wrong with any of their models.

What drone do you use for some of your footage?

I love my DJI Mavic Pro! But if you’re still starting, have a smaller budget and are looking for a smaller drone, you can get the DJI Mavic Air.

Do you edit your own videos? How?

Yes I do! I have also taught myself to do video editing and I either use Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere.

Read here for more tips on how to edit videos for YouTube.

When did you start vlogging?

I have been making videos or vlogs for years but I only started it ‘seriously’ in 2016.

I think my knowledge of vlogging is still a ‘work in progress’ (unlike my blogging know-how) but I like to believe that I’m gradually improving, and that I’m also slowly gaining the confidence to talk more comfortably in front of the camera.

Do you make money on YouTube with your vlogs?

Yes I do! Apart from paid video sponsorships from brands, I also earn from ads as a part of the YouTube Partner Program.

For more info, check out my vlogging tips.

Would you recommend doing vlogging AND blogging?

If you’re a beginner, I highly suggest that you focus on only one platform first.

In order to choose, you need to determine what you’re good at. For example, if you think you’re not that comfortable yet with the idea of talking in front of a camera, then blogging could be a more viable option for you to start with.

Some people suggest vlogging first instead of blogging because they say that you can “easily transcribe the clips and turn it into a blog post”; however, blogging isn’t that easy. You will still need to learn the concepts, do SEO for Google, and many other things — the same way that you have to learn the in-and-outs of YouTube’s algorithm.

If you do two things at the same time, you’ll risk losing the opportunity to grow your platform fast. So it’s best that you find your strengths first and only do both once you succeed in one.

Don’t forget to check out my posts about vlogging and blogging tips.

Do you offer exclusive content and gifts?

Yes! I have membership levels on my YouTube channel in which each tier has accompanying perks. If you want to join, go to this link: https://www.youtube.com/@iAmAileenTV/join

Personal FAQ

Where are you from?

I’m from a small island in Batanes, the northernmost archipelagic province in the Philippines. My parents were both born on this same island, which makes me a pure-blooded Filipino who’s part of a protected indigenous group called Ivatan.

How old are you?

I was born at 8:10 PM in 1991 — so please just do the math, haha.

How tall are you?

This particular FAQ amuses me because there seems to be a number of people who assume that I’m small — but of course, this is not to say that I tower at a great height!

I’m 5’5″ or 165cm… which might not be much for western nationalities; however, I’m on the ‘tall end’ of the spectrum in my country (the average height of Filipino women is 4 feet).

Where did you go to college and what was your major?

I went to the De La Salle University (DLSU) of Manila and got my diploma as a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Business Management with a Specialization in Applied Corporate Management (ACM).

I initially entered the university under their specialized Accountancy course (as per the request of my parents), but I shifted after the first year when I discovered that I actually hated anything related to numbers lol.

Where do you usually shop for clothes, accessories and other cosmetic products?

I shop at random bazaars, thrift shops, and boutiques when I travel; but I guess my ‘constant’ go-to’s apart from well-known brands like H&M and Zara would have to be…

  • SHEINFor trendy and affordable (yet high quality) clothing. I just love the wide range of selections that they have! They even sell jewelry, home items, etc.
  • ASOS: For other choices, especially for coats and other winter items.
  • Althea: For the latest and best selection of Korean skincare and beauty products.

I found you on Facebook! Can I add you?

As much as I’d like to be connected with you guys, I’m trying to keep my personal Facebook account private at the very least because my life is already pretty much public at this point.

That’s why if we haven’t met yet, I hope you’d understand if I end up declining your request. As an alternative though, you can follow that personal account to be notified of public posts, or just follow my official Facebook page. Thank you!

What are 5 unique lifestyle facts about you?

  • I was once part of a Guinness World Record.
  • I’m an ambivert (leaning more on being an introvert) which might seem ironic given my work and travel lifestyle.
  • I have an irrational fear of flying on a plane. Another irony.
  • I love watching Japanese anime.
  • I studied Judo, a modern Japanese martial art.

Check out my 50 facts about me video.

What languages do you speak?

I am fluent in English, Filipino/Tagalog, and Ivatan (the dialect in my hometown, Batanes).

I can do conversational Dutch and a bit of Spanish.

How do you stay in shape while traveling?

Staying fit while traveling can be a challenge — especially when a destination has far too many delicious delicacies, right?

But I guess, in my case, it already helps that my travel style is ‘active’ in the sense that I always make it a point to do hikes or nature activities for as much as I could. I wouldn’t even mind walking long distances as opposed to riding a taxi or some other public transport. I also have some habits (e.g. using the stairs, doing room exercises, etc.) that may seem small at first but as a whole, help keep me in shape.

To add, when I’m back home after a trip, I would often do a short detox to reset my body’s cravings and diet, while also resuming my regular trips to the gym.

For more tips, check out my post: ‘How to Stay Fit While Traveling‘.

Do you do meet-ups?

Yes, I sometimes do! You can join my newsletter or my travel forum to stay updated of future meet-ups that I’ll be holding.

You are an inspiration and I want to help, can I send you a donation?

This is very sweet of you. I definitely wouldn’t mind it — in fact, I’d be very thankful because it will help me run this site smoothly. You can send donations via Paypal. Thank you so much!

My question has not been answered here yet, can I write you an email?

Sure thing! You can drop me a line on my contact page.

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