15 Random Observations of Bohol

1. Has great beaches and a lot of resorts.
2. You can choose to do a lot of tours like dolphin watching, snorkeling, and turtle watching.
3. You can also do island hopping tours.
4. Lots of tourists that come from China and Korea.
5. You have to haggle all the time with the tour operators and for transportation.
6. Restaurants with BBQ pits for cooking meat and seafood.
7. You can hire a private vehicle (car, van, etc) to drive you around Bohol to go to the famous sites.
8. Entrance fees to tourist sites are nominal.
9. Tarsiers are small nocturnal creatures.
10. You will be asked to sign up for tours each time you walk around the Alona beach area.
11. Panglao is also famous for diving.
12. You will find dive shops everywhere and diving schools.
13. There are a lot of white sand beaches like Dumuluan beach.
14. "Chocolate" hills is green not brown. 
15. You can go on a river lunch cruise. 

15 Random Obervations of Japan II

I went back to Japan a couple of times now! I have paid more attention on how Japanese people behave and interact. You can read about my random observations series here.

1. Shops inside the train stations are great for food and souvenir shopping.
2. Everyone is quiet inside the trains except for tourists.
3. Even kids are quiet. I barely heard them cry (what's your secret Japan?)
4. Kids are taught to be independent at a very young age.
5. And to carry their own weight. I saw a little kid carrying his own backpack and I swear he was less than 1 year old.
6. People do not lock their bikes on a pole. They just lock it with the bike.
7. No one will bother you unless you ask for help.
8. Everyone brings their own food and drinks when boarding the bullet train.
9. You can drink beer inside the trains.
10. You can use your suica/pasmo card to board the trains and to pay for food/drinks at restaurants or shops.
11. They pay a lot of attention to details.
12. English music is everywhere; hair salons, restaurants, shops, etc.
13. Smoking is still prevalent. You can still smoke inside restaurants :(
14. Everyone politely lines up.
15. And will respect your space.

15 Random Obervations of Hong Kong

It was my first time visiting Hong Kong and here are my random observations.
You can read about my random observations series here.

1. Great transportation. The MTR is clean and efficient. 
2. They use barriers for passengers for the MTR trains.
3. They use bamboo poles on construction sites.
4. No one ever gives out napkins so you have to carry around your own tissues.
5. The stores will sell winter clothes in 30 degree weather.
6. They have double decker street cars.
7. Watch out for air conditioner drip of water while you are walking on sidewalks.
8. And everyone blasts the air conditioner so you will freeze when you go inside buildings.
9. Recycling and garbage pick up happens at night.
10. Expensive real estate.
11. Cheap food though.
12. Consists of many islands.
13. Cheap taxi's.
14. Awesome shopping and you can go to night markets as well.
15. The milk tea is amazing!!!

15 Random Obervations of Macau

I took a day trip to Macau and I had the best time! Here are my random observations of Macau.

1. You can get to Macau from Hong Kong in one hour by taking a high speed ferry.
2.  There are two ferry terminals in Macau - make sure you remember which one you need to go to if you purchased return tickets.
3. Macau used to be a Portuguese colony.
4. It's the Las Vegas of Asia.
5. They have a great bus system.
6. And it's cheap to ride the public transportation.
7. Macau is also famous for snacks. They sell everything from fresh beef jerky, peanut cookies,  pineapple tarts, etc.
8. Also home to a giant panda pavilion!
9. The public signs are written in both Portuguese and Mandarin.
10. You will feel like you are in Europe and not in Asia. Some of the building exteriors/interiors are European.
11. Take advantage of the free casino shuttles once you get off the ferry.
12. Macau is always building new casino's/hotels.
13. They have the best peanut cookies!
14. You can sample all the snacks by walking around the tourists area by ruins of St. Paul.
15. And of course they sell pastel de nata.


You can read more about my random observations series here.

15 Random Obervations of Taipei

It was my first time visiting Taipei this year and I wish I had more time to explore this city but I got sick so my time outside was very limited.

You can read about my random observations series here.

1. Night markets are everywhere.
2. Cheap food.
3. Fast wi-fi.
4. Great cable and lots of American shows/movies.
5. Delicious pineapple cakes.
6. Great MRT (subway) system.
7. No eating and drinking inside the MRT or you will be fined $300.
8. Affordable clinics with great doctors.
9. You pay less than $2 for bubble tea and it's everywhere.
10. Cheap massages.
11. Great service in stores and restaurants.
12. They love scooters.
13. A mix of modern and old city.
14. Video games fanatics.
15. Abundance of boutique stores.

15 Random Obervations of Seoul

It was my first time visiting Seoul in 2014 and I made a list of random things that I saw/experienced. You can read about my random observations series here.

1. Coffee shops are everywhere. Everyone is caffeinated. 

2. Using a credit card is widely accepted (not in Japan).

3. The streets are louder and more lively.

4. They start drinking early and you can find drunk people walking even at 5pm. 

5. Cheap beer and even cheaper soju at $1. 

6. Of course Samsung is everywhere. From flat screens tv's at the airport to cellphones.

7. Super spicy foods.

8. A very modern city in touch with technology.

9. Super high speed wi-fi's. 

10. They work very long hours!

11. Lots of outdoor markets for food, clothing, accessories, etc. 

12. More people can communicate in English.

13. Skincare and make up stores are everywhere. 

14. And so are plastic surgery clinics and advertisements for it. 

15. They have showers only instead of having a bath tub.

15 Random Observations of Naples

Naples is a bustling city and I found that underneath the chaos is beauty and kind-hearted people.
You can read about my random observations series here.


1. Scooters are the main mode of transportation.
2. Garbage piled up and thrown everywhere. No one recycles :(
3. Laundry is also hung outside windows/balconies.
4. People are louder.
5. It's the birth place of pizza. Thus, they make the most amazing one's!
6. A great starting point to get to different islands/ruins (i.e Capri, Procida, Amalfi, Pompeii, Herculaneum).
7. Tough looking people but the nicest!
8. Food heaven! No shortage of great food and desserts.
9. Gelato is cheaper here.
10. Home to a street full of Nativity shops.
11. Cheap wine from Vesuvius.
12. Amazing fresh produce and seafood!
13. They don't care about fashion as much as Rome.
14. Driving is a sport as people drive erratically.
15. The gateway for the islands in the south.

15 Random Observations of Rome

It was my first time to visit Rome last year but it certainly won't be the last as this city has a lot to offer and I barely scratched the surface.

You can read about my random observations series here.

1. Tourists sites are so close to each other.
2. It's hard to distinguish the locals to the tourists.
3. Buses, trains, and streetcars are always packed.
4. It's better to walk.
5. No one "poops and scoops". Dog poop's are everywhere so always watch your step.
6. Cobblestone streets are deadly.
7. Never leave your belongings unattended. Pick pockets are everywhere.
8. Sirens are everywhere and it's blaring any time of day/night.
9. Breakfast is non-existent.
10. No shortage of churches.
11. Men are always well dressed.
12. Prepare to eat several courses for dinner.
13. Cacio e pepe is simply amazing!
14. Aperitivo is taken seriously (try aperol spritz!)
15. You need to validate your tickets when using public transportation.

15 Random Observations of Japan Part I

Allow me to revisit my time in Japan in 2014. It was my first time to visit this amazing country and I was blown away by the food and culture. I can't wait to go back to Japan this month! Here are my random observations of Japan..and I'm sure I will be adding more to it after my trip. 

1. No tipping at restaurants.
2. Shop at 100 yen stores for souvenirs.
3. ATM's can be found at JP Post offices.
4. Food can be great souvenirs.
5. Convenience stores will become your best friend. It has everything you need.
6. Kimono pajama's are provided in hotels.
7. Face mask is a must when you're sick.
8. Do not eat the leaf wrapping for the pressed sushi.
9. Always remove your footwear when stepping inside a temple/house.
10. Packaging is key.
11. Bullet trains run every 15 minutes.
12. Everyone is very polite and quiet. 
13. Vending machines are everywhere.
14. Fast & efficient service.
15. Bikes are everywhere.