Pahiyas Festival 2020

You don't want to miss the Pahiyas Festival this year, 2020, do you?

Lucban is considered a third class municipality in the province of Quezon, the Philippines. This town is made popular and associated with Pahiyas Festival. It is situated at the foot of Mount Banahaw de Lucban and approximately 26 kilometres from Lucena City and 160 km from Manila via this city.

People of Lucban

They call themselves Lucbanin. They are warm, friendly, and simple life. Most of them are religious and have been visiting the old church that was built since the year 1700s. 

My latest visit became memorable not only because of the festival, the food, and the like but because of the warm reception of a family whom we met for the first time. Their gestures are full of sincerity. The family has a huge house, yet, simple and humble.

If your travelling includes meeting local people, Lucban is the place for you and Lucbanins are the people you have to meet.

A Quick Trip to Nafplio, Greece: The Highlights

Written by Kate Power

Nafplio was once the capital of Greece, way back between 1823 and 1834, but the town’s history dates back much further. Legend says it was built by the god Poseidon’s son Nafplios and the daughter of Danaus, Anymone and soldiers from Nafplio were instrumental in the Trojan War. It was an important town during Byzantine times and the influence of Venetian and Turkish invaders can be seen throughout its architecture. Today Nafplio is popular as a holiday destination for Greeks and visitors from abroad. It’ll impress history buffs who come to discover the historic fortress and anyone looking for a romantic getaway in gorgeous surroundings. Nafplio is sometimes known as the jewel in the crown of the Peloponnese, a landmass south of Athens that sits right on the water.

Nafplio Tilt Shift Photo Credit: Mendhak Flickr

Start your visit to Nafplio holiday with a lazy walk around the Old Town. The twisting cobbled streets and colourful houses are more typical of an Italian city than traditional Greece; there are neoclassical mansions draped by Bougainvillea trees, small iron balconies with sunset views and Turkish fountains.

6 South American Snowboarding Hot Spots

Written by Jessica Socheski

Photo Credit: Pantherfile

North America and Europe are not the only places to shred some serious powder. South America contains some of the world’s most diverse snowboarding terrain. And, for serious snowboarders, South America’s ski season is during the southern hemisphere’s winter. This means that the prime time to snowboard actually falls during the traditional summer months when it is hot and sunny in the northern hemisphere.

For any of the nomadic boarders who follow the snow, check your snowboard gear guide and get ready spend the summer and early fall in South America after a full winter and spring in the north for year round snowboarding. When in South America, check out these six hot spots (or should we say cool spots) for the best mountain snow all “summer” long.

1. Portillo

The oldest resort in South America, Portillo is an isolated area in the Patagonia. Legendary for its 14,000 acres of available terrain, boarders must commit to a full week at the lodge if interested in snowboarding this mountain. Because of this requirement, the mountain is almost always quiet making the experience feel as if the mountain has never been explored before. Plus, the area is so expansive that to fully experience the mountain, one week is barely enough time.

Antonis Iordanoglou of Athens GREECE

33. Featured Traveller 

 Antonis Iordanoglou

 Travel Writer : Journalist : Product Manager : Traveller

 Athens GREECE

"A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it" 

~ John Steinbeck

It is amazing to have Antonis a part of our travel blog. A seasoned traveller and a journalist in his own right. 

Flag of Greece

He has travelled to Italy, Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden, Portugal, Spain, France, Bulgaria, Albania, Turkey, Gibraltar, Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, Indonesia, Thailand, South Africa, Singapore, USA (East Coast, South Carolina, Jacksonville, Miami , Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Gulf of Mexico, New Orleans, Florida Keys, Saint Augustine, Orlando) Cuba (Avana, Guantanamo bay), Bermuda, Azores, Gibraltar, Atlantic Ocean onboard and will continue travelling to China, Australia, Argentina and Russia.

Although Antonis has already wandered the four corners of the world, he still believe that the beauty is in his own backyard. And yes, there is no denying that he will not stop promoting his country to travellers whose goal is to discover places that they have not seen before.

Antonis travels using almost all means of transports and you will see him mostly on motorbikes and on foot. To him, budget is the most important thing although he usually travels on assignment or with invitation from local authorities.

Paleochora GREECE overlooking the shore of the Libyan Sea

Curiosity lead him to find more places to explore.....

He is obsessed in discovering the off-the-beaten-track and always choose the road less travelled to make his every trip worthwhile.

Tips for Buying Great Travel Luggage

Written by Jesse Cadena

Do you ever stand at the travel luggage carousel while black suitcase after black suitcase passes, and it takes you forever to figure out which one is yours? Or maybe you pick up

your bag only to see a hole formed in the top pocket and now half your underwear is missing? If this has happened to you, you may need new gear. Following a few guidelines can ensure you get a great bag to fit your needs.

If you travel light, consider a backpack. You will not have to check it in, and many can be purchased with wheels and a retractable handle. These are also a good fit if you are planning on camping or hiking while on your trip. You can also find duffel bags equipped with similar gear, and they can fit nicely into overhead compartments.

Peek Inside for the Weekly Deals - Flights & More!

I got hold of an offer from Orbitz about their Weekly Deals that I want to share with you. You may be interested. One of the offers will take you to New Zealand, the destination that you'd been dreaming of. I have explored NZ, and really, you do not want to miss the beauty of this island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. 

Bay of Islands NEW ZEALAND : Photo taken by Freddie of FromATravellersDesk

Treat yourself for a holiday that you will treasure forever. Take a peek on New Zealand and the rest of the world. You will find big savings in their Weekly Deals. It's 100% New Zealand!

Brad Bernard of Georgia U.S.A.

32. Featured Traveller 

 Brad Bernard 

 Management Consultant : Traveller

 Georgia USA

"Travel Curiously"

Flag of the USA

Brad’s humanitarian projects in Africa and the Middle East have enabled countless trips to far-fetched places. He seeks out freshest off-the-map experiences and pushes his own personal boundaries by travelling experimentally. His personal quest to find the most extreme and bizarre in travel has bred misadventures and moments of enlightenment alike.  His travel stories aim to illustrate how he overcomes personal fears and vulnerabilities while seeking a deeper meaning in the unfamiliar. 

He has explored eighty three countries as of this writing and he will never stop. He wants to continue discovering countries that he will see for the first time. Panama, Laos, Yemen, Democratic Republic of the Congo and New Zealand are on top of his list. 

Brad wants to discover and travel more deeply and look beneath the surface of the tourism infrastructure. He prefers to explore beyond the guidebooks to ask directions from locals. "You don't necessarily have to break into a Bolivian prison or find a priceless artefact or survive a life-threatening situation like me, find the best hawker stall in Singapore, the best place to see the sunrise in Bagan, the best Shisha bar in Istanbul", he confesses.

His biggest advice to you when travelling is simply to smile.  Nobody wants to rob a nice guy and you'll find yourself surrounded by unexpected friends who will teach you things you never expected.  "Exploration and learning works both ways, and you'll quickly find the locals are much more curious of you than you have them.  You are an advocate for your country and the impressions you leave will be long-lasting", he says.

Are You Ready for a Trip? Here are some Tips on What to Bring and What Not to Bring

Hello fellow travellers! 

Photo by Tumi

We are creating tips that will be very helpful when you travel. This will serve as reference before, during, and after your journey. We are categorizing each one to make it easier for you. 

The same is true with the deals that we are posting as we get them. Deals and offers that will help you plan your trips, now and in the near future.....

If you want to share quality tips and deals with your fellow travellers, feel free to send an email to: fromatravellersdesk(at)gmail(dot)com.

This will be the third series of our Useful Travel Tips. Stay tuned!

Now that you have planned your trip and purchased a cheap airline ticket, here are better ideas on what to bring to keep your journey as smooth as possible. 

Remember to bring small or travel sizes only.

What to Bring

• Bar of Soap
• Brush, Comb, Hair elastics
• Camera and Camera charger
• Carry-On Bag
• Deodorant
• First-Aid kit; Bandaids, Antibiotic cream, Scissors, Gauze
• Flashlights
• Ginger Root for motion sickness
• Hand Sanitizer
• Hats
• Healthy Snacks like Granola bars and Dried Fruits
• Inflatable Travel Pillow
• Insect Repellent - if visiting remote and forested areas
• Kleenex and Facial wipes 
• Laptop with an Auto/Air Adapter
• Laundry plastic bag
• Liquid Make-Up
• Magazines, Book, Reading Materials
• Moisturizer
• Nasal spray and Ear Ache relief 
• Pair of sunglasses
• Passport and Travel Documents
• Perfumed Cards and Strips found in Magazines – put in your luggage

Tips for Keeping Travel Expenses Under Control

Written by Jesse Cadena

Most people agree that travelling is worth the cost, but still, there is no denying that vacations can be pricey.  While you do not want to be overly frugal on a trip and regret missed opportunities later, you do need to strike a balance between depriving yourself and spending yourself into debt. With these travelling expense tips, doing so should be much easier.  

Planning ahead is often the key to keeping travel costs manageable.  You should consider travelling during whatever time of year is the off-season for your destination — for instance, if you want to visit a mountain town or take a tropical vacation, you may find lower rates during seasons besides winter.  By checking into lodging and transportation prices online, you can get a feel for when peak season and off-season fall.  Last-minute deals on flights, hotels, and rentals will often cost more, and you will have fewer options to choose between, so start looking early for bargains.  You should also look into alternative lodging options, such as staying with people you know or participating in a home exchange.