The key to a happy, meaningful life
Text and photos by Prime Sarmiento A lot of people were surprised that not only I decided to work in Brunei, but I was actually enjoying my life here. To be honest, I never thought that things would work out. I only brought two suitcases with me, thinking that I would only fulfill my three...
Postcard Moment: Water World!
text and photos by: Prime Sarmiento Oh hello, I know that you missed me but I was so engrossed with my new job as a newspaper editor in the heart of Borneo that I sort of sometimes forget that I'm still a Gypsy Gal at heart and therefore need to explore more and...
48 Hours: The Gypsy Gals Weekend Guide to Baguio City
[note: This is an updated version of our Solo Female Traveler’s Weekend Guide to Baguio City] text by Prime Sarmiento photos by Prime Sarmiento and Avie Olarte Summer time is Baguio time! Baguio 's cool weather and bohemian vibe are one of the things that I miss here now that I'm living...
The Solo Female Traveler’s Guide to Scuba Diving
This is a guest post by Roda Novenario There's a lot of room for women in the ocean so if you've ever dreamed of diving and seeing marine life up close, you just have to get started. Here are some tips, culled from my more than 10 years of being an honorary dugong. Decide...
Postcard Moment: Myanmar By Train
Note: This is a guest post by Debra Meryl Josephson Myanmar has over 3000 miles of 1m-gauge railway for tourism, yet most travelers avoid using this transport system and go by coach bus. Reasons for this include: the lack of shock absorbers having you bounce in your seat like popcorn, doors between carts clacking from...
How I finally learned to let go
Text and photos by Prime Sarmiento [Note: This is my entry to “Your Life-Changing Travel Story” travel writing/blogging contest organized by Wego in partnership with Cebu Pacific Air, the Tourism Promotions Board, and ABS-CBN Choose Philippines.] This is not about a cool weekend escape from Manila's heat. This is not about the...
The Gypsy Gals Guide to Solo Travel
Text and Photos By Prime Sarmiento International Women's Day was observed last Saturday, March 8 and I want to continue the celebration if only because here in the Philippines, this is a month-long affair. March is National Women's Month and I want to honor this special month by encouraging more women to travel on...
48 Hours: The Gypsy Gals’ Guide To Ho Chi Minh City
Text and photos by Prime Sarmiento (Note: This is an updated edition of our very popular guide to Ho Chi Minh City) I frankly admire the brashness of Vietnam's business capital. It's no way as bold as Singapore and Hong Kong – the de facto trade and finance centers in Southeast Asia, but Ho...
Postcard Moment: Chiang Mai is not about Buddhism
Text: Prime Sarmiento Photos: Prime Sarmiento/Avie OIarte No one visits Chiang Mai without getting even a glimpse of its many Buddhist temples. Temples and monks in orange robes (oh and also elephants) – these are the images that most travelers will always remember about this northern Thailand city. I didn't visit Chiang...
The Gypsy Gals’ Guide To Binondo
Text and Photos by Prime Sarmiento It's the Lunar New Year, and if ever you're in Manila there's no better place to welcome the Year of the Wooden Horse but in Binondo. And who knows I might bumped into you as I will be probably celebrating New Year's Day there (that or, I will...
Reflections 2014: Commitment
Text by: Prime Sarmiento Photos: Prime Sarmiento and Avie Olarte "We can only feel happy and fulfilled if we're engaged in our (soul's) purpose.” – Doreen Virtue For the past two years I've been setting an intention of the year as this guides how I conduct my life, career and relationships. Like the...
Reflections 2013: Let Go, Let God(dess)
Text and photos by: Prime Sarmiento “What we held onto holds us back. What we release allows us to fly.” – excerpt from the poem Shattered by Leza Lovitz I never thought that releasing and letting go of old energies will mark my 2013. I after all, started the year with a bang, with...
Christmas Reflections: How to be grateful when things are not working out
Text and Photos by Prime Sarmiento " The darkness is an invitation to light, calling forth the spirit in all of us. Can you reach within yourself for enough clarity, strength, forgiveness, serenity, love,patience and faith to turn this around?" – Marianne Williamson I love Christmas if only because this is one one day...
Postcard Moment: Halong Bay in Hanoi
Text and Photos By Prime Sarmiento This was my second time to visit Hanoi and this time around I decided that I will book a tour to Halong Bay – a World Heritatage Site and a "must-see" for anyone visiting the Vietnamese capital. So here's what I...
Q & A: Jodi Ettenberg talks about travel and career change
Interview by Prime Sarmiento I believe that travel has the power to transform lives. Any journey brings new experiences and these open up our hearts and minds to all sorts of possibilities that we didn't consider before. On a more pragmatic level, I also believe that travels will not only enhance once career path...