I’m studying again, well kinda (also back to occasional blogging)
Just a *little* personal news on my part (and not-so-humble-bragging): I was chosen one of fellow of the Executive Leadership Program organized by Asian American Journalists Association. This was made possible by a fellowship supported by Google. Yes it happened: I went from being an Iskolar ng Bayan to Iskolar ng Google -which explains the...
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...
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...
Q & A: Christina Ambubuyog talks about travel as a spiritual experience
Interview by Prime Sarmiento Christina Ambubuyog is a career changer. She left her corporate job in 2008 to honor her creative and spiritual gifts by launching I Love Intuition-an enlightened company dedicated to show you exactly how to claim your intuition in order to create clarity, authenticity and shortcuts to success....
Q&A: Sherry Ott talks about the joys of going on a career break
Interview by Prime Sarmiento Sherry Ott has been working in the information technology sector in New York for three years when she decided that it was about time to quit and travel the world. That was in 2006, back then Sherry’s plan was just to take a break from a career she didn’t...
Q & A: Loes Van Mierlo on Spiritual Journeys
Interview by Prime Sarmiento Soul Coach Loes van Mierlo is in many ways, a true-ble gypsygal. She was born in Netherlands but have lived in Finland, Germany, India, the Philippines and Ireland. She’s now based in California, coaching clients from all over the world (via Skype) to help them gain...
HerStory: Make My Spirit Fly –My Farm in Maryland [part 2]
Guest post by Malou L. Sayson Note: This is the second part of the two-part travel memoir written by The Gypsygals first ever guest poster – Maryland-based Filipina writer Malou Sayson. You can read the first part here. HerStory is a new section in The Gypsygals, a space for my fellow female travelers to write...
HerStory: Make My Spirit Fly -Winter in Maryland (part 1)
Text and Photos by Malou L. Sayson Note: This is the first part of the two-part travel memoir written by my friend and The Gypsygals first ever guest poster – Maryland-based Filipina writer Malou Sayson. HerStory is a new section in The Gypsygals, a space for my fellow female travelers to write about their...
Q & A: Natalie Macneil on the rewards of a location independent career
Interview by Prime Sarmiento Natalie Macneil is the ideal solo female traveler. She has traveled on her own to over 60 countries and has managed to build a career that allowed her to work from just anywhere in the world. So is Natalie being paid to travel around the world? Well, no. What she...
Q & A: Solo Female Traveler Natalie Sisson on Living a Life of Fun & Adventure
Interview by Prime Sarmiento I have conducted these Q and As for the past few months and I have interviewed some of the most intelligent and beautiful (inside and out) female travelers around the world. But it is only now that I'm openly gushing for an interviewee. Natalie Sisson...
Human Powered Awesome: An environmental journalist with a sense of purpose*
By Prime Sarmiento (This blog post was written in support of Natalie Sisson’s Human Powered Awesome project**) Environmental journalism is a thankless job. In a country obsessed with politics, basketball and showbiz, reporting on “esoteric” topics like climate change, biodiversity or deforestation, is not the easiest way to persuade people to...
Memories are made of Tikoy: How We Celebrate Chinese New Year in Manila
By Prime Sarmiento (Note: I always wanted to write a travel memoir and this post, which was first published in this blog two years ago, is my way of experimenting with this literary genre. I reposted it – edited, tightened up some sentences, and accompanied the post with some photos. And like before, I...
Q & A: Alexis Grant talks about writing a travel memoir
interview by Prime Sarmiento At a time when everyone and her pet monkey can travel and launch a travel blog, I find it fascinating that there are people who are committed in writing a travel memoir. After all, if you can just blog about all the places that you've been too, why bother...
The psyche of a solo female traveler: I am an INFJ
by Prime Samiento Are some women predisposed to travel on their own? This is one question that I posed to myself after I answered some questions in the Myers- Briggs personality test (thanks Penelope Trunk for the tip). It was a slowww news day and I figured, this was the only...