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7 Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Relocate To A New Country

By
Jerny - Two Budget Travelers
-

Sometimes, you know that it is time to start life anew in the place of your dreams, it can be anywhere, such as Europe, America, Canada, or somewhere in the Middle East. You want to explore new places, travel to new cities, and avail numerous career opportunities. However, the task of moving to a new place might not turn out to be as easy as it sounds.
One has to face various challenges and overcome a number of hurdles that might come in their way. Such as, learning to speak a new language, making new friends, getting along in the new community and being liked there, not having enough money to rent a good place, etc. Thus, before you get on that plane, you really need to make sure that you’re completely prepared for whatever might come ahead.
So, we’re here to help you in getting better prepared for settling in a new country and having a fresh start abroad. Don’t worry anymore! Read on to find out all that you need to know beforehand, and all the important questions that you should ask yourself before you plan to relocate yourself in a new country.
7-questions-to-ask-yourself-before-you-relocate-to-a-new-country

  1. The cost of living and how much can I expect to earn there?

Salaries and the cost of living often varies from one region to another. You can’t always expect your salary to commensurate with the cost of living in the country that you’re planning to move to. You might earn a lot more than you do now, but it is also possible for your salary to not be enough, even if it is more than the current one in the country that you’d move to. Plus, your cost of living might also increase as well.
So, it is important for you to do your research and make sure that you’d be able to maintain your standard of living. You can do this by comparing your current salary and the cost of living in your region with the salary and the cost of living in the country that you’re planning to move to.

  1. What will the community there be like?

When you move to a new place, the thing that helps you settle in most places is the kind of people that surround you. Each community has its own traditions, local laws, and conventions that might sound odd or irritate you as a newcomer. So, you need to make sure that the country you are moving to does not follow any upsetting conventions or traditions that you may find uncomfortable to deal with. Also, know that you’d be allowed to maintain your religious identity without having to face any prejudice of discriminations.

  1. What kind of environment makes me happy?

With the change in one’s country, state, and city, the whole environment changes, including the culture, cuisine, nightlife, landscape, and much more. Make sure that you’d not only settle to the new vibe easily but also be able to enjoy it. For instance, if you don’t like the landscape of your current city, make certain that the place you’re moving to has exactly the kind of landscape that you wish to have.
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  1. How long will it take me to learn the native language?

There are many countries in which the native tongue is more widely spoken and understood as compared to English, such as Sweden, China, or Japan. In such places, it becomes quite necessary for one to at least know some basics of the native language in order to be able to move around and perform daily chores without any problem. For instance, if you’re planning to move to Japan, you need to know how long does it take to learn Japanese and the sources through which you can learn it. Knowing the basics of Japanese would allow you to be able to get your groceries easily, or to efficiently instruct the Japanese driver about where you want to go after you exit the airport.

  1. Can I get the necessary Visa or work permit?

Many countries often need special paperwork, such as a work visa or permit, to obtain employment. Have detailed conversations with people who have been there, or do your research online to know about the specific paperwork that you’d be needing and the process of obtaining all the documents that are required. This step is increasingly important before you move, considering you don’t want to get stuck in the new country, unable to get a job due to some missing documents.

  1. How secure will my job be?

If you’ve been already hired by a foreign company, and are moving to a new country to serve at your new job, one thing that you need to ask your employer beforehand is how secure your job will be? In case, the job that you’ve got is a temporary one, make sure that you get the kind of work permit that will allow you to apply somewhere else after your job ends. It is the case if you wish to settle permanently. You can decide on that later as well. Otherwise, you can always return back to your homeland and resume your life there.

7. Are you prepared to leave what you’re leaving behind?7-questions-to-ask-yourself-before-you-relocate-to-a-new-country

Since you’ve now decided to move abroad to avail various career opportunities and to have betterments in your lifestyle, you should assess all that you are leaving behind. It could be anything, from your family, your life partner, your home, and even your culture; as you would have to live according to the culture of the region you are moving to. However, it might be okay for you to leave your culture, but it is quite necessary to ensure that you would be able to take your family there. Know the process of applying for the visa of your blood relatives, and how long would it take. Because, after all, one can only be truly happy when s/he is with her/his loved ones!
Now that you know all that lies ahead of you, make sure that you are ready for the bumpy ride! Good Luck!

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7 Best Places to Teach English to Students (With TEFL Certification)

By
Jane - Two Budget Travelers
-

If you’ve ever wanted to travel, then chances are you’ve also been looking for opportunities to take you overseas for a while now. Unfortunately, finding a viable option that will let you travel the globe is pretty difficult, and you can quickly become disheartened by the bevy of expenses involved and all the things you need to consider.

Of course, traveling isn’t impossible, and if you’ve got enough money to throw at an international trip to a country of your choice, you’ll have no problems at all. For those who don’t yet have the necessary funding for such an expedition, however, you’ll need to get creative.

Luckily, if English is your native tongue or you’re suitably proficient at speaking and understanding the language, you could easily score a position as an English teacher in any one of several foreign countries thanks to TEFL. What is TEFL? Which countries are the best? We’ll answer both of those questions in the article below.

7 Best Places to Teach English to Students (With TEFL Certification)

What is TEFL?

Quite simply, TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. With a TEFL certification, you’ll be able to teach English to non-native students.

TEFL is quickly becoming one of the fastest-growing educational fields in the world and offers numerous brilliant and professional opportunities for its students to travel the globe and earn a living while doing so. 

Sounds great, right? But you’ll need to put the work in to earn your TEFL certification and start traveling abroad.

TEFL Requirements

In order to teach English as a foreign language, you will need your TEFL certification. Companies want to hire educators who have been properly trained, after all. 

Beyond that, however, you won’t need any college experience, a degree in English, or even prior teaching experience in order to become a certified English teacher of non-English students. 

TEFL Certification

To earn your TEFL certification, you will need to participate in a full TEFL course and receive instruction from an already highly-qualified educator. This course will cover all the tools and skills you need to teach English as a foreign language and includes the following.

  • At least 100 hours of coursework
  • Anywhere between 6 to 20 hours of practical work (observing and participating in a classroom environment)
  • An accredited curriculum

Additionally, we would also recommend that you receive your TEFL training from an organization that provides comprehensive job searches and opportunities.

Where to Travel?

Once you’ve got your TEFL certification, you can start to travel, but you’ll need to know where you’re going first. 

Certain TEFL organizations provide these opportunities for you, but if the course you have followed does not, consider these seven exciting locations that present the best TEFL opportunities.

South Korea

TEFL in South Korea pays about $1600 to $2600 per month and also accommodates its foreign language teachers by providing free housing along with airfare reimbursement.

Japan

Japan is a lovely place to be in general, but it also has an abundance of open foreign language teaching jobs just waiting to be taken advantage of. 

Unlike South Korea, there typically isn’t any free housing, but there are certain programs that can help educators maintain an affordable, reasonable standard of living.

The Middle East

Along with numerous open positions, the Middle East also provides a ridiculous sum of money to its foreign language teachers.

Thailand

Thailand has a pretty low cost of living in general, but it’s also warm, beautiful, and has a vibrant atmosphere you’d struggle to find elsewhere.

China

China is a reliable place to teach English as a foreign language because there are always opportunities available, even in more crowded places like Beijing or Shanghai.

Prague

Similar to China, Prague has plenty of open positions, and it’s also probably one of the most beautiful European cities ever.

Spain

Spain also has an abundance of job opportunities for foreign language teachers and numerous governmental programs to help educators maintain a respectable standard of living.

7 Best Places to Teach English to Students (With TEFL Certification)

Summary

If you’ve always wanted to travel, and English is your native language, then now is the time to get started with TEFL and earn your certification so that you can finally see parts of the globe you never thought you would.

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7 Secret Places To Visit In Hong Kong For The Best Instagram Photos

By
Jerny - Two Budget Travelers
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Picture Hong Kong and the first thing that strikes your mind is its imposing skyline soaring over the Victoria Harbor. A region that’s deeply connected to its distinctive culture, Hong Kong immaculately blends Chinese, British, and indigenous influences.
What’s more; Hong Kong is the region where centuries-old customs thrive, along with its iconic high-rises. From lesser-known streets to secret eateries, Hong Kong proudly houses plenty of hidden gems worth discovering.
Therefore, we’ve master-crafted a list of Hong Kong’s topmost secret places that will bombard your Instagram with hearts. Read on to be in the know.

1. Marvel the Shek Kwu Chau

@astronaut_mm

This outlying destination of Cheung Chau Island has enthralled visitors because of its wild stretch of coastline. But not many are aware of the incredible hideaway known as ‘Shek Kwu Chau’ that sits in its close proximity.
Shek Kwu Chan is a gorgeous, manmade island that houses extensive classical-inspired structures featuring colonnades and stone statues. It is surrounded by a mishmash of temples, and decorative features inspired by Chinese mythology.
What further adds to the beauty of this hideout is the Roman-style pool making it a picture-perfect hidden gem of Hong Kong.

2. Perfect Dive from Sai Wan Swimming Shed

@discoverhongkong

While many people know about the famed Victoria Harbour, very few are aware of Sai Wan Swimming Shed’ which makes the perfect place for a daring dive. Even better, the eye-catching view of the place is absolutely an amazing sight to behold which also makes it a photographer’s paradise.
The shed looks the prettiest at sunset when you can capture the moment and share with your Instagram fam! What’s more? The place feels like a magical hideaway- offering you a distinctive smell of the sea and the therapeutic sounds of the wave-splash! It definitely is an other-worldly destination giving you a divine feel.

3. Admire the Picturesque Temple Street Market

@tripfiles

One of the most wonderfully photogenic markets in Hong Kong, ‘Temple Street Market’ is a perfectly buzzy display of fortune-tellers, antiques, and insanely delicious street foods.
While this picturesque street promises lots of amazing Insta-worthy portrayals, the secret to falling in love with this market lies at the top floor of the nearby Yau Ma Tea’s parking lot from where you can capture an insane overhead view of the market.

4. Photo Shoot at Suicide Cliff, Kowloon Peak

@world_walkerz

Hop aboard the journey to the Kowloon Peak and find your way to the much lesser-known, but amazingly scenic ‘Suicide Cliff’. This place may not be for the faint-hearted. The drop is deadly but the view is incredible!
Once at the cliff, you’ll be surprised to find photographers with their tripods extended to capture the city from a unique and adventurous angle. The best time to visit this breathtaking place is at sunset, when the view is simply fantastic, giving you an insta-famous shot of the city lights.

5.  Explore Hong Kong Geopark

@discoverhongkong

‘Hong Kong Geopark’ is one of Hong Kong’s best-kept secrets that showcases the region’s raw natural scenery and spectacular volcanic rock formations.
The best way to click memorable snaps is by joining a boat tour, which shows you several sea-stacks, rocky cliffs, isolated bays, sandy beaches, and sea caves.

6. A Walk in the Old Town Central

@hkairlines

Come home to the city’s oldest and most archetypal neighborhood that’s a perfect breeding ground for history, arts, food and culture. The Old Town central is simply an art lover’s paradise brimming with colonial monuments, temples, art-galleries, street-arts, and antique stores.
Take yourself on a self-guided walking tour through these Instagram-friendly streets where you can strike a pose in front of some extraordinarily exceptional graffiti while you explore each and every nook of old town central.

7. Tai O Fishing Village

@vongolainviaggio

With the pretty settings on the coast framed by the mountains and all the alluring coastal views, ‘Tai O village’ is every photographer’s dream and definitely worth a visit. This small, quaint and picturesque village on the western coast of Lantau island is also home to the endangered Chinese White Dolphin.
Apart from obvious alluring coastal views and relaxing boat-rides around the traditional stilt houses, Tai O is arguably the best place for gobsmackingly fresh seafood and dried seafood products. Moreover, the slow-paced lifestyle of this village stands in contrast to busy Hong Kong.

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Langkawi is Now Open: Tourism Malaysia Manila Conducts Hybrid Seminar

By
Jerny - Two Budget Travelers
-

Tourism Malaysia Manila conducted a hybrid seminar for travel agents – a first in almost two years – to talk about some destinations in Malaysia with a topic focus on Langkawi on November 24, 2021. The seminar which was conducted online (via Zoom) and in-person at Citadines Bay City Manila, brought together the various travel agent associations, industry friends and partners, and members of the press.
There were presentations from:
 Ms. Socorro “Suzette” Del Rosario and Ms. Alyssa Tinawin of Malaysia Airlines Philippines
 Ms. Sharmini Violet – Director of Sales & Marketing, Mega Water Sports
 Ms. Utami Fajar Sari – Marketing Communication Manager, Bayview Hotel Langkawi
 Ms. Hasniza “Sue” Suid – Sales Manager, Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa
 Ms. Yazlina Yahya – Director, Tourism Malaysia Manila

Why Langkawi

The name “Langkawi” is said to be derived from the word “helang” (eagle) and “kawi” (reddish brown). Not your ordinary island, Langkawi is an archipelago of 104 islands distinctly different and filled with myths and legends. Eco-adventure, island hopping, wildlife sighting, shopping, historical and cultural experience are just some of the many exciting things you can do at Langkawi.

Photo by Sasha India on Unsplash

Photo by Manish Tulaskar on Unsplash

The Langkawi international travel bubble was launched on the 15th of November 2021 where fully vaccinated individuals are allowed to travel into the island. Other than this, travel is only for those with special passes.

Standard Operating Procedures [SOPs]

Director Yahya also presented the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for all tourists entering Malaysia which includes the following procedures:
• Required testing prior to departure – a negative COVID-19 RT PCR swab test is required for all countries within 72 hours before arrival in Malaysia.
• Required testing upon arrival – Malaysia-bound passengers will undergo an addition swab test upon arrival in KLIA.
• Mandatory 7 or 10 days home quarantine (to apply 7010 days prior to travelling to Malaysia)
• Quarantine in hospitals designated by the Ministry of Health (if tested positive)
To learn more about the latest updates, you may visit this site.
Tourism Malaysia’s promotional efforts in the Philippines are expected to increase the number of Philippines tourists to Malaysia. It aims to promote greater awareness of Malaysia as an ideal holiday destination, besides fostering greater cooperation between tour operators and members of the tourism fraternity. This is in line with Malaysia’s efforts to boost arrivals from the Philippines once the borders have opened and leisure travel resumes.
For more media releases, media info and media features on Malaysia’s tourism industry, kindly visit the Media Centre of Tourism Malaysia’s website at http://www.tourism.gov.my/
MALAYSIA TOURISM PROMOTION BOARD OR TOURISM MALAYSIA is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia. It focuses on the specific task of promoting Malaysia as a preferred tourism destination. Since its inception, it has emerged as a major player in the international tourism scene. In 2018, Malaysia registered 25.8 million tourist arrivals and RM84.1 billion tourist receipts, placing it among the major tourism destinations of the world.

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4 Work From Home Jobs to Appreciate as a Traveler

By
Jane - Two Budget Travelers
-

If you love to travel and still need to make money, you need to know about work from home jobs. A large number of people love traveling and seeing new sights throughout the world. This is why many individuals indulge themselves and go on vacation every so often. 

The dream, however, is making money doing something you love while still traveling and being on the go. Luckily, there are numerous ways in which you can make money as a digital nomad thanks to the various work from home jobs that you can do. 

Not only will it allow you to focus on earning money and building a more secure financial future, but it will also help you fund your wanderlust. If you are looking for home jobs that give you flexibility and control, as well as the chance to be your own boss, we’ve got some answers up next. 

4 Work from Home Jobs You will Appreciate as a Traveler

Freelance Writer and Editor

If you are playing with words and expressing yourself, becoming a freelance writer might be in line with your interests and experience. A freelance writer and editor job encompass a variety of fields, such as blogging, SEO content, and even consumer magazine. 

These positions normally allow you to write efficiently and in accordance with the client’s specifications, incorporating a number of keywords or a set of themes as you go. The average pay for freelance writing positions is $24.07 with an average annual salary of $39,704. 

To qualify for these positions, applicants must hold relevant writing and or editing experiences pertinent to the job. Likewise, a portfolio of works is also highly important. 

Graphic Designer

Graphic design work remains highly in demand. Normally, these positions require individuals to create graphic design work, illustrations, and more for a variety of needs – such as websites, social media pages, and advertisements. 

Experience in the field, knowledge and experience in the particular industry, as well as adeptness in using a number of different graphic design and illustration programs, is a must. In the same way, applicants must be able to show a portfolio of work related to the project they’ll be applying for. 

The average base pay for graphic designers in the U.S. is $45,677 per year. 

Online Teacher

Online teaching nowadays goes beyond the typical education job you may see at schools. Today, positions in this industry span from teaching English to people hailing from foreign countries as well as tutoring jobs on different subjects and topics. 

Depending on the position, you will need teaching certificates or even master’s degrees to qualify. Of course, experience in teaching is always a plus. Besides these, a reliable working computer or laptop, as well as a strong Internet connection is required for these home jobs. 

An average salary for an online teacher in the United States is $42,579. 

Social Media Strategist/Manager

Last but certainly not least of these home jobs is a social media strategist or manager position. In light of social media platforms popping up, individuals such as strategists and managers are tasked to manage pages and platforms of clients across varying industries. 

Besides scheduling posts, creating content, and evaluating trends, these social media strategists and managers are also privy to strategic developments in the company as well as conducting outreach to widen the client’s range and focus. 

To do this, applicants must have a portfolio of successful campaigns on different platforms as well as knowledge on using relevant social media tools to their advantage. Internet connection is also required. For these positions, the average salary is $51,910. 

All of these home jobs are available on several platforms. To find these, simply head to job search platforms such as Indeed, Glassdoor, Monster, and even LinkedIn. Fiverr and UpWork are also reliable platforms. 

In the job search area, you may also specify ‘work from home jobs’ to limit the search to these remote positions. 

The beauty about working with these said websites is that you can easily upload your resume from your mobile device, allowing you to send applications even when you’re on the road. Alternatively, you may also directly apply to the company of your choosing via their careers page. 

The Bottom Line

Finding work from home jobs that you love and excel at are much easier these days, especially with companies being forced to recognize the importance of telecommuting and remote work in such unprecedented times. With these options, you can still work while you travel. 

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Try These Best Apps To Learn How To Draw

By
Jane - Two Budget Travelers
-

If you’ve always felt like you’ve got a little Picasso inside, you should know you can use apps to learn how to draw right now. At the time when people are stuck in their homes, hobbies like drawing provide an outlet for passing time and enhancing skills. 

Take your drawing hobby to the next level by downloading apps to learn the basics and some techniques in sketching, coloring, and more. What’s more fun is that some apps have Assist Mode to correct your strokes and coloring skills. 

Download the following apps if you’re interested in enhancing your drawing skills. You can use an iPad, mobile phone, or traditional pen and paper to draw. Some of these apps act as an artist community to help you discover new friends and art inspiration. 

Learn To Draw With iPad And Apple Pencil

If you have an iPad and an Apple pencil, learning how to draw is easier because you can sketch freely on the device and make a digital artwork. Many artists invest in these tools and equipment to make art and sell it to clients. 

You can try out the following apps to help you create your first visual masterpiece. 

ShadowDraw

One of the more useful apps you can download on your iPad is the ShadowDraw. It provides a sketch-by-sketch process needed to make artwork and not simply tracing lines or patterns. Each drawing provides information on the right strokes to mimic the original artwork. 

The processes continue until your work resembles the original artist’s work. The best part is, you can record the drawing process in a video or GIF. While the app is convenient, the downside is the limitations of the free version. 

Aside from drawing, the app also supports Japanese scriptures lessons, allowing users to learn Hiragana and Katakana. The app is free to download for iPad devices. 

Linea Sketch

Another drawing app with vast drawing tools is Linea Sketch. It features a simple and intuitive interface that helps users make shapes and create best drawings. Unlike the ShadowDraw, users aren’t provided with drawing assistance and can make art freely. 

With the Apple Pencil, you can enjoy drawing on an iPad. Linea Sketch does layers, split-screen, and more. The projects are also exported as PSD, JPG or PNG, making it easier to share in different platforms. 

Sketch Club

Amateur artists can download the Sketch Club app and enjoy nice features for a low subscription cost. The free version provides a limited number of brush and vector tools. If you want to be familiarized with some tools, this app has a lot including smudging, procedurals, text, and filling. 

Sketch Club has a community of creators to help users be motivated and inspired. The community has daily challenges, weekly competitions, and events to showcase the skills of app users. Finally, the app also has tutorials to help you improve your drawing skills. 

Let’s Learn How to Draw!

This app is rated as the top educational iPad app in the United States. It offers interactive drawing lessons, from basic to intermediate and pro. Users can choose what to draw from the collection and get a detailed guide on how to create the artwork. 

This app is free to download but is only available for iOS devices. 

Drawing Apps For Pen And Paper

If you don’t have an Apple Pencil or iPad, you can also download other drawing apps that provide tutorials or step-by-step lessons. 

PaigeeWorld

More than just an educational app, the PaigeeWorld app is also a social network for artists and art lovers. It features hundreds of tutorials to help users master different drawing techniques. Users have a gallery to post artworks and get feedback from fellow members. 

PaigeeWorld is available for free on iOS and Android devices. 

Sketch a Day

Download this app to access easy-to-follow drawing tutorials and lessons. Sketch a Day encourages artists to make art daily and improve their skills. Making a sketch greatly helps to improve your drawing and coloring skills. 

The app is available for both iOS and Android devices. It is free but contains in-app purchases. 

Conclusion

Learning how to draw is possible with the help of your everyday mobile devices. All you’ve got to is download the apps, practice a lot and you’ll end up with a new skill and your very own artistic style over time.  

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The Panaad Festival 2019 in Negros Occidental Province

By
Jerny - Two Budget Travelers
-

The Panaad Festival 2019 in Negros Occidental Province: 5-day Visit

Grateful to have been selected and invited by the Tourism Board of Negros Occidental. We were 1 group, 5 people in total. Bloggers from Manila, Davao and Bacolod City.

Picked up at the airport by the Bacolod city Tourism representative, Nelrose, we began the day by having a small Filipino sweet snacks such as hot chocolate, coffee, kakanin ( sweet rice cake) and fun chatting to start. Basically had a tour at one of the bed and breakfast accommodations in Bacolod city, German Unson Bed & Breakfast.

German Unson Bed & Breakfast place provides the comfort of accommodation while reminiscing the old times.

Day 1

What and where to visit

Victor Fernandez Gaston Ancestral House

Visiting the museum’s old collection remained from the world war might as well be entertained by the staff’s charming knowledge about the museum and the costume that they’re wearing.

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Chapel of Cartwheels

Chapel of Cartwheels is certainly one of Negros Occidental’s pride. Upon entering, you’d feel a warmth feeling during the hacienda days in the ’60s. And up until then, it has continued to attract tourists. There’s so much history underneath each detail of this Chapel of Cartwheels.

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Gaston Mansion

Gaston Mansion is one of the heritage houses located in Manapla. Just beside the Chapel of Cartwheels, we were accommodated to listen to the fascinating story and history of this mansion. It is also attracting tourists and visitors and it is one of the most popular mansions. Panaad Festival 2019

During our visit, there were beautiful kids practicing their local music preparing for the competition since it was that time, the festival.

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Hacienda Crafts

Get to know and might as well take home some souvenirs from the Hacienda Crafts that is really handmade such as lamps, hats, etc.  This place has also been helping people in the community as it helps boost their livelihood.

Day 2

Silk Factory

Silk is widely popular among locals of Negros. We got the chance to tour around the factory, picked some mulberry fruits from mulberry plants that widely produce foods for silkworms.

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Organic Farm

If you’re health conscious, one of the ultimate places to visit is the Twenty Six Herb Garden where they grow their fruits and vegetables, even chickens, organically in their backyard! To know more, you can visit their facebook page here.

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Watch the Panaad Festival

In the afternoon, what was queued in one of our activities was to watch the opening ceremony of the Panaad Festival, Panaad sa Negros with a Theme of “Beyond a Promise”. A legacy at Panaad Stadium The ceremony was being opened with singing the National Anthem, followed by showcasing the beauties of 33 candidates from all towns and cities of Negros and the most awaited Best of festival dances competition.

Unfortunately, we’re not able to witness all the amazing dance competition, but we sure did have a great time watching and being entertained by some of the first groups, and we’re totally stunned by their performance!

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I personally recommend watching the full performance of the participants. You’d totally enjoy!

Day 3

If you have plenty of time, head down to San Carlos city where you can enjoy yourself and go on a day trip at some small locally own resorts. Might as well include visiting or watching locals make their own sweets made from coconut, ” bukayo ” and coconut bread.

San Carlos City is around 2-3 hours drive by car from Bacolod city.

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And don’t miss the Instagramable hill, like, where taking a photo is a must!

Day 3

Where to go and visit

Negros Museum

Get to know the stories and histories of Negrense by paying a visit to Negros museum. It also preserves the rich history and culture by its arts. Although as of the moment, only the first floor is open for public, while the second floor is under renovation.

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Negros Forest Park

Jus close to the provincial capitol of Negros Occidental, Include Negros Forest Park on your itinerary. For animal lovers, this one must not be missed. Here you’ll find different endangered species such as owls, deers, wild boars/ pigs, and birds. Leaving some donations as well can go a long way.

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Where to eat

Punong Gary’s Place

Take note of the privacy that this place wants to maintain. Anyone wants to dine in here must have a reservation. The menu includes a 9-course meal. ( photo). We also got to be toured around the huge property. Punong Gary’s place offers a variety of accommodation with guaranteed tranquility and privacy.

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Take advantage as well of the property’s Instagrammable hammock on the water.

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Fresh Start Organic and Natural

Yes. Everything organic those who are health conscious, vegan, vegetarian. Run by the family who also grows their own organic farm in the backyard, everything is fresh and delicious without breaking the budget. See the menu below.

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Go Local, try Manokan Country

Bacolod is known for its best Chicken Inasal. This place offers a variety of local chicken dishes such as grilled chicken feet ( my favorite), Chicken Inasal style of course, and many many more! When in Bacolod City, please don’t miss this!

Did you know?

Aklan, capital of Kalibo (famous for its white sand beach, Boracay) is the most visited province in 2017 and the top foreign tourists in the same year are Korean ranking to top 1, followed by China, USA, Taiwan, and Australia as the 5th. See the photo below.

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What else not to miss?

Visit Jojo Vito’s design gallery and try to paint your own maskara! Bacolod City yearly holds the mascara festival and at Jojo Vito’s Design Gallery, you’ll have access to all kinds of creative mascaras. To know more, you can visit his official Facebook page here. Special thank to Jojo Vito of Happyttip.com for accommodating us especially the super mouth-watering local kakanins he’d prepared for us!

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There are so great deals of activities to do in the province of Negros Occidental, should you have plenty of time, I hope you’ll discover amazing things about this incredible place. Have fun!

Indeed, the Panaad Festival fam tour had many activities in line yet it was fun. All activities were tailored especially for us and it was quite exhausting, but we were greatly taken care of the staffs like Hanie and Nelrose.

Mighty thanks to the Provincial Province of Negros Occidental, Nelrose, Department of Tourism staff for inviting us over.

Disclaimer: All the tours and activities are part of the Negros Occidental Fam Tour 2019 but all reviews and write-ups are honest and mine.

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How To Get Access To Premium Airport Lounges With Priority Pass

By
Jerny - Two Budget Travelers
-

Jetsetting from one place to another can take a lot of time, effort, and energy. From waiting in cramped airports to conducting work-related calls in public while staying near boarding gates and be frustrating. However, these are problems of the past with Priority Pass’ access to premium airport lounges around the globe.
Many individuals feel squeamish about exclusive lounge access. While it normally caters to businessmen and the rich and famous, it is actually for all types of people who dream of improving their overall airport experience. This is why this particular program offers convenience and relaxation to individuals coming from all walks of life.
Are you a frequent traveler looking for better experiences or simply an individual keen on avoiding overcrowded terminals? Take a look and find out what this program has to offer. Continue reading to find out more details.

Premium Airport Lounges With Priority Pass
Image credit Fodors Travel

What is Priority Pass?

In essence, Priority Pass is a membership program designed to grant members and account holders access to a variety of lounges and premium services around the globe. Considered the leading airport lounge access program in the whole world, this program offers a different kind of experience for all kinds of travelers – no matter the airline or class of travel availed.
Currently, the program provides exclusive access to more than 1,300 airport lounges in over 600 cities across the globe. With partnerships in over 148 countries, this airport lounge access program not only brings comfort and luxury closer to many people, but it also opens up a world of possibilities for them. From retail and dining to spas and a variety of sleeping options, this membership has all you can want and more.

How To Get In Premium Airport Lounges Via Priority Pass

There are two main ways of getting a Priority Pass membership. You can do so via the array of membership plans available on the website or through your credit card. 

Get A Membership Plan

You can directly apply for a membership through the website. Depending on your travel habits and needs, there are plans ranging from $99 for a standard membership option to a $299 standard plus option to a $429 prestige option. A standard option will get you access to lounges but will require you to pay $32 per visit. Meanwhile standard plus offers 10 free visits and a $32 visit fee after that. However, the prestige membership is catered to frequent travelers with free member visits all throughout the year. To get a plan, simply choose the plan you wish to avail, select ‘Join’ and fill out the necessary details.

Signing Up For A Credit Card

Another option is availing a credit card that offers a Priority Pass membership. Some of these include Citi Prestige, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and the Platinum Card from American Express. Many other credit cards today offer access to premium airport lounge access, not only for you but also for your guests.

Getting In Premium Airport Lounges

Once you have applied for a credit card with Priority Pass access or have obtained a Priority Pass membership, all you need to do is visit the partner lounge at the airport you’re flying through. As a member, you no longer have to make reservations. Instead, presenting the physical or digital card to the lounge staff on hand is enough. However, bear in mind that lounges still observe opening times and restricted hours. Therefore, make sure to check this out prior to visiting.
Premium Airport Lounges Priority Pass

The Bottom Line

Now that you have read this, you know that getting access to premium airport lounges around the globe is possible with Priority Pass. Apart from a quiet place to work or relax, these also offer unparalleled comfort and elevated experiences for travelers coming from all parts of the world.

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Love on the Road: 3 Love Stories to show you how powerful traveling is

By
Jerny - Two Budget Travelers
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Some of us are traveling to find ourselves. Some of us are traveling to stay away from the toxins of living in a city full of busy streets and people. Some of us are traveling to keep ourselves away from the pressures of society. Some of us travel to find the love of our lives. We travel because we want to. We travel because it is our choice. 

While we travel, we don’t usually notice the improvement it gives to our lives. We lose frustrations. We start to love ourselves more. We start to recognize other people, their efforts, and even the small things that they do for us. While you are on the road, what you don’t know is that destiny is working passively to find the people who we will love.

Here are 3 stories from real people who found love while they are traveling.

Chris and his Wife

Chris' Love Story - twobudgettravelers.com
Chris with her wife and kids

“Traveling is a fantastic way to meet new people, and, surprisingly, it is actually a really good way to find love. You would think that being on the move constantly would make it harder to start a relationship. Fortunately, I can tell you, from personal experience, the opposite is true.

The more you travel, the more your confidence grows. It has to. You are always finding yourself in new situations that force you outside of your comfort zone, so you are always learning new skills. As a result, you become surer of yourself. Suddenly, chatting up a beautiful woman in a bar no longer feels daunting. After all, when you travel a lot, talking to people you don´t know just becomes second nature.

That is exactly what happened to me. I was in a Barcelona bar when a stunning woman walked in and sat near me. Before I started traveling, that would have been the end of the matter. At best, I would have maybe tried to make eye contact, and then just sat there, frozen to my stool, while I watched some other guys chat her up. Instead, I offered to buy her a drink using my best Spanish and went from there. It turned out that we had a lot in common, so much, in fact, that we are still together today. Being able to chat about my travels made it easy to break the ice, and get the conversation going. Of course, there are potential pitfalls to falling in love on the road. For example, not all women want to get too involved with a man that they know has itchy feet.

It was certainly a worry my girlfriend had. Fortunately, I quickly realized this and made it clear I was in no rush to move on. Once she understood that, there was no problem, our bond immediately grew stronger.”
-Chris Brown (ho-chi-minh-city.asia)

Hali and Katherine

twobudgettravelers.com - Love on the Road
Hali and Katherine

“I’d been single for over a year and enjoying all its perks and freedom when I met my current boyfriend, Hali.

What happened was this: my friends and I were talking about the best beaches to visit and someone mentioned Jomalig Island. I know that a lot of you are familiar with this place already, but back then it was virtually unknown and only a handful of blogs have talked about it. After doing research, we decided to do an outreach program instead of just the usual beach vacation. Of course, I was already signed up as a volunteer. Our main organizer also invited other people, including those she hasn’t met in person yet but is friends with on Facebook…. and that included Hali. Hali joined as a photographer/videographer to document our voluntourism event.
We first talked on the 6-hour boat ride to the island when I asked to borrow his sunscreen. Once we got to Jomalig Island, we got to know each other a little. The event was successful and all the group members formed a strong camaraderie. We kept in touch and he courted me thereafter.
This happened 2 years ago. We’re now a couple, going strong. He’s currently my best travel buddy and we’d even started a couple travel blog, with me writing and him taking pictures of our travels together.”
-Katherine (read their full story on Tara Let’s Anywhere)

 Aicy and Michael

“Aicy, who lives in the Manila metro area, watched the video on YouTube and then sent me a message on Instagram sharing a few of her favorite spots to visit in The Philippines. I was very happy to receive her recommendations, suggested we meet up while I would be in the Philippines, and then didn’t talk again until I posted that first picture in Bohol.

Sure enough, we got reacquainted and as luck would have it, we would be at the same airport at the same time in Cebu, where we finally met. Although only a brief encounter, highlighted by us continually missing each other (who puts two restaurants with the same name in one airport?!), there was a strong attraction and we continued talking via text throughout my stay in the Philippines.

As a perfect capstone to my memorable Philippines experience, we met in Manila on my last day in the country before heading solo to China. Once again plagued by delays and the infamous Manila traffic, it seemed like time was telling us what we never want it to say. We spent the couple remaining hours of the day walking around a mall that was modeled after Venice, which seemed strangely familiar to our American version in Las Vegas. We were both with friends, and really still too nervous around each other to strengthen our initial bond.

Aicy had a previously planned trip to Taiwan, and I had no real plan to speak of beyond investigating rumors of a large wall in northern China (turns out it’s real). Determined to give this potential international love affair a real shot, we agreed to meet in Taipei for 5 days.. which was to be our first meaningful time together. After talking every day by text and video call, I was eagerly anticipating the date we would meet, even though I had no shortage of life-changing adventures along the way in China and Vietnam.

Fast forward to now. After five perfect days together, we parted ways around midnight. She returned to Manila and I am en route to Bangkok by way of Saigon. I won’t go into any additional detail about our Taipei trip, but I can now describe the most subtle of attributes that I love about this girl. Feeling confident about the strength of our relationship, however new – I felt comfortable enough to share some of our Taiwan highlights on social media. ”
-Aicy and Michael (read their full story on the Endless Mike)

All of these stories started because of the love of traveling, but traveling doesn’t guarantee you getting the love of your life. It may come with many difficulties and challenges but as most people say, “Love conquers all”. Love doesn’t come when you seek for it, it comes when you need it the most.

Do you have a similar ‘kilig story’ while traveling? Submit your story by emailing us!

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How to Track which Countries You’ve Visited using this App

By
Jane - Two Budget Travelers
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Have you ever wanted to keep track of the places you’ve been? If you want to be reminded of the travels you have taken but don’t want the hassle of lugging around a bulky travel diary wherever you go, chances are you’re looking for a useful and convenient app that allows you to do this.
Just like your trusty journal, you might be looking for a mobile app that does more than just provide you with space and avenue to log travels to different countries. More than this feature, you must also have access to an interactive interface that keeps you interested throughout your journey.
Want to know what app you can use to track which countries you’ve visited and how you can maximize this program’s potential? We’re here to give you the down-low on this app. Read on to find out more.

Visited – What is it About?

At its core, Visited is a travel tracker that allows users and seasoned travelers to mark the places they have visited. A free mobile app that’s available for download on both Android and iOS devices, Visited provides users with the chance to tick off cities and countries in any place around the world.
More than simply checking off countries and states you have visited, this program also serves as a jump-off for travelers who wish to create their own bucket lists of the places they wish to journey to.
Truly a virtual community of sorts, Visit lets users rank themselves against other travelers, as well as share their travels and achievements via social media platforms. To further document their experiences, users can also jot down the unique activities and experiences they have had in every place – including skydiving, snorkeling, getting on wine tours, and much more.
What sets Visited apart from other similar applications is that it still allows you to track which countries you’ve visited in offline mode. This feature alone helps you keep tabs on remote places. Also, it can function as a travel diary, allowing users to jot down their thoughts.

How Visited Works

Previously known as The Travelist, Visited works by tracking your travels across states and countries via a vibrant and colorful map. Moreover, the program allows you to add your own story of sorts and gives you a real-time update of statistics based on your personalized travel.
These statistics include, and are based on, the parts and percentage of the world you’ve seen, the number of countries you have been to, how far you’ve traveled based on your bucket list, your ranking against other global travelers, and visitors, and many other factors.

Tracking Places and Travels with Visited

Getting ahold of these memories and places has become easier with this application. To download the Visited app on your phone, simply search for the program on the iTunes App Store or the Google Play Store and tap on ‘Install’ to proceed with the download.
Upon downloading and installing the program, you will be asked to sign up via email or with your Google account. During the registration, you will be asked to provide your country of residence and the city you fly from. From there, you may tick off the countries you have already visited. At the same time, you can also list the countries you wish to visit in the future.
After doing this, you will be directed to a page showing your progress which includes the countries you have already been in and how much of the world you have already seen. Likewise, this progress page will also provide a list of the top countries visited from the country you currently reside in.
To explore the Visited app, you can tap on ‘Map’ and manually select the places you have visited and mark them accordingly with ‘Live,’ ‘Been,’ or ‘Want’ depending on your travel status.
Meanwhile, the ‘Experiences’ button will allow you to document the experiences and activities you have done and which you might like to explore when you travel.

The Bottom Line

Tracking countries you’ve traveled in has become more accessible with the Visited app. With its user-friendly interface and its intuitive yet straightforward approach, documenting your travel journey just became a whole lot easier. So, download the app today to keep track of your adventures!

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