2013 was a great year for travel, as what our Facebook feed indicated. The adventures of our travel-loving friends stood out in a sea of memes, rants about the pork barrel scam and BuzzFeed links. There were family trips, honeymoons and solo journeys; as well as old favorites and explorations off the beaten path.
They let us see hidden corners of the world through their eyes, allowing us to travel vicariously and inspiring us to add even more destinations to our already long holiday wish lists.
Here are some of our favorites:
Faith Azul-Evia
Case Manager
Went to: “Malta, an island nation in the Mediterranean south of Sicily.”
Favorite spots: “Visiting the sites in Valleta, Mdina and Gozo where ‘Game of Thrones’ was filmed.”
Where she slept: “Radisson Blu Resort and Spa at Malta Golden Sands.”
Best meal: “Rabbit stew, Malta’s national dish, and the popcorn milkshake at our hotel. The best!”
What she bought: “Olives stuffed with gbejna (Maltese cheese).”
Unforgettable moment: “Finishing my first half marathon.”
Tips for other travelers: “Learn how to drive on the left side in order to explore more, because public transportation is not reliable. Do a day trip to Sicily which is a two-hour ferry ride away.”
Xuchele Dogma
Systems Analyst
Went to: “Oahu, Hawaii.”
Favorite spots: “The island is a piece of paradise which makes it really hard to pick favorites.”
Where she slept: “Aulani Disney Resort”
Best meal: “Try the local fare—kalua pig (pulled pork), lau lau (steamed fish and pork wrapped in taro leaves), ahi poke (preserved raw fish with kukui nut). For the sweet tooth, don’t miss Leonard’s truck of Malasadas (deep-fried donuts) and experiment with the different flavored shaved ice with milk.”
What she bought: “Souvenir items made locally. We were told that Hawaii relies mainly on the tourism industry and that it will help if we buy locally made items compared to the imported ones.”
Unforgettable moments: “1) We were driving on a busy freeway and realized that we were on the wrong lane. We knew it was too late to move to the next lane, but despite the inconvenience, the car behind us graciously gave way without even honking the horn. The locals are very patient and considerate. 2) On our third night in the resort, a fire alarm woke us up at about 2 in the morning. For a few seconds, my husband and I thought it was a false alarm so no one moved. But when the evacuation alarm came on, I jumped out of bed, remembered to put shoes on the sleeping kids, wrapped them in jackets and blankets, and secured our passports and plane tickets. We went down 12 flights of stairs in our not-so-sleepy, agitated state. The evacuation went orderly with a very calm resort staff guiding us out of the resort. We stayed outside and were ushered back in after an hour or so. It was a scary experience to happen on a holiday with kids in tow, but the staff acting in control somehow kept the guests calm and in order.”
Tips for other travelers: “Do your homework. The Internet is the best and cheapest way to find information. Read reviews, get maps, learn the tipping customs and etiquette. Find out what interests you within the island and plan your day. Sunny weather, of course, is best spent outdoors, but it’s always good to have a backup plan for unexpected downpour—visit museums or go souvenir shopping!”
Ingrid Cudia
Editor in Chief, AsiaHopping.com
Went to: “My husband and I went on a month-long honeymoon trip to Morocco, exploring the imperial cities and the south. Our DIY adventure included Casablanca, Marrakech, the Atlas Mountains, Todra Gorge, the Sahara, Fez, Meknes, Volubilis, Moulay Idriss, Chefchaouen and Tangier.”
Favorite spots: “Fez’s World Heritage medina, the Berber village of Ait Benhadou, the snowy peaks of the Atlas, the bright blue buildings of Chefchaouen and, of course, the Sahara.”
Where she slept: “We stayed mostly in traditional riads (Moroccan bed-and-breakfasts), with a couple of nights in a Western business hotel. We also camped in a traditional Berber tent on the Sahara.”
Best meals: “Handmade couscous, camel meat stuffed in khobz, herbed beets laced with kaffir lime, dried dates, lamb tajine, flaky pastries with nuts and orange flower water… I can go on forever.”
What she bought: “Two hand-painted Moroccan tiles—one to frame and display in our current flat, and another to incorporate into our future flat’s bathroom.”
Unforgettable moments: “During a seven-hour train ride from Marrakech to Fez, we sat with a brilliant Moroccan professor and enjoyed a deeply insightful conversation about the Arab world. And we were driving down the Atlas when the first November snow fell. That was also unforgettable.”
Tips for other travelers: “Eat well, travel often.”