SMALL-TOWN GIRLS, MIDNIGHT TRAINS

— travel inspiration for small budgets and big dreams —

travel inspiration for small budgets and big dreams

Swimming with Whale Sharks

SGMT Philippines Cebu Oslob Whale Shark 01

The first time the boatman urged me to go below the surface, I resolutely plunged downwards and went as deep as I could go. Unfortunately — apparently — this was as deep as I could go:

The Sumilon Island Bucket List

SGMT | Sumilon Island — Sumilon Island is one of my favorite places in my home province of Cebu. It’s nearly 4 hours away by bus — plus a short boat ride courtesy of the resort that operates the island — but the experience has always been worth the extra effort and expense. Some people […]

Where to Stay (or Staycation) in Cebu: 8 Newtown Blvd

SGMT | Cebu Airbnb  — Last week, my family and I made the most of the final days of summer by having an overnight staycation at 8 Newtown Blvd, the three-tower complex of luxe condos located at Mactan Newtown. H is a little water monkey — he can spend hours frolicking and jumping into pools […]

No, Anthony Bourdain didn’t say Zubuchon was “the best pig ever”

SGMT | Cebu lechon

§ As someone who: loved Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations so much, it inspired her to write about travel, actually watched the episode where he came to Cebu and other parts of the Philippines, lived in Cebu her whole life, and grew up eating lechon, sometimes for Sunday breakfast because why not, I feel like I should set the […]

Where to Go in Cebu: Camotes Island

* * It’s a bit harder to play travel blogger when you’re having to run after a two-year-old with boundless energy. I mean, forget proper journalism; you can’t even take a proper selfie. But it was special to share my first time setting foot in Camotes Island with my family, and now I’m sharing our […]

Malapascua

* White sand, hot sun, blue green waters, and heavenly mango pancakes. Summer is descending on the Philippines and nothing quite says fun in the sun like a day at the beach. In Cebu we’re blessed with beautiful beaches — not in the city center itself, with its growing number of glass-covered buildings, cafes and […]