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MAYA O CALICA (SWINGIN’ SINGLE)
Thinking of traveling solo? Do
it like blogger Prime Sarmiento
AT 25,
Prime got her first passport, took her
first trip overseas, and has been hooked to
traveling ever since. Ten years later, she’s
traipsed around the world solo, writes a blog
called The Gypsy Gals
(www.thegypsygals.
com)
with her sister, Nina, and published
Gypsygals Tales: Inspiring Stories and Tips for
and by Solo Female Travelers,
an e-book you
can download for free from her blog.
The perks of solo travel
I can do whatever I want without asking
anyone for permission. If I want to spend all
my time reading a book in a café, sleeping
all day in a hotel or meditating all week in an
ashram, I can do it without the fear of being
ridiculed or judged for my choices.
Top three cities for a first-
time solo tripper
Singapore provides a “soft” introduction to
Asia as it has the conveniences you’ll find
in industrialized cities in Europe and North
America. It’s a bit expensive compared to
other Asian countries, but it’s safe and clean,
offers hygienic street food and has an efficient
public transport system. Bangkok is home to
some of the most beautiful Buddhist temples.
When you get bored there’s a plane, bus or
train to take you to other parts of Thailand and
Indochina. Puerto Princesa City, the capital of
Palawan, is clean, safe and inexpensive.
Travel wish list for 2012
I’d like to go to the Jaipur Literary Festival
in India middle of this month. If that’s not
feasible, I will just visit Delhi and Jaipur,
and take photos of temples and palaces. I’m
considering a trip to Beijing with my parents
— they’re keen on climbing the Great Wall.
I’ve always wanted to visit Hanoi in Vietnam,
and Cebu Pacific will be offering a direct flight
from Manila to Hanoi soon.
A solo tripper
,
s must-haves
A camera to record my travels, a phone with
roaming service, and my netbook computer to
check out tourist spots/cafés I’d like to visit. I
also bring my journal; writing in it is a kind of
meditation for me.
Best travel advice
Craft your own journeys
—
go where you
want to go and not because your friends think
it’s cool. In life, following your own path is the
only way to real happiness.
Swingin ,
single
Prime has explored Saigon
and Bangkok (below) on her own.
THE FIRST QUARTER
of the year
is chock full of festivals — think
Cebu’s Sinulog, Kalibo’s Ati-Atihan,
and Iloilo’s Dinagyang and Paraw
Regatta in February, just to name
a few. This means spending a lot
of time outdoors and exposing
your skin to the sun. So remember
to give your skin the care and
protection it deserves: add a gentle
soap that’s made with 100 percent
natural moisturizing ingredients to
complement your daily skincare
routine. One to try is GT Cosmetics,
which has created Carrot, Papaya
and Bleaching soaps that are
suitable for all skin types.
One avid user says in the “GT
& Me” Facebook page, “Thanks to
GT Cosmetics’ soaps, I now have
healthier skin even when I spend
more time outdoors.” Don’t forget
to bring a stylish hat and a bottle
of water to hydrate yourself too.
Available at shopping malls and
supermarkets
Great
cover-ups
09LKH Smile
Ser 4
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