Author Archives: Diego

Airport Guide: Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL), Greater Manila, Philippines

Ninoy Aquino International Airport (IATA: MNL / ICAO: RPLL) – commonly referred to as NAIA – is the busiest aviation hub in the Philippines and the principal gateway to its bustling capital, Manila. This page contains links to detailed guides covering MNL’s two international terminals (T1/T3) and offering advice on transportation to/from the airport.

Airport Guide: Accessing Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) by Rail

This Airport Guide describes some of the options for travelling to and from Greater Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) – commonly referred to as NAIA – by rail. Now I need to be absolutely clear: I do not recommend using Manila’s urban rail network to access the airport (for reasons I’ll elaborate upon later). But for the sakeContinue reading “Airport Guide: Accessing Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) by Rail”

Hotel Report: Caesar Metro Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan

Taiwan is a great place to visit on a holiday of any length – and it’s likely that one will end up in Taipei at some point during the journey. Choosing from amongst the innumerable hotels, hostels, guesthouses and other forms of accommodation in this major city can be something of a challenge, but let’sContinue reading “Hotel Report: Caesar Metro Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan”

Hotel Report: Seda BGC, Taguig (Metro Manila), Philippines

In my first travel post of the new year, we’ll swing the spotlight on a June 2019 hotel stay in one of the Philippine capital’s poshest shopping districts. Although not quite in the low-budget range, this place offers reasonably affordable rooms in what can be an incredibly expensive area to stay the night. Welcome toContinue reading “Hotel Report: Seda BGC, Taguig (Metro Manila), Philippines”

Transportation Report: Travelling from Matsumoto to Kamikōchi and back

The scenic highland valley of Kamikōchi (上高地) lies deep within the Northern Japanese Alps, in a remote corner of Nagano Prefecture. Yet despite its relative isolation, visitors from elsewhere in Japan (as well as from overseas) are able to travel there with relative ease. Today, we’ll go over how I visited Kamikōchi from the oldContinue reading “Transportation Report: Travelling from Matsumoto to Kamikōchi and back”

Field Report: Walking Around the Murodō Plateau, Toyama Prefecture, Japan (01 October 2019)

The highest stop on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is a gateway to some of the Hida Mountains’ incredible natural beauty. Here, at 2,450 metres above sea level, even inexperienced walkers can enjoy a day in the great outdoors and surround themselves with fantastic views of the Japanese Alps. Welcome to Murodō (室堂).

Field Report: Kurobe Dam, Toyama Prefecture, Japan (01 October 2019)

Though it’s best known for breathtaking natural landscapes, the scenic Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route also includes a stop at an important man-made landmark. Completed more than half a century ago, the tallest arch dam in Japan was a major engineering feat of its time, with construction taking a heavy toll in both resources and humanContinue reading “Field Report: Kurobe Dam, Toyama Prefecture, Japan (01 October 2019)”