Travel has always been one of the most enriching experiences in human life. It broadens perspectives, nurtures creativity, and connects people across cultures. In a world that often feels divided, travel reminds us that beauty and kindness exist everywhere — in the smile of a stranger, in the taste of local cuisine, or in the rhythm of a foreign city. Whether you’re exploring distant lands or discovering hidden gems in your own country, every journey has the power to transform the way you see the world and yourself.
It took almost two full days to cruise from Keelung City in Taiwan to Japan’s Nagasaki. It was gonna be our first stop for our 6D5N StarDream cruise aboard the Star Navigator. En route, we spent our time exploring the nooks and crannies of the ship, enjoyed the onboard entertainment, and pigged out on its food offerings—both at the free inclusive restaurants and those worth splurging on.
Nagasaki calmly slid across my room’s balcony as I awoke on the third day of our voyage. A peaceful welcome to our first destination in Japan.
Hues of blues and warm oranges paint the skies as our ship parted the still waters of Kumamoto. A jagged range of mountains silhouetted the horizon, their edges aglow with the setting sun. On our right, a small solitary lighthouse stood on an islet—painted in immaculate whites, its lights winking a silent sayonara to us. We were midway through our five-night StarDream cruise to Japan—suspended between hellos and goodbyes aboard the Star Navigator—on a journey filled with luxurious entertainment, a flood of delectable food, and quick adventures.
LUMOS, a Singapore-based brand, has released a new version of their best-selling LUMOS home cinema projector, the LUMOS FLOAT. It comes three years after the original affordable home projector hit the market. And this new iteration is sexier—lighter, slimmer, more versatile, and even comes in three colors. Let’s see if it still retains the quality of the original in its new package.
We slept with the drapes drawn wide open, offering a full view of the city’s main avenue—lamplight and car headlights reflecting off its rain-slicked streets. The Capitol building, seen from our window, quietly resting beneath a drizzling Iloilo sky. By the time I awoke, fully rested and ahead of my wife and kid, the scene had changed. Soft morning light filtered gently through Days Hotel’s translucent curtains; the rain had passed, and the city was beginning to wake. I dressed quickly, excited for a morning walk along the nearby River Esplanade—ready to be embraced once more by the City of Love.
DAYS HOTEL ILOILO
I stayed at Days Hotel Iloilo several years back during an Iloilo–Antique media tour that extended all the way to Guimaras and Boracay—days spent with a budding romance, a crazy whirlwind that now feels like a lifetime ago. Today, I return with the same person—now my wife—and our young son in tow. No longer traveling with a heavy backpack, we now carry two suitcases. Say hello to our new chapter of travelling.
