Back in 2012 and way before the current situation in the Holy Land, I was fortunate to have been able to visit not just numerous spots across Israel and Jordan, but also the West Bank in Palestine.  Going on a pilgrimage in itself, is a very rewarding experience; but to go alone was in a word.. transformative . For the first time in my young adult life, I was ultimately responsible for my health, safety, and well-being; to say that I grew up during this trip is an understatement. This journey also sparked a love for exploring places I had only read about but had not previously been; a love that has only grown this past decade. Indeed, traveling has become central to my psyche, and is a key reason for this travelogue's existence. Thirteen years later, I'm very happy to be revisiting this adventure. Arriving at the Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan, a wide-eyed young me was ecstatic to be in the Middle East. A note from the writer: this is a pre-pandemic tale. One...

One usually thinks of the Holy Land as a place for prayer, reflection and soul-searching. However, it is also very much an entertainment mecca, historical time-capsule and religious Disney Land all-in-one; where instead of rides, you have places that you have only read about growing up. Check out these amazing activities: 1. Go boating in the Sea of Galilee. A charming wooden boat + cool and windy weather + lively Jewish music + dancing = Relaxation

A year ago, I was blessed to be able to celebrate Good Friday at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem . It is thus only fitting that I look back and reflect on what is undoubtedly the holiest place in all of Christianity , and my pick as the most beautiful church in the world  (Italy, France and UK included) in terms of ambiance , history and sheer spiritual weight . * View of the Holy Sepulcher from the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) . The beautiful blue dome definitely complements Islam’s Golden Dome of The Rock  and helps give Jerusalem its ethereal vibe.

When I initially saw the itinerary for the trip, I couldn’t help but salivate at the sheer number of churches we were going to check out.  As anyone who really knows me can attest, I’m a huge fan of anything old , so much more if they are ancient. In Manila, Intramuros would be the closest thing to fit this description with San Agustin Church being the favorite. So you can imagine how it felt to see all these awesome churches in the Holy Land.. I felt like I was in freakin’  Disney Land!! While I make it a point to say a prayer at every location, the bulk of my time is spent reading up on the history of the place (thank you Wikipedia), admiring the facade of the churches and the stories the mosaics, sculptures, paintings and stained glass tell. I am a fan of anything that is created and hand-made (may it be novels, music, art, monuments or tourist traps), and these churches are indeed products of people who were not only masters of their craft but also passionate fol...

"A new world. A better world. A kingdom of conscience…a kingdom of Heaven." Taken from Kingdom of Heaven, one of my favorite movies of all time, these words never fail to strike a chord within me; for it’s idealism, it’s truth, it’s message of HOPE. For Holy Week this year, instead of going to the beach as has been the case the past decade, I decided to go on a solo pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Why solo? I have always believed that faith is a personal journey ; one which does not have a destination, but is a continuing process of getting to know the Divine by which we get to know ourselves a bit more. Definitely, the highlight of this trip would be the old city of Jerusalem. Being the history geek, architecture admirer and student of religion that I am, I could not help but feel excited weeks before actually stepping foot in the city; where not only Jesus had done so but also countless Hebrews, Christians, Muslims, Romans and Ottomans before me.  Indeed I had...

Definitely my FAVORITE mountain!  (This is the mountain where Christ was tempted by the devil for 40 days & nights.)

At the Palestinian controlled West Bank. Have a blessed Sunday, everyone!

Someone’s excited for his trip to Jerusalem!

BOOKED: Countries #2 & #3 out of 7. Ticket and Visas for my solo pilgrimage to  Israel  and  Jordan  for  Holy Week. Wild  and  Prayerful  times are ahead.