{"id":518,"date":"2013-10-26T22:40:41","date_gmt":"2013-10-27T05:40:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/66.147.244.209\/~canadiu3\/?p=518"},"modified":"2014-01-15T22:44:14","modified_gmt":"2014-01-16T06:44:14","slug":"traveling-made-eazy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2013\/10\/26\/traveling-made-eazy\/","title":{"rendered":"Traveling made Eazy"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"The<\/a>
The EazyTraveler in Bagan, Myanmar.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Whether it\u2019s escaping the fiery crater of an angry volcano or spending a lazy afternoon by the beach, Edgar Alan Yap of EazyTraveler surely knows how to make traveling look easy and oh-so-fun.<\/p>\n

Growing up in a family that loves to travel, Ed believes that traveling is in his blood.<\/p>\n

\u201cI grew up in a family that loved to travel the Philippines, so I guess it\u2019s in my blood,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd since the dawn of budget air travel, traveling abroad is not as prohibitive as it used to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also grew up watching shows like Discovery Channel\u2019s Travelers and Globe Trekker, even dreaming of becoming like Ian Wright! I share the same dream with Ed, even longing to have Ian\u2019s accent.<\/p>\n

Eazyntials<\/h6>\n

Just in case you didn\u2019t catch that, it\u2019s eazy + essentials = eazyntials.<\/p>\n

Ed packs both techie and old school stuff every time he goes out on a trip (which happens a lot if you\u2019re him).<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m such a flashpacker these days that I can\u2019t imagine traveling without my DSLR camera and smartphone,\u201d he said. \u201cBut for note taking, I often go analog and take a notebook and pen with me, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

In order to make traveling easy, one has to know thy wallet\u2019s capacity. To extend your spending powers while traveling, Ed shares a few tips.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirstly, packing light saves me on baggage fees and allows to me to walk short distances instead of hopping on a taxi or tuk-tuk. I also reduce spending on guesthouses by taking overnight buses which also saves me a lot of time,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

He is also a fan and an advocate of CouchSurfing.<\/p>\n

\u201cCouchSurfing is an incredible way to experience local culture while saving on accommodation.\u201d<\/p>\n

CouchSurfing \u201coffers its users hospitality exchange and social networking services.\u201d You can learn more about it by logging on to www.couchsurfing.org.<\/p>\n

On Traveling<\/h6>\n

Ed is currently on his way to setting foot on all 80 provinces of the Philippines. With such an extensive list of travel experiences, he still managed to pick his favorite.<\/p>\n

\u201cPalawan easily tops my list,\u201d he answered without batting an eyelash.<\/p>\n

Ed chose Palawan \u201cfor its incredible seascapes, outdoor adventures and laid-back vibe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Port<\/a>
Port Barton, Palawan, Philippines. Photo by Edgar Alan Yap.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cLast summer, I spent a few days in San Vicente, which has virgin white-sand beaches that seem to go on forever. Port Barton was also such a pleasure to explore. Aside from bumming on the quiet beachfront, you can snorkel with turtles, go on jungle walks, or swim at a nearby waterfall,\u201d he shared.<\/p>\n

Despite having certain inconveniences as a Philippine passport holder, Ed still widely travels outside the country and usually goes to week-long trips to Asian countries (which I happily follow through his Instagram feed).<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a Philippine passport holder, I don\u2019t get as much visa-on-arrival privileges as travelers from more developed countries, so visiting many nations outside Southeast Asia requires me to apply for a visa beforehand, which can be an inconvenience to say the least,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut having a well-stamped passport and strictly adhering to immigration rules and requirements can bolster your \u2018travel credentials\u2019 and makes the process smoother not only for you but for all legitimate Filipino tourists,\u201d Ed said.<\/p>\n

Of his overseas destinations, Ed\u2019s favorite is an Asian backstreet.<\/p>\n

\u201cI visited Myanmar (Burma) while it was still under tight control under the military junta. The people are just amazing as its cultural landscapes. The Burmese people are some of kindest I\u2019ve met on the road. In Mandalay, our taxi driver pulled over to buy us fruits as a welcome gift!\u201d he recalled.<\/p>\n

Perks and Perils<\/h6>\n

Traveling in and outside the Philippines has tons of perks and tons of perils. Ed recalls two moments when he risked life and limb for the sake of traveling.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile traversing a desert caldera on a motorbike in East Java, we struggled with the sand dunes and falling ash from an angry volcano until nightfall. Fortunately, we ran into a news crew documenting the volcanic eruption who offered us a lift on their 4X4.<\/p>\n

\u201cRock climbing a sharp-edged karst cliff in El Nido without any safety harness was also quite dangerous. One wrong move could have cost us our lives (or at least a limb). But the panoramic views from the top overlooking the Bacuit Archipelago were to die for! Months later, a tourist was seriously injured while climbing the same cliff, and excursions were temporarily prohibited,\u201d he shared.<\/p>\n

Hair-raising probably doesn\u2019t even cut it, especially that bit about escaping a raging volcano. But panic not, Ed also shared about one of his unforgettable experiences while he was staying in the States.<\/p>\n

Ed at Canyon Lands, Utah<\/h6>\n

\u201cLast year, I worked as a marketing communications consultant in New York City. I flew to Denver to visit a friend who I met through CouchSurfing in Manila. And we went on this epic three-day road trip through the Rockies to the canyon lands in southern Utah,\u201d he recalled.<\/p>\n

\u201cDriving through endless, barren expanses of land was a travel experience that was liberating as much as it was humbling,\u201d Ed mused.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s next for Ed?<\/h6>\n

As a Filipino travel blogger, Ed aims to help boost the country\u2019s tourism.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope that through my blog and social media, my readers \u2013 especially my Filipino audience \u2013 will be encouraged to see more of their own amazing country,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Aside from writing informative and entertaining travel posts on his blog, Ed makes sure to highlight his motherland when he\u2019s out and about.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I travel, I always grab the opportunity to put in a good word objectively about the Philippines to fellow travellers,\u201d he said. \u201cI find it really disheartening to encounter overseas Filipinos who have nothing but negative things to say about their home country.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the end of the day, Ed hopes to make a living out of his life\u2019s passion: traveling.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d love to find the perfect job that would allow me to combine my marketing communications background and travel journalist expertise.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stay updated with Ed\u2019s adventures and misadventures by checking out www.eazytraveler.com and following him on Facebook (www.facebook.com\/eazytraveler), Instagram and Twitter (@eazytraveler).<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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