Asia 2025

Hello Friieeends!!

Hope everyone is doing well! As for me, I’m doing great, though I’m still recovering from jet lag after a 2.5-week adventure across Asia. It was an unforgettable trip, and I wanted to share my thoughts on the places I visited. Spoiler: I saw some amazing things, and also encountered a few bumps along the way. Let’s dive in!

Singapore

Singapore was an absolute dream. Everything was so modern, luxurious, and yes, very expensive. But wow, it’s a place that lives up to the hype. The streets were spotless, and what caught my attention the most were the trees. Sounds random, right? But seriously, you could tell they were taken care of with love and care—our taxi driver even told us they trim them weekly! The attention to detail is unmatched. They’re called Rain Trees.

We stayed at Marina Bay Sands for a night (if you’ve seen the rooftop pool on Instagram, that’s the one!). Honestly, I can’t recommend it enough. The hotel was beyond what I imagined—luxury at its finest. The rooms were equipped with all sorts of fancy features (like the automatic toilet lid that warmed up, bidet settings, and even cleaned itself!). The view from the rooftop pool was stunning, and we ended up eating at Estiatorio Milos, a Greek fine dining spot. If you’ve ever seen a menu where they don’t list prices and you pick your food based on weight, that’s how you know it’s fancy (and pricey!). But hey, totally worth the experience. Changi airport is huge with so much to see and do!

Maldives

Let me just say this: If you’re ever thinking about the Maldives—go. It’s everything you see in pictures and more. The water? Clear as glass. The villas? Absolutely gorgeous. The marine life? Swimming right past you. Yes, including sharks (but don’t worry, they’re harmless). We stayed at Villa Nautica, which was just perfect, though the food and drinks at the resort were a bit of a letdown (mostly watered-down drinks unless you paid extra). Still, the location was worth it all.

Philippines

Alright, here’s where things got a little more... real. We visited Boracay and Palawan, and while they were stunning, they were also underdeveloped. In Boracay, we stayed at Fairways & Blue Waters Resort—a place I cannot recommend. The resort was outdated, and let’s just say our bathroom had bloodstains on the wall (yeah, not the greatest experience). In Palawan, the hotel was better, but still nothing to rave about.

But despite the accommodations, the experience itself was humbling. I spent time reflecting on the resilience of the people in these areas. Despite living in very difficult conditions—some with little to no access to clean water or basic amenities—their kindness and warmth blew me away. It really put things into perspective for me. We, with all our comforts, take so much for granted. It’s always a humbling experience to travel and see different walks of life, and it reminds me just how blessed I am. Our last stop was Manila, and it definitely felt more modern and wealthier compared to Boracay and Palawan. There were tall buildings, designer stores—you name it. We stayed at the Hilton and, well, it was as expected: top-notch service and comfort.

Whew, that was a lot, huh? But if you made it this far, thank you for reading! Overall, this trip gave me so much to think about and be grateful for. It’s one thing to go on vacation and take in the sights, but when you really stop and think about the people and places you visit, you get a whole new perspective on life. I’m so grateful for the experiences I had and the memories I’ll carry with me.

Till next time, friends! Safe travels and remember to always appreciate what you have.

Also, please don’t forget to follow me on Instagram for more pics and videos - @nyclifeandglam