Nadine Leoncio

In old Japanese tradition, they say you will live a long and wealthy life if you see Mt. Fuji without clouds. Nothing to lose if you believe it's true. All I know is I'm lucky the clouds didn't cover the perfectly-cone shaped Mt. Fuji during my 2-day visit. LAKE KAWAGUCHIKO: The Most Famous Among the Fuji Five Lakes Standing 12,389 ft high, Mt. Fuji or Fujisan is vividly seen even in some parts of Yokohama, Tokyo and sometimes as far as Chiba. Even passengers of Shinkansen coming from Tokyo are able to catch a glimpse of its glorious beauty.  This iconic volcano holds a great allure with every curving line. It  has been in the center of Japanese poetry and art for the longest time. June 2013, the landmark of Japan was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Mt. Fuji is surrounded by five lakes: Lake Kawaguchiko, Lake Yamanakako, Lake Saiko, Lake Shojiko and Lake Motosuko. These lakes were formed from previous eruptions of the volcano. All of which are w...

It was a rainy morning when I walked through the narrow lanes of Tsukiji Fish Market. Armed with a camera and umbrella, I observed how locals and tourists bargained for the freshest catch.  The wide variety and sheer quantity of seafood makes it true to its title, “The Biggest Wholesale Fish Market in the World” . GETTING THERE Located in Tokyo’s lower east side, it is very convenient to go there via subway. The closest station is Tsukiji Shijo Station on the Toei Oedo line . And the next closest station is Tsukiji Station on the Tokyo Hibiya Subway Line . From there, take a five-minute walk. When you see trucks lined up in the street, that’s a clear sign you’re headed towards the outer market. But if you’re planning to catch the live tuna auctions, you have to take a taxi. The auction is from 5:00 AM to 6:00 AM. People usually line up at around 3:00 AM.  The Outer Market IS THE TUNA AUCTIONS WORTH A VISIT? If you’re a photo junkie...

Our journey to Kalinga started with high hopes of finding peace. It was said that the far-flung village of Buscalan has no signal, very low population and still hasn't embrace the pace of a modern life. And despite the grueling 16-hour travel time, we knew it was a trip worth taking. The breathtaking landscapes in Kalinga, one of the least explored provinces in the Cordilleras Together with two college friends, we joined a group of travel enthusiasts called "Where is Frankie " ( https://www.facebook.com/wheresfrankie/info/?tab=page_info ). The team opt for the Banaue-Bontoc-Kalinga route which includes riding the Ohayami bus and several van transfers. Ohayami Bus Terminal is located at Fajardo St. Sampaloc, Manila At the break of dawn the team was nearing its first destination, the lush green fields of Banaue Rice Terraces . We had a hearty breakfast overlooking the scenery which was formerly pinned as the eight wonder of the wo...