Use the internet to send FREE TEXT to anywhere in the world.

When I began travelling the world in 2008, it has been a constant struggle for me keep my
communication cost at a lower budget. Sure, the internet has given ways for us to communicate to other people in a cost effective way. But there are times when the person you wanted to communicate with does not have access to the internet.. or does not know how to use the internet for some reason.  So what do they have access to? Mobile phones. Practically everyone in the world has a mobile phone. So if you wanted to send a message instantly to someone, you can send then an SMS or a Text message. Now, international rates are actually not cost effective.. and that means you also have to have a local sim card or number from wherever u are to send a text message.

Donate: A little goes a long way. Help save & rebuild Nepal!!!

Nepal is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places I've been. As a Filipino, I was mistaken as one of the locals there. We pretty much look like one of them. That is why people were intrigued of me and I made so many friends there. Nepalese are generally friendly people and their country is a milking pot of Hinduism, Buddhism and a lot of other ancient religions you could think of. Their life is centered by their religion. When you walk in Kathmandu alone, you will never finish 100 yards and you'll see another altar, temple or a place of worship dedicated to their religion. I fell in-love with the vibe of Kathmandu. Old structures and seemingly old ways of living of the people stirred by a dash of modernism. I just loved how it all comes in one place. At the balcony of my hotel room, I wondered what will happen if an earthquake struck this place? That was just a thought that came to my mind while looking at the old structures and buildings surrounding me.

Two months after leaving Kathmandu and it's old world beauty, at exactly the 25th of April this year, it was struck by some 7.9 magnitude earthquake. The first picture that I stumbled upon on facebook was actually the 5 storey building of one of the hotels I stayed when I was there.  I had goosebumps. I knew a lot of people there. Most of them became my friends. I was devastated. I could have been there during that moment. I planned to stay longer than I was suppose to be, but for some reasons, something changed my mind.

Please help save & rebuild Nepal

Here are some of the simple ways you can do to donate :

*For GLOBE subscribers in the Philippines please text 

DONATE NEPAL5 and send 4438

Note: It will then promt you to register your name/ details and will ask you to resend your first text to confirm your donation. It is 5 pesos and your text will be charged 1 peso.

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For people outside the Philippines

*Nepal Children Emergency Relief Fund - Save the children is working to protect vulnerable children and provide relief to families in Nepal. You can donate online directly to support this cause by clicking the here.

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*The World Food Programme is also responding, providing food to those in need. You can help efforts by donating online here.

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*UNICEF is working with the government and other partners to meet children’s immediate needs in water and sanitation, protection, health and nutrition. You can help by donating online here.

Pray for Nepal and the victims of this devastating event. But most of all send your help and donations to the correct agencies and foundations.

(CNN) — A 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked Nepal with devastating force Saturday, killing more than 1,400 people. As the rescue and recovery efforts get underway, many charities and NGOs are sending teams, essential aid and medical assistance. Here are some of the organizations that you can assist.

Watch these thrilling clips of the earthquake and checkout the links below where you can send donations "SAFELY" for Nepal earthquake victims.

A BBC team in Kathmandu films as an aftershock hits http://bbc.in/1OTTOAi #EarthquakeAgain #NepalEarthquake
Posted by BBC News on Sunday, April 26, 2015

CCTV cameras capture powerful earthquake
Earthquake's Severity Captured In CCTV Footage
Posted by The Logical Indian on Saturday, April 25, 2015

The Nepal Red Cross Society is the epicenter of the relief efforts and is a direct way to help the people of Nepal. Here is its online donation link; please note that their website connectivity is on and off, so you might not be able to get through.

AmeriCares has sent its response team to the impact zone and relief workers are preparing shipments of medical aid and relief supplies for survivors. You can help by donating online to their disaster relief fund.

CARE is on the ground and preparing to provide temporary shelter, ready-to-eat meals and water purification and latrine construction. You can learn more about their relief plans here or go directly to their donation page to help.

For residents of America: Global Giving has created a Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund to immediately help both local Nepalese nonprofits and international aid organizations. Supporters can donate online or text GIVE NEPAL to 80088 to donate $10.

Handicap International has been in Nepal since 2000 and the 47-person team is safe. They are providing wheelchairs and assistance to the local hospitals which they report are overwhelmed. You can go online to directly support their Nepal Earthquake Response.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is preparing an emergency response operation and is prepping resources from its hubs in New Delhi, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok. The federation is releasing funds from its Disaster Response Emergency Fund to support the initial emergency response, and you can further support their efforts by donating here.

For residents of America: International Medical Corps is on the ground coordinating their response and sending additional staff and resources to support relief efforts. You can support the Nepal Earthquake Response online, or by texting MED to 80888 to give $10.

MercyCorps has launched the Nepal Earthquake Response fund to help provide food, water and temporary shelter in the aftermath of this disaster.

Oxfam International is working to help provide clean water, sanitation and emergency food for those affected by this disaster. Donate via Oxfam America here. You can also donate through Oxfam Great Britain here.

Save the Children is working to protect vulnerable children and provide relief to families. You can donate online to directly support the Nepal Children’s Emergency Relief Fund.

UNICEF is working with the government and other partners to meet children’s immediate needs in water and sanitation, protection, health and nutrition. You can help by donating online.

The World Food Programme is also responding, providing food to those in need. You can help efforts by donating online here.

Source: FOX 6 NOW 

Introducing Pakistan: Unlikely place to visit but surely the most surprisingly beautiful

Pakistan has been on the brink of being tourism's ‘next big thing’ for more years than we care to remember. It’s a destination that has so much to offer visitors; drive the Karakoram Highway through the endless peaks of the Karakoram Mountains, or wander through the architectural glories of the former Mughal capital Lahore, the ancient bazaars of Quetta or the cosmopolitan streets of Karachi. But every time the country seems to be gearing up to refresh the palates of travellers jaded with last year’s hip destination, world media headlines send things off the rails – again. No matter the attractions, tourism in Pakistan has always been something of a hard sell. A glance at the map shows the country living in a pretty difficult region: always-unruly Afghanistan to one side, Iran to another, and a border with India running through the 60-year-old fault line of Kashmir. But since the events of 9/11, Western pundits have increasingly been wondering if Pakistan isn’t just living in a tough neighbourhood, it is the tough neighbourhood.

Pakistan and political stability have never been particularly happy bedfellows. President Pervez Musharraf, who seized power in a 1999 coup, looked to have an unassailable position until relatively recently. Selling himself as a bulwark against radical Islamism on one hand and the old corrupt elites on the other, he turned himself into a key player in Washington’s ‘War on Terror’ and was rewarded with soft loans and military aid. In 2007, everything was thrown into disorder. An attempt to sack the country’s chief justice resulted in a red-faced retreat in the face of middle- class protests. At the same time, domestic Islamists stepped up their bloody campaigns in the wake of the deadly storming of Islamabad’s Red Mosque. Pakistan’s army had already found itself fighting to a standstill in the lawless Tribal Areas along the Afghan border, and later quelling related violence in the Swat Valley. It signed the short-lived Waziristan Compact that negotiated a peace – of sorts – with Pakistani Taliban, but ultimately showed that having once given official government sanction to such radicals, it was now holding a tiger by its tail.

It was anyone’s guess how Musharraf’s attempts to pull things together would play. The imposition of a state of emergency curtailed the press and judiciary, and soon after being lifted, the country was rocked by the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, recently returned from exile to take her place again in Pakistani politics. Such a high profile murder presaged a potentially very troubled future for Pakistan. But against this background, there is another Pakistan, a world away from the headlines. Although conservative, Pakistanis are by nature a welcoming and hospitable people to foreigners, trying to get by in the face of indifference from their government and occasional hostility from the outside world. High politics is of less interest than jobs and the cost of cooking oil and flour. As such, travellers are usually met with genuine interest and enthusiasm. The scams and hustle you might experience in heavily travelled India are nowhere to be seen here. Instead, look forward to spontaneously offered cups of tea and conversations about cricket. You’ll feel like you have the country to yourself. Attractions that would have been splashed over the glossy pages of newspaper travel supplements are almost empty. While enthusiastic travel advice comes tinged with official government travel advisories, you’ll need to keep one eye on the news before booking your ticket – but once here, you’ll realise that Pakistan really is one of the world’s best-kept travel secrets.

                 SOURCE: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/pakistan#ixzz3NDUCF32K

                      (click the link above to see the complete guide on visiting Pakistan)

SHAH FAISAL MOSQUE, ISLAMABAD

LAHORE FORT, LAHORE

BADSHAHI MOSQUE, LAHORE

Schengen visa application. ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW.

Schengen Visa Application Requirements

When applying for a Schengen Visa in order to travel to one or more of the Schengen Zone countries there are some requirements one has to establish prior to the application. If you are planning to travel to more than one Schengen country its best if you apply in the Embassy/ Consulate of the country you will be staying at the most, regarding the residing days. Once you are issued a multiple entry visa you are able to travel to all of the Schengen Zone countries for the time permitted on the visa.

When applying for the visa you should bear in mind that you have to personally hand the required documents once you’ve made an appointment at the embassy/consulate. It is always recommendable to arrange the appointment at least 15 days prior to your departure since that is the estimated time needed for the bureaucratic process taking part in the corresponding institution.

Every Schengen country shares more or less the same requirements into issuing a visa to the needy party. However there are slim differences here and there, depending on the consulate/embassy on the required documents additional to the main identification papers and your current economic status. If you want to know the requirements for each Schengen Country, you may scroll down to the bottom of this page.

A unified exemplar of the requested documents with the additional information is meticulously described and listed below:

1. The application form must be fully completed and signed in the corresponding blanks.
2. One photo is to be attached; the photo must have a passport format, full-face capture, and a light background. The photo must be recently taken.
3. The passport as well as all the copies of your previous visas, valid for at least 3 months prior to your departure is required. The passport must have at least two blank pages.
4. One must have a copy of the reservation of the return ticket for the time intended to be travelling. It is not recommendable to buy the ticket before getting the visa, if not necessary.
5. The travel medical insurance policy is to be secured, covering any medical emergency with hospital care and travel back to ones native country due to medical motives. This health insurance policy has to cover expenses up to 30,000 euros, the sum depending on the residing days, and also it has to be valid in all Schengen countries. The health insurance policy must be purchased before picking up the visa and in your visa is refused you can cancel it!

Alert, for a minor there are a few additional documents requested by the corresponding institution stated as following:

• The minors birth certificate
• The application form has to be signed by both parents
• In cases where one parent has full custody over the child, the family court order has to be attached.
• The notarized parental authorization signed by both parents or guardians is attached if the minor is to be travelling alone.

Apart from all the aforementioned documents when applying for a Schengen visa, depending on the type of visa you are seeking there are several additional documents that need to be attached. Below you will find the information about all the additional documents needed for any type of Schengen visa separately.

Airport transit visa

• A valid visa (if needed) for the final country one is travelling to.
• The ticket for the final country you are travelling to.

Transit visa

• A valid visa (if needed) for the final country one is travelling to.
• The ticket for the final country you are travelling to.

Tourist visa (Visiting friends or relatives)

• The current bank statement (preferably for the last 6 months)

In case one doesn’t have a bank account or doesn’t own enough funds to be taking care of their expenses during this travel, one must ask the visiting friends or relatives to sign an “official affidavit of support” at the corresponding office in his/her place of residence. Make sure you carry the original document when applying for the visa.

• The applicant description of their trip, the purpose of travelling, the time frame and all the personal date written down in a letter.
• In case of first time travelers, one must submit also:

1. Income tax returns for the last three years
2. Appointment letter
3. Proof of legal entity of the company

• A reference letter from the employer
• In case the applicant is the owner of the company he/she is working for, the business registration, tax returns and the latest bank statement is to be attached.
• The plane ticket reservation (One shall buy the ticket after getting the visa, as recommended).
• Other documents, specified by the visa type

Visiting relatives/friends

• If the applicant declares that he/she will be covering all the travel expenses, proof of one’s financial status is requested otherwise if the relative/friend is to cover the applicants expenses, a formal document issued by the competent authorities to a resident of a Schengen country (the friend/relative in this case) is to be submitted.
• The formal invitation by the relative/friend residing in a Schengen country.
• If the applicant will be covering the expenses on his/her own, the relatives/friends name, address and the copy of their passport will suffice. In case that the friend/relative is not a citizen of this Schengen country, the copy of the residency permit will also be required.

Tourist travel (no visit to any relatives/friends)

• The applicants bank statement (preferably for the last 6 months)
• The detailed itinerary of the traveling days in the Schengen Zone, hotel reservations or a formal invitation letter by a resident of a Schengen country.

Business travel purpose

• A cover letter explaining the purpose of the visit to the Schengen country
• A short profile of the applicants working place  (company/organization)
• Memorandum and Article of Association in original certified copy (registered with joint stock companies)/ Trade License (first issued and present renewal)/ Proprietorship/Partnership documents.
• Current bank statements
• A letter from ones employer meticulously describing the purpose of the travel as well as the itinerary of the days spend within the Schengen zone.
• The invitation letter from the partner company in the Schengen zone, faxed also to the corresponding consulate. This letter has to appear as an invitation to attend meetings or other relevant events matching trade, industry or work.
• Regarding the applicants expenses, it must be stated either in the employer’s letter or the partner company’s invitation that one of both parties will be covering the applicants travel expenses during his/her stay in the Schengen Zone.
• Hotel and plane ticket reservations
• If there were previous trade relations between the two companies proof of such an event.

Travelling for training purposes

•  A certificate of enrollment at a eligible institute for the courses one will be attending in the Schengen country.

Other travel purposes/Short term (Trips for an event of any reasonable nature)

• The letter of invitation for the applicant
• The entry ticket (if any)
• In case of enrolling into a program, the meticulous description of the applicants residence in the Schengen zone, an itinerary.  Also a document that proves the purpose of this travel.

Travelling for the purpose of studying

• For starters, two application forms are to be filled.
• The letter of acceptance in a Schengen country University/College/School
• Proof that one is able to reside and financially maintain him/herself during their stay in the Schengen zone.

Travelling for the purpose of employment

• Again, two application forms must be filled
• The employment contract between the applicant and the future employer residing in the Schengen territory.

Travelling for the purpose of permanently residing in the Schengen country due to a Schengen spouse

• Two application forms must be filled as required.
• The original certified copy of the marital certificate.
• The copy of the spouse’s passport if a Schengen country citizen. If the spouse is not a Schengen country citizen but only lives in a Schengen country the copy of his/her residency permit is to be submitted as well.

List of the specific documents needed for each Embassy

To find a list of the specific documents needed for each Embassy, please CLICK the name of the country below.

AUSTRIA

BELGIUM

CZECH REPUBLIC

DENMARK

ESTONIA

FINLAND

FRANCE

GERMANY

GREECE

HUNGARY

ICELAND

ITALY

LATVIA

LIECHTENSTEIN

List of Visa-Free Countries you can go to using your Philippine Passport

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_requirements_for_Filipino_citizens

Ellen Degeneres called a fan and was surprised in the process.. watch this very funny video. #goodvibes

She called a fan named Gladys to thank her for her ideas on the show.. but little did Ellen know about what she's getting herself into. She just declared this as her "best moment" on the show. Watch the video below to know what I am talking about. #GoodVibes

Beware of scam services when you travel

My buddy and I came to Nepal a week ago for a very unexpected vacation. We didn't have any itinerary. We were like fools at the airport having no plans where to go from there. We were like "Now what?" So as cautious human beings, we tried our best not to be preyed upon by those people standing by the airport gates offering you things like taxi service, tour guiding services, hotel accommodations and a lot more. But we ended up dealing with one because we have no other choice. So the guide brought us to this hotel apartment, he initially have told us that it is for 12.00$ per night only but it turned out to be 15.00$ instead. But it was okay, we had internet connection and our own bathroom and double bed for me and my friend. We also have room service if we wanted to. At the airport though, we had the chance to change our US dollars into the local currency, the rate was at 8.25 Nepal Rupees to 1 US Dollars. Only to find out that outside we can actually change our money to up to 99.00 Rupees per 1 US Dollars. Oh I just hate that!

So on our first day in Nepal, we went out of our hotel and walked with our backpacks on. We went to a lot of places.. took a lot of pictures.. We particularly liked the Monkey Temple. It was located somewhere in Kathmandu Valley. I've seen some actual Monks and monkeys are just everywhere. There were eagles nesting on the trees as well. So amazing. At the entrance though, we were welcomed by this old man, trying to reach out for our foreheads. He put some red colored thing on our foreheads, and we thought it was some sort of religious welcome.. until he uttered, "500 Rupees please." and we were like "Say what?" We were in disbelief. But since his an old man, we gave him what he wanted anyways.

That night, when we went back to our hotel room, we've seen that there was actually a Spa service room downstairs. So we thought we'd inquire how much is a massage because we were really tired carrying our backpacks and walking all day. On the spa menu.. they offer the usuals, foot massage, thai massage and the likes... the most expensive service however is the "relaxing massage" But I really am not going for that. I totally wanted some thai massage. But the massage lady urged me to take the relaxing massage instead because she said it is very good for me. As naive as I can be, I believed her. And my friend wanted the same service as well. So we made an advance payment of 1000 Rupees each and they began to massage us. Because I was so tired, I didn't really cared much if she was a very unskillful massage therapist. Believe me, my therapist in Thailand can take me to places unimaginable once she touches my body with her hands... but this one? Crap. I fell asleep. I woke up when she asked me to turn around and she began to massage me on my front down to my private parts and she immediately asked me if I wanted her to give me a "B" I was like "Wtf?" I just smiled at her and refused. My friend was also offered the same thing. We totally felt we've been rift off. These people have no shame. We live in the hotel upstairs and everyday we will see their faces and remember what they did to us inside their massage parlor. We felt violated. Crappy service + inappropriate acts. Totally an experience for me and my friend.

Also, a tip for travelers. This applies to wherever you may go. Don't deal or be careful when dealing to people offering help on the streets. They will help you to whatever you may need. That is their livelihood. They will take you to places where they have connections with so whatever business you will take on, they will get a commission. We experience once in Nepal, the guy also asked us to give him 500 Rupees for helping us finding our hotel. I said no to him. I told him that he should actually give us a percentage of his commission from the hotel. Because if he had just let us walk beforehand, we would have found the hotel ourselves and have gotten a better rate minus his commission. Then off he go.

So yeah... just remember to be cautious. Beware of scams. Make sure the service you are getting is the real deal. So here is the view at night from the terrace of our first hotel accommodation in Nepal. We were at the center of the city. Next blog will be our travels at the provinces.