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Six great reasons why traveling with friends is better

From the weird to the wonderful, trying new foods with friends is all part of the adventure of travel. 

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Photo from Unsplash.com

Agoda, one of the fastest-growing online travel agents (OTA), shares six reasons why you should round up your group of friends and book your next holiday adventure together.

1. Your friends know your best (and worst) angles

If you’re on the hunt for your next great Instagram photo, who’ll be better at capturing your best poses than your friends? The London Edition provides a great photoshoot backdrop, with its blend of modern design and classic European architecture. Located on the edge of the artsy London neighborhood Soho, this glitzy hotel is within walking distance of trendy galleries and restaurants where you’ll find plenty of inspiration for your holiday shots.

Other Instagram-worthy properties include Bali’s Bambu Indah Hotel, a green oasis with breathtaking views of Bali’s rice fields and Ayung River, and Malacca’s The Rucksack Caratel, a hip boutique hotel that serves as a hidden green sanctuary in the middle of the city.

2. Friends help explore your taste for adventure.

From the weird to the wonderful, trying new foods with friends is all part of the adventure of travel.  Those who dare to test their taste buds should know that April through August is the prime durian season in Malaysia, where many say the best durians can be found. One of the most controversial foods in the world, its taste will either spark joy or disgust — want to find out which side you’ll be on? The Agoda Home Vortex KLCC is located right in the city center of Kuala Lumpur and close to all the shops, restaurants, and food stalls selling durian, of course.

Adventurous eaters should also head to Osaka to try out Dotonbori Street’s diverse food options including fugu, delicious pufferfish that are notorious for the lethal poison they carry in their organs. Don’t worry, Japanese chefs must undergo years of training before they can serve this delicacy! A stone’s throw away is Dormy Inn, a minimalist boutique hotel with its own on-site onsen.

The Filipino delicacy balut, fertilized duck eggs, are certainly not for the faint of heart! The best in the country are in Pateros, a neighborhood in Metro Manila. Within commuting distance is Seda Bonifacio Global City, which is close to popular shopping spots Bonifacio High Street and Serendra, Market.

3. Friends are the perfect wing (wo)men for a memorable night out

Whether it’s getting you out of trouble or stepping up as the perfect dance partner, friends are key to a fun night out. For the ultimate party holiday, look no further than Las Vegas where you can find some of the best casinos, nightclubs and pool parties in the world. The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is located right on the Vegas strip and in the center of all of Las Vegas’ main attractions.

Ho Chi Minh city is Vietnam’s nightlife capital and offers hundreds of bars and nightclubs to choose from, so you’ll find something to suite your tastes, whether it’s an upscale nightclub or hole-in-the-wall dive bar. Take it easy the morning after at Chill Box, a cosy homestay in the center of town.

Spend one night (or two) checking out Bangkok’s swanky nightclubs, rooftop bars and trendy speakeasies. Agoda Home Cape House Serviced Apartment offers relaxation for when you need some extra TLC after a big night out.

4. Friends help you stay motivated when you’re getting sporty

As another hand on deck or a competitive opponent on the track, friends help you bring out your A-game. Head to Philippines’ surfing capitol Siargao, home of the world-famous Cloud 9 wave, and see who can ‘hang ten’ for longer. Stylish Soultribe Beach Retreat offers bungalows right on the beach so you can roll straight from bed and onto the waves.

Chiang Mai’s May Taeng River is the go-to in Thailand for rapids and white-water rafting. Dry off at 9.5 Hotel, which is in commuting distance of all the river action.

Luang Prabang’s meandering mountain trails are best experienced from a mountain bike, or if you’re opting for an easier ride you can cycle along the Mekong River. My Dream Boutique Resort is a scenic spot off the Mekong River where you can take a breather.

Photo by Pablo Hermoso from Unsplash.com

5. Wait, you save money traveling with friends?

That’s right, from sharing room expenses to splitting costs for taxi rides, traveling with friends means being able to stick to your budget without foregoing all luxuries. What’s more, when you’re in a big group, there’s no reason not to splurge on an entire private property. Agoda Home Aquila Nova Retreat  is just on the outskirts Melbourne and is a quiet retreat in the heart of the Dandenong Ranges National Park.

Check out other great Agoda Homes for friend groups like the Private Pool Villa by CHATTA in Phuket or the spacious Teega Residence in Johor Bahru.

6. Friends can embolden you to reach new heights

They say true friends would do anything for you, even jump out of a plane — so if that’s your thing, head to Dubai where sky diving is on offer year-round. Luxury hotel Steigenberger Hotel Business Bay in Dubai’s city-center offers tranquil surroundings that will help calm any pre-jump nerves.

For those with a sense of adventure but not quite the head for heights, you don’t need to miss out on the fun. You can try out the Singapore iFly instead, where you can experience the thrill of a real free-fall without the distance. Just around the corner is Le Meridien, a modern five-star hotel close to all of Singapore’s main attractions.

If you want to keep your feet closer to the ground, but still get out of your comfort zone, why not take a leap of faith and give Ba Ho’s cliff jumping a go? Just 45-minutes north of Nha Trang you’ll find several off-the-beaten-path waterfall ponds with varying heights. Those brave enough ought to go for the 12-meter drop! If you’re setting up base in Nha Trang, you can wake up to pristine ocean views at Nha Trang Beach Apartments.

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Travel

Treacherous beauty: Hiking at South Stack Lighthouse in Wales

#Lighthouse fever in #Holyhead, #anglesey via the #SouthStackLighthouse, as checked during this #LGBT trip to #Wales.

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Yes, tech has made many lighthouses redundant. Not that they’re no longer relevant. But navigation-wise, we know we have more advanced solutions. Which, perhaps not surprisingly, led to the reconfiguration of many of them.

In Holyhead, Anglesey in Wales, introducing the South Stack Lighthouse.

@outragemag #Lighthouse fever in #Holyhead, #anglesey via the #SouthStackLighthouse, as checked during this #LGBT trip to #Wales ♬ original sound – Outrage Magazine

Una, you’d need a ride to be there. Some use private cars, as we did; others join tours; and others cycle to the place.

Ikalawa, what’s there?

The lighthouse itself is located on a small, rocky island off Holyhead. From afar, it looks like someone’s grand home; mansion-like. Accessible siya after you descend down 400 steep steps. 

What will you see while there?

  • the former lighthouse engine room
  • the top of the lighthouse
  • South Stack is also home to breeding seabirds including guillemots, razorbills and puffins

Here’s an FYI: seasonal lang siya bukas.

This is a must-check for lighthouse lovers, of course. Historic, it was built in 1809 by Trinity House from the design of Daniel Alexander. 91-foot tall, it used to allow safe passage for ships on the Dublin–Holyhead–Liverpool sea route. 

Another FYI: It is  allegedly haunted, and has been visited by a team from “Most Haunted”.

The area housing the lighthouse is, itself, worth checking. There are trails for hikers or joggers or cyclists; though the same could be enjoyed by those who are there only to look for good shots.

Check when you’re in the area… even if you just pass by. Nice siya, promise.

But off we go for more LGBTQIA+ rampa

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Travel

Enjoying nature via trail hiking in Wales

Enjoying nature via #trail #hiking at #Snowdonia #SnowdoniaSlateTrail during one #LGBT visit in #Gwynedd, #Wales.

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When in Bangor, you’d be told often that among the best things to do is to hike. And among the must-check is the Snowdonia Slate Trail, which links the old slate-quarrying communities of Eryri/Snowdonia.

So… ayan na nga, even without the right outfit for hiking, but ayaw ma-miss ang chance to check the area, off we went.

@outragemag Enjoying nature via #trail #hiking at #Snowdonia #SnowdoniaSlateTrail during one #LGBT visit in #Gwynedd, #Wales ♬ original sound – Outrage Magazine

Una, the circular route starts near Bangor/Porth Penrhyn. And you need a car or whatever to get to the starting point.

Ikalawa, the trail isn’t just for hiking. It’s also for biking or walking dogs. So you’d be sharing the 133-kilometer long trail with others.

Ikatlo, what’s there?

Mountains built by remnants from quarry sites, to start.

So… Gwynedd used to be known for slate quarrying, and among the biggest players is Penrhyn Quarry which is near Gwynedd, part of The Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Now… with slate quarrying, around 75% of extracted material are inferior in quality, called overburden, and so becoming mineral waste. Here, they’re now mountains.

But the trail also shows views typically associated with Wales – e.g. rolling hills that go on forever, rock fences, sheep farms, canals with flowing water… and more.

Usually, sa matatag, people hike the Snowdonia Slate Trail for up to seven days, passing through Bethesda, Llanberis, and so on. But for others… it’s but an opportunity to commune with nature, in a way, while taking those must-have shots.

But we’re off for more LGBTQIA+ discoveries…

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Destinations

Finding beauty, and not just of faith, at the Bangor Cathedral

Seeking #LGBT #faith or beauty in #Wales? Check out the #Bangor Cathedral in #Gwynedd.

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A common practice among many Pinoy travelers is to visit a church, preferably Roman Catholic, in new places visited. Here’s the thing when you’re in the United Kingdom: it’s harder than you think because, while Catholics do exist, many of the churches here are of the Church of England/Anglican.

On one hand, without intending to gaslight, I often joke that it’s not like you’re praying to different gods (LOL).

But on the other hand, actually dropping by these churches can be eye-opening. Not just to faith, but seeing beauty in their richness… in history, architecture, and so on…

At least this is what was gleaned in the Bangor Cathedral in Wales.

@outragemag Seeking #LGBT #faith or beauty in #Wales? Check out the #Bangor Cathedral in #Gwynedd ♬ original sound – Outrage Magazine

Una, if you’re in Gwynedd, this is very accessible. It’s there, in the middle of the oldest city in Wales. But if you’re from elsewhere, you need to travel to the city that’s over three hours away from London.

Ikalawa, this is formally St. Deiniol’s Cathedral, which has been used since about the 6th century. 

As FYI: St. Deiniol, the 6th-century Welsh saint, wasn’t “made” a saint through the Roman Catholic canonization process. In the olden times, Welsh/Celtic Christian holy figures were usually recognized by local church tradition, reputation for holiness, and their role as founders/abbots/bishops, rather than by a formal Vatican procedure. In the case of Deiniol, he founded the monastery/church at Bangor around 525, so that over time, he was venerated as Saint Deiniol.  

Ikatlo, what to see there?

Architecturally, it’s a mix of Norman/Romanesque and Gothic. It does feel medieval… and grandly so.

Inside, you’d see a layered medieval–Victorian Gothic interior, apparent in the stone arches, choir stalls, stained glass, and so on.

Those stained glasses, let’s emphasize, are from the 19th- and early-20th-century, including works by Clayton & Bell, James Powell & Sons, Burlison & Grylls, and Mayer & Co.  

Should you seek this one out? Deserving ba na sadyain? Kung nasa area ka na, keri. Welcoming naman ang church.

Otherwise… rampa elsewhere na, as I do sa patuloy na LGBTQIA+ wandering…

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