#laagnitantong

My 50th birthday wish came true — and what better way to celebrate than by reaching my 50th country ? Fiji marked the milestone of my travel goal: “50 over 50.” Touchdown in Paradise Taking advantage of my exit through Brisbane, I planned a four‑day island holiday — even if it meant just dipping a toe in Nadi’s turquoise waters. I stayed at Bluewater Lodge , a cozy alternative to my initial booking at Smugglers Cove Hostel , which had become too pricey after rebooking. My Virgin Australia flight left Brisbane at 9:30 a.m. and landed in Nadi around 3 p.m. Famished from skipping lunch, I headed straight to Wailoaloa Beach before sunset. With a cold Fiji Gold beer in hand and a plate of pork belly from Margaritaville Beach Bar at the Wyndham Resort, I watched the sun melt into the horizon — my first golden evening in Fiji. South Sea Island Adventure After a restful night, I prepared for my South Sea Island full‑day tour . Expecting a 9 a.m. pickup, I waited at Ramada Hotel , only to...

Backstory The original plan for my homecoming in March 2026 was ambitious: to spend Holy Week exploring the Caucasus, crossing borders from Azerbaijan to Armenia and Georgia. But travel rarely goes exactly as planned, and this time, circumstances forced a reroute: Visa hurdles : Azerbaijan required a pre-approved visa through its embassy in Manila, impossible for me since I was living and working in Papua New Guinea. Mixed approvals : My travel companion, Kuya Louver, was denied entry to Georgia but managed to secure his Armenian visa. Global disruptions : The war in the Middle East shut down surrounding international airports, including our planned connections through Saudi Arabia and Dubai. With the Caucasus plan scrapped, we pivoted. And so, my “Friendship Travels” of 2026 found new life in Singapore and Bangkok, Thailand. Singapore: A Whirlwind 36 Hours Singapore wasn’t originally on the itinerary—it was a spontaneous addition. While browsing online, I discovered Cirque du Soleil’s...