Iran is a country that is rising on bucket lists. The allure of culture and history around it, and the common misconceptions waiting to be debunked make it an attractive destination to some. I went to the country recently (April 2018) to explore and discover what it has to offer. Fortunately, Filipinos can get a visa-on-arrival at select airports, my port of entry was Tehran.

Xi'An is an interesting city that has centuries of history under its belt. It was one of my stops during a trip to China last year (2017). There was a mix of old and new as I explored the bustling metropolis.

Ulaanbaatar is Mongolia's capital; most people visit the country and leave the city as soon as possible. If you have a few days to spare or only have a limited time, there are a couple of things you can do during your stay.

I was in Mongolia for around two weeks; went camping and stayed a little too long in the capital (I was waiting for others to share expenses with for camping). I wanted to visit more places, but it got way too cold and didn't have enough time, maybe I'll return during the warmer months in the future.

One of the places you can visit during your stay in Taipei is Shifen. The latter is an interesting place to visit because of the food, and historical and natural attractions.

I squeezed in a trip to Biliran after a writing assignment in Samar. The province is a nice, laid back and idyllic place to visit. Sambawan Island has a beautiful overlooking view of the cove and the rock formations and the waterfalls are good places to hang out in.

I went to Iran with no expectations, as I went to some cities during my short stay, I visited some mosques and found them beautiful. These are more than just places of worship, walking into one provides a glimpse of the country's storied past, culture and daily life.


Here are the beautiful mosques I went to during my trip.