Dobsinska ice cave in Slovakia
Interview with Ron Cruz of FlipTravels
After I walked around Singapore for 2 days and enjoyed night photography in there, on my way to Hong Kong I met Ron at Singapore airport for a coffee and a chat. We missed each other in the Philippines where I went after, so I guess next time 🙂
me with Ron at Singapore airport
Hope you enjoy to get to know Ron better below:
1. Who are you? Tell us something about you.
I have lived in different corners of the world, but I still call the Philippines my home. Currently living in Singapore, I am an artist who has trained as a nurse, and currently works as an investigator.
I am the traveler and story teller of FLIPTRAVELS.COM, where you can read my escapades (naugthy and otherwise). I am recently joined the cast of the first reality travel web series in the Philippines, PHL360.com.
2. What is your favorite place, city and country and why? (all three of them)
place – My favorite place to date is that small corner on the bank of Mekong River in Luang Prabang. It’s so peaceful I forgot the whole world was moving. A place I will always want to visit over and over again to do nothing but drink a bottle of ice-cold beer.
city – I’m not really a city person, contrary to the fact that I live in one, which is the bustling metropolis of Singapore. But my favorite is the long abandoned city that was the glorious Angkor, the first densely populated city in history. I fell in love when I first saw it. The sight of the gopura behind the trees, almost made me drool. I swear, I heard a choir of angels singing symphony #9.
country – I love my home country, the Philippines. There’s so much to see and the 7,107 islands will never get short of things to see and experience, not to mention the colorful and welcoming people that will make you want to stay longer.
3. If you could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would it be and why?
Morocco. I have never been there but it has been sitting in my bucket list for the longest time. I vividly dream of the Medina and I swear I can smell the myriads of street food grilling and brewing that it made me want to stay asleep until I get the time and money to fly there.
4. What do you love the most about your home country?
I love my home country, the Philippines. It’s amazing how a plethora of colors, cultures and anthropological textures co-exist under one flag. The flavors, sights and sounds can excite the most jaded senses.
5. How travel changes you?
I realized that traveling is more than just posting the pictures in Facebook and telling the whole world that you’ve been there. It’s a dynamic learning experience. The world is a beautiful creation, a gift from Someone and we shouldn’t miss it. Our planet is a book, and we can only flip its pages if we travel.
Was nice meeting you Ron and I enjoyed your answers. Thanks again!
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Love,
Alex
Around the world – Strbske pleso in the High Tatras with Solisko behind, Slovakia
Strbske pleso lake in the High Tatras with Solisko behind
Around the world – Underground River in Palawan, Philippines
Underground River in Palawan in the Philippines
Interview with cool Monika Molnarova I met in Bangkok
I used Couchsurfing when I visited Bangkok for the first time in October 2011 and surprisingly found 2 Czech girls and 1 Slovak girl in there. We soon became friends, especially with the Slovak girl Monika. After exploring Bangkok with her for a few days and having fun in a rooftop swimming pool with the view of whole Bangkok (for free), we took our adventure to the next level and went to explore Cambodia and a bit of Siem Reap and breath-taking Angkor Wat. It was a lot of fun with the area flooded. Just check out our photo together in Siem Reap when trying to find our hotel Mandalay Inn 😀
me and Monika in flooded Siem Reap
Afterwards, we reunited with Monika in Thailand again and then in Slovakia and we are very good travel buddies so I am sure more trips together will come soon 🙂
Find out more about this funny girl:
1. Who are you? Tell us something about you.
Cool chic with diverse background, lived in 5 different countries for past 6 years. I love traveling and getting to know new people.
2. What is your favorite place, city and country and why? (all three of them)
My most favorite would be Mexico where I spent a year during my studies, loved the people, food and culture (*another thing we have in common with Monika and our favorite country Mexico).
My favorite city would be my hometown Bratislava ’cause I know it so well and have my family and friends based there. 
Then it’d be NYC a place I felt in love with immediately.Â
Favorite country Italy ’cause the Italians are so gooood looking and they make amazing pasta LOL
My another favorite one is Monte-Carlo despite its glamour I know some nice places there and I still have some friends left from my studies.
Monika
3. If you could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would it be and why?
Caribbean or French Polynesia but I have it on my list for honeymoon destination but if I could have a chance to get on a plane … I’ll go to NYC for some shopping or to Mexico to visit my friends.
4. What do you love the most about your home country?
Food, atmosphere, our passion for hockey and hospitality.
5. How travel changes you?
I became more open-minded, don’t judge people based on the 1st sight..maybe on the 2nd hahahaha.
Thank you, Monika for the answers. Will definitely see you again soon, I think in Bratislava for some party 🙂
Love,
Alex
