Category: My Space
Touring the Google PH HQ on Safer Internet Day
When Google Philippines’ main office first opened in 2017, all eyes were on its interiors, which integrated Filipino cultural elements with modern aesthetics. Since the early 2010s, tech companies such as Google and Pixar have changed the game of office spaces. Inspired by Silicon Valley, modern offices were no longer drab spaces that sucked the […]
Lido Village Books: Newport Beach’s Beloved Indie Bookstore
I love bookstore chains as much as the next bookworm, but there’s something special about independent bookstores. Usually tucked in corner spaces or under-the-radar locations, these little shops are the types I come across by chance. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kate Alvarez (Kate Was Here) (@replikate) I was sauntering through […]
Room Makeover With IKEA Philippines
IKEA opened its first superstore in the Philippines in November 2021. After months of waiting for the hype (as well the COVID curve) to go down, I finally set foot in the 67,760sqm building in Pasay City. But not without a plan! With a maximum budget of ₱30,000, I redecorated my bedroom, a.k.a. my work-from-home […]
Show Me Your Quarantine View
As we wrap up week #5 of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the Philippines, I’ve been keeping sane by connecting online with relatives, friends, and travelers I met in my adventures. I started a little social media project called, “Show Me Your Window/Balcony Quarantine View,” and I was moved by the entries I received. As […]
Miyahara Is More Than Just a Hogwarts Lookalike
When our tour guide told us that our next destination, Miyahara, is “Like the Hogwarts of Taiwan,” my inner Potterhead fluttered with excitement. Of course I had to see what the fuss was all about. If you read up on this famous tourist spot in Taichung, the blurbs are similar—“It has a Harry Potter vibe” […]
Anda Venice Hostel is a Wonderland
It’s one most expensive cities in Italy, but traveling to Venice doesn’t have to make a dent in your wallet. The biggest way to save money is NOT to book your accommodation within the island of Venice. Mainland Venice is connected to Venice Island (where Rialto Bridge, St. Mark’s Basilica, and all those famous tourist […]
![[Vlog] NDSM Is Amsterdam’s Shipyard-Turned-Creative Space](https://katewashere.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/NDSM.jpg)
[Vlog] NDSM Is Amsterdam’s Shipyard-Turned-Creative Space
From the roaring 20s to the retro 80s, the NDSM neighborhood was one the biggest shipyards in the world. These days, you can always count on artists to turn rusting, abandoned locations into thriving cultural spaces, which is exactly what they did with NDSM. Whatever time of day you arrive, there are plenty of things […]
Ayan’s Local Foods: Siquijor’s Hidden Zen
One factor that makes Siquijor a mysterious island is that it’s not as Googleable as the other mainstream destinations. A lot of their accommodations aren’t listed on Agoda and other booking sites. Because Siquijor’s internet connection is intermittent, not all restaurants and establishments have a website, let alone a Facebook page. For the adventurous traveler, […]
Sirao Garden: Charming Place, Long Commute
There’s one thing travelers don’t mention when writing about Sirao Flower Garden—that getting there is not a walk in the park if you’re coming from Mactan Island. Don’t get me wrong; this place is a garden lover’s dream come true. Like all the other visitors, I Instagrammed to my heart’s content. But the stressful commute […]