Temper tantrums. Riotous in-car/ in-flight fights. Food flying mid-air. Extra bags to pack and haul. Sickness and hospitalization in foreign lands.
Being a mom is surely no easy task, but traveling with kids takes mothering challenges to new heights. There’s always the extra head(s) to worry about and new rules to abide by. If by family trips you imagine mothers in tankinis holding pinacoladas on the beach, I can tell you, you’re waaay off base.
Can moms ever have their cake and eat it too? These serial traveling mom bloggers surely are a testament that yes, we can.
1. Gay Mitra Emami of Pinay Travel Junkie
The mothergoose of all Boho traveling moms, Gay is the emblem of the free-spirited female traveler: she hits the road more often than she stays in her own home; hiked craggy mountains and falls during her pregnancy; has landed on five continents with husband Shervin and daughter Luna; wears her tattoos, piercings, and undercut proudly; and is very likely to be seen in a beach festival glugging down beer.
Did I mention she’s one of the first contemporary Filipina travel bloggers to have completed a round-the-world trip in her early 30s – and with a toddler in tow at that?
Her unconventional on-the-road mothering and nomadic lifestyle has landed her several stints on magazines and videos including clips for Couchsurfing and GMA-7’s Pop Talk.
When not sauntering landmarks and doing print and TV interviews, she dreams of Mayan ruins and being an archaeologist. And tuyo.
2. Claire Raborar-Blaxland of Lakwatsera de Primera
The Philippine blogosphere’es premier Lakwatsera de Primera, Claire is one of the pioneers of independent female travel blogging in the country. I’m sure that many will agree when I say that the first glimpse of Borawan, Anawangin, and other rugged, little-known places they first saw in Claire’s blog.
While her blog seems to have taken a backseat since she gave birth to her daughter (she makes occasional appearances on the comments section though), the adventures never cease for this Bicolana as she explores life in Australia with husband and travel buddy, Charles and their toddler.
3. Mary Solio of The World Is A Book
Philippine-born, Guam-raised, educated in California, world traveler. Mary’s stars have been mapped to be global from the start. Taking inspiration from her favorite St. Augustine quote, Mary’s The World Is A Book is a beautiful montage of the journey that she, her husband and the kids tread to the many pages of the world: from the exotic reaches of Asia to jaw-dropping bucketlist destinations in Europe (like, Iceland. Iceland!!!).
4. Kim Lim of Indie Escape
Kim’s indie as indie gets; a music festival-loving mom who prefers lone journeys to off-beaten paths ’round the country. Her travels are a mish-mash of rugged mountains she’s climbed, spelunking adventures, hidden pockets of sea and sand, and sometimes, undiscovered biking trails. As an avid mountain biker, she also writes elaborate itineraries and biking routes (including maps) in and out of the city on her blog (worth the read for bikers).
5. Lois Yasay of We Are Sole Sisters
A passion test educator who speaks in global conferences and workshops about self-empowerment and making a living from what they love, Lois quit her desk job in 2010 to realize her dream of traveling the world independently – a move prompted by a Lonely Planet guide, no less. Her first mission: to backpack Southeast Asia (nine countries to be precise) for six months, with less than P100,000 (approximately $2,200) in hand.
She has since traveled all across the Philippines, the US, Germany and Switzerland and also co-founded the blog We Are Sole Sisters. The blog, which showcases lighthearted and empowering I-quit-my-job-to-travel tales from various female contributors, has become one of Asia’s sought-after sources of inspiration and independent travel know-how.
Last August 13, she welcomed a new sole sister, daughter Sinaya (named after the Philippine goddess of the sea). They are currently based in Europe.
6. Jho Domalaon of Mountains and Beyond
7. Teenee Pamaos of Visit Pinas
Teenee is the brains behind the blog Visit Pinas. Originally created with her husband, the Giyahero, to be an online repertoire of their family trips, Visit Pinas has, over the years, transformed into a comprehensive Philippine tourism-dedicated blog that celebrates the many wonderful reasons why one should visit ‘Pinas: savory food, vibrant festivals, friendly locals and exemplary destinations that could rival the world’s most exorbitant spots – minus the hefty travel costs.
8. Eileen Campos of The Super Tourists
Formerly of Possibly Pinay fame, Eileen is the sole babbler behind the family travel blog, The Super Tourists. A self-proclaimed tourist, she prefers to reach places the flashpacker way: comfy hotel rooms, tour packages, and always with Ze Yaya around to help care for her daughter Happy Meal (lucky yaya!).
Her new blog takes inspiration from her love of popular tourist spots such as Disneyland and from her family, all extensively-traveled super tourists (her stepdad only has Antartica left to uncheck on his bucketlist, so you do the math).
9. Missy Penaverde-Ilarde of Sole Pendulum (Sole of Missy)
Previously a PR and marketing professional, Matet quit her day job to pursue a career in travel and lifestyle writing, which has now allowed her to “travel to write and write to travel” with her family across the Philippines and in Southeast Asia. Her posts run the gamut from lavish brunches in metropolitan hotels to beach bumming in Visayas’ undiscovered shores. Her work appears on various online and print publications including Traveller, Homes, Best Restaurants Guide, Travel + Leisure, CNN iReport, and 7,101 Island Travel Mag.
11. Cotz Yuson of Misadventures of 3!
Cotz is one of my latest mom travel blogger discoveries – and am so glad she found me on IG; her family travel photos are just love! Based in Daraga, Albay (Oh, hello there, fellow Daragena!), Cotz writes mostly about family trips in and around Bicol, including Caramoan, Albay, Masbate and Sorsogon, but also has an amazing collection of travel stories on the rest of Luzon as well as Kota Kinabalu.
A born thrill seeker, she also dabbles in wall climbing, hiking, mountain climbing and surfing. Seriously, is there any other outdoor adventure she hasn’t done yet?
12. Jinkee Umali of Calamba-Online
13. Audrey Tamayo of Byaheng Barok
Audrey is a travel-frenzied single mom who’s in love with the idea of treading the world the most frugal way possible, one baby step at a time. Byaheng Barok speaks exactly that: her travels around Asia and the Philippines, DIY-style. No frills, just pure wanderlust.
In the succeeding weeks, I will be showcasing weekly solo feature interviews with some of these moms, starting with Matet of Travelogues. If you know a travel blogging mom whom you want to get featured here, please feel free to email me at admin@filipinaexplorer.com.
