PTB Blog Carnival: Prosperous and Exciting Year of Travel in 2016

Indeed, 2016 is a year full of pleasant surprises, unexpected journeys and realizations. Not just for me, but for most of us in the Pinoy Travel Bloggers (PTB) Community. For December 2016's edition of the PTB Blog Carnival, let me share to you our prosperous and exciting year of travel in 2016!

In 2016, I had several items ticked off my bucket list, traveled abroad and enjoyed the great outdoors. I am so happy for all the travel opportunities, new experiences, and personal accomplishments that came along my way. It is just quite fitting to share to you my "10 Most Favorite Travels and Adventures in 2016."

READ MORE: 10 of my Favorite Travels and Adventures in 2016

Gelo Santos of www.docgelo.com shares his travel memories from 38 cities in 14 countries that he visited in 2016. From the romantic city of Paris, to the beautiful country of Malta, to the old town of Riga in Latvia, Doc Gelo certainly had awesome and memorable travels in 2016!

READ MORE: My 2016 Travel Memories from 38 Cities in 14 Countries

Katrina Torres of www.excursionista.net made her childhood dream come true in 2016. Though her year started slow, her solo trip in Europe after her birthday is a childhood dream come true! Her story made me envious and makes me want to visit Europe real soon!

READ MORE: 2016 – The Year I Made My Childhood Dream Come True

Lady Anne Bitamor Abit of www.ladyandhersweetescapes.com shares her sweetest escapes in 2016. Based in Dubai, she traveled to Abu Dhabi, Thailand, France, Armenia, and of course the Philippines! Do you wonder what's the major lesson she have learned this year? "Not all my plans will work out, but His plans for me will," she said.

READ MORE: The Sweetest Escapes of 2016

Gian and Sheila, the couple behind www.adrenalineromance.com share their "Heartwarming and Adventure-Filled 2016." They've been to so many places and done adventurous activities such as spelunking in Cebu and Samar, hiking, chasing waterfalls, and a lot more! To cap it off, they also bagged Cebu’s Best Travel Blog for 2016! Congratulations!

READ MORE: Looking Back to a Heartwarming and Adventure-Filled 2016

Katherine Cortes of www.taraletsanywhere.com shares "All the GOOD THINGS about 2016." It's a very insightful read as she shares to us some of the things she's grateful for all that happened to her in 2016. Definitely, Katherine had a wonderful year.

READ MORE: A year in review: All the GOOD THINGS about 2016

Niña Villanueva of www.themomentkeepers.com shares to us that despite having a few travels in 2016, it has been an amazing year for them and an epic year in the rightest sense of the word. They got to tick off some items from their bucket list, accomplished things they had been working on and gained new friends in Dubai and social media. What an amazing year!

READ MORE: TMK 2016 Highlights (A Year Review)

Sonyboy Fugaban of www.yobynos.wordpress.com calls 2016 a remarkable year for him as a photographer. He is most happy for 2016 as some of his photos made it to several highly-followed Facebook pages and Instagram accounts which showcase some of the best tourists destinations in the Philippines. Congrats Sonyboy!

READ MORE: 2016: A Remarkable Year for The Wandering Feet’s Shutterbug

Paula Anntoneth O of www.ponderingpaodaolei.net shares that despite having fewer travels in 2016, her friendships developed into something more deep. Something more meaningful and beautiful. And she couldn't be any more grateful. She also shared a realization, "that success doesn't really come how far you've gone or how often you've wandered. It is how you stay happy and content with what you have achieved."

READ MORE: 2016

Michael Angelo of www.angelotheexplorer.com enjoyed 2016 as he shares 17 Most Beautiful Places he Visited in Europe last 2016. From London, to Amsterdam, Venice, Florence, Pisa, all the way to Paris. He really had a Grand European Vacation.

READ MORE: 17 Most Beautiful Places I Visited in Europe last 2016

Glen Santillan of www.escapemanila.com also had a wonderful 2016 as he shares to us his "16 Best Moments in 2016." With travels around the Philippines and abroad, he accomplished a lot in terms of ticking off his bucket list. Congrats Glen!

READ MORE: 16 Best Moments in 2016

Milet Miranda of www.projectgora.com shares her "16 Best Travel Moments of 2016." From attending a friend's wedding in Boracay, to exploring Biliran, Leyte, Romblon, Surigao del Norte and Bataan, to traveling solo in Japan, she really had a wonderful and memorable 2016!

READ MORE: 16 Best Travel Moments of 2016

LaiAriel Reyes Samangka of www.jauntingandmusing.com remebers his 2016 as a year full of good memories of his travels and learning that he'll forever be thankful for. He shares, "Traveling can really heal the pain of the past and along the way you’ll appreciate yourself and discover more about you that you didn’t even see yourself become the person you’re today. Being single doesn’t mean you’re sad and lonely, it is your chance to flirt with the things you have always wanted to do and experience."

READ MORE: WHERE I’ve been AND What I’ve LEARNED in 2016.

Riz Baldivia of www.lamyerda.com listed her "11 Most Memorable Travels in 2016." As she shares, "2016 is a love and hate year for me. Despite all the shortcomings, the losses, the heartbreaks, 2016 has been good to me and will always be a year of realisation, learning, progress, living lean, and a celebration of life."

READ MORE: 11 of My Most Memorable Travels in 2016

Joey Sky Latayada of www.boundfortwo.com shares their invigorating 2016. From living in Kuala Lumpur for 5 years to having a new life Japan, Joey and Sky ticked off some of their 40ish lists and finished the year with high hope for coming 2017.

READ MORE: 2016: Nen Matsu (年末)

Reiza Dejito of www.wander-if-you-must.com shares her experience from a trip from Nairobi to Mombasa which started her year. She also shares how she celebrated her birthday with a proposal from her boyfriend, her trip in France, and finally getting married in El Nido, Palawan. Indeed, it was a memorable and sweet 2016 for Reiza!

READ MORE: Between the Desert and the Deep Blue Sea

Roxanne Tamayo of www.itravelrox.com shares to us how blessed she is. In 2016 she traveled to Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Masbate, Negros Oriental, Palawan, and celebrated her birthday in Taiwan.

READ MORE: Travel Summary 2016

Ruby Batallones of www.travelandperspectives.com remembers 2016 as a year of self-discovery. She got to experience a 10-day Vipassana Meditation course which she considers the best thing she gave herself in 2016. Also, she got to discover the newness that doing things solo brings, the freedom to create genuine connections, the ability to spend time wisely, and knowing that acting out of love and compassion prevents regrets.

READ MORE: 2016: On Things Other Than Traveling

Jho Vd of www.mountainsnbeyond.com shares her travels, adventures, and charity works in the Philippines. Aside from her love for mountaineering and the outdoors, she also got to explore Seoul Korea, Japan, Guam and had a wonderful #TBEXPH experience in 2016.

READ MORE: The Year That Was – Year 2016

Mary Ann L. Ojeda of www.mheanneojeda.blogspot.com shares her "2016 Wrap -Up: Conquering the Americas and Other Personal Record Highs In Travel!" In 2016, she got to travel a lot because of being location independent - where she can have a vacation while still doing her work as a lawyer. With her husband, they traveled thousand of miles together and even conquered the Americas - North America (United States), South America (Brazil and Peru) and Central America (Costa Rica).

READ MORE: 2016 Wrap -Up: Conquering the Americas and Other Personal Record Highs In Travel!

Celine Reyes of www.celineism.com recalls 2016 as "The Year of Falling Apart and Coming Together." She shares about her relationship with her "love of her life," friendships made and renewed, how she accepted her flaws and became more of herself.

READ MORE: 2016: The Year of Falling Apart and Coming Together

Samantha Isabel Coronado of www.followyouroad.com shares that despite lots of her millennial peers saying that 2016 is the worst year ever, "maybe it just didn't turn out the way they wanted to be" she said. But to her, there is a long list to be thankful for.

READ MORE: 2016: Behind My Best Nine

Jayce Cairo of chasingjayce.com, shares that she started the year at a low point in her life, but she still managed to have a birthday trip to Davao City. Towards the second quarter of the year, work life has been her focus - organizing events for her team and an employee resource group, and going places with people she met through one of her teammates. Visiting Europe has been one of her dreams. She also shares her disappointments in being rejected of a Schengen Visa. But that didn't stopped her from achieving her dream of setting foot in Europe. In November 2016, she got the good news that her Schengen Visa application was finally approved!

READ MORE: My 2016. #nofilter

Gretchen Filart Dublin of www.filipinaexplorer.com celebrates a year of dreams. She shares, "2016 was the year when the dream of travel came full circle. It was the year I realized really just how powerful that higher power is if we continue treading the path to our dreams, however impossible it seems."

Mai Flores-Campos of www.budgetbiyahera.com shares "Of Christmas Cheers And Gracious Hearts." As she said, "Christmas is a time that brings happiness and cheer to the birth of our savior -- a time to also remind ourselves to receive everything that comes our way with a thoughtful and gracious heart. Celebrating Christmas is an opportunity to feel blessed, to give back and to give thanks."

READ MORE: Of Christmas Cheers And Gracious Hearts

Kara Santos of www.traveling-up.com shares some of her achievements unlocked and noteworthy adventures in 2016. From trips to both new and familiar destinations, being a finalist in Wrangler’s True Wanderer competition, and finally getting a motorcycle upgrade. Kara truly had a wonderful 2016!

READ MORE: Achievements Unlocked in 2016

Jherson Jaya of www.lonelytravelogue.com shared to us some of his realizations while he travels to Lingayen in Pangasinan. He shares, "I was thinking of my 2016. What had happen. What did I do and what I did not do. There where heartaches and anger, mostly anger and bitterness. But the road to Lingayen erased it all. The love abound is far greater than any misunderstanding and clashing of opinions."

READ MORE: The Road to Lingayen - A New Year's Eve Narrative

Kenneth Lagaña of www.mrbratpacker.wordpress.com shares how he focused on himself in 2016. He pursued his love for mountaineering, got a tattoo in Buscalan, went on a solo trip to El Nido, volunteered in a charity, traveled abroad, and a lot more! Kenneth truly lived a year full of adventures.

READ MORE: I, 2016

Ephraim Arriesgado of www.selflesstravels.com takes us back to all his travel and ministry adventures in 2016. He shares, "Looking back, the evidences of God's grace and guidance are clearly seen and felt. God has been so good and faithful to me. His blessings were abundant. His strength never failed me. His care sustained me. His grace embraced me. His love inspired me every day."

READ MORE: 2016 Travels: The Mission Continues

Claire Madarang of www.iamtravelinglight.com shares "Travel and Beyond: On Losing Magic and Struggling to Find It Again." She shares, "To see new sights, to commune with nature, to marvel at a place’s rich culture and heritage, to be wrapped up in the stories, warmth, and kindness of strangers or new friends (if I am fortunate), and to have more unforgettable experiences – this had always been travel’s magic for me."

READ MORE: Travel and Beyond: On Losing Magic and Struggling to Find It Again

From all of us in the Pinoy Travel Bloggers community, Happy New Year! Cheers for more travels and adventures this 2017!

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