Girl standing underneath coconut trees in white-sand island in Coron, Palawan surrounded by clear blue waters

a Filipina-run budget travel blog

About

Get to Know Graphic Wanderlust

Hi! I’m Andrea, a Filipina traveler living and currently based in the Philippines and the voice behind Graphic Wanderlust. ✨🌴

Girl sitting with a background of coconut tree forest and lush mountain landscape in the background
Taking in the lush scenery at Siargao’s iconic Coconut Trees Viewdeck
A woman with long hair wearing a blue jacket and headband, sitting in a gondola with a scenic mountain view in the background.
Saying hi from the mountains of Sapa, Vietnam. 👋

A quick message for you!

Before anything else, I would just like to thank you for taking the time to visit Graphic Wanderlust—and even reaching this page! Knowing that someone reads and views my posts is a huge thing and allows me to keep moving forward and create content for this blog. 🩷

If you do see something that strikes your fancy, feel free to leave a comment to let me know that you loved it, and I’ll try my best to deliver the same relevant content in the future. ☺️

-Andrea 🫶

My Travel Story

Back to Where It All Began

Graphic Wanderlust wasn’t originally intended to become a travel blog.

As a university student inspired by famous YouTubers I used to watch back in 2013, Graphic Wanderlust was initially created to be a personal blog where I share my thoughts and random happenings in my life. This continued to be its main function for four years until I graduated and started traveling in 2017.

A young woman sitting on the ground, focusing intently on taking a photo with a camera, surrounded by greenery.
Student days from those times when I was taking up broadcast communication at university.
A traveler in a yellow shirt standing by a wooden fence overlooking a serene blue sea and distant mountains on a sunny day.
Posing at the viewing deck found in Talisayen Cove back in 2017.

Igniting the Wanderlust

My interest in travel blogging started when I became an editorial research assistant for a digital magazine after graduating. Part of my role was researching various topics, and one of the resources I usually encountered and read was local travel blogs about popular and off-the-beaten-path destinations.

Inspired by the narratives and storytelling of these bloggers, I decided to give travel blogging a try with the first travel guide I published in 2017 about the lesser-known Talisayen Cove in Zambales. The experience unleashed the wanderlust within me, and ever since, I have found myself blogging and publishing posts out of pleasure whenever I travel.

But why the name “Graphic Wanderlust”?

Girl in silhouette standing in front of Changi Airport's Rain Vortex
Awe-struck after finally seeing the iconic Rain Vortex in Jewel Changi, Singapore in real life.

Mainly due to the 2013 Tumblr trend when popular posts were about the universe, galaxy and searching for the meaning of life through travel, I guess it’s safe to say that I was influenced by this trend, hence, the origin of the name wanderlust which literally means a strong desire to travel.

The graphic word, on the other hand, was just simply a random idea of picking one of my favorite English words, completing the name and the birth of this blog and, coincidentally, one of its main purposes.

My Travel Style

Sitting between being a budget and mid-range traveler, I can certainly say that my travel style is not a luxurious one.

Experiencing the best of both worlds, my travel style is somewhere between getting the most out of my budget, yet still not compromising on comfort.

I’m not the type who will book the cheapest accommodation just to save a few hundred pesos, but would rather go for one that may not be the cheapest but still falls within my expected budget range and provides better comfort. I may book red-eye flights sometimes to score on cheaper flight tickets, but I wouldn’t choose an arrival time that will leave me homeless at midnight because the check-in time doesn’t start until 2PM.

The past years of traveling made me realize that a couple of extra hundred pesos do not hurt if it will provide you with a more comfortable and convenient experience. The mantra is not to budget hard but to budget smart. 😉

Girl standing by the railing of a ferry going to Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island
First time to ride a ferry!
Believe it or not, this is really a selfie infront of Marina Bay
A person sitting indoors, wearing sunglasses and a dark jacket, holds a cup while looking down, with a misty landscape visible through the window behind.
Sipping hot coffee at the top of Fansipan Mountain in Vietnam.
A traveler squatting on a stone ledge, overlooking a lush landscape with a prominent volcano in the background, under a partly cloudy sky.
A perfect backdrop of Mayon Volcano!

What is the driving force behind Graphic Wanderlust?

A girl overlooking Banaue Rice Terraces
Girl surfing at Siargao Island's Cloud 9
Girl looking up at the central prang of Wat Arun
Girl standing in front of the main prang of Wat Chaiwatthanaram
Long shot of a girl walking and doing an OK sign in Mount Pulag's misty grassland area

I guess one of the main reasons why this blog is still alive even after more than 10 years is because of the sheer passion dedicated to it.

Everything you see in this blog is purely out of interest, not just for traveling and discovering new things, but also for creating content, writing, photography, video editing, graphic designing, and even web designing and SEO, which I didn’t even have a background in initially.

My goal to deliver posts from a unique perspective and provide helpful and handy information as accurately and precisely as possible to travelers, especially in the Philippines, is probably another reason why this blog is still here. Add up the desire to set an example in valuing and preserving the beauty of nature and respecting history and culture by being a mindful traveler who knows how to pause and appreciate the present moment.

The Dreamer Behind the Wanderlust

I guess the word “dreamer” is the best word to describe the person behind this blog because, without her dreams, she wouldn’t have the courage to go to the places she has been—and will be—and put up this blog.

Unlike with others, travel blogging hasn’t become a full-time job for me (yet), and my current 9-to-5 is being a content supervisor, managing day-to-day operations and a team of writers for Southeast Asian and Australian fashion e-commerce retailers.

When not planning trips or making itineraries, I find myself in nearby commercial districts, walking around, people watching and exploring, and trying different cafés, restaurants and weekend markets.

I am also a big fan of architecture (as you may have noticed in some of my photos) and enjoy taking pictures, videos, and styling myself with modern, timeless outfits.

I am an introvert and enjoy solitude, so if ever you see me in real life alone, don’t think that I am feeling lonely because I assure you I am not (or maybe I am sometimes, but most of the time not). 😅

More fun facts about me:

A girl sitting at a wooden table in a café, enjoying a meal with a beverage, surrounded by colorful decorations and a view of the street.
Enjoying a cup of egg coffee amid the bustling Old Quarter in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Wanderlust by the Numbers

Girl walking towards the stupas and prangs of Wat Chaiwatthanaram
Exploring ancient temple ruins in the UNESCO-inscribed World Heritage Site Wat Chaiwatthanaram in Ayutthaya, Thailand.
  • 🌏 Countries visited: 5
  • 🇵🇭 Philippine provinces explored: 12 out of 82
  • 🏛️ UNESCO Heritage Site visited: 7
  • 🏝️ Dream local destination: Batanes and Balabac, Palawan
  • ⛩ Dream international destination: Anywhere in Japan and Europe!

Help keep the wanderlust going

Graphic Wanderlust is fully self-funded, and all past trips and posts that you will see in this blog were fully paid by me or were shared with a friend I was traveling with.

If you found any of my guides useful and want to give tips or donate a small amount for future travel guides, Graphic Wanderlust is available on Ko-Fi and Buy Me a Coffee, whose links can be found below.☺️

A woman sitting on a rock, overlooking a scenic mountain landscape under a clear blue sky.
Catching the sunrise at the peak of Mt. Yangbew in La Trinidad, Benguet

Let’s explore together!

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Liked my storytelling and travel style? Let’s partner up!

Graphic Wanderlust is open for collaborations and partnerships. Whether it’s through sponsored content, destination features, social media posts, or anything in between, I’d love to connect. 🤝

Drop a message using the form or email me at hello.graphicwanderlust@gmail.com and let’s create something inspiring together! 😊

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Any thoughts?