About Mirj

Hi, I am Mirjan!

Welcome to my crazy, beautiful life as a 27-year old solo traveler from the Philippines.

I was living what everyone in the Philippines would call a “dream life.” I was working as a flight attendant and was based in my hometown. Everyday I get to retire in the comforts of my family home and enjoy my mom’s cooking.

But behind closed doors, everything is different. My greatest fear is take-off and had to endure it because society told me I was lucky to be working at such a glamorous job.

One way ticket of a lifetime

The pandemic happened and the quarter-life crisis kicked in. I knew it’s time to give up comfort for a life of adventures. So I embarked on a one-way journey to Southeast Asia – three years, three continents, and 20 countries later, I am still traveling.

Filipinos don’t travel on their own

I created this blog with Filipinos in mind. While backpacking around Southeast Asia in 2022, it occurred to me that I did not meet many Filipinos on the road. It felt alienating to not be able to converse with someone using Tagalog for a few months in a row. This tells a lot, especially that the Philippines is literally part of this region. We’re just a flight away from the countries I visited.

So I made it a goal to find the reason why Filipinos don’t travel on their own, and found that it’s a combination of many things: financial struggles, cultural norms, visa problems, and — most importantly — the lack of a hero that looks, speaks, and has the same concerns as them.

Passion project and the birth of a blog

I do believe that relatability is a deal-breaker. From a simple need to talk to someone in Tagalog, came a passion project which would become a repository of information about travel-related concerns for Philippine passport holders.

Whether you’re a Filipino, solo traveler, or anyone in between trying to navigate this crazy, beautiful world of visa requirements, unconventional itineraries, hike guides, travel budget… this blog is for you.

If you want to get video guides and take a peek at my lunch, follow my Instagram and TikTok accounts @mirjhipolito. Don’t be a stranger.

I’ll make it personal

My mom told me that I’ve started writing long before I can read well. For me, this creative avenue chose me – not the other way around. It is the one thing I do when I feel so much emotion in my heart. I knew I had to incorporate this personal touch on my blog in addition to the technical travel guides.

With that, I added a section called “Inspiring Stories.” There, you will hear the most authentic Mirjan talk. She is not the one who writes in subheadings and gets her facts straight – but the Mirjan that wears heart in her sleeves.

I want you to hear my adventures and misadventures, learn about the memorable people I met on the road, some love and friendship encounters I had (or the lack thereof), and everything in between.

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Let’s create unforgettable experiences together! Partner with me for authentic storytelling, travel content, and impactful campaigns.

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