Philippines / 2010
Batanes and the God of Wonders
Where striking landscapes and a memorable journey became an early travel story.
READ ORIGINAL STORY ↗From Kuala Lumpur in 2011 to 40 countries at 40
40 countries
at 40.
And beyond.
My first international journey began in Kuala Lumpur in November 2011, at 29. Twelve years later, Iceland marked my 40th country while I was still 40. From the Philippines to the world, I travel in wonder of God’s creation—and the journey continues.
BYAHE NI DEWO / THE JOURNEY CONTINUESSCROLL TO EXPLORE ↓
01 / The milestone
The journey began at 29.
I got my first passport in 2011, and in November of that year, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia became my first international destination. I was already 29. What began as one trip grew into a lifetime of learning, gratitude, and unforgettable landscapes. In 2023, while still 40, I reached my 40th country: Iceland. The milestone mattered, but the wonder of discovering the world God created matters even more.
In 2023, reaching my 40th country—Iceland—while still 40 felt like a fitting moment to reflect. But the best part of every milestone is the new horizon it reveals.
How I count destinations: For my personal “40 at 40” milestone, I counted Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau separately from mainland China because they are distinct travel experiences with their own local systems. This is a personal travel-counting convention, not a statement about sovereignty or international recognition.
READ THE NEXT CHAPTER ↗40/40
Countries visited by age 40 · achieved 2023
“The milestone was never the finish line.”
02 / Home deserves the spotlight
The Philippines, always home.
Before I saw the world, there were the islands, mountains, people, and stories of my own country. This is my invitation to discover more of the Philippines—from celebrated destinations to places still waiting to be known.
Proudly Philippine
7,000+ islands. Countless reasons to explore.
From Batanes to Palawan, I want to champion responsible local tourism through firsthand stories, practical guides, and places beyond the familiar itineraries. I believe the Philippines deserves more of the world's attention—and that good tourism should benefit local communities and protect the natural beauty we are blessed with.
In wild coastlines and breathtaking mountains, I am reminded of the majesty of God, the Creator of all things.
03 / Interactive travel atlas
A world of stories.
Explore selected places from my travels. Choose a marker or filter a region. This is a curated preview—not yet the full record of all 40 countries.
Illustrative map · select a gold marker
04 / Infographics & curious discoveries
Travel by Numbers.
Milestones, World Heritage encounters, memorable records, and fascinating stories behind the destinations.
40
Countries at 40
The 2023 milestone, with Iceland as country number 40.
16
US States Explored
Reconstructed travel tally; the ongoing 50 States Challenge.
4
US National Parks
Confirmed: Yosemite, Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Mount Rainier.
—
UNESCO Sites Total
Full count pending verification against travel history and UNESCO records.
2011
First Passport & First Trip
November · Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia · age 29.
47
Japan Prefectures
A favorite country, and a new long-term exploration challenge. This is the total number of prefectures, not visits.
7
Continents Goal
A possible alternative to visiting 50 US states by age 50. Progress to be verified.
—
PH Provinces & Cities
Personal counts pending a complete travel-history review.
The collections
Use the tabs to explore the working infographic collections.
Heritage examples are grounded in documented visits. The complete UNESCO tally and full country list will be added after validating the travel archive. Illustrated imagery in this prototype is not original site photography.
Your evolving destination checklists
Track the places, not just the numbers.
Track all the countries you have visited—including discoveries after your 40-at-40 milestone—then explore the Philippines, US states, Japan prefectures, and seven continents. Checklists are editable and saved in this browser only. Preselected items are a cautious starter set, not your complete travel history.
THE PHILIPPINES
Provinces & cities visited
0of sample locations
The Philippines starter list is not a complete list of 82 provinces or all cities. The country list uses 195 states (193 UN members plus the two UN observer states); you can add other destinations to your personal tracking convention. Japan displays all 47 prefectures and the US displays all 50 states. UNESCO locations are tracked separately above; official UNESCO classification should be checked before publication.
YOUR PERSONAL EDITING STUDIO · VERSION 4
Travel Dashboard.
Update destinations, trips and stories without touching HTML. Changes on this device appear in the dashboard immediately.
Local editing mode · Stored in this browser only · Export regularly
Checked items mean visited. Philippine entries can include provinces and cities; use a descriptive label such as “Cebu (province)” or “Cebu City”. Changes stay on this browser unless exported.
My trip journal
Record a journey, attach a photo URL, and link a full story. Travel dates and fields are optional except destination name.
UNESCO World Heritage Tracker
Maintain your personal list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites you have actually visited. Names should follow the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Starter entries are marked “Needs verification” until confirmed. This checklist is not an official UNESCO database and won't automatically validate designations.
Edit your homepage words
Customize the headline and introductory paragraphs without editing source code. The 2023 milestone and 2011 first trip stay in your historical timeline.
Privacy & publishing: this standalone file stores data locally in your browser using local storage. Photos are referenced by URL, not uploaded. It does not sync across devices or update your live WordPress site. Export a backup after edits; import it on another browser to restore data. Some browsers restrict storage when opening local files.
05 / From the archives
Stories worth keeping.
Real articles from the original Byahe ni Dewo, resurfaced rather than buried under a chronological feed.
Philippines / 2019
11 Reasons to Visit San Vicente
A firsthand perspective on a quieter side of Palawan, its beaches and island escapes.
READ ORIGINAL STORY ↗Asia / 2018
11 Awesome Asian Cities
The memorable cities and personal favorites that earned a place on the bucket list.
READ ORIGINAL STORY ↗06 / The next chapter
Beyond 40.
The milestone was never the finish line. The next chapters mean exploring the Philippines more deeply, returning to Japan, chasing landscapes that reflect the Creator’s glory, and considering a new challenge for age 50.
2011
The first stamp
At 29, with my first passport, I made my first international trip in November—to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
2023
40 countries at 40
Iceland became my 40th country while I was still 40. The beginning of a new chapter, not the end of an ambition.
Next
50 at 50—or 7 continents?
Explore all 50 US states by age 50, or set foot on all seven continents. Along the way: discover more of the Philippines, explore Japan prefecture by prefecture, and travel in awe of God’s creation.
07 / Travel in motion
See the stories. Then read beyond the frame.
Reels and short videos capture moments. This journal keeps the context: how the trip unfolded, what worked, what I'd change, and why the place mattered.
Instagram, TikTok and YouTube video embeds can be added here after you provide your public profile links.
▶
Travel in Motion
Video collection placeholder