About the Blogger
Hi, my name is Edcel and I am a travel blogger based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. I used to work in a BPO company (of nearly 6 years), but quit my job in order to have more time for travelling. I backpacked Southeast Asia for 9 months while working as an online freelancer.
You can read more about how I took the step to living a life of a digital nomad here – Delusions of Grandeur: Taking the Step to Location Independence.
Just recently married, I am now building a life in this desert city with my beautiful wife. Working at home, I manage a number of websites to help me sustain this blog as a career and aim to set up an online business.
About the Blog
Why soloflightEd? Solo flight is all about finding one’s purpose in life, we each have our own destiny and to find it is truly a great gift. My name is Ed so I added it as well. This was a personal website that evolved into a travel blog. This is not its domain as I don’t normally travel solo. But even so, it should not be taken in a literal sense.
I currently focus on blogging about my travels, my experiences and some tips about the destinations I visit. Hopefully, this site will serve as a useful source of information about different places in the Philippines, Southeast Asia and now, the Middle East.
When not climbing trees, the author is busy being an online geek.
Featured
- Meet the Nomads: Edcel of SoloflightEd – as interviewed by Flip of FlipNomad.com
- Interview with SoloFlightEd – as interviewed by Chino of JuanderfulPinoy.com
- Meet the Backpackers – as interviewed by JourneysandTravels.com
- Meet My Travel Buddies – as interviewed by Mica of Senyorita.net
- A Day with Eds of soloflightEd.com – as interviewed by BoundforTwo.com
- How to Become a Travel Blogger – Travel Blogging 101 by Melo of OutofTownBlog.com
- El Encuentro: Edcel Suyo y Ferdz Decena – travel face-off by Dom of EscapeIslands.com
What’s with the headstands and crazy stunts?
This is my way of showing my flip side in front of the lens. Not that I have any attention deficit disorder (I have yet to get myself checked), but life is too short to stand still. Also, these stunts are part of my frustration ever since I was a kid as I still long for the day that I’ll be able to do a simple cartwheel – still can’t do it.
There are things I wish I could do but I can’t. Then there are those that only need practice in order to get them right; no matter how long they may take. Trying, even if I fail countless times, motivates me to keep proving my limits. Once in a while, I become successful and it’s all because of persistence. I guess this goes with one of my principles in life that we can do anything so long as we badly put our mind and heart into our goals.
Contact Me & Social Media
To contact me for advertising opportunities or if you just want to say Hi, you can go to my Contact Page. Otherwise,
Shoot an email to Ed@soloflightEd.com
Like my Facebook Page at facebook.com/soloflightEd
Follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/soloflightEd
Instagram: instagram.com/soloflightEd
Hi Ed!
I enjoyed going through your blog.
Gud luck with your adventures…
I’ve been to Cebu once when I decided to travel alone and I loved it.I still have more to explore over there though.
thanks for visiting christine! The first few years here wasn’t much of an adventure for me as I was mostly stuck at home. But now, I’m exploring and loving what Cebu has to offer.
Love your blog…. hope you find your real essence and purpose in life…
ey thanks star.
Oh well, Bloghopped to your site. From what call center are you from? Hehe!
beejing: somewhere in it park. hehe
Eds last blog post..it’s a holiday and I’m working!
Hi Ed,
Somewhere in IT Park huh? hmmm… same with me.
haha. yeah.
Interesting blog. Appreciate your spirit. Stay connected & expect the same from me.
Take care.
Hello there Ed,
Your blog, particularly about the southern parts of the country was very insightful. Places like Siargao is a definite must see. It may not be ‘off the beaten’ track for too long, but I suppose with 7000+ islands there’s a lot of ground to cover still!
Thanks for sharing.
Hey Wednesday, thanks for dropping by! Yeah, we have so many islands here that are waiting to be explored. I just realized around last year how rich we are (I mean experience the richness of our islands). Thanks for dropping by! 🙂
nice page.. have been travelling myself but unluckily i never had teh chance to document most of my travel around europe, asia and australia. next time i would definitely do that and will hope to have a page like this…
bisdakbrat: ey thanks, yeah it’s nice to document our travels once in a while. hope to catch more from you and your travels soon! thanks for dropping by!
Hi Edcel: Add me up on Facebook. Hurry!
edcel!!!i should have listened to you…waaahhhhh i missing a lot. idol jud ta ka edcel oi!asa nka?wa nkoy number nimo..huhuhuhu
remember college?;)
haha. lol. hi d’ann! hehe. musta naman ka? same number ra gyapon ko. holler up. hehe
nawa nko imo number sir…huhuhuhu mao ghapon oi…way au.:)
Very interesting blog! Dude, which company are you working for? I also work in a call center in Davao. And like you also put my spare time into my blogs. You have a very interesting life needless to say. With all your luxurious escapades I’d say you’re pretty blessed for a guy who likes to go on solo. Take care in all your journeys man.
Ey thanks, yeah we gotta keep the bills rolling. Actually I do blogging so I can pay off old debts. Usually my travels are because I don’t have any other vice. But my travels are sometimes paid out of other opportunities like business trips and such (which I’m pretty lucky). Being in the call center industry, I guess you can say that team outings are abound. This is what I make the most out of so I can showcase something for the blogging community to see. Thanks for the comment, will email you! I’m somewhere based in IT park.
By the way if you could e-mail me. I’d like to exchange thoughts with you about blogging.
PMed you already.
Hey Ed, I enjoyed reading your very interesting info.. You are one amazing guy, just like your shots. And your blog is worth visiting! Great, great photos!
hi redge. thanks a lot for the kind words! they make me want to blog even more. thanks again! 🙂
bai, nice blog, am also from cebu.. nindot jd ang cebu maski.unsaon..
jerminix: thanks. haha. been living in this island for 6 years already. hehe
Beautiful pictures Ed.
thanks a lot sigrid anne! 🙂
hey dude…i just googled about edge coaster…and i came up with your blog… i enjoyed reading your stuff…maybe i will read more some other time…keep up the good work! i hop i could have my own blog….
iad: thanks a lot, glad to be a good source of travel information, somehow. get your own and start typing!
hey eds…i need to have a place to go…where i could have a fun and memorable one with my gf…do you have any suggestions? we like theme parks, nature2 stuff, and places in the south…
thanks dude
saw you everyday at IT PARK ..eng eng eng…
umm. ok. Hi. hehe.
hehehe,,,, en geng eng
so see yah around…
perhaps..if i will have the guts..i might waive my hand and say HI…..
cool blog!
checking your site made me say, "Ah! Still a lot of places to visit!"
=)
Hey Ed! I was sitting just beside you at the Cebu Blog Camp. I was afraid to say hi or something. I was the guy in a striped dark polo. You seem intimidating. Hope we could travel together some time bro. I am just a starstruck fan of yours. I am Jaysee Pingkian btw.
@bounce: haha. see yah!
@eys: and there are still a lot more that left undiscovered! 🙂
@primosearch: thanks for visiting.
@jaysee: haha. intimidating gyud? thanks for dropping by! 😀
Cool Site Ed o_O
IT Park? ahahah.. .same here! NEVER STOP EXPLORING – northface 😀
naddee – thanks for dropping by! yeah, there’s so much to explore.
nice travel blog! 🙂
ey thanks! 😀
thanks for dropping by! added you on my blogroll ed. enjoy explore the philippines and beyond
thanks james. same here! 😀
@ed, ive added your link to my blogroll… 🙂
love your blog, travelling and exploring is the most precious experience you would ever have in life. Nothing compares!
You rock!
Cheers
Very Entertaining site Ed..It's very Informative and it really helps us travelers to know what to do in going to a certain place.
Two thumbs up.
Continue the GOod Work.
P.S.- Like the Bungy Jumping..It's Extremely COol..mamamatay ako sa takot siguro..ehehehehehe.
God Bless
Love your blog:)
@jhon: thanks for the kind words! hope to write more entries to share!
like your blog and enjoyed goin' thru it including the pics. was just wishing i could be half as creative in scheduling and explore n weekends while working at the salt mines on weekdays…keep on explorin' !
I like your blog bro. I've been to different places asia and oceana pero dont know how to write a blog…
Goodluck sa imung mga adventures.
TWO THUMBS UP 🙂
@ryan: thanks bro. you can just start on Facebook. or multiply. then move to blogspot. then create your own. 😀 thanks!
hey Ed ,
Im Jason Montana or shall i say " Montana the explorer" . Im from cebu city too and came from a world of BPO …. Just like you im a traveler also and I just started my blog this year specifically feb 2011 where i compiled all my travel experiences. When i was searching some blogs that features DAVAO , i bump in to your blog site and was amaze by your travel experiences and the places that you've been. Nice job !
@jason: hi Jason, thanks for dropping by my blog. great to know there are many bloggers in Cebu that travel! hope you find what you’re looking for here 😀
Ive already got what i need and thank you for that! ehehe , I hope we can meet up someday and we can do some tandem in traveling. I think that would be a cool idea. Anyway what are your plans this summer ? anyway specific places or tourist spots you want to visit in ?
What's ur FB account anyway so that i can add u up if its ok to you.
i can feel the spirit of your travel;-)
@Jason: added you up already!
@pogi: thanks!
I think your blog is amazing. I read through a few of your adventures and immediatley felt inspired and not to mention ultra jealous. I hope to actually venture more around the Philippines too. PS i have a little blog going on. about food and travel and other little bits. Not as interesting as urs tho! lol. Look forward to reading more!!
@Charsue: Thanks a lot for the kind of words. Warms my hear knowing that people read through my blog! Was able to drop by your site too! Hope to go to the places you've been to as well! 😀
Hey, Love your blog especially the photos. Bumped on your site when I was searching about Guisi Guimaras. Anyways, keep on posting as I will have to bookmark your stuff and check on your latest adventures and travels all the time. Thanks 🙂 (wink)
@medz: thanks a lot for the kind words! nice to hear you share your story on how you stumbled upon my site so I can write more about those types of topics! thanks again! 😀
haha nice blog, i stumbled on your site while looking for a way to go to siargao ro surf. i also travel alone on weekends and in most of my travels i usually never plan ahead. anyway im going to cebu for 4 days at the end of the month, any recomended places to go to? thanks
@tb: thanks for the kind words! go to Malapascua, Bantayan, Camotes, Kawasan, Moalboal — all beautiful nature trips! you may also want to drop by Bohol if you can squeeze it. thanks for dropping by this blog!
WOW! Just can't help gaping while looking at your death defying (my apologies for the adjective) acts on your photos. I am happy to see another daredevil adventurer in your being, sir.
Well, like what I always say to my fellow travel bloggers, let's push on sharing the many lessons and the beauty of alfresco adventures.
p.s.
Now I know why your page is swamped with viewers and comments especially when I saw the startling number of views in your single entry ( your blog post about your travel to Cagayan).
Beautiful blog!
try to visit singapore also, theres a lot of places to discover and you will enjoy.
@Sony Fugaban: ey, thanks a lot for the kind words, Sir! let's definitely push ourselves and explore the beauty of the world! Just visited your blog, hope to have more mountain adventures in the future! it's nice to connect with people who share the same passion for going out of our comfort zones! Peace!
@AL: i hope to visit Singapore soon. So far, I'm still on a saving stage. 😀
Hi Ed! I really enjoyed reading this page. I like the part where you explained the reason behind your crazy stunts. I agree that we can achieve everything through persistence 🙂
Your blog really inspires newbie travelers like me who also want explore our country and the world. Glad to meet someone who also live the most out of his life. I'm looking forward to read more of your travel escapades! Keep up the sharing and the crazy stunts! hehe. God bless and more power! 😀
You also work in a company where "Dreams Made Real"?
@bob: hi, yep. 😀
I just want to share this with you:
http://yobynos.wordpress.com/2011/04/12/why-do-i-packpack/. I want to hear your answer regarding the question soon.
More power to your blog, Ed.
@sony: thanks for sharing your post, sony! nice of you to keep pushing yourself and maintaining adventure as a lifestyle. more power to us indeed! 😀
nice blog on sagada. will go there next month. hope to experience what you did. can you please email me where you stayed and for how many days you stayed in sagada. were u able to go to all the caves and attractions? ty
@gema: hi gema, stayed there for about 3 days (plus one day for travelling back and forth). we stayed at George Guesthouse. we didn't finish all the attractions because we were pressed with time. You may want to check out visitsagada.com for more details 😀
An honest, inspiring and awesome blog..hopefully I could travel more like you…
Just want to say thank you for sharing your travel experiences.
@yodz: I appreciate this a lot! Comments like these make me want to blog even more. Just start with baby steps and you won't even realize that you've been to a lot of places already! Thanks again!
Dr. Suyo,
Congratulations! your website has been chosen as finalist for this year's Cebu Archdiocesan Mass Media Awards.
Please call 032-2537900 local 280 or 281 and look for me or my secretary, Mrs. Marietta D. Bongcales.
Awarding night will be on Saturday, August 28 at SM Cinema 1 AT 4:00 P.M. Please get your cocktail stub from me.
Dr. Teoddie Dumam-ag
CAMMA 2011 Chairman
nice picture..
congrats to the CAMMA award…..
@Dr. Teoddie: thanks for the invite sir!
@grastab: thanks, I didn't win the crown but was lucky enough to be nominated for having quality content. 😀
I hope you don't mind if I also promote it here …
This is for the Philippines: http://yobynos.wordpress.com/2011/06/22/voyage-to-the-bottom-of-the-sea/
nice blog sir!
hi. im one of your avid fans 😀 your write-ups are really inspiring and made me wanting to travel more! 🙂 i have plans to travel to caluit maybe sometime next year or the year after hehe but could it be possible that you can also blog about Caluit, Palawan? ehehe because only a few wrote about the place but sayang i think not much knew about it but its a great place raba.. i'm looking forward for a response. thank you 🙂
hi, thanks a lot for the kind words! unfortunately I haven’t been to Palawan so I can’t really provide any information about the place 🙁 Will try to search for some details online. Hopefully, I’ll be able to get some. Again, thanks for visiting my site! 😀
It's a shame I just discovered your blog!
Great entries and pics!
Will be a regular visitor… 😀
Inspiring! Ang sarap makitag along sa trips mo hehe…
I really like your blogs…I love the pictures!
I sooooper dooper enjoy your blogs.. I feel like travelling too.. thumbs up also for the tips.. keep travelling and writing.. 🙂 Nice shots!!!
@coolwaterworks: thanks a lot for dropping by! 😀
@J: maybe one of these days!
@Jane: thanks Jane!
@Cream: thanks cream! I appreciate the kind words!
Hello Mr. Ed. very nice blog. I enjoyed reading it.
@esner: thanks esner! 😀
Hi Sir Ed! :)) i really enjoyed reading your blogs..like you i really love travelling but unfortunately i cant because of financial issues…anyway your blogs are very interesting..i love it..Nice Photos..keep writing..Godbless your trips and adventures in life..2 thumps up! :))
What more can I say! Great blog. I am inspired to document and blog my own travel adventures too. btw, your blog is really useful. Ang ganda talaga ng Pilipinas 🙂
@laine: Hi Laine! I also have financial issues up to now. You know, I used to work in a fast food restaurant when I was 17 so I could support my family. I was happy enough that there was one team outing to a nearby beach. You know, you'll be able to start somewhere. When i worked in a call center, that's when the trips became more frequent. I finally quit my call center job so I could bring my work with me when I travel. I know it's a challenge at first, but you can do it (travel while not having much money). 😀
@Haru: Thanks Haru! I appreciate the kind words! 😀
I just realize that there a many Filipinos out there who are so enthusiast in traveling around the globe. I'm so glad to know this. Keep up the good work Ed. I hope I can run into you someday when I start my backpacking expedition. =) If ever you come by Hong Kong do not hesitate to let me know, it would be an honor to met people like you and hang around. =)
@Jesse: There's so many Pinoys who want to travel. I hope that a lot of us will become aware that we CAN travel! Thanks for visiting this blog Jesse! Good luck on your trips! Hope to bump into you in HK when I visit that place again! You have other contact info?
Hi again, sorry for late reply. Here's my yahoo messenger ID, jess0211@yahoo.com, feel free to drop by when you pass by HK, 🙂
nice blog…. so nice
…hi..love to read your blog always since i saw it. ..so more travels!!!
hi dude.. it was fun reading your blogsite.. It is very informational and will definitely help me in my adventure in bangkok and cambodia, would be backpacker.. hope to see join you in one of your trips..
@Jesse: thanks jesse!
@quinar: thanks!
@princess: Thanks for dropping by Princess!
@rohel: good luck on your trip Rohel! 🙂
Hi ed, I've been reading some of your post but what caught my attention is the fact that you were part of the bpo industry. I am part of the bpo as of this time and I guess you will get to tired with the job sometimes specially if its some thing that you are not passionate with. I been starting my blog about three months ago, and working towards on something I love to do. Your story is such an inspiration for us, to pursue our passion in life. Looking to your futurre travels!!! Enjoy
@Vic: yep, been with the BPO industry for almost 6 years. It was a good job and the environment was alright. I felt that I wanted something more so I changed my lifestyle. Thanks for reading my entries, I hope you get to take that leap one day to pursue your passions in life. 🙂
hi ed! been reading your blog… i actually sent you an email. i have a few questions across a broad range of topics. haha been readiing your other blogs as well. hope you get the time to read and respond 😀
also, can i request for link up? 🙂 already linked your site in my blog. hope you don't mind. 🙂
btw, my site is over at http://www.thepencilpirouette.com. 🙂
Hi AV, thanks for the comment! I’ll check on my emails, I’ll try to find it and will reply when I have time. added you already on my Links page 🙂
hi,
me and my wife will visit hongkong on Jan. 19-24, 2013 as a gift to her birthday . we're taking cebu-hongkong trip by cebupacificair and we will arrived in hongkong same schedule you have before @ 12:50 am .. since we will take 4 days in HK including 1 day in macau, i decided to stay in HKIA instead of going directly to hostel to save 1 night charge ..same you did and same reason to save. right? he he.Can you give me ideas or help regarding our stay in HKIA on the night we will arrived in HKIA, tips specially, if question from immigration from cebu /hongkong., where to find nice and safe place for sleeping in HKIA while waiting til morning…. I've been travelling together with my wife to Cambodia and other place in Vietnam where i am currently working..In fact i posted some blogs, just for leasure not same as u did.. Hope to hear from you soon.. Best regards
Hi Alpaje75: re: tips for the immigration officer, don’t panic lang. if you have a return ticket, and if you have an itinerary planned out and you’re not planning to do anything else in HK except to tour the place, then you shouldn’t worry about it too much. since you already have your IT, you can just show it to them IF, and only IF the immigration officers will ask for it. Otherwise, just answer the immigration officer’s questions properly and as is. For a sleeping place in HKIA, we slept near the entrance to the airport where chairs were available. 🙂 Thanks for the comment! Good luck on your trip as well! 🙂
hi edcel,
Just ask again if you can help.. Cebu- hongkong i got from cebupacificair.. is it okay if my return ticket Hongkong-cebu is from Airphilexpress? is there any problem with this?
Thanks
Hi Alpade75: it’s a confirmed ticket, you shouldn’t worry about. at least you have a ticket going home. 🙂
hi Ed! me and my girlfriends will start to to travel together soon(for fun)… and hoping to travel in many more places.(just read your blog on how to save…i'm gonna try to do some of it.:))
Good luck! you have a really nice blog!
Hi there! Very nice blog… informative and I enjoyed reading it. I've read some of your interviews and it amazed me that we share some of principles in terms of traveling… how i wish i can also write a blog just the way you do yours… I love traveling so much, but financial aspects almost hindered me.. but then — i just have to think of other ways on how i can continue wandering around –that's why i ended up working in the cruise ship… i wanted to see the world… and hopefully, can write about too…
i will look forward for more of your travels! ^_~
My college friends tasked me to spearhed our Summer Outing this year. I came across your Bog about Nagsasa, I hope they will all concur about my idea.
GOODLUCK!!
Sugoi. I hope to be like you. Currently starting to travel, within the Philippines muna. To showcase ano maiooffer ng bansa natin 🙂 Ganbatte sa travels! d(^_^)b
Nice one Ed. I'm a backpacker soon. My next stop are Asians countries. thanks for the tips. Btw, to others I'm looking for travel buddy.
Godbless us all
Typo Asian ***