It’s springtime and one of the most awaited phenomena in Japan transpires—the cherry blossoms trumpet their beauty in the most delicate manner. Don’t just take photos of it, join the party! Roll out a mat under the umbrella of pink and white blooms, bite on bento box treats, and raise your beer, or Sake to celebrate nature’s wonder.

The Sakura season is a big thing for the Japanese. It’s the time of the year to observe the quintessential Japanese experience of Hanami (literally translates to “flower viewing” in Japanese and is most commonly associated with cherry blossoms) where friends and family get together for a picnic or party to admire the beauty of the blooms. No matter what the calendar days’ agenda are marked with, there will always be time for Hanami. Why? Because the beauty of Sakura is fleeting with only a few days to bask in its breathtaking charm. Once a cherry tree sprouts its flower buds, it takes seven days for it to reach full bloom and another seven days to flatter us in its full glory before it drops and carpet the grounds with its delicate petals. The end scene is as surreal as the beginning of the flower’s life.

One can’t have enough of these flowers. I know I can’t. Thus, I have been chasing the Sakura since the first spring visit years ago, mostly in the Kanto regions of Honshu, Most recently, in new sites in Kyushu Island.

Fukuoka and Nagasaki are charming bayside cities famous in its own rights: Fukuoka, the “ramen capital” of the nation, is a center of international commerce since ancient times, while Nagasaki has its historic port — the only port in Japan open to foreign trading in the past, sadly, it’s widely known for its nuclear attack. So many stories to tell about these two cities but let’s stick to cherry blossoms. If you find your way to both cities, here are Sakura sites where you can observe Hanami.

While Fukuoka lists several popular spots to view the blooms, I chose three of spots because of its accessibility from Tenjin:

Maizuru Park (Fukuoka Castle Ruins, a national historic site), home to approximately 1,000 cherry trees, is a celebrated cherry blossom destination in the city. The delicate pink and white blooms provide a stark contrast against the Ishigaki, the fortified ancient stone walls of Fukuoka Castle, yet poetically melds natural beauty with history. Climb up the platform where the replica of the Fukuoka Castle stands to catch a stunning view of the Sakura garden with flowers in full bloom. The setting makes for an ideal spot for Hanami during the day— and at night, too, during the Fukuoka Castle Spring Festival when the cherry blossoms are illuminated, transforming the space into a dreamy landscape. With food stalls and music, the festival is liven up.

Nishi Park is nominated as one of Japan's top 100 Sakura spots, and for good reason. The 170,000-square meter park has over 1,300 trees spread across the undulating terrain of the property. The high points of the park doubles the excitement with the offering of panoramic views of downtown Fukuoka, Fukuoka Bay and Shika Island. The young one’s get their treat too at the play area.

Atago Shrine. Minus a private ride, it’s a manageable 10 to 15-minute (from the subway or bus stops) stroll up 68-meter spot in Mt. Atago to reach Fukuoka’s time-honored 72 A.D.-built shrine, but well worth the hike. The oldest shrine in Fukuoka boasts of 2,000 cherry blossoms, and as expected of a mountaintop setting, the shrine opens up to spectacular views over Fukuoka and Hakata Bay.

If time is on your side, visit the other notable spots in the city like Uminonakamichi Seaside Park, Ohori Park, Nokonoshima Island Park, Akizuki Sugi no Baba.

In Nagasaki, I opted to go to a few spots within the city center.

Kazagashira Park came highly recommended by a local. It’s “a few minutes walk” from Shindaiku Machi Station I was told, not knowing that I was up for a challenge as the park that sits atop Mt. Kazeto. The hike on paved pathways through residential areas and a cemetery will be rewarded by a delightful scene that will appease the weary soul and sole.

There may only be about 350 cherry trees within the area, about 152 meters above sea level, but the view of Nagasaki Port, the bay and the city (as breathtaking as what Mt. Inasa on the opposite side of the bay can offer) make everything picture perfect for Hanami, especially at moonrise when the lanterns light up the cherry trees for the Kazagashira Park Cherry Blossom Festival and the cityscape below glows in the blanket of night.

The park is also a famous spot for Hataage (kite flying), 2,500 hydrangeas blooming in early summer and the statue of Sakamoto Ryoma gazing at Nagasaki Bay.

Tateyama Park, with 700 cherry trees, is a perennially popular picnic spot among the locals. Its location on a hilly area straddling Tateyama and Nishiyama makes for a beautiful spot to celebrate Hanami in the city. The cherry trees are strategically planted on terraced hills allowing each level a view overlooking Nagasaki beyond the vision of pink and white blossoms. The view of flowering treetops and beyond is best seen from the observatory. The park playground and multipurpose plaza also attracts sports lovers and children at any time of year.

If time permits, head to Omura Park or Sakura no Sato, both destinations an hour’s travel from downtown Nagasaki.

A dozen years later, I’m back in the city that doesn’t sleep. Hello again NYC! What was it like this time around? Bright lights all the way from uptown Manhattan all the way down to The Battery. It wasn’t so on the 2012 visit with Sandy’s “knockout” presence painting a dismal picture. Her arrival left much of the city, everywhere in Lower Manhattan south of 39th Street, power-less. The great divide was evident at nightfall and crossing 39thwas the gateway towards darkness or light, depending on which direction one’s heading. It was like a scene from an apocalyptic movie. However, the superstorm and its aftermath didn’t diminish the Big Apple’s delectability. I took my big bite of the city, never minding the hike down the 10th floor apartment and up to start and end a day. 

Not so on my recent visit. It was a quick climb up my fancy third floor room with a street view in a brownstone house in the Charlton–King–Vandam Historic District, where the largest cluster of Federalist and Greek revival style row houses can be found. I lived the Carrie Bradshaw lifestyle, or something like it, staying on the top floor of an iconic building in Hudson Square, Lower Manhattan. “She stayed in a pad. You have the entire house” said my host, Mylene C., who, like Carrie, collects shoes and scurries along the ground stoop in different heels daily. This was where my West Side –and beyond— stories took off.

Hudson Square is charming for a number of reasons and the list starts with the beautiful brownstones. The shopping, nightlife, food and art scenes are vibrant, and steps away from the front door, whether it’s within the area or the neighboring districts of Chelsea, SoHo, Greenwich and Tribeca.

Nearby home are great food choices, whatever the cuisine of preference. Here’s a couple: Dominique Ansel Bakery along Spring Street for a bite of the famed cronuts, DKA (Dominique’s Kouign Amann) and chocolate croissant for breakfast (because it sells out in a flash once doors open); and along the same street, have a drink and a bite of no-frills good burgers, pies or steaks in one of the oldest operating drinking establishments in NYC— the legendary Ear Inn, aka the James Brown House, a 1770-built Federal-style structure, home to the African aide to George Washington during the Revolutionary War. It was a riverside property back then with the Hudson River shoreline just five feet from its front door. Today, the waterway is a block away flanking the West Side Highway, a popular path for walking, running and biking.

Exploring the food scene farther, my high school girl friends took me to their favorite Chinatown resto, Hop Kee, where the waiter had to stop my host from ordering for more as it won’t fit the table for six; discovered good pasta in a quaint resto in Italian Town with my hosts Rob and Mylene; and with my Davao clique, feasted on delicious slabs of 28 oz. T- Bone Steak, a favorite among locals and celebrities, at 1977-established Knickerbocker Bar & Grill in the heart of Greenwich.

In this fascinating, ever-evolving city, “been there, done that” may just not apply. There’s always a new facet to whatever has caught the heart which makes one eager to see what it is (or maybe, one can never get enough of it). It’s a love affair that lasts forever. Hallelujah to the city’s public transportation system, reliving it—and creating new ones— is effortless. Just hop on the subway. I did and made my rounds: a relaxing stroll in Central Park at daytime and the High Line in the evening; to MoMA, to dive into modern art (I wish there was more time for MET and Whitney); Times Square at three minutes before twelve for the Midnight Moments, when art takes over the digital billboards (braved the windy winter night and voila! a computer glitch on the very evening I went); said my beaded prayer at St. Patrick’s Cathedral; sipped coffee pairing it with Magnolia Banana Pudding on a sidewalk café by Rockefeller Center; viewed the holiday window displays of the luxury shops and the stacked giant luggage of a renovating Louis Vuitton flagship store along 5th Avenue; and checked out why the Vessel and the Oculus are viral on the net. Photogenic, yes, at least the latter has a useful purpose other than just picturesque.

While the subway was a big help in exploring, most often navigating through the city on foot was a preference –minus the aid of Google map. Not surprisingly I got lost, perhaps on purpose (though tiring in the end until I find my way back home) for I got to chance upon interesting areas, like Washington Square Park, a giant shiny bean sitting on a sidewalk along Tribeca, finding out after that it’s Anish Kapoor’s; and, bumping into NYC’s colorful characters like a cigarette-toting man with long fancy nails known as Marc Jacobs—just one of those days in the city. Would I have the same nonchalant reaction if it was Anna Wintour, I wonder. 

Perhaps this is why New York City makes the heart skip a beat. In the dynamic and ever-evolving city, it lives up to its name—that there’s always something new to see, new to experience waiting for those who visit. The list just keeps getting longer! The trip to the Big Apple was the shortest at three nights. I wasn’t able to do everything I needed and wanted to but the bite I took was fulfilling enough. I still said no to a Broadway show even if it was hosted (gasps, I hear). Perhaps next time. Meanwhile, the unticked boxes on my list will keep the heart in I❤️NY beating in me, a very good reason to head back to the city that doesn’t sleep. Soon.

How about you, what’s your NYC story?

Living in VisMin and flying out of the country? Make the Cebu airport your international gateway to the world and back home. Why? It’s way more convenient with its next door-walkable domestic-international connectivity, far less crowded, quicker immigration clearance than Manila’s. Plus, MCIA is far more aesthetically pleasing in- and outdoor, and passenger-friendly than any of the NAIA terminals today.

With the Cebu hub offering a good list of international carriers, non-Cebu residents may need a separate ticket for their domestic leg of the journey. If it’s not with the same airline, it’s best to plan well, especially if you have trust issues with local carriers having a reputation of “plane always late” or changing, if not cancelling, flight time moving it too close to your onward flight. It can be anxiety-inducing, truly. Best option? Arrive a day earlier. I would. I did. It relieves the stress of being late, or worse, missing the flight to the USA. 

What to do in Cebu in 24-hours or longer? Plenty. An airport hotel like Waterfront Airport Hotel can be the most convenient choice, but its sister property, Waterfront Cebu City hotel in the city center, is a smart choice for longer layovers. Here’s why. 

Convenience, comfort and location. Arrange for a hotel transfer and spare yourself of the hassle lugging luggage and hailing a cab to the city center. The efficient reception carries through check-in all the way to the comforts of a well-appointed, spacious room, onto the rest of your stay. No soiled clothes in the luggage, your day’s look can be freshly laundered, pressed and ready for the next OOTD abroad. Ring up housekeeping for this service. 

Dining out feels without leaving the hotel. Cebu City’s vast culinary offering is exciting, but you need not stray far to dive into the scene. There are three dining spots steps away from your hotel room. Along the Gourmet Walk of Waterfront Cebu are three specialty restaurants marked as favorites by the local foodies: Mizu (Japanese), Tin Gow (Cantonese and Szechuan) and La Gondola (Italian). It may be a challenge to enjoy the house specialties of these three given the limited time, but who says you can’t hop? A sukiyaki or sushi at Mizu, the Crispy Sweet & Sour Pork or Peking Duck at Tin Gow, a pizza or pasta dish at La Gondola, more at each stop if you have a hearty appetite (or you can always return to Cebu for another bout). Don’t forget the desserts! The Green Tea ice cream and the Gelatos are such great meal enders. 

Last minute pasalubong shopping. Admit it, you may have ticked your checklist for everything you need but there is always that nagging feeling that you forgot something to pack. Worry not, there’s a gift shop in the hotel, and a few steps across Waterfront will take you to the Central Bloc Mall. Gifts? Extra clothing? Local delicacies? Toiletries and meds? Find it there. 

Have a nightcap before calling it a night. A Gin Tonic or freshly brewed coffee can make for a good nightcap at the Lobby Lounge. Under the iconic world map painting is a good spot to relax and people watch while enjoying a drink. 

Load up before a long trip. Have a hearty breakfast at Cafe Uno if you have a morning flight. Cafe Uno’s breakfast spread will have a local dish that will that you’ll miss abroad, like a bowl of hot Champorado (chocolate rice porridge) paired with Danggit (local dried fish), or Taho (fresh silken tofu, tapioca pearls with brown sugar syrup). Lucky you if your flight is after lunch, you can have more of the house specialties of Waterfront’s Gourmet Walk restaurants. 

Now freshen up in your room and head to the airport. 

Fly Starlux Airlines thru Cebu's Mactan City International Airport. 

Flown Starlux Airlines yet? You should. The new Taiwanese Airline, serving Cebu, has a fleet of A350 aircraft which has configurations of 1-2-1 on Business Class, 2-4-2 on Premium Economy and 3-3-3 on Economy Class. The last, perhaps, making it the most convenient and spacious seat set-up among the long haul aircrafts. I can attest to it. Plus, getting an exit row seat, the 50 B, C, H, or J will offer the best legroom in the section. It may entail additional cost but it’s still far more economical (by half) than a Premium Economy seat (and I will sit in this section on my next trip). The Cebu-Taipei utilizes A321NEO with all seats having inflight entertainment systems. 

Starlux offers the lowest rate among other airlines at a recent seat sale. The Cebu-SFO/LA-Cebu via Taipei fare is around US$750, add the DVO-CEB-DVO plus baggage allowance via PAL, the total still is the cheapest among the airlines on the list. Like I said above, make sure you have ample time in between flights. Stay a night in Cebu if you must. 

Enjoy the new planes, comfortable seats, good food, yes, in-flight entertainment (not on iPad!) with a long list of movie titles, and the restrooms are constantly kept clean and smelling good by the crew all 11 to 14 hours long.