Category: People and Places

Leaving Moab for Grand Junction and the Black Canyon We left Moab on Tuesday at 1:00 PM and headed eastward toward our final destination in Colorado: the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. The drive was not entirely easy, as rain followed us along the highway. Fortunately, by the time we reached Grand Junction, the weather began to clear up. From Grand Junction, we still had a 100-mile drive (about 161 kilometers) that took us nearly two hours deeper into the rugged landscape. Upon reaching the campground at the North Rim, we quickly put…

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We stayed for two days in Moab, enjoying a welcome break from camping. Gabi had reserved a wonderful lodge for us—a simple yet fully equipped place featuring air conditioning, running water, a refrigerator, and wonderfully cozy beds that felt like absolute luxury after days in a tent. Exploring a Secret Waterfall On our first full day in Moab, we embarked on an adventurous hike to a hidden, beautiful spot located about five kilometers outside the city: a secluded natural waterfall.  The History & Story: Gabi and Steven had visited this…

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Breaking Camp and Final Canyon Views Our last night at the Grand Canyon campsite turned out just fine, rewarding us with a good, deep sleep that helped ease our tired muscles after the previous day’s strenuous hike. Waking up refreshed, we prepared our morning breakfast, dismantled our tents, and packed everything securely into the car. Before officially leaving the park behind, we drove to another scenic Grand Canyon viewpoint, stretching our legs with a pleasant 30-minute walk along the rim to take in one last panoramic look at the breathtaking…

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VIENNA, Austria — Filipino culture, creativity, and community will take center stage this Saturday, August 8, 2026, as Hiyas & Friends presents the KULTURA Pop-Up, a one-day cultural event celebrating Filipino artistry, food, music, and entrepreneurship in the heart of Vienna. The event will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at Hotel Altstadt, located at Kirchengasse 41, 1070 Vienna, and is open to the public with free admission. Joining the event is HIYAS 2.0, which will bring Red Clay Factory to the pop-up, adding another dimension to the…

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Our first night camping at the Grand Canyon went remarkably smoothly. After the sweltering heat of the Arizona desert just days prior, we enjoyed a wonderfully deep and restful sleep, helped by the refreshingly cool mountain air that settles over the South Rim after sunset. Waking up just before 6:00 AM, we wasted no time. We prepared a hearty breakfast, packed our water bottles and daypacks, and got ourselves mentally and physically ready for a real adventure: a hike down into the belly of the Grand Canyon. Descending South Kaibab…

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Desert Night and Morning Realities Our second night camping deep in the Arizona desert turned out to be an unforgettable experience. Sleeping out in the open air beneath a canopy of brilliant stars, we were treated to a breathtaking, crystal-clear view of the Milky Way stretching across the night sky. Of course, outdoor desert camping also brought a few rustic firsts for us. Navigating the outdoor earth closet facility was quite a novelty and a bit of a challenge, as we are certainly not used to such primitive toilet setups…

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Setting Off on Our 14-Day Adventure After months of anticipation and thorough preparation, our 14-day family road trip officially shifted from theory to reality. We loaded up our rental car with all the gear, bags, and supplies we would need for the journey ahead. With everyone settled in, Steven took the wheel for the first leg of driving, navigating us away from Pueblo and out toward the majestic landscapes of southern Colorado. Discovering Great Sand Dunes National Park Our first major stop brought us face-to-face with one of North America’s…

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If you listen to a second-generation Filipino-Austrian in a Viennese café, you will hear flawless local dialect—complete with the sharp, rhythmic cadence of Wienerisch. They navigate the Gymnasium system with ease, understand the subtle social codes of Austria’s urban youth, and consider a snowy winter as natural as any lifelong local. Yet, for many of these young adults born to the pioneering generation of Filipino nurses and workers who arrived decades ago, belonging is rarely a simple equation. While their parents’ story was defined by economic sacrifice, labor integration, and…

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