My 2016 Adventures as Told on Instagram

2016 marked my first journey outside the corporate world. I left Dubai exactly the 17th of January 2016 and started this long affair to be a full-time traveler.

READ ALSO: Journal Entry, Du-Bye For Now

To be honest, it didn't quite turn out to be as I thought it would have been. But I can't be thankful enough of how things unfolded.

With 1000++ photos posted on my Instagram it is pretty easy so say that this social media platform definitely chronicled this awesome journey. So I thought of summarizing 2016 through my Instagram posts.

Here it goes (warning, this is very lengthy).

JANUARY

Left my second home, Dubai and traveled to Australia

https://www.instagram.com/p/BAr2QMMNwFF/?taken-by=kennethsurat

BRISBANE welcomed me with its very chill and laid-back lifestyle

https://www.instagram.com/p/BAvOyZJtwHx/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Spent some time with family in the GOLD COAST

https://www.instagram.com/p/BA4JZEWNwFp/?taken-by=kennethsurat

FEBRUARY

Got super artsy in MELBOURNE

https://www.instagram.com/p/BBWx8N-NwMX/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Looked for the 12 APOSTLES along the GREAT OCEAN ROAD with AAT Kings

https://www.instagram.com/p/BBO5pW3twGg/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Spent Chinese New Year in SYDNEY

https://www.instagram.com/p/BBr8g3bNwLo/?taken-by=kennethsurat

......spontaneously traveled and showered at the BLUE MOUNTAINS....

https://www.instagram.com/p/BBzopB5twFE/?taken-by=kennethsurat

....and attended church at HILLSONG

https://www.instagram.com/p/BBuqknbtwJZ/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Went to the PHILIPPINES for a few days and explored MANILA's Art Deco History...

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCDmYaMtwN0/?taken-by=kennethsurat

....and surfed in LA UNION

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCjauBcNwFd/?taken-by=kennethsurat

MARCH

OSLO welcomed me in the chillest possible way (literally)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCsK35cNwPZ/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Caught up with friends in BERGEN, NORWAY

https://www.instagram.com/p/BC19-X6twN9/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Ate fermented shark in REYKJAVIK in ICELAND

https://www.instagram.com/p/BDfjzUFtwOr/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Jaw-dropped after exploring around SNAEFELLSNES PENINSULA with Guide to Iceland

https://www.instagram.com/p/BDG4ck6twBO/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Felt really small touring around the GOLDEN CIRCLE

https://www.instagram.com/p/BDJGyb6twHh/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Conquered driving around ICELAND'S RING ROAD

https://www.instagram.com/p/BDTH-rytwCZ/?taken-by=kennethsurat

....and finally saw the NORTHERN LIGHT dancing in HOFN

https://www.instagram.com/p/BDNTQSmtwNU/?taken-by=kennethsurat

APRIL

Lived in a university in WIESBADEN, GERMANY

https://www.instagram.com/p/BDgpqe3twB_/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Gained a lot of weight in FRANKFURT (hello doner and sausages)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BDuty-VNwHI/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Fell in love with PRAGUE

https://www.instagram.com/p/BDwB62rtwLG/?taken-by=kennethsurat

...this city deserves 2-posts hahaha

https://www.instagram.com/p/BD5li2stwNK/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Got the creeps at KUTNA HORA, CZECH REPUBLIC

https://www.instagram.com/p/BD5761ytwLK/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Welcomed spring in a very festive way in BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

https://www.instagram.com/p/BD_ZAYJNwMv/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Got a bit scared in BRATISLAVA (for a very silly reason)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEGNHQ8twPv/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Getting a cultural bargain in VIENNA

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEPN63stwNl/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Back in Germany and had a dose of Octoberfest action (well its spring counterpart) in MUNICH

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEVUnSWtwKj/?taken-by=kennethsurat

MAY

Staying true with my promise to come back over and over again in PARIS

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEe6K8ZtwKe/?taken-by=kennethsurat

...and be reunited with 2 of my very first travel buddies in ASNIERES-SUR-SEINE, FRANCE

https://www.instagram.com/p/BE1k-9rNwMH/?taken-by=kennethsurat

.....missing PARIS again and promised to comeback again

https://www.instagram.com/p/BE9LbeutwA0/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Back in DUBAI for week of catching up

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFAFG0BtwLC/?taken-by=kennethsurat

...and made @SURATJOURNALS

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFPZDz8twFT/?taken-by=kennethsurat

JUNE

Back in the PHILIPPINES and got a bit of beach action at CALAGUAS ISLAND

https://www.instagram.com/p/BGCS7vwNwBg/?taken-by=kennethsurat

...and practiced a bit of my architectural skills....

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFUI43ltwAu/?taken-by=kennethsurat

...for 2 projects

https://www.instagram.com/p/BGNvBLWtwLH/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Explored the world under in ANILAO

https://www.instagram.com/p/BGQwdr1NwAi/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Reached the summit at TARAK RIDGE, BATAAN

https://www.instagram.com/p/BG0VN-RtwPf/?taken-by=kennethsurat

JULY

Flying off again, this time in South East Asia....

https://www.instagram.com/p/BILThI4g9sS/?taken-by=kennethsurat

...with #TRIPOFWONDERS as an invitation from the INDONESIAN MINISTRY OF TOURISM

https://www.instagram.com/p/BILZcrGAqGL/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Explored 4 cities with other South East Asian bloggers, MAKASSAR, LOMBOK, BANYUWANGI and BANDUNG

https://www.instagram.com/p/BIhap6_grTC/?taken-by=kennethsurat

AUGUST

Back solo traveling and had a little reflection in BALI

https://www.instagram.com/p/BIv6k3ZAZlL/?taken-by=kennethsurat

...and promised that I will be a good surfer when I come back at FRII BALI ECHO BEACH in CANGGU

https://www.instagram.com/p/BIxgg3JA9JW/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Island hopped in EL NIDO with SEALAND VENTURE

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJN8e1Vgd2c/?taken-by=kennethsurat

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Tasted the best Halo-Halo in PUERTO PRINCESA

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJiiFE-BqnG/?taken-by=kennethsurat

..and enjoyed the superb hospitality of MICROTEL PUERTO PRINCESA

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJXuzqygvHX/?taken-by=kennethsurat

SEPTEMBER

Ticked a bucket list in SAIPAN, NORTHERN MARIANAS

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKa9ycih24e/?taken-by=kennethsurat

...and became a human drone in MANAGAHA ISLAND, SAIPAN with #MyMarianasPH

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKiPkxYhRNz/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Food tripp'n in BINONDO, MANILA

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKpo8KDB4H_/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Became a stew in ANTIQUE

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLPl7NFB3FB/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Walked around ROXAS CITY, CAPIZ...

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLNB-BYhEia/?taken-by=kennethsurat

OCTOBER

...and got awestruck at the GIGANTES GROUP OF ISLAND, ILOILO with Las Islas Travel and Tours

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLINK6chK8g/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Got super pampered in BOHOL at Henann Resort

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLYALxGh-eq/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Attended TBEX (Travel Bloggers Exchange) in Manila

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLjQ_53hbBB/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Got white washed in CAGAYAN DE ORO

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLwE5ZZBJ60/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Celebrated with BELMONT HOTEL as it turned one

https://www.instagram.com/p/BL7LhVCBG3m/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Saw the other side of MANILA

https://www.instagram.com/p/BL--4O4Bs21/?taken-by=kennethsurat

NOVEMBER

Back working as an INTERIOR DESIGNER to help a friend

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNLgzyzg03B/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Flew 8 hours to visit my 2nd HOME, DUBAI (again!!)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOJX4D1BIqX/?taken-by=kennethsurat

...where I got to explore a new DESERT attraction (MLEIHA)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BN5KjboBctG/?taken-by=kennethsurat

...watched the dramatic SUNSET

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOICZh8BI4B/?taken-by=kennethsurat

...the magical fog engulfing its SKYSCRAPERS

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNoAYgkBobT/?taken-by=kennethsurat

DECEMBER

...and its beautiful PEOPLE

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOFDGplh1XG/?taken-by=kennethsurat

--

Became on of the 100 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

https://www.instagram.com/p/BO86Ll2hefX/?taken-by=kennethsurat

--

Got introduced to HONG KONG busy city lifestyle...

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOP2G3Nh8jr/?taken-by=kennethsurat

...and its calm countryside

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOOYryOhTCs/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Whew! Going through all of what I did for the past year got me tired already haha. Can't believe I was able to squeeze all of these in just 1 year.

2 months = 13 countries/territories and almost 35 major cities around the world and 12 destinations in the Philippines. Crazy!!!

To the people I met along the way!! You made 2016 the best year so far! Thought of tagging everyone but you guys are too many hahaha. you know who you are! LOVE YOU ALL!

Oh 2016. I will surely miss you. I learned and experienced a lot that will prepare me for the new year. A lot of things to be thankful for which deserve a separate blog haha.

So cheers for another wonderful year full of adventures and love! Watch out for my 2016 recap vlog also (I am editing currently in video-edit mode).

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOpF_v9Bk_c/?taken-by=kennethsurat

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOvxrHAhg-Z/?taken-by=kennethsurat

Travel + Decor + DIY