Author: ra
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JBL Endurance Peak 4 vs Peak 3: First impressions
Upgrading from the JBL Endurance Peak 3 to the Peak 4 – is it worth it? From charging case design and connection differences to real-world noise cancellation tested in an MRT station and a windy riverside, here are my honest first impressions after switching to JBL’s latest earphones.
Categories: Gadget review -
Holy Week in Taiwan: 3D2N in Hehuanshan 合歡山 (Part 2)
Third time’s a charm! Here’s how I finally reached Hehuanshan East Peak — covering everything you need to know before you go: bus routes, booking Songsyue Lodge, four easy hiking trails, and dealing with altitude sickness. If you’re thinking of visiting Hehuanshan, this one’s for you.
Categories: Hiking -
Holy Week in Taiwan: 4D3N in Lambai Island / Xiaoliuqiu 小琉球 (Part 1)
Gerald and I spent Holy Week in Taiwan — and Part 1 starts underwater. Here’s our 4D3N in Xiaoliuqiu: green sea turtles, a 32m shipwreck, and nudibranch sightings, how to get there, where to stay, dive sites, and whether Taiwan or the Philippines gives you more bang for your buck underwater.
Categories: SCUBA dive -
Japan eVisa Experience: For Filipinos (or Residents) in Taiwan
Curious about the Japan e-Visa? Here’s what you need to know before going through this route: timeline, requirements, and how to use it. If you’re in a hurry but have enough time to gather documents, this is a good option for you.
Categories: Travel -
From Spreadsheet to a Web App: Vibe Coding my Travel Itinerary
Still intimidated by “vibe coding” even if everyone says it’s easy? Despite using Claude Code at work, I wanted to see if I could build something from scratch using only free Gemini and VS Code. Here’s how I turned my messy travel spreadsheet into a custom web app.
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I Started Midjourney Excited. I Left Uncomfortable. Here’s Why
This is story #3. I spent nine months with Midjourney, creating thousands of AI images and feeling like I was on the cutting edge. Then the discourse hit: scraped artist work, AI slop books, and the uncomfortable truth – I was paying to normalize it. Here’s how my excitement turned into an ethical hangover
Categories: AI Journey -
How Julius.ai Helped Me Learn Product Metrics as a New PM
This is story #2. I became a PM in 2024. AI tools were everywhere doing exciting things, but solving nothing. Then I found Julius.ai on some “Top 10 AI Tools” list. Lucky timing – I actually had a problem: measuring app performance. Right tool, right time.
Categories: AI Journey -
The Great ChatGPT Backfire of 2022
Welcome to my AI journey at work. This is story #1: I was excited with ChatGPT back in 2022. I shared it with my team immediately. No training, no plan. It was a disaster – and those lessons are still incredibly relevant today as teams rush to adopt AI tools. Here’s what happened.
Categories: AI Journey -
CNY2026 in Malapascua: Close Encounter with Thresher Sharks
Returning to Malapascua to dive with thresher sharks at the newly accessible Kimud Shoal – no more pre-dawn starts! Three days of diving included encounters with threshies at 12-15m, exploring Gato Island’s tunnels, a sunset dive for mandarin fish, and stargazing sessions between dives. Plus travel tips, costs, and an unexpected flu finale.
Categories: SCUBA dive -
January Stargazing: Using K&F Concept 12×50 Monocular
Want to explore the night sky without breaking the bank? The K&F 12×50 monocular offers an affordable entry into stargazing. With 12x magnification, a 50mm light-gathering lens, and tripod compatibility, it’s perfect for viewing the moon, stars and nebulae – all without the commitment of expensive telescopes!
Categories: Stargazing