At the end of March, Terry and I finally set off on what can only be described as the trip of a lifetime. After more than six months of planning, we spent three unforgettable weeks exploring the Philippines and Japan. It wasn't just another holiday either, it was our long-overdue honeymoon, arriving just before we celebrated nine years of marriage in April.
Looking back now, I still can't quite believe we did it. There were emotional moments, breathtaking scenery, unexpected challenges, plenty of laughter and memories that we'll treasure forever.
As many of you know, travelling with Pulmonary Hypertension is never as straightforward as simply packing a suitcase and jumping on a plane. Every trip involves months of planning, medication, medical paperwork and making sure my oxygen equipment is ready to go. But if there's one thing I've learned since being diagnosed, it's that PH doesn't have to stop you chasing your dreams, it just means finding a different way to reach them.
The Philippines & Boracay – An Adventure to Remember
A huge part of that experience was thanks to our wonderful guide, Venus, who showed us not only the famous landmarks but also everyday life in the city. Seeing Manila through the eyes of someone who lives there made all the difference.
We explored the historic streets of Intramuros, visited Fort Santiago, San Agustin Church and Manila Cathedral, travelled on colourful jeepneys and even squeezed into tuk-tuks as we navigated the bustling streets.
The heat was certainly something I had to respect. Living with PH means I have to pace myself far more than I used to, especially in hot and humid weather. Rather than trying to rush from one attraction to another, we simply slowed down, took regular breaks and enjoyed each place properly. Sometimes travelling with PH teaches you to appreciate moments rather than race through them.
For me, though, this part of the trip wasn't really about sightseeing.
It was about coming home.
Thirty-five years had passed since I was last in the Philippines. I was born in Manila before being adopted as a baby by my wonderful parents, Val and Chris Dunn. Returning was something I'd always dreamed about, but nothing could have prepared me for the emotions I felt.
Visiting Concordia Orphanage was one of the most moving experiences of my life. Standing there, knowing this was where my story began, brought emotions that are difficult to describe. It wasn't sadness. It wasn't happiness. It was something much deeper. A sense of connection, healing and belonging that I'll carry with me forever.
During our stay, we experienced four very different hotels, but one held a particularly special place in my heart. Staying at the beautiful Edsa Shangri-La was about much more than enjoying a luxurious hotel. Back in 1990, my dad was the construction manager who helped build it, which is why my parents were living in the Philippines at the time. Little did they know that alongside the memories of that project, they would soon be taking home something far more precious, a little girl who would change their lives forever. Walking through those doors all these years later felt like another unexpected chapter in my family's story, bringing everything full circle.
One of the highlights was also meeting my cousin Keris, who happened to be flying into Manila with Emirates. Spending time together on the other side of the world made the trip feel even more special.
After the excitement of Manila, Boracay was exactly what we needed.
Soft white sand stretched for miles, the sea was every shade of blue imaginable and life seemed to move at a gentler pace.
We sailed on a traditional paraw as the sun disappeared over the horizon, enjoyed wonderful meals beside the beach and watched incredible fire shows beneath the stars.
For me, Boracay was also a chance to recharge. Travelling with PH can be physically demanding, even when everything goes to plan, so having a few days where I could simply relax, breathe and enjoy being in such beautiful surroundings made a huge difference.
Sometimes the best memories come from doing very little at all.
Before leaving for Japan, we spent one final evening back in Manila reflecting on everything we'd experienced already.
Japan – A Journey Through Tradition, Cities & Mountains
Our first job was collecting our Suica cards, which quickly became one of the best purchases of the trip. Combined with Google Maps, they made travelling around Japan's transport network surprisingly straightforward.
Our first base was Asakusa, and we couldn't have arrived at a better time.
Cherry blossom season was in full swing.
Walking through Ueno Park beneath the blossom was one of those moments that simply stops you in your tracks. It felt almost unreal.
We also visited the beautiful Senso-ji Temple before hiring e-bikes to cycle through the city, eventually arriving amongst the bright lights and endless energy of Akihabara.
One thing we quickly learned was that Japan keeps you active! Some train stations seemed to go on forever, and there were plenty of occasions where lifts were tucked away in unexpected places. We soon became experts at finding the accessible routes, even if Google Maps occasionally sent us the long way around.
Kamakura & Hakone
Seeing the Great Buddha in person was something we had looked forward to for years, while our rickshaw guide, Souta, shared stories that really brought the town's history to life.
Nearby, Hokokuji Bamboo Forest offered complete peace and quiet. It was one of those rare places where everything seemed to slow down.
From there we travelled to Hakone for a completely different experience.
Staying in a traditional ryokan was something we had both wanted to do. Sleeping on tatami mats, wearing yukata robes, enjoying our own private onsen and being served an incredible kaiseki dinner in our room made it one of the highlights of the trip.
A passing typhoon meant Mount Fuji stayed hidden behind thick cloud, but we refused to let the weather spoil our plans. We still sailed across Lake Ashi on the famous pirate ship, rode the Hakone Ropeway through mist-covered mountains and explored Owakudani's dramatic volcanic landscape.
Sometimes the unexpected becomes part of the adventure.
Kyoto, Hiroshima & Osaka
Kyoto immediately stole our hearts.
It was everything we had imagined Japan would be, with peaceful temples, traditional streets and centuries of history around every corner.
We visited Nara Park and its famously bowing deer, admired the Golden Pavilion, explored Kiyomizu-dera and walked through the endless red torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine.
We even treated ourselves to a Geisha and Samurai makeover, which involved far more laughter than either of us expected, before ending the day with a sake tasting.
Hiroshima was a very different experience emotionally.
Walking through the Peace Memorial Park, Museum and seeing the Atomic Bomb Dome was incredibly moving. It reminded us how important it is to remember the past while appreciating the peace we often take for granted today.
Nearby, Miyajima Island was calm, peaceful and absolutely beautiful, with its famous floating torii gate and friendly deer wandering freely around the island.
Osaka, on the other hand, was buzzing with life.
We explored Osaka Castle, admired the spectacular views from the Umeda Sky Building and, being me, couldn't resist having a heart-shaped lock engraved with our names before attaching it alongside hundreds of others at the top.
That evening we wandered through Dotonbori beneath the neon lights before finally seeing the famous Glico Running Man in person.
Back to Tokyo... and Finally, Mount Fuji
But our favourite memory of Japan was still to come.
Early one morning we arrived at Lake Kawaguchiko.
This time, the clouds had disappeared.
Mount Fuji stood proudly against a perfectly blue sky, reflected in the calm water below. After missing it in Hakone, finally seeing Japan's most iconic mountain felt incredibly rewarding.
Some moments simply leave you speechless.
Before flying home, we spent our final afternoon wandering through Naritasan Park beneath the cherry blossom.
It was the perfect ending.
Travelling with PH – The Reality Behind the Photos
The reality is a little different.
Behind every picture were months of planning, airline approvals, organising medication, carrying medical letters, arranging airport assistance and making sure my portable oxygen concentrator was ready for every stage of the journey.
Japan's fantastic transport system also came with its own accessibility challenges. Many stations, temples and attractions involve long staircases, so we often found ourselves searching for lifts or adapting our plans.
And yes... Terry genuinely did give me a piggy-back up some steps more than once!
Apps like Grab in the Philippines and GO in Japan became invaluable whenever walking wasn't practical.
My portable oxygen concentrator was an absolute game-changer throughout the trip. It gave me the confidence to enjoy long days exploring without constantly worrying about running out of energy.
Travelling with PH isn't always easy.
It takes planning, patience and sometimes accepting that your day might look different from everyone else's.
But it's still possible.
Looking Back
The Philippines gave me something deeply personal. A chance to reconnect with my roots, revisit where my story began and experience a sense of belonging I never expected to feel.
Japan fulfilled a dream we had talked about for years, with its wonderful mix of tradition, modern life and breathtaking scenery.
Were there challenges?
Absolutely.
There always are when you live with Pulmonary Hypertension.
But every flight, every train journey, every carefully planned day and every extra hurdle was worth it.
If you are reading this while living with PH yourself, I hope our adventure reminds you that a diagnosis doesn't automatically mean giving up on your dreams. You may need to plan more, travel differently or ask for help along the way, but amazing experiences are still possible.
This wasn't just the trip of a lifetime.
It was a reminder that Pulmonary Hypertension doesn't have to define what you're capable of. With the right planning, support and determination, life can still be full of adventure.
Thank you so much for reading. I'll leave you with one final photograph of the sunset over Manila Bay... a moment we'll never forget.
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Here's to wherever the next adventure takes us...