Celebrity couple Mikael Daez and Megan Young are known for their wanderlust.
Aside from sightseeing, they enjoy going on food trips and trying new cuisines in places they visit around the country and abroad.
But in the light of the pandemic blighting travel plans, Mikael and Megan have been staying put.
At the moment, they have to content themselves with a travel wishlist, and their first destination once the pandemic blows over is to visit Megan's mom who is based in California, USA.
Mikael told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) in an exclusive interview via Zoom, "Una naming pupuntahan after the pandemic, one could be the U.S.
"That’s where Megan’s mom lives so it would be nice to visit her."
He was more hopeful last year, before the Omicron variant further tightened travel restrictions,
In an Instagram post last November 23, 2021, the 34-year-old Kapuso star wrote, "Fam reunion soon? Mama V has been in the US and our plans for a holiday vacation was derailed by the pandemic :(
"But with more people traveling, hopefully, we can do this again really soon [heart emoji]
"Shout-out to everyone in a long distance relationships with fam and partners [sad emoji]"
There are more destinations on Mikael's bucket list, which he revealed to PEP.ph.
JAPAN
Japan is consistently one of Mikael's top three travel destinations for its delightful cuisine.
He told PEP.ph, "We love Japan because of the food. Siyempre nakaka-miss lagi yung pagkain doon."
One of their favorite spots in Japan is a café and cocktail bar in Tokyo called Fuglen, which originated in Norway.
Mikael said, "Fuglen is one of our favorite shops in Japan... [It's a] really, really pretty shop with an amazing coffee."
Another restaurant in Japan he would love to go back to is called Zuicho, a tiny restaurant in Shibuya known for its katsudon.
Mikael recalled, "Another favorite spot is called Zuicho where you will find the best Katsudon you will ever put in your mouth. Hands down."
SOUTH KOREA
Mikael would also love to explore more of South Korea with Megan.
He said, "I really like Korea, again because of coffee although I was only there for 2 days. And I love to go back."
In April 2019, Mikael and Megan went straight to South Korea after their Japan vacation to attend the Avengers: End Game fan event and press conference.
AFRICA
Moving out of Asia, Africa is also on Mikael's checklist, particularly, Ethiopia and Kenya, again because of the coffee.
He said, "We’d love to go to Ethiopia for their coffee as well."
Megan threw in, "And Kenya!"
Mikael continued, "Yeah Kenya. Kenya’s coffee is good."
Mikael also mentioned that Cape Town is a great place to visit in South Africa.
He said, "Cape Town was very nice ‘cause very diverse and very different.
"Cape Town is not marketed a lot here in the Philippines, but it’s very unique and very impressionable."
ICELAND
Iceland is an easy shoo-in among countries Mikael and Megan would love to visit again.
They traveled to Iceland in 2019 and shared their experience through a vlog posted on Mikael’s YouTube channel.
In a vlog released in May 2019, Megan and Mikael spoke about hiking mountains, climbing over glaciers, and crossing a rushing river.
Mikael described in the video their adventure when they were on the glaciers.
"Cute-cute niya [Megan], pero sigaw nang sigaw."
Of course, they always had hot coffee in their backpacks to keep them warm in the freezing weather of Iceland
Mikael told PEP.ph in the Zoom interview, "Iceland was very nice, but I didn’t wanna say it."
He said people who've been there always has Iceland on their list of places to return to, "It’s definitely out there. Beautiful country."
PHILIPPINES
The Philippines is, of course, included on Mikael’s list.
For him, the Philippines is a great location to visit but often taken for granted.
He said, "I love to keep traveling here, around here, the Philippines.
"I think this pandemic has also made us realize that we tend to take for granted, what we have just around us. And the Philippines is a beautiful place to travel."
They have been to Palawan, Siargao, Benguet, many beaches, and more places for their coffee.
Mikael also revealed to PEP.ph that between the two of them, it was him who incited Megan's lust for adventure.
He said, "When we first met, she was not sporty. She was not into fitness and she was not into adventures. But now all that has changed."