About Me
Welcome, dear readers!
I’m Buena Paz Lara Montero, lovingly known as BonBon.
As I turn 50 this year, I do so with gratitude, clarity, and a joyful spirit. This milestone is not about slowing down; it’s about returning to myself. I choose to focus on what truly matters: family, real friendships, daily routines that bring happiness, and embracing life as it unfolds. Life has evolved beautifully… and so have I.
As a mother of two wonderful teenagers, Nicholas and Arianna, I have entered a new season that allows me to fully embrace my creative energy, my passion for writing, and a deeper reflection on life, growth, health, and presence.
Born and raised in the Philippines, I proudly carry my Pinay, island-girl roots, shaped by warmth, resilience, and connection. My husband, Paul, and I have shared decades of experiences that have taught us to live with curiosity, gratitude, and intention.
You’ll still find my earlier travel stories here, and they’re staying for good. Travel has always been part of who we are, and it continues to shape our lives. The difference now is that our adventures look a little different. We’re exploring the world alongside our teens, seeing new and old places in different views, deeper connections, and new kinds of discoveries that reflect where we are today.
This blog is a reflection of my life as it is now: honest, evolving, grounded, and intentional. Here, I share stories and reflections about growth, gratitude, family, friendships, health, reinvention, and the quiet beauty of everyday moments, while honoring the journeys that brought us here.
I am so glad you are here for this chapter.
Here’s to honoring the past, embracing the present, and welcoming what’s next with open hearts.
Cheers,
BonBon
hi Bon Bon,
Happy new year! Thanks for liking our post on the Part-Time Travellers FB group. Love how you make each family holiday an adventure!
If you’re planning on visiting Singapore this year, we hope that you will check us out (www.thelocalfella.com) and consider getting a customised travel guide for your trip.
Happy travels!
God bless,
Martin
hello martin, Thank you for dropping by. YES, definitely will check you guys out. I’ll stay in touch…
fabulous! I loved traveling with our kids when they were young, just not to such exotic places!
Hi DOnna, Thank you:) Yeah, some are a bit apprehensive of going to unfamiliar places and that’s totally fine:) It gets better when kids are older:) Happy travels… xoxo
Hello! My name is NADA. I have a wonderful family that loves to travel. My son is engaged in photographing landscapes and railroad motif. We used a lot of traveling together, we visited a lot of mountains in Serbia and part of Greece, germany and slovenia. Now my son is 24 and usually travel alone or with his young company and writes reports for various railroad associations. In the spirit of my family are traveling and and takING photos, but also to look at other people’s photos from the trip. I loved your blog on Madeira. Very nice writing and images are of high quality. Best Regards from Belgrade!
Hi Nada, thank for reading and for your kinds words. I am so glad to know that your son continue to love travel and photography. I can only hope that my kids will continue to travel and explore the world on their own when they grow up; there’s so much to learn:) We have good friends from Belgrade… really nice people:) Regards and stay tune:) xoxo