At the Legazpi bus terminal we intended to catch a bus to Naga and then connect to Daet in Camarines Norte but then the locals told us there is a direct bus to Daet, no a/c and it will only take 4 hours, hmm.. the bus conductor promised us it will be minimal stops so we took it. We had breakfast at the cafeteria and then off we go, from the get go the bus was slow, trying to pick up every one on the road including cats and dogs perhaps. And so what was to be 4 hours turned to 6 as we arrived in Naga we were told to transfer to a very full bus, we got seats allright but it was very hot, and the girl next to me is puking buckets. Only ... read more

Took a taxi to Ermita from the airport, the driver asked for 250PHP claiming his meter is not calibrated yet, we have to go to the departure lounge to get a cheaper taxi, anyhoo I bargained for 200PHP and off we go being dropped off at Cagsawa bus office. We got the last 3 seats for the 7pm bus to Legazpi. It's only 3pm so we walked to Robinson's mall to chill while leaving our big bags at the bus company office. We left on time, heavy traffic out of Manila, Celine Dion live in Vegas is playing in the movie screen, painful to watch, a relief when they shut it. Like any buses in Asia it seems they only have 2 settings, off and on, and on means 18 celsius, so we donned our winter ... read more

We chose to stay at Lualhati cottage as they allow us to cook, the premises is full of fruit trees, guyabano, atis, pomelos, banana and Till's favorite, star fruit which he comes to pick from the trees every chance he gets. It's his turn to be fruit picker, I hounded constantly the plum trees behind our homestay in Mestia, Georgia when we last traveled together. Well, despite the location being nice we struggled to sleep as the constant barking of dogs and crowing roosters some starting at 1am kept us from having a deep slumber, not to mention the tricycle and truck noises as we were just near the main road, I was still iffy the next morning so we decided to postpone island hopping for the time being. Walked to town and looked for breakfast, ... read more

It's been years since I was last here in Coron and let me tell you a lot has changed since! 1st the road from the airport to Coron town is now paved, and the small center is bustling with tourists, and restaurants abound, when back then I struggle to even find a good place to eat lunch! Lots of backpackers, some staying to work for a bit with travel companies, I have the same thinking, and I met MJ, a guy who runs his own travel and excursion tours around the Calamianes region. His take is a tad bit different than others, he tries to take people to areas not popular with the mass tourists, remote islands to snorkel or overnight in, eco friendly etc. I got intrigued in this concept, why not, you just walk ... read more

Uncomfortable bus cama from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh, 4 hours, I was next to the stinky toilet, have to put a scarf over my face to be able to sleep and not suffocate on pee perfume. Midnight we arrived at PP and have to wait almost an hour till the bus came, we got sorted out transferred to a regular bus, but is more comfortable actually, and it's not full so we were able to spread out. 12 hours it took us, border was very straight forward but we got stuck in Saigon traffic. Got dropped off at District 1 Pham Ngu Lao, backpackers area. I have no guidebook and dont know where I am so I befriended Romain, a French dude on the same bus and we both walked to find a hostel together, a ... read more