Blogs from Mindoro, Philippines, Asia - page 6

Before we start this blog, we'd like to draw your attention to our updated profile section, which we decided to update to reflect our experience of travelling after one year! It all started to go wrong stepping off our flight at Manila airport, we couldn't get to our luggage because there was so many people crowding around the conveyor belt, Donna got her ankles rammed by a woman trying to push in to the exit queue (yes, the exit queue!) and the taxi driver we got decided to take the piss. Every time we get to Manila, it all goes a bit wrong! So the taxi driver decided to drop us off where it was easier for him, he pretended not to speak English and dumped us in a random place which was convenient for him ... read more

I celebrated my 25th birthday last February 25, it's a Sunday, so me and my sis and her bf and my cousin went to Puerto Galera. we left quezon city were we live around 9pm going to Batangas. It was a scary wide road on the south expressway since there's no lights on the streets and all cars and other vehicles are in full speed. The only thing that gave us peace of mind was that it has police cars montiorng the slex, and it has emergency backups from the sides, we passed through some of them. We arrived Lipa, Batangas and stayed at my uncle's place, and also we bring our cousin with us. February 24, Saturday, we left around 4am with my uncle give us a ride to Batangas pier. We took MV ... read more

We felt we’d been on a rotating rollercoaster of ferries, out-rigger boats, buses, jeepneys, and tri-cycles and it was becoming draining. A relaxing stay on Pandan Island was just what we needed for a vacation from a vacation. Just a short boat ride from the mainland, Pandan Island is a privately owned property with few amenities. Electricity is supplied via solar power and salt water showers are the norm. It’s not a place for people who require air-conditioning and regular pedicures. Just off shore a house reef is home to countless fish, hard corals, and other sea creatures. The reef is separated into two sections by an area of sea grass where at any given time of day endangered green sea turtles can be found savoring a tasty snack. Dusk is the popular meal time where ... read more

For the first in my life, I paid for a massage, got a temporary tattoo, snorkelled on an amazing beautiful reef and had the best laugh of my life just playing cards. These escapades all happened in the Island of Mindoro on the white beach of Puerto Galera on the 4th day of our trip to the Philippines. We caught the ferry from Batangas pier around 11am and reached the Island of Mindoro within an hour. We were lucky to have caught the “Commandos” Outrigger boat instead of the “Bryan”, which apparently notorious for sinking. The trip to Puerto Galera was very pleasant. It was a nice weather, the ocean not too choppy and most of all, I didn’t get seasick. It’s wonderful just to watch to vastness of the sea and watch the other boats ... read more

Hello from stormy Mindoro. We left our hostel in Manila on Tuesday morning with only the vaguest idea of how to get to our next destination; Mindoro island. After a brief conversation with the guy on reception we discovered our vague plan was wrong (or just impractical, not sure which) and headed for the metrorail which we were to catch two stations to a bus stop. Stupid us it hadn't dawned on us that the metrorail at rush hour may not be the best place for two backpackers. After the security guard did a very halfhearted check on our bags we braved the platform. The first train arrived, it made the tube at rush hour look spacious, we let it go and prayed the next would be better, it was! The trains are ominously or just ... read more