Blogs from Philippines, Asia

We returned to Manila from San Fernando on a surprisingly quick and easy bus . Bizarrely, it was quicker than the taxi we took on the outbound journey and ridicuolously cheap too. On arrival, we transfered to our Airbnb apartment next to Terminal 3 and settled in to watch Netflix and grab an early night before our flight to Cebu the following day. When the following day came, everything went like clockwork and we landed at 10.30am. Having been stung once by an expensive taxi, we were determined this time to cross the island by bus and it couldn't have been easier although i made the mistake of choosing the back seat which magnified every bump and pothole that we came across on this 4 hour journey. Moalboal was our destination and we arrived outside a ... read more

Happy Easter from the Philippines everyone! After having a hospital operation postponed for the 2nd time, I decided there was no point sitting at home worrying so instead I managed to squeeze in a quick backpacking trip to the Philippines and what a chilled place to be - a million miles away from the worry. However, visiting the Philippines in Holy Week is a bit like going to Wembley on Cup Final day so it was a top priority to try and escape the crowds and discover the tropical seclusion expected from island hopping. It would also help me recharge my batteries for the potentially dark days ahead. The resultant journey was lengthy to say the least - not helped at all by Cathay Pacific texting me on the day of our outbound flight from London ... read more

Tour Day 140, Cruise Day 38 – Manila, Philippines – Author’s Note: José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda ((1861–1896) is considered a Philippine national hero for advocating political reforms for the colony under Spanish rule. His writings inspired the Philippine Revolution, and he was executed by the Spanish colonial government for the crime of rebellion. “Best of Manila: Past & Present” Shore Excursion – Discover Manila, the Philippines' capital city and premier gateway to the country. Your tour begins with a trip through the Makati area, the financial and commercial center of Manila. The first stop is at the American Memorial Cemetery, the largest and perhaps the most beautiful outside continental United States. Pass through the plush residential village of Forbes Park dubbed Millionaire's Row, and continue your drive down Roxas Boulevard by the fabled ... read more

Well, here I am in Palawan for an inaugural visit after all these years, it truly is a dream come true. This marvelous destination is one of the most sought-after places to visit in the world, and I'm absolutely thrilled to be here. Although it is considered a remote destination in the Philippines, Palawan is only 90 minutes flight time from Cebu with most flights going direct to Puerto Princesa. The capital of the province is in the south of the main island, and after arriving safely I advised some locals I needed transport to Port Barton, my first scheduled stop on the island. A local took me to a bus shelter, where I waited with a pair of Spanish girls who were also heading out. There was some fiddling around, then driving around town a ... read more

How could it be so many years since I last visited the wonderful Philippines. It's a travesty, there is no doubt about it! Now that the long radio silence is coming to an end it's time to prepare for a month in these magnificent islands. The flight from Sydney to Manila is a lazy eight hours, everything is super close and convenient for Aussies heading out to South East Asia. After an overnight stopover I boarded a domestic flight down to Cebu reasonably early in the morning. This was my second visit, and I booked a top rated hostel online for the stay before the trip. To my surprise, the hostel was not in Cebu City but further south, however after arriving it was certainly worth the minor inconvenience. Coincidentally two of the top attractions on ... read more