Highlights & set-backs

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Hello Peeps,

We have moved on again - WELCOME TO INDONESIA! Country No. 5!

After I last wrote to you, we moved on from Manila - the blistering hot city - to Legaspi. Here we had our second major highlight of our trip (the rice terraces of Banaue was our first one - just as a reminder ;-)). So from Legaspi we took a day trip to Donsol where we went diving with WHALESHARKS aka 'Butanding'.

This was absolutely amazing! Unfortunately I do not have an underwater camera so I cant give you any pics yet (a friend on the same boat did have one - but I still have to get them..). But I def suggest you Google them for a sec to have an idea what they look like!!

Its a tough job spotting them and we only got to swim with them twice but to have a 7m 'fish' swim right next to you at approx 1m is so overwhelming that 2 'encounters' is more than enough!

The next stop was CEBU island. We only saw the Shopping Mall of Cebu city due to the monsoon storm that day but there is nothing wrong with some girls shopping and coffee chats! ;-)

As we wanted to see some Philippino beaches we took the bus & ferry to Bantanyan Island. No need to describe it - just check the pictures!

We spent 3 days here; tanning, snorkeling, dodging falling coconuts and watching the lightening spectacle over the sea every evening. Nothing too strenuous.

This got us WAY TOO quick to the end of our 3 week visa for the Philippines.

But to summarize;
What an amazing country! We had incredible highlights but unfortunately as many set-backs. Bad flight connections, long flight delays, expensive hotel encounters,... But the people are amazing!
Lots of places still have to be visited at a later stage when there are less political restrictions on some of the islands. More reason to work hard & save some (very poor) RSA.

Last few impressions:
- Local ladies love to give out their address to marry Daan's brothers
- They all still want to be white. They call white Philippino ladies 'Americanos'
- Toilet note: Sit like a princess, not like a frog (=do not squat ON the toilet seat)
- 1000php departure tax at the airport when you are about the leave the country and have NO money left
is NOT FUN!
- They eat chicken on a stick on the BBQ... Head, neck, butt,... EVERYTHING! (I asked for the breast though..)
- Dont even think of challenging the Philippino sun without SPF 50!

And as mentioned earlier - Welcome to Indonesia!
So far: Great food, very enthousiastic people (they really love us in Asia!) and they drive on the left side of the road again! WOOHOO!

Ciao!!

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Photos

Mount Mayon - Legaspi
We wanted to climb this volcano but it was a bit pricy..

Waiting to spot some Whale sharks
The boat trip alone would have been worth it already!

Comments

[mam]

bounty beaches
Hoi zoetje, Amai, mooie "beachgirls" pictures ! Zeker die ene van jullie beiden op het strand is prachtig! Jullie zijn er zeker niet op verdikt! Ik hoop echt dat je ook nog een foto van die sharks kan te pakken krijgen. Nu dus op naar het Indonesie-avontuur. Al verschil te merken met Filipijnen? Geniet er weeral maar van want wij hebben hier nu, in tegenstelling tot Belgie, al wintertoestanden! KUS - MOETIE

[Alix]

Waauw!
Hey meiden! amai echt ongelofelijk prachtig ginder! jullie zien er inderdaad beiden super relaxed en happy uit! maar hoe kan het ook anders... Geniet er nog van!! xxx

[Hanneke]

bounty girls
Hey Liz, Ziet er allemaal weer helemaal te gek uit! Ben heel benieuwd wat Indo jullie weer zal brengen... Hoop dat jullie een heerlijke tijd zullen hebben met/bij Rikkie op Bali. Zal wel regelmatig "een golfje pakken" worden! Geniet lekker; dikke knuffel voor nu en tot mails weer. xxx Hanneke

[Marc]

Hitting all the places
Hope you guys had fun in the Phils...it's a bit hard to get around but there are suprises waiting to be experienced. Great beach pictures, where are the hordes of tourists?

[niña]

Glad you enjoyed the country
Hi Girls! Is this Bantayan island? gosh you were so lucky to find this, you've really amazed me with your backpacking skills. This is a very nice place and plans of going here has always been postponed:-( Glad you guys enjoyed!!! we definitely have more beaches and places to tour around in.

[Amber Dawn]

ahhhhhh not prepared
i love the pictures and stories put a smile on my face...untill i read that you had a visa!!! I'll be in the philippines for 23 days didn't think i need a visa oh no!! don't even know where to look into that!! didn't get and vactionations either no I'm a bit scared don't know what to bring or expect hope the let me in the country!! if you have any me tips or suggestion I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR BACK thanks!!! happy trails....

[Bizzy Lizzy]

Philippines Visa
I do think you need to get a visa if you will be staying 23days.. Rather stupid to pay for it if you will only be staying 2 extra days but rather be safe than sorry. You can pay a penalty as well but it seemed to be rather expensive (but maybe not more expensive than a extra months' visa..). So maybe check on that before you leave cause you better apply for it at home still. But again, thats just what I heard ;-) Have a good trip!!

[Kathrine]

Thank you!
I'm a Bicolano and I also live in the UAE now (Abu Dhabi). I cam across your blog as I am planning to trek Batad this November. So thanks for the information. And as a Albayano, I want to give you a electronic hug and thank you for visiting my hometown. Not a lot of people know about it :)