6 Reasons to Visit the Philippines

When they invited me to the Philippines, I was too excited! I couldn’t believe it!  I quickly sketched an itinerary believing that 22 days would be sufficient. It only took a few days to realize I had made a huge mistake. These 22 days would only tease me. I would die for more.  And I was right… I left after 22 days and I can’t stop thinking of it.

So many islands (7000-ish to be more specific) out there to discover…

While I was contemplating prices of flights on Skyscanner to continue my journey to Cebu, to Bohol … Okay, let’s say contemplating is a much nicer word for this harsh reality; my bank account didn’t want to allow me to visit another island.

Can we really say no to Palawan anyway? I wasn’t too disturbed by the fact that I should stay a few more days around Palawan. 700 pesos later, I boarded a ferry to go to Manila from Puerto Princesa for a good thirty hours. The backpacker budget had won. So I spent my last hours in the Philippines sticky and sweaty on a ferry enjoying the luxurious super value class.

Although my intuition tells me that I should have voluntarily missed my flight, I am eager to return to the Philippines. Patient people, please, send your patience skills this way as the impatient Mel is already devastated by the poor rainy season (and typhoons) that have already attacked the most beautiful places around here. Do I really have to wait until 2017 before returning to the Philippines? Seriously… please?

Having already used up all the minutes for the annoying pity that I allow myself for today, here are the reasons why I want to return to the Philippines.

 

 

1. It’s more FUN in the Philippines!

 

Locals are joking about it, but they’re right; it’s more fun in the Philippines!  I felt completely over-stimulated when I was in the Philippines (Okay, maybe not in the ferry part though).  It all starts with a tricycle ride.  It’s already fun!  (And then you’ll even become a master at negotiating.  *Sending wink to my Filipino friends.)

I think Filipinos truly understood what FUN means.  You don’t need a rail to hold when you hike.  You don’t even need a knife to eat.  Scenes are untouched. You love it; you touch it. Okay, I’d rather eat with my fork and my spoon though.  Does it sound confusing to you?  Perhaps, you should just go.

When I hiked the wall of Lava in Albay, they mentioned something about a zip-line.  I thought; I’m always up for it!  I didn’t realize that random cable up there was actually the said zip-line.  Once my friend Mike tried it first, I thought I could handle it!  Zip-lines are everywhere.  Want to reach this island? Take the zip-line!

So, I went to Palawan… Swimming in the lagoons is also fun!  They added a bunch of territorial fish to challenge you guys!

Am I being too silly here?  Not really.  You just need to look at the locals and see how they do it.  I might not be brave enough, but it looks fun.  I’m talking to all these guys walking from boats to boats on bamboo sticks.  I’m talking to all the ones on top of these massive trucks on the road.  You, guys, are crazy. 

 

 

 2. Filipinos are the happiest humans on Earth.

 

Filipinos are always smiling!  I just needed to jump on a bike (as a passenger Ahem) and enjoy the ride around to feel the happiness.  First, you’ll meet a bunch of cute kids.  These ones are the shy ones.  They will smile at you and they’ll be so shy if you dare wave at them (please, wave at them anyway!).  Then, you’ll meet the adventurous ones.  These ones will laugh at you and they better do (foreigners and their helmets!).

Locals are so helpful and kind!  They will be more than happy to ask you if it’s your first time in the Philippines.  They’ll happily cook for you and if you’re lucky enough (and kind enough), they’ll buy you a coconut.

The Philippines is not a rich country in terms of money.   But (and this is an important but), the country is rich in terms of humans, of scenic pornography.  You can’t be unhappy there.  You won’t want to be.  Feel your luck mate.  You’re so lucky you have the opportunity to be there.  So, enjoy.

 

3. + They are so friendly!

 

Happy people = friendly people. Is that it? Yes.

That said, you still need to be careful if you travel in the Philippines (or anywhere in the world).

If you want to meet the friendliest Filipinos, go to Puerto Princesa and head to the Tiki Bar.  Happy and friendly people are all over the place!

 

 

4. It’s the best place to say YES to the adventure!

 

You can try a lot of new things in the Philippines!  As I have never been a truly confident swimmer, I never experienced snorkeling before.  You just need to ask the people who were with me on my first island hopping in Coron to feel how scared I was.  I chose the life jacket on the first stop as there were many jellyfish and the water was so clear that I could see everything.  I was too nervous to enjoy it.  On the next stop, I changed my mind.  And thank God I did.  This was amazing.

When I reached Puerto Princesa, it was around the full moon time and the whale sharks were around.  So, we decided to book a tour so we can swim with them.  As a newbie snorkeler, I was already peeing in my pants.  Unfortunately, they never managed to find them on that day as they probably left earlier. (Did I scare them away?)  I guess it just gave me another reason to come back, right?

Adventure is not only awaiting for you under the sea though.  It’s also up there; in the air, around Mount Mayon or even across the rice terraces.  When John convinced me to go on three day trekking tour across the villages in Lfuago, I said yes without thinking too much.  If you haven’t read the story yet, please do so.  This was the most challenging thing I’ve ever done!

 

 

5. There’s so much to see (and to try)!

 

Why would you go to the Philippines?  If these pictures haven’t convinced you yet, let me kindly tell you that there’s something wrong with you. (Please, read this again with a very polite tone and your biggest smile).

The place is gorgeous.  I’m actually running out of English words to describe it.  Want to practice your French?

The Phillippines are; magnifiques, magiques, surprenantes, féériques, épatantes!

I’m even running out of words in French.  This is bad, isn’t it?

There are just too many types of landscapes to discover and I can’t wait to find out more about you. (Speaking to my new lover; the Philippines. #singletalking).

If you know me, you also know how I can be fussy with food.  Well, I tried so many different things in the Philippines. (But, I’m not a food blogger, so feel free to check out this great post about Filipino Food written by my friend Tara!)  I wouldn’t try the Balut tough, but I’m still very proud of me!  If you are a foodie, you will be delighted. Although I’m not a fan of Halo-Halo, you should definitely try it. (Please, don’t judge me, but they put grated cheese on top of it.  This was wrong, was it? Albay, you and your crazy twists.)

 

6. No, you’ve not died. This is the Philippines.

 

I can’t tell you enough.  This place is amazing.

You’re not in heaven; you’re in the Philippines, my friend.

Let’s say it out loud; the Philippines, you stole my heart.  You’re now on the top of my list.

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READ MORE ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES

 

A Two-Week Itinerary for the Philippines

 

BEFORE YOU GO

 

☑ Book your flight: If your flight isn’t booked yet – check out the flights on Skyscanner or via Google Flights. My top saving tip is flexibility. If you’re flexible, you should be able to find a cheaper flight.

☑ Book your accommodation: I always use Airbnb and Booking.com. If you’d rather stay in a hostel, you should take a look at the options on Hostelworld. If you click on the Airbnb link and you don’t have an account yet – you’ll get a $30 discount on your first booking.

☑ Protect your cute face: Oh, you may want to protect your cute face with a travel medical insurance. I would suggest SafetyWing as they offer the best rates, especially for long-term travelers. Otherwise, you can also take a look at World Nomads.

☑ Pack the essentials: You can consult this list when it’s time to pack your bag! Do not leave without a universal charger, a power bank and your passport!

☑  Do you need a visa? If you aren’t sure if you need a visa, it would be a smart idea to take a quick look before you go. You can use iVisa – it’s super useful and easy to use.

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