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Martin Malik
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My name is Martin and this is my story. I travel because it is fun and a great way to continue self-education which enriches the worldview and opens my eyes to unnoticeable things, both in the distant countries and the closest ones. Let's get to know other cultures but let's also respect and defend our own.

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A few words from the author

Whilst travelling from the Christian remains of Constantinople and the ancient sands of Persia, through the Himalayas, the Great Wall of China and the dense jungles of Borneo, I realized that the world must have its order. Therefore despite my beautiful adventures and experiences I always remembered which culture I myself belonged to, and I also appreciated the beauty and values of our beautiful - White Christian civilization.

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Trip to the Philippines 2018

By: Martin Malik

Trip to the Philippines 2018

 

This is my first trip to the Philippines – the country of beautiful beaches, waterfalls hidden in the jungle and rice terraces. The Philippines is also a country of sea turtles, coconut palm trees, tarsiers, whale sharks and good cuisine. Regardless of whether travelers are interested in beaches, blue waterfalls or diving, the Philippines always proves to be a great tourist destination. Philippines is a tropical, island paradise that we can still afford

 

My route around the Philippines in 2018 I planned in the Visayas archipelago, but I started from Luzon, from Manila to the south.

The island of Luzon: Manila – Legaspi – (Mayon volcano – Casagwah ruins – Daraga church – Hoyop-Hoyopan cave).

The Visayas

Leyte Island: Tacloban – Polompon – (Kalanggaman island) – Bato.

Samar Island: Sohoton National Park – Bacubac beach (trip from Tacloban, Leyte).

Bohol Island and the adjacent island of Panglao: Anda – Cam Umantad waterfalls – Alona beach – Danao beach – tarsiers, Chocolate Hills, butterfly shops, botanical gardens, zoo, river cruise – Balicasag island – Virgin island – Hinangdanan cave – Tagbilaran.

Siquijor Island: Larena – Guiwanon Spring Park – Siquijor town – Paliton beach – Capilay Spring Park – Locong – Kawasan waterfall – Lazi – Cambugahay waterfall – Salangdoon – Maria – Cantoban cave.

Negros Island:

Negros Oriental: Damaguette – (Valencia – waterfall Casaroro – waterfall Pulang Bato – hot springs) – Malapatay – (island of Apo) – Two Lakes – (Balinsasayo and Danao) – San Jose – Bais City – (shoal at sea)

Negros Occidental: Mabinay – Kabankalan – Sipalay – Montilla – (Sugar beach) – Palupandan – Bago.

The island of Guimaras: San Miguel – Navalas – McLain – Alobijod – smaller towns.

Panay Island: Iloilo City

Cebu Island: Cebu City – Oslob and whale sharks – Tumalog waterfall – Sumilon island – Moalboal – Aguinid and Binalayan waterfalls – Kawasan waterfalls – Osmena peak – Bantayan island (Virgin island – Hilantagaan island) – Malapascua island.

The first trip around the Philippines

I planned my expedition around the Philippines for many years, and I knew that it would be a different experience than in other countries of Southeast Asia. During my travels I learned that each country in south-east Asia is different, because despite the similarities, people in every country have developed national customs and specific cultures.

Although in BurmaThailandLaosCambodia and Vietnam the prevailing religion is Buddhism, after all, each country is different, and in each country there are different temples and different architecture. The selected nations of Southeast Asia are similar to each other, but certainly not the same – what proves the national identity of each of those nations. The seriousness of national identity is what I by the way try to teach in the section titled: “The Politics of Truth”.

The Philippines are a Catholic country, because it was the colony of Spain in the years 1521 – 1898. Today, many cities and villages, as well as street and surnames, are of Spanish origin. Also, the Catholic church is very popular in the Philippines, and it is closely related to the culture of this country. I give this information, in order to show that different countries in the same region of Asia can differ widely. Looking at Filipinos from the racial side, they are definitely different from Thais or Vietnamese.

, Trip to the Philippines 2018, Compass Travel Guide

The iconic jeepney is a traditional means of transport in the Philippines.

The Philippines also became an American colony, when she decided to remove the “democracy” imposed by Spain and introduce her own. Thanks to this, it is easy to communicate in English with Filipinos, but on the other hand, unfortunately because of America, the Philippines has become a sex-tourism destination. It is not a coincidence that the largest centre of prostitution in the Philippines is located near the former American military base in Clark. Today the American base is already gone, but the city turned into a brothel has stayed.

Manila

I started my trip around the Philippines from Manila, of course. I was happy that I finally found time to travel in that beautiful country. However, before I went to admire the beaches and waterfalls, I spent a few days in Manila, where the Filipino adventure usually begins. I stayed in the suburb called Makati, because it was a very convenient place to tourists. There are a lot of cheap hostels in Makati at 400 pesos a night, plenty of bars, and it is relatively close to the tourist attractions in the centre.

, Trip to the Philippines 2018, Compass Travel Guide

Iconic jeepney is a symbol of the Philippines.

Apart from the tourist district, however, Manila is very tiring. The noise and exhaust fumes of that big city makes you want to leave, and head to the beautiful parts of the Philippines as soon as possible.

(I return to the subject of Makati at the very end of this article, and in a very interesting way).

Places of interests in Manila

In every Asian city there is always something interesting to see, and Manila has such places too. The first tourist attraction is definitely riding a jeepney, an iconic vehicle, decorated in kitschy patterns, according to the imagination of the driver. A jeepney ride is also a good experience because of the experiences with people. Each time I was on a board of a jeepney, I met someone different, and I always had different experiences. Some people stared at the white tourist during the whole ride, and with others I made a conversation. When sitting in a bar somewhere in a non-tourist district I quickly became a bar attraction, because “polar bears” in the Philippines occur less frequently, then for example in Thailand or Cambodia. Fortunately Filipinos have a happy and interesting nature, that’s why it is easy to make contact with them.

As for the information about the public transport in Manila, I went by jeepney from Makati to Gil Puyat, and from there I boarded an LRT train, and got off at the United Nations Avenue station. I think that this is the best and the cheapest way to get to the centre, from where tourists can either walk, or eventually take a horse cart, in order to get to all the places of interest.

, Trip to the Philippines 2018, Compass Travel Guide

Mother with son; Manila.

The Rizal Park

Rizal Park is a historical park in Manila, which covers an area of 60 hectares, and which is one of the biggest tourist attractions of Manila. On its grounds there is a large pond with a fountain, carefully manicured gardens, the Ethnographic Museum of the Philippines, interesting plant exhibitions, and monuments to the greatest heroes of the Philippines. Rizal Park is a popular meeting place where people come for walks, picnics and to do sports, but also to have contact with the Filipino culture and history, among many street sellers.

Rizala Square was named that way to commemorate the national hero of the Philippines Dr. Jose Rizal, on which the colonial authorities of Spain carried out an execution of the 30th of December 1896, for inciting the revolution. For that reason, in Rizal Square there is a statue of this hero and a high obelisk, surrounded by guards and Filipino flags. Another important date is the 4th of July 1946, when Philippines proclaimed its independence from the United States, also in Rizala Park. Rizala Park is often used for political and religious purposes too. On the 18th of January 2015, during the visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines, 6-7 million people gathered for a mass according to the official sources.

, Trip to the Philippines 2018, Compass Travel Guide

Rizal’s statue in Rizal Park, Manila; Philippines.

There are also very pleasant and relaxing places in Rizal Square, such as: Chinese GardenJapanese Garden and Orchidarium. In my opinion, all those gardens are picturesque places opened to the public for a small fee, where there are ponds and exotic vegetation, as well as oriental statues, lanterns and pagodas. Orchidarium is a sanctuary of peace, where orchids grow over ponds and bridges. I recommend these three places to people who love plants and peace, because there you can take a break from the hustle and bustle of Manila. I advise to visit Rizal Park during the week, because on weekends it is crowded and taking pictures is very difficult.

Within the Rizal Park there is also the National Museum of Anthropology, with its numerous paintings and sculptures, as well as exhibitions showing the first ethnic groups living in the Philippines.

At the end of Rizala Square, on the Manila Bay, there is also the highly recommendable Manila Ocean Park, which is beautiful, interesting and worth a visit. There are a lot of sea creatures inside, and a great attraction is the ocean tunnel and a walk on the ocean floor. You can find out more at https://www.manilaoceanpark.com/.

, Trip to the Philippines 2018, Compass Travel Guide

Seller of mangosteen in the street of Manila.

By the way, I don’t know how it is possible to let the bay in the capital of the country to become a rubbish tip? Fortunately, the Philippine government has already addressed this problem.

Intramuros

Another important place in Manila are the objects inside the walls of Intramuros, which is the “Spanish city behind the wall” inside Manila. In Intramuros there are many post-colonial facilities, such as Fort Santiago, the Casa Manila Museum, the St. Augustine Church, and the Manila Cathedral. Me and my women traveled on foot, but if someone has a high class, he can ride a horse-cart on the cobbled streets of Intramuros.

Fort Santiago

Fort Santiago is a Spanish citadel, which today is one of the most important historic buildings of Manila. This fort was built by the Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in the years 1590-1593, although it was renovated in 1733. Fort Santiago served as colonial Spain’s military base, though also as a prison for the enemies of Spain. One of them was Jose Rizal, who was imprisoned there just before the execution, in 1896. In 1762, Fort Santiago was also the British base after Britain conquered Manila, and in 1898 the American flag was hung over Fort Santiago, starting the American colonialism of the Philippines.

Today, Fort Santiago is a very popular tourist attraction, and its characteristic parts are a massive gate decorated with bas-reliefs, and a moat surrounding the citadel. The Rizal’s Shrine deserves attention, where tourists can see his private belongings, and get to know the description of his path from the prison to the place of execution.

, Trip to the Philippines 2018, Compass Travel Guide

Santiago Fort, Intramuros, Manila.

Important churches

The Manila Cathedral is a large Catholic church that has been reconstructed and renovated many times. In 1571 it was only a small church, but it was expanded as a cathedral in 1579. The earthquake destroyed the cathedral in 1600, that’s why it was built again in 1614. Unfortunately it was destroyed again by another earthquake in 1645. The Manila Cathedral was destroyed and build again, and not only because of natural disasters, but also after the Allied bombing in 1945. Still, it is standing at the Plaza de Roma in Intramuros, and has a magnificent façade and a tower. Inside the cathedral there are monuments, paintings, a big altar, and huge organs.

The Manila Cathedral is a pleasant, secluded place of religious worship, in front of which there are horse-carts and street sellers.

Another important church is the Church of St. Augustine, built in 1607, making it the oldest church in the Philippines. This church is 450 years of history with a wonderful interior, where you can feel the weight of time. It is a work of art, where even non-Christians should go to admire its splendour. From the outside however, it should be refurbished by skillful Polish builders.

, Trip to the Philippines 2018, Compass Travel Guide

Manila Cathedral.

More about Manila you can read in the article “Things to see in Manila“, which I warmly recommend.

Transport to Legaspi

This time I didn’t spend too much, because for 12h transport I paid only 650 pesos. It was a bus without air-con and without reclining seats, what means that it was primitive to the limits. I thought it wouldn’t be hot in the rainy season, but it still was. My first ride on the Philippine roads was still better than on the Indian ones, where passengers get blown up to the ceiling, but I didn’t have such luxury. In the end I slept on the floor, and my women with offended faces looked at rice fields, coconut palm trees and banana trees. We became the highlight of the bus, because “polar bears” are not spotted very often there.

South Luzon

I planned my trip in such a way, that I wanted to concentrate on exploration the Visayas archipelago. However, on the way to Visayas I also wanted to see the most attractive places of Luzon island, because I was heading south from Manila anyway.

First, we stopped in the city of Legaspi, which is not attractive to tourists, it’s dirty, and has tiring traffic. Legaspi however is a good base to several attractive places in the area, and we also took this opportunity and tried good grilled bananas, and had great contact with people. We stayed in Sambaguita hotel, which was the cheapest in the whole city, as it cost only 400 pesos a night for 3 people. My blondes were angry because of the bad conditions, but sometimes I like to bring them down to the living conditions of local people, so that they don’t complain about the very good conditions, which they have at home. In my opinion, Sambaguita hotel was very good and the staff was very nice and patient, especially towards my blonde. The small streets of Legaspi I found to be very pleasant, especially when people took plants outside and opened stalls with tropical fruits.

, Trip to the Philippines 2018, Compass Travel Guide

Jeepney – my favorite mode of transport in the Philippines. Here in the city of Legaspi, Luzon.

I organized a few trips from Legaspi:

The Mayon volcano turned out to be a great adventure. First we went auto rickshaw outside the city, to a wooden base built under palm trees, where we got into four-wheeled vehicles. Then, when crossed the valley whilst splashing in the puddles, and we finally reached the Mayon volcano. Mayon is not the largest of all the volcanoes in the Philippines, but it offers beautiful views, and the adventure associated with getting to it. The volcano is surrounded by volcanic rocks and palm trees, and the peak is mostly behind clouds. Either way, the views are beautiful. Unfortunately, in 2018 the last point was the bottom of the volcano, because a few years earlier a tourist lost his life by climbing to the top. Perhaps one day you will be able to climb again.

We also went to see Cagsawa ruins, which are the remains of a 16th-century Franciscan church – the Cagsawa church. Originally it was built in the city of Cagsawa in 1587, but it was burnt by Dutch pirates in 1636. It was rebuilt in 1724, but eventually it was destroyed together with Cagsawa city during the Mayon volcano eruption in 1814. Only the church tower has survived to this day, which from the tourist’s point of view is very attractive, because it is among other small ruins, and among trees with great roots. The whole place is surrounded by rice fields and palm trees. After seeing this charming place, I was swinging on a hammock under a tree, with banana chips in my hand, and I looked at rice fields and huts in the distance, covered with thatched roofs.

, Trip to the Philippines 2018, Compass Travel Guide

Mayon volcano, Bicol, Luzon island.

On the way back to Legaspi, I saw Daraga Catholic church, built in 1772. An interesting fact here is that the walls of the church and the front facade were built of volcanic rocks, of which there is no shortage in the area around the Mayon volcano. In 2007, some parts of Daraga church were included in the national cultural treasures of the Philippines.

My last place of interest in the area around Legaspi was the spectacular Hoyap-Hoyopan cave. From Legaspi I took a rickshaw for 300 pesos, but along the way we stopped in the town of Camalig for dinner. Camalig is made of just one street, and it has shops and bars on both sides with thatched roofs. We were served rice with local delicacies, and mango for dessert. Soon we reached the place where the cave was. There was wonderful nature everywhere, with coconuts, cocoa, mango and rambutans on trees. Then we followed the wet road made of clay and stones until the entrance to the Hoyap-Hoyopan cave appeared in front of me. Inside I saw interesting rock formations of many shapes and sizes, although I also admit that the ventilation in the cave was excellent, because there was an entrance in the back wall. Apart from that I saw birds and bats. The nature was beautiful, and it was there when I saw a cocoa tree for the first time.

Transport from Legaspi to Tacloban

Another transport by bus, which unfortunately took me as much as 14h, because there was an accident on the road, and then we had to wait for the cars to board a ferry on the island of Luzon, and then leave on the island of Samar.

, Trip to the Philippines 2018, Compass Travel Guide

Cagsawa ruins.

The islands of Leyte and Samar

I describe my adventures from the Leyte and Samar islands in one chapter, because I kept moving around from one island to another on the way to the places of interest. For example, I lived in Tacloban on the island of Leyte, from where I organized a trip to the Sohoton National Park on the island of Samar. Both of those great islands are very close together and are connected by a bridge, so there is no need for a ferry. In addition, many interesting places are located on the border between those two islands.

I include Leyte and Samar Islands to my travels on the way to Bohol.

Tacloban

My next stop was Tacloban – a small and pleasant but also quite a dirty town. Just like Legaspi before, Tacloban is not attractive to tourists, but also has its advantages. Contact with people and riding the iconic jeepney are just two great things. Tacloban made a good impression on me and I felt good there. Private rooms can be rented for 400-600 pesos, but my blonde took a room for 1650 pesos, because she was still shocked by the conditions in Legazpi.

In addition, there are a few very interesting places outside of Tacloban, and I think that the city is a reasonable stop to the south, for those who travel by road from Manila to Bohol.

Trips outside of Tacloban:

Our first trip from Tacloban was a jeepney trip to San Jose beach, even though it was not attractive. It was full of concrete and the planes flew right above us, but at least the water was warm. We went to San Jose mainly because we couldn’t wait for the contact with sea. Filipino locals didn’t see Whites for a long time, because they were very interested in us on the beach and in the jeepney.

, Trip to the Philippines 2018, Compass Travel Guide

A man with a rooster in Tacloban.

The Sohoton Caves and Natural Bridge Park on Samar island was much more interesting. We went there from Tacloban on an orgainized trip. We crossed the park on a kayak, although in certain parts we had to walk, because the canoe was not able to break through. Of course, we also sailed under a picturesque bridge made of rocks, which is an attraction of the park, and then we swam. It cost us 2870 pesos for 3 people, including delicious dinner in a bamboo hut covered with palm leaves. For dessert, we ate sweet bananas from a grill and we drank tamarind tea. The road to the park was also beautiful because it was surrounded with the tropical nature.

On the way back we went to see the Balantak waterfall, also on the island of Samar. This waterfall was very quiet, that’s why we spent time in the natural pool. I also walked on the rocks, and took a shower under a waterfall. It was beautiful.

A very pleasant experience was also the small town of Sebey, also on Samar island, where people were very interested in the only Whites. In Sebey, we had a good meal in a bamboo hut prepared by a local family. About 3 km behind Sebey there was a local beach, which was also very beautiful. It was called Bacubac, and that was what was waiting for. In the end, we found ourselves on a wide and long beach, with white sand and coconut palm trees. I think that’s what my happiness is truly about, because I’m a minimalist and I don’t need a lot to be happy. A bamboo hut under palm trees, and people who honestly smiled at me – that’s all I needed. Of course, the Filipinos were very excited to see three “polar bears”, because they don’t see us very often. To Tacloban we hitchhiked on the back of the truck.

, Trip to the Philippines 2018, Compass Travel Guide

Beach in a little known Bacubac on the island of Samar, at dusk.

I noticed that Filipinos lived simple lives under coconut and banana trees and they ran their small businesses. These were usually small stores behind wall made of bamboo, where they sold coconuts, or ran their barbecue and cooked from home. Very often in the Philippines, the residents grilled meat in front of their homes and they put pots on the table with the food they prepared. I liked contributing to local economies. From the adventurer’s point of view, it was a simple, interesting life, and these were the traditions which I wanted to see. That was enough to make me happy. On the beaches, Filipinos were usually busy building or renovating fishing boats, or they were fishing. Then, there were not only chickens and pork on the grill, but also fish. I liked dorado and the flying fish the most. The food leftovers did not get wastes, as I was always accompanied by dogs and cats.

South Luzon and Samar island were only pleasant and valuable stops, because most of the time with my women I intended to spend on the very popular Bohol and the adjacent Panglao. We didn’t want to hurry too. We were heading to the port of Bato, where we were supposed to board for the port of Bohol, but decided that we would stay in Polompon.

Transport from Tacloban to Polompon

3h – 150 pesos, by minibus.

Polompon

Polompon turned out to be a very nice little town with a good fish market, grilled chicken and a wide selection of exotic fruits. Sitting at San Juan beach we ate lansunis, rambutans and mangostine, whilst enjoying the sea view. This means that in our seemingly rich and well-supplied Europe, we still don’t have everything. Polompon is in my opinion, an obligatory stop on the way to Bohol.

We also took a trip to the paradise Kalanggaman island, with white sand, palm trees, turquoise lagoon and a narrow sandbar. Kalanggaman is a perfect island for taking photos for postcards of perfect places. In Polompon we had a very nice time, and although we planned to stay only one day, we stayed 3 days. The Philippines not only captivates with its beauty and pleasant lifestyle; but it is addictive and makes travellers want to stay longer.

, Trip to the Philippines 2018, Compass Travel Guide

Kalanaggaman Island, Leyte. This is one of those places that prove the beauty of the Philippines.

Transport from Polompon to Bato

After breakfast we took a minibus to Ormoc (1h – 10 pesos) It was a scenic road during which I saw rice terraces, houses made of palm trees and bamboo, and Filipino farmers with buffaloes. It was rainy season, which is why it was pouring all the time, but on the other hand, it’s a part of Philippine beauty. In Ormoc I got into another minibus, which took me to Bato (2h – 147 pesos). It was another, pleasant part of my trip. For a moment, we also stopped in Baybay, where we were approached by salesmen of drinks, cakes, and banana chips.

Bato

Our last place in Leyte was a port town of Bato, where we slept on bamboo beds, ate suppers by the sea, and went to a poor village, strolling between small boats. Children who lived in wooden houses on tilts were very interested in us and asked questions, although adults wanted to talk to us too. I noticed that in the Philippines, which is a less visited destination, people react with greater interest when they see Whites, than in the more frequently visited countries of the region, what makes the cultural experience more realistic. Sometimes all the dark faces were looking at us, what made us feel like snow leopards that escaped from the zoo. Our white race is a rare species in the Philippines.

, Trip to the Philippines 2018, Compass Travel Guide

Filipino landscape.

The islands of Bohol and Panglao

We spent most of our time on Bohol, and although we saw the whole island very well, first we stopped at the Anda beach, where there are the best beaches, water caves and a tourist paradise. Anda was quiet and secluded, and it was there, where together with my white women I experienced a quiet, rural life of the Philippines. Whilst strolling among banana trees and coconut palms, I reached white beaches with palm trees leaning to the sea, and then water caves, which gave me the biggest pleasure.

Among the many trips we also took a motorbike tour to the complex of waterfalls hidden in the jungle, called Cam Umantad, on the way stopping for a barbecue between rice fields. Cam Umantad waterfall was exceptionally beautiful, because it was located in the jungle, and the water leading to it was blue. It was close to palm trees and banana trees, and I think it was an exceptionally charming place.

Then we moved to the Alona beach, on the adjacent Panglao island, which is louder and more touristy, but still beautiful. I personally preferred calm Anda, although I think that Alona should be seen too. When we’ve had enough of the beaches, I took my women on a week-long moped tour of central Bohol. Of course we saw Chocolate Hills and the smallest primate in the world – tarsiers, but we also took a river cruise, we saw butterflies farms, botanical gardens and an interesting zoo, where my little blonde fed a young lioness from the bottle. It was a beautiful time among exotic nature, picturesque views, and in the company of Asian animals. I also liked the so-called “man-made forest“, leading to the Chocolate Hills.

, Trip to the Philippines 2018, Compass Travel Guide

Beach in Panglao.

We usually had our meals in roadside places, made of bamboo and palm leaves. Before I escorted my women to the main town of Bohol – Tagbilaran, from where they had a flight, we had returned to Panglao, from where we sailed to Balicasag island, to swim with sea turtles, and then to the sandbar partly over water, called the Virgin Island. I also took my women to the Hinangdanan water cave, which I also do recommend.

When I was alone, I spent the night in a hotel cell in Tagbilaran, and the next day I sailed to the Siquijor island.

Prom from Bohol to Siquijor

Cost – 270 pesos by Liteferries.

Siquijor island

Siquijor is a small island near Bohol, which attracts travelers primarily with its beautiful and adventurous waterfalls in the jungle. As soon as I reached the port of Larena, the first night I spent on a bamboo bench under banana trees, and in the morning I rented a moped, because this is the best way to explore this island. I was heading towards Siquijor town, where I had my base for a few nights, but first I stopped at the blue pools surrounded by mangrove trees, called the Guiwanon Spring Park. I walked on a bamboo footbridge, I bathed in a mangrove forest and talked to Filipino women who were doing laundry. In Siquijor town I lived in a bamboo house in the garden for 500 pesos for two nights. I saw an interesting fish market, an old church and a bell tower, and after a few days I went on a trip around the island. I stayed on the Paliton beach, where I spent a whole pleasant day. I swam, I picked shells, and walked on the beach looking at boats and rock formations. I don’t even know when the day passed, that’s why I went back to my bamboo house, and the next day I went for atrip around the island.

I started my trip around Siquijor from San Juan town, where most of the time I spent in a pool under palm trees, called the Capilay Spring Park. I stopped for grilled meat under palm trees, which is a common way of eating in the Philippines. The rest of my trip around Siquijor was limited to riding through rice fields, and jumping over blue waterfalls. On Siquijor there are many peaceful, secluded waterfalls hidden deep in the jungle, such as for example Locong. Driving through banana trees and palm trees I also got to Kawasan waterfall, and to the cave of the same name, which was located right under the waterfall. Getting there was not easy because I had to go down through the jungle, but the beauty of the blue waterfalls was enchanting. Siquijor is also a good island for observing the rural life of the Philippines, because many times I saw farmers plowing rice fields with wooden plows, and using buffaloes.

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Kawasan waterfall on Siquijor island.

However, by far the biggest attraction of Siquijor is the three-story waterfall called Cambugahay, reachable from Lazi. There are ropes, swings and bamboo platforms, prepared for bouncing and jumping into the water. The jungle, rock formations, blue waterfall and beautiful birds – these are the unique attractions of that picturesque place. I was also in the town of Maria to see the old church, and from there I went to Salangdoon beach. The beach itself was nice, but its main advantage was the 10m cliff, from which I jumped into the sea. I jumped 8 times, whilst being strongly encouraged by the Chinese tourists. On the way back I stopped again in Maria, to play pool with the Filipinos and eat the delicacy of the Philippines – squid adobo. In the center of the Siquijor island there is also deep and a very attractive Cantoban cave. I had to squeeze through small gaps, watch out for rocks on the ground and on the ceiling, and walk in the water to the level of my waist. In Cantoban cave I had to climb the higher parts of the trail, including the underground waterfalls. It was an adventure that I needed.

Ferry from Siquijor to Negros

My last night I spent in Siquijor in Larena port, because at 6am I had a ferry to Negros island, do Damaguette. 2h – 170 pesos.

Negros island

Negros Oriental

Negros is not the most visited island of the Visayas, because rushing travelers most often choose Bohol and Cebu instead. However, I spent a few weeks there and it was beautiful. I started my journey around the island from Damaguette, which is the main city of Negros Oriental. Damaguette turned out to be a very nice seaside town, where it was always possible to eat fish straight from the sea and drink coconuts in the evening under palm trees. For travelers Damaguete is a city of seaside walks, restaurants and massage, although Damaguette is also a convenient base for nearby places.

My first trip from Damaguette was a trip around the small town of Valencia, which is surrounded by wonderful nature. From Valencia I hitchhiked to the Casaroro waterfall, which is 70m high and lies deeper in the jungle. Casaroro is a longer trip because after reaching the parking lot, I had to go down the stairs, and then I walked along the large rocks along the river, in the jungle. After about 40 minute walk I saw a high waterfall of great strength. Every time I see a new waterfall I always swim in it. This is part of my adventure manifesto, and that’s why I also swam in the very cold Casaroro waterfall, and I had a shower running down from 70m. Then I came back the same way, walking along the river and avoiding huge rocks and banana trees I finally reached the top of the stairs. Later, I was lucky again because I found abother car and returned to Valencia, and then immediately went to the double Pulangbato waterfall. In this very tourist place there are two waterfalls close to each other. One is cemented and therefore adapted for children and the elderly, or perhaps it is just very comfortable – and the other, which I call the red waterfall, is wild. I swam in both, but I liked the red waterfall much more. There was a strong current there, I also climbed the rocks, and it was there where I felt the true adventure which I always aspire. Then I walked through the jungle down the road, passing bamboo huts covered with palm leaves, and I reached the hot springs. I sat quietly under the palm trees, in warm water, and relaxed in the tropical climate. I have a nice life.

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Fisherman with a delicious dorado fish, on the island of Negros, near Sipalay.

The famous Apo island was also a very pleasant part of my trip. Before I got there, I went to shore town of Malapatay, which is on the tourist map of the world only thanks to the Apo island. Malapatay has a nice beach, an outdoor restaurant under palm trees and souvenir shops. When I had all those attractions behind me, I sailed on a shared boat to Apo island, which is a small paradise full of beaches, palm trees and huge waves. On Apo, life concentrates around beaches and diving with sea turtles, and white-tip sharks. Apart from that, the locals who sometimes live in brick houses, although mostly those made of bamboo and palm leaves, are rather relaxed and hospitable. Like everywhere in the Philippines, people like entertainment, and that’s why there are cockfights in the daytime, and beer and pool games in the evenings. Beaches on Apo have interesting rock formations, and I think that for a White loving couple it could be a very romantic place.

Another important place of my trip around Negros was a trip to the mountains, to the Two Lakes, near the San Jose town. These were the Balinsasayo and Danao lakes, where I walked around the jungle, and had scenic views of the lakes and mountains. I especially recommend a 900-meter walk through the jungle to the second lake. On the way you can see exotic vegetation and relax in the bosom of nature. The way up was also beautiful, because I saw a Filipino village, buffalo plowing rice fields, banana trees, palm trees, bamboo huts and jackfruits hanging on the trees above the road. San Jose was also interesting. There was of course a bazaar and a nice church, but people were more interested in seeing the “white bear”. Girls returning from school were making fun of me, shouting, “Hey daddy, how are you, do you want to kiss?” Well, they don’t often see whites, but I can’t be surprised. In many places in England, Germany, the Netherlands or Sweden, I also do not see many whites, even though I would love to. Then I also went to small Bais City, from where I went to see a sandbar and wooden huts sticking out of the sea. A great view, especially since the Filipinos on wooden boats sold grilled squid, which they just caught.

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Apo island seen from the summit. Please pay attention to the blue colour of the sea.

The Philippines are beautiful and interesting, and the beauty of this country is addictive.

Negros Occidental

After a day’s journey through the middle of the island, and after stops in such transport holes as Mabinay and Kabankalan, late in the evening I got to Sipalay. Finally I was in Negros Occidental, and as it soon turned out, staying in Sipalay was one of the most beautiful experiences of my trip. I quickly found a cheap room in the center for 300 pesos, and from there I organized day trips. I spent most of my time on the public beach near the fish market, where I walked on white sand and threw myself into the waves. The Sipalay beach is many kilometers long and it ends with rock formations. Apart from that I had a view of the mountains and the company of cheerful Filipinos. The food in Sipalay was good too. I always tried a new species of fish in the evening. Once it was a flying fish and sometimes a delicious duradu. In the fish bazaar there were also sting rays, huge tunas and yellow crocodiles in a mango sauce – (just kidding, there were no crocodiles, but maybe another time). Next to it, there were also stalls with tropical fruits, barbecues and a bazaar with clothes. I really liked Sipalay. It is a well-stocked town in a tropical paradise.
From the center of Sipalay, I also went to the area called Barangay 4, where I spent a day on a very quiet beach, where the water stood still. When snorkelling there I saw a sea snake. On the way back I stopped for sweet, grilled bananas, and I had very good contact with the locals during the duradu fishing.

But that’s not all, because I also travelled 7km to Montilla, from where I went to the famous Sugar Beach. This part of the trip was a completely different adventure, because to get there, first I had to sail on a small wooden boat through the mangrove forest. Then I went through a Filipino village built of bamboo and palm leaves, and only then I each the “Sugar Beach“. Once again, I saw a rough sea, a picturesque horizon, rock formations, and Filipino fishermen fighting the waves. They went into the sea with nets and then moved towards the shore, mostly with small fish.

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In the Philippines, life also happens at sea. During low tide, sand sticks out of the water, and then there is a bazaar.

After Sipalay, I was heading north, this time to the little Palupandan town from where was only 5 km to the port of Guimaras. Unfortunately, there were no hotels in Palupandan, so I had to stay in the Bago city , located 10 km away (there is also Bago in Burma). Unfortunately there was only one hotel in Bago, for 550 pesos, so I was lucky to spend only one night there. Bago certainly does not charm with its beauty, but there are also good people there, and a good fish and fruit bazaar. It was nice.

Ferry to Guimaras

The next day I boarded a jeepney and for 10 pesos I went to the bamboo-palm village, proudly described as a port, and then for 95 peso I went by a large wooden boat to the island of mango plantations – Guimaras. The cruise took only 45 minutes.

Guimaras – „the mango island”

As soon as I got off the boat, I immediately saw great views. In front of me there were palm trees and rocks appearing from the sea, on which I entered the island. When the only “polar bear” went ashore in Guimaras, all dark eyes were staring at me. I sat under a wooden hut with a roof of palm leaves and then went to San Miguel town. San Miguel is not interesting, but I stayed there because there is a good hotel in the center, there is good transport, a nice bazaar and a few pubs with billiards. It is good to organize trips from there. The locals were quite funny in the evenings, after having a few drinks.

On my first trip I went to Navalas to see the historic Catholic church, built by the Spaniards in 1880. Navalas however, offered me much more than only the church itself, because the rest of the day I spent on a nice beach with young Filipinos. We talked, then bathed, and on my way back I stopped in McLain, where I ate a good octopus adobo.

Another time I went to the Alobijod beach, where first I swam for a while, and then I went on a boat trip with Filipino tourists. We were on several beautiful islands, where I saw blue lagoons and rock formations – and it was very beautiful. I spent the whole day in beautiful seaside locations, swimming from one lovely beach to the other. When I returned to Alubijod, I sat under a palm tree and ate a delicious grilled fish for a few pesos. I thought I had a good life.

Another time I organized myself tour around Guimaras. First I got to a quiet Clara beach, where I saw fishermen pulling fish from the sea, interesting rock formations and mangrove trees. It was warm and a gentle wind stroked me a whole day.

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Entrance to the church in Navalas, on the island of Guimaras, Philippines.

Then, on the way back, I stopped by the Cabano village to see huge windmills producing “green” energy. I sat in a bamboo hut under a banana tree, and watched the windmills turning high in the sky, accompanied by a crowing rooster.

I was also in Sebaste, in a holiday resort called Nature’s Trail, where I saw exotic nature, mangrove trees and a quiet beach. After leaving, I came across an armed police, and took pictures with them. From there I went back hitchhiking, sitting at the back of a van. I watched the windmills of the Guimaras island, rice fields and banana trees. The driver dropped me off on the road, near the Cambungahan village, where I spent time with people in their houses covered with palm leaves. When it started to be dark, I was lucky because the motorist who rode to Buenavista stopped, and dropped off at the intersection of roads in the tiny Pina village. It was nice, because in Pina I ate very good boiled mussels, 40 pesos per kilo. Each canteen near rice fields was made of wood, and there were never restaurants but stalls of local fishermen who sold their catches in the evenings.
I think that buying from these people is a very good way of helping the local economy. In the evening someone on the moped gave me a ride to San Miguel for only 100 pesos, and the rest of the day I spent playing pool with Filipinos.

My last day on Guimaras island I went to a mango plantation near San Miguel. Guimaras is famous for its mangoes, and is even called the “mango island”. It is true that in November there is no season for this fruit, but at least I saw the plantation and learned something new.

Guimaras island is not prepared for tourists, but I think it is valuable, because it’s an interesting route outside the well known trail of the Philippines.

Cruise to Panay island

The same day I went to the port by a jeepney and then I sailed on a board of small boat to Iloilo City on Panay island. The cruise took 15 minutes and cost 15 pesos.

Panay island

Panay island is not a popular tourist destination, because hurrying tourists usually choose the beaches of Palawan, Cebu and Bohol. I personally didn’t see any Whites on Panay, because this island is mainly treated as an airport, where Whites have to land, to get to the beach paradise of Boracay. I was only in Iloilo City.

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Church of St. Anne in Iloilo City.

When I was getting closer to the shore, first I saw dirty barracks and children swimming in the sea. I immediately took the rickshaw and went to the city, to a cheap but a decent hotel for 330 pesos a night. When I was in Iloilo City I had a good time, but it quickly became clear to me that social life is taking place in two main places, near the two great Catholic churches. The first place is the district of Molo, whith its famous St. Anne’s Church. I spent most of the day in the square in front of the church, where many things, there is a basketball court where young people practice dancing, and where there are many street vendors. I invited a young Filipina for a cola to talk to her about her country, and then I tried rice pancakes and coconut cakes.

Interestingly the cookie sellers wanted to give me a Filipino wife, because as they said, “I was rich because I was from Poland.” When traveling in the Philippines, I noticed that many people thought that I came to the Philippines to find a Filipino wife, while others even offered me a woman for a permanent relationship. They suggested me to take a Filipina, sometimes even shouting to me from afar that: “she was single.” In the Philippines, as in other Asian countries there is a legend of a “white millionaire”, who was born in golden shoes and is able to pay an absurdly high prices. Explaining to those people that it is not like that, doesn’t make sense. In many places in the Philippines, I felt like a rock star that everyone was looking at.

I liked the Saint Anne’s Church, and I think that there is a need for one like that London, near Big Ben. Across the street there was also a cultural center, where I visited a picture gallery, and then went to eat tropical fruit. This time it was pomelo from the Mindanao island, reminiscent of grapefruit. On the same day I also went to the Catholic Order of Asilo de Molo, about 1 km from St. Anne’s church. I was guided by a Filipino nun who showed me the church, a meeting room, a garden with a pond and a small plantation of tropical fruits.

In the evening I returned to the St. Annes’s Church, and went to the shopping center, where they offered free massages with the use of a medicinal oil. I ate grilled adobo octopus and returned to the hotel. Whilst in Iloilo City I moved around by jeepneys for 8 pesos, which is fast and cheap. I also traveled to the Lapaz and Jaro districts to see the Jaro Cathedral and the Belfry Tower, built in 1744 and 29 meters high. As I could have expected, there were also sellers of coconut pancakes and drinks, although there were also tropical trees with lianas.

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Jaro Cathedral and Belfry Tower; Ililo City, Philippines.

In Iloilo, there were basically two churches and a tower to see, though the people and the port were also interesting. It is definitely worth to go there to have this experience.

Flight to Cebu City

Soon, I went by jeepney for 8 pesos to the SM City shopping center, and from there I drove to the airport for 70 pesos. Then, I flew to Cebu City.

Cebu City

Cebu City is the second largest city in the Philippines after Manila. There is tiring traffic, pollution and a lot of people. I went to Cebu City at night, and I immediately took a taxi for 300 pesos and drove to Downtown, where most of the cheap hotels are located. I ended up paying 450 pesos, and another 400 pesos for a hotel per night. The taxi driver started an interesting topic with me. Well, he offered me “girly bars” – or brothels to be exact, because in his opinion White men come to the Philippines not for nice beaches, waterfalls or for the culture of the Philippines, but just to the brothels. Such opinion about White men often come out in conversation with the Filipinos.

Cebu City is more expensive than other, smaller cities. In Cebu City I had a few places to see, although I knew that on that occasion I would not have enough time to see the whole island. My two-month visa expired, and that’s why I went to the immigration office to buy a new one, but unfortunately the visa prices were so expensive that I decided to only see Cebu City and its immediate surroundings For that reason I made a decision that instead of paying for the extremely expensive Philippine visa extension, it would be better to fly to Brunei, and then I continue my journey around Borneo, but only in the state of Sabah. On my back to the Philippines I would land in Mactan – Cebu City, and I get a monthly Filipino visa for free. That was enough for me.

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The Santo Nino Cathedral in Cebu City, Philippines.

Most of my time in Cebu City I spent in the Downtown district, because it is the area of the biggest interests to tourists, with many sights and street stalls. Downtown gives a better opportunity to get to know the people and the character of the city. Cebu City looks like a big outdoor shop, consisting of stalls with grilled meats, fruit, drinks, mussels and phone repairs. There are also shopping centers and massage salons; and road traffic, where iconic jeepneys attracts attention. I walked around the city for a few days, I talked to people and had a few meals, watching hurrying Filipinos.

The symbol of Cebu City is Santo Nino – the oldest Catholic cathedral in the Philippines,which was built in 1521, as a gift to the Philippines from the Portuguese explorer and discoverer Ferdinand Magellan. In the temple complex there is a nice church with many paintings depicting Christian saints, and just before it a ceremonial square, and a very secluded place for lighting candles. Inside, there is also a square with a fountain and vegetation, and a wooden figurine of a child Jesus behind a bulletproof glass. The Santo Nino Cathedral is very atmospheric and quiet, and in my opinion it is the most pleasant and the most culturally valuable place in Cebu City. I went there many, many times.

Just behind the Santo Nino Cathedral there is the Magellan Cross, set by the Spanish and Portuguese explorers, on the orders of Ferdinand Magellan, on March 21st 1521, when they arrived in Cebu. The cross is located in the chapel, and on the ceiling there are frescoes depicting explorers from Iberia. This place is also very popular, both among tourists and souvenir sellers.

Not far from the Santo Nino Cathedral and the Magellan Cross, there is Fort San Pedro, built by the Spaniards. Fort San Pedro is a defensive fortification, which construction began in 1565, and then the works were postponed for another two centuries. It is not entirely clear when it was completed, although it shows 1738 on the main gate, and the renovation took place in the 19th century. Fort San Pedro is located on a triangular area, and it has been used by various occupying armies for many purposes for centuries. The fort served as a place for the army, as a hospital, and even as a zoo. Today however, it is a very pleasant place built of stones, with there are defensive walls, cannons and exotic vegetation. Fort San Pedro has a dark past because it saw many wars and a lot of blood, but today it is a very pleasant, relaxing place that should be included on the list of everyone who visits Cebu City. A pretty Filipina guided me around the facility, what was also a great asset of my visit.

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Philippine beauty.

My last place on that day was the Carbon Market, a very dirty and chaotic bazaar where one could buy everything from fruit and meat to shoes and shaving utensils. I recommend the Carbon Market especially to those travelers who want to know the realism of the Philippines. It’s poor and dirty, but memories are definitely worth it. This place definitely has its charm.

Apart from that I stayed in Cebu City for a long time. I tried street food, I had a few massages, and I left luggage there when I left for Borneo, and when I traveled north and south of the Cebu island. I was also in Uptown many times, which is the a newer and the better part of Cebu City. The central point is the round green area called Feunte Osmena, popular with frequent concerts and food stands.
Every time I was there, I always wondered why there was never any water in the fountain???

Trips outside of Cebu City

I went for a one-day trip outside Cebu City to see two places. The first, very attractive object was the Chinese Taoist Temple, completed in 1972 and funded by the Chinese community of Cebu. It is located in the Beverly Hills area of Cebu, and was built on several levels. Like every Chinese temple, this one is also very attractive because it had buildings with colourful, profiled roofs, with dragons, Chinese alphabet, a pool with turtles, and even a replica of the Chinese Wall. The entire Chinese temple complex is very moody and I warmly recommend it to everyone, as an interesting cultural experience.

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In the Taoist Temple outside Cebu City.

Then, after a meal at a roadside bar, where I was served grilled sweet bananas, I rode on the back of a moped to the top of the highest point of the Cebu island, to see the Temple of Leah, still under construction. Temple of Leah is built in Roman style, as an act of love worth 80 million pesos, in honour of the owner’s wife of this building, Leah Albino-Adarna. The building has 7 floors, statues of lions, many sculptures and columns, and a style characteristic of the Roman Empire. Inside there are Leah’s memorabilia, such as books and antiques. In the main hall there are stairs leading to opposite directions, while in the center stands a golden statue of Leah, with an altar on the back wall.
Temple of Leah offers nice views of Cebu City and thanks to it tourists can move back to the Roman times. In my opinion, to tourists it is a building of smaller importance, because it was built in 2012, in remembrance of a person who hardly anyone heard of.

On my last day in Cebu City I was preparing to leave the Philippines after almost two months of travelling. Even so, I still had time to go for a massage.

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When in the Philippines I travelled high class; most often on a board of jeepney.

Trips to other countries between the Philippines

I spent the next month and a half traveling in other countries, because my Filipino visa was already running out, and extending it in the Philippines was so expensive, that I would be shedding blood from my nose if I had to pay for it. I therefore decided that because I had time, I preferred to fly to the Sultanate of Brunei, then visit the Malaysian island of Labuan, and then travel around the Sabah state. On the way back to the Philippines I was also in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, so I saw a lot of places. It was a very successful trip, and when I landed again in Cebu City, I got a free Filipino visa. That was exactly what I needed.

I recommend my travel reports from the trips to the above-mentioned countries in 2018, as well as from the previous years.

Return to the Philippines

After landing in Cebu-Mactan, I took a bus from the airport to SM City for 40 pesos, and then a taxi for 150 pesos to Colon, in Downtown.

This time my stay in the Philippines was not supposed to be long, and that’s why, according to the plan of my trip I only missed the best places on the Cebu island. Cebu is a very special island in the Visayas archipelago, because it has beautiful beaches, exotic islands, good diving and whale sharks. Cebu is an exceptionally charming part of the Philippines.

I knew that my trip was almost finished there, that’s why I only wanted to see what I had planned, and then I just wanted to get to the airport. I spent my first two days in Cebu City. As before, I lived in a Teo-Fel hotel for 400 pesos a night, and on the first day I was just resting. I had to do the laundry, sleep after Borneo’s jungle, and after a few stop-overs in a few random places of Asia. When I felt better, I went to Downtown to see the Santo Nino Cathedral and the Magellan’s Cross again, and I spent the rest of the day at the Carbon Market, where I show an interesting video. I also went to Uptown, where I sat with Filipinos on the green roundabout – Feunte Osmena. Even though there was no water again, I had a nice time.

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Ruch uliczny w Cebu City.

My time in Cebu City was very pleasant, and not only in the attractive places, but also when I watched jeepney, traffic and thousands of street vendors and telephone repairers.

During all this time I was traveling alone, and I thought it would be nice to meet someone normal, with whom I could spend some time. It is a pity that it turns out to be impossible. In the hostel I met a girl from Germany, who has not yet found her mind. Generally, Europeans travel to learn about foreign cultures and it is important for them to preserve alien civilizations, while condemning their own to extinction. The German woman was a great enthusiast of the Islamization of Germany, but on the other hand she did not want to see Muslims in the Philippines, because it was a Catholic country. The concept of race in her mind was absent. I have met a lot of such Germans, what proves that this nation has no future. In addition, according to her: “what is the point to have German children, if Muslims in Germany have 4-6 with a few women, and still everyone is equal because they have the same skeletons.”

In my opinion, the German nation was finished when Germans elected Angela Merkel, and the British nation was ended when the British chose Tony Blair. I call it: “death of the nation through diversity”.

Trips around Cebu island

Travellers who plan trips around the Cebu island and its adjacent islands, from the point of view of tourism should divide the island into two directions: the southern direction and the northern direction. This is the way to organize trips from Cebu, because only this way makes sense. For that reason, in Cebu City there are 2 bus stations, the southern and northern station. On each one of them one can buy good fruit, drinks and sweets, and stations in the Philippines are bustling and cheerful places, although the organization is not always the best.

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Magellan’s Cross in Cebu City.

The southern direction is: Oslob and Moalboal, and several adjacent islands and waterfalls in the area. First, I advise to go to Oslob, and then on the way back towards Cebu City I advise to stay in Moalboal.

After returning to Cebu City and spending at least one night there, I advise you to go north.

The northern direction is: Bantayan Island and Malapascua Island, and several other beautiful places along the way. Travellers can rent a private boat for extra money, which can be sailed directly from Bantayan to Malapscua, although the main route runs through the large island of Cebu.

Transport to Oslob

185 pesos, 4h. Pleasant and painless, among palm tress and with several stop overs for drinks and fruit.

Oslob

Oslob is a small Filipino town, which has found itself on the tourist map of the world thanks to whale sharks. These biggest fish in the world fuel the economics of the town and the whole area, thanks to which people built houses, they opened stores, and they live better. I quickly found a room for 300 pesos a night, and spent the evenings on the grill with locals. In addition, there is a nice church in Oslob, a lot of shops, and in the evenings by the sea, there is a funfair with sellers of ice cream and fruit.

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Rekin wielorybi.

Oslob is a very nice tourist town, but all the things that are there are just an addition to whales, which can be seen 7km out of town.

Whale sharks

7km outside Oslob there is a very touristy and a very commercial beach, where tourists from all over the world come to see the largest fish in the world in the natural environment – the whale sharks. These “delicate giants”, as they are often called, feed on plankton and small fish by filtering water, and are not dangerous to humans. They reach an average length of about 6-10m and a weight of up to about 10,000kg, although the largest individual measured 12.65m and weighed 21.5 tons.

Whale sharks are present in all warm oceans in the southern hemisphere, even though those fish occur seasonally in specific locations. In Oslob however, the locals made such a lucrative business out of whale sharks, that they are there all year round, because the locals feed them with bread and shrimps. The money that Filipinos currently earn on sharks was impossible for them to imagine. The locals themselves told me many times, that they loved their sharks very much, and I am not surprised at all. Also, a full scale souvenir business has started in full swing, and before we even pay to see sharks, we can buy magnets, postcards and shark T-shirts.

Since early morning there are always a lot of tourists on the beach, who have 3 payment options. Some people can watch sharks from the boat, which costs 500 pesos. Others can snorkle around them, and this is an option that I have chosen and which cost me 1000 pesos. The most expensive option is scuba diving, which costs about 2000 pesos. I was happy that I could be with sharks in the water, because I saw how huge they were and how they behaved. After catching food thrown by the fishermen, they quickly disappeared in the deep blue. Of course, it was a very valuable experience that I do recommend.

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Rekin wielorybi za Oslob.

Tumalog Waterfall

Near the beach with whale sharks, there is also the Tumalog waterfall. It is a very nice blue pool in the jungle, with interesting rock formations and large bamboos. I paid 30 pesos for entry, and I recommend this pleasant contact with nature. When bathing in a blue pool, and then taking a shower under a warm waterfall, I met two sexy lesbians, and I must admit with great regret, that they were wasting their lives. I hugged one of them and then I came to an opinion, that they were good women with inappropriate interests. The lesbians were very sexy and men standing there liked them very much.

The blue lagoon, rocks and waterfall are large and encourage to stay longer. Tumalog Waterfall is one of those places that you do not want to leave, also because of the silence of the jungle, combined with the sounds of nature.

Sumilon Island

I think that in this case I will not use a lot of words. Simulon is a tropical island near Oslob, where I spent the whole day on a white beach and in the blue sea. A return boat costs 500 pesos. It is heaven on earth.

Transport from Oslob to Moalboal

I decided, that in order to not be boring, I would have another adventure in transport. First, I went to the village of Santander, which is just a transport hole. There I got on a bus, and I got off right in front of the Samboan village, to have an adventure in the Aguinid and Binalayan waterfalls. For several hours I walked around the jungle, climbing different levels of waterfalls. Fortunately there were ropes that I could hold on to, so it was safe. I had a guide who took pictures of me and showed me the trail. Some places were noisy and the water was rushing quickly, and the other waterfalls were peaceful and quiet, located in the isolated jungle.

I spent beautiful time there, and after leaving the jungle I bought rambutans from the Filipinos, and sat down with a coconut under a palm tree. It became clear to me many times, that a very simple life gave me the biggest happiness. Because the Aguinid waterfall is popular with tourists, there are also people living there in wooden houses under palm leaf roofs, who run their small shops.

Then, travelling at the back of moped I arrived to the hotel by the sea, where I took a room for 300 pesos overlooking the sea. I felt great there, and the next morning I was awaken by the sound of the sea. In the evening I went to the Ginatilan town to eat something at a private grill. I will always remember Ginatil as: grill, church and a basketball court.

, Trip to the Philippines 2018, Compass Travel Guide

One of several elevations of Aguinid waterfalls. It is the less-known natural beauty of the Philippines, on the island of Cebu.

The next morning I went by bus to Moalboal, for 250 pesos. Along the way I had a stop-over in Badian, for a barbecue snack. It was nice, but the locals enjoyed making fun of me. Well, that’s fine.

Moalboal

Moalboal is yet another paradise place in the Philippines, near the sea and waterfalls, where one can forget about the stench of everyday life in a European country. Moalboal and its surroundings are one of the most pleasant places on the island of Cebu.

Moalboal is divided into two parts. The first part of the city is Moalboal for local Filipinos, which is further away from the beaches. In this part there is cheap grill at the bazaar, where tourists can buy tropical fruits at normal prices, rent a moped, and where there is also a very important bus stop. I loved the local Moalbooal, because through my time, that I spent on fruit bazaars and through contact with Filipino fishermen, I experienced the reality.

The part of Moalboal, which is located closer to the beaches is a tourist town focused primarily on diving, where prices are also adapted to the tourists’ portfolios. I lived in a dorm room for about 350 pesos a night, I was close to the seaside pubs and beaches, and it was great. It was so good that I planned to stay 3 days, but I stayed one week. In principle, the life of tourists in Moalboal is usually limited to drinking, eating, sunbathing and diving.
Outside of Moalboal, there are pleasant waterfalls and pool tables on the road, where one can eat grilled meat and drink beer under a banana tree. Life there is slow and pleasant.

I have two dives in Moalboal. The first one was by the shore, where I saw huge schools of sardines and sea turtles. The next day I sailed with a group of divers to a dive site near the Pescador island. The sea views were of course picturesque, and the underwater world was also interesting, because I saw some large fish and sea turtles.

, Trip to the Philippines 2018, Compass Travel Guide

On the road in Moalboal.

I also met Dutch woman on the beach, who I took for a non-alcoholic drink, and in the beginning she felt comfortably with me, but then she got scared and left me alone. I really don’t know what to do to make an impression of being pleasant and gentle. I can’t be any more nicer that I am already. Another time I met women from Sweden and Denmark in a pub, and although it was good in the beginning, after some time they treated me as a potential villain, even though I wanted to treat them well. The worst thing is, that the same women who support the immigration of African and Muslim invaders, approach white men with the greatest distrust, even though we want to defend them. The situation in Europe is very bad.

I used to spend my days in the bosom of nature and in the Philippine bazaars, and evenings in pubs and on playing pool under palm trees. It was wonderful.

Kawasan Falls

Kawasan Waterfalls are the largest and the most popular waterfalls and natural blue pools on the entire island of Cebu, which lie approximately 26km from Moalboal. If someone doesn’t have time and cannot see all the waterfalls, he should first go there and woudln’t be disappointed. When I parked my moped, I first walked through the jungle trail, passing tall bamboos, a small river and fruit sellers. After about a kilometer walk, a blue lagoon appeared in front of me, with a huge pool and strong waterfall. First I bathed for an hour and floated on a raft, and then I went to the upper parts, to climb the rocks and jump into the water a few times from at least 10 meters.

The waterfalls were of course great, adventurous, and offered many attractions, but to me the jungle was also very important. A guide led me upstairs, with some nice Germans and an Englishman who were filming me when I was jumping. My adventure in the jungle was great, and I spent such a nice time in natural pools and under waterfalls, that I went there twice. I paid 500 pesos for entry, and the price included jumps, swings and baths.

I would like my readers to realize that the Philippines is not just about beaches, but also rice terraces and blue waterfalls in the jungles, which I like the most. Thos who like waterfalls, I recommend the island of Siquijor, south of Bohol.

, Trip to the Philippines 2018, Compass Travel Guide

A blue river leading to the Kawasan falls.

Osmeña Peak

The next day I went on a moped a little further from Moalboal. This time I wanted to get to the Osmen Peak, which turned out to be a whole day trip. It was very interesting, because on the way I stopped again at Kawasan waterfalls, and then I traveled through the jungle, sometimes stopping on the way for drinks and grilled bananas. When I arrived at the intersection of Dalaguete, there, after nice tea I drove a little moped a little higher until I found myself in a place where I could start the climbing. It was windy and rainy that day, but still nice. Just in case it is better to prepare for rain.

Osmena peak is one of the highest points of the Cebu island, which is located at an altitude of 1013 meters above the sea level. Osmeña Peak offers a dramatic view of jagged cliffs overlooking the sea in the distance. Locals often compare the views to the Bohol’s Chocolate Hills, but here instead of round brown mounds, the hills have sharp, protruding peaks. The very trail leading to Osmeña Peak was very easy for me. It is about 700-meter climb from the entrance at Mantalongon, Dalaguete, which I did in 15 minutes.

Osmeña Peak is located about 50km from Moalboal or about 64km drive through Dalaguete. With own moped, and through the jungle, the trip would take about 1.5 hours. Osmeña Peak can also be visited from Oslob. The distance is similar. I got to Osmena by my own moped from Kawasan, which is also a good way to do this trip.

Cambais waterfalls

The Cambais waterfall is located about 1 hour by motorbike from Moalboal, and about 30 minutes from Kawasan, near Alegria. Cambais waterfalls is yet another fairytale place hidden in the jungle, where you can jump into a blue pool from a couple of heights. On the first level there is a blue pool surrounded by ferns, rocks and trees; and a limestone wall, on which water flows with great force.

, Trip to the Philippines 2018, Compass Travel Guide

Travelling around the Philippines.

On the first level, I jumped from the rocks at a height of 7m and 10m into the pool, which seemed to be very small. It is also necessary to check the depth before jumping. I went to the second level next to the rocky walls, from which water ran down, and then I held the rope and walked on a bamboo ladder. At this point I saw another high waterfall falling into the blue pool in the Filipino jungle.

After I parked my moped in the jungle and paid 50 pesos for the entrance, the first blue pool appeared in front of me after about 2 minute walk.

Return to Cebu City

The bus ride from Moalboal to Cebu City took 2 hours and cost me 140 pesos. This time I spent 2 days in Cebu City. Bazaars, massages, the cathedral and few other things. That was my business.

Transport to the Bantayan island

I left from the northern bust station of Cebu City, because I was heading north. I paid 230 pesos for a bus to Bantayan, and the trip lasted 3.5 hours with a stopover in Carmen. In the Hagnaya port I had to pay 105 pesos for the ferry. The cruise took about an hour.

Banyatan Island

Bantayan Island is a large island located on the west side of the northern tip of the island of Cebu. It is an area known for its wonderful beaches and a relaxed way of life, surrounded by palm trees. I spent 1 week in Bantayan, and it was very nice. During the days I went to the beaches and organized trips, and the evenings I used to spend in town bars with pool tables. I stayed with an American man at Randy’s Resort, where I lived in a bamboo hut under palm trees, for only 400 pesos a night. Every morning I sat under palm trees with a cup of tea and thought about my beautiful life, but also about how to take control over the world.

I was moving around Bantayan on a moped, which I rented for 150 pesos for 24 hours. On the way to the picturesque beaches I often stopped for rice cakes, baked by local Filipinos under palm trees. I was in several small towns, in a water cave, and did kick-boxing.

I stayed by the port, in the pleasant town of Santa Fe, which is surrounded by wonderful beaches: Alice beach, Sugar beach and Paradise beach (with spectacular rock formations). All those beaches were beautiful, all had white sand, palm trees and fishing boats. There were also local people, very genuine, those who smiled to me for free. I like Filipinos for that.
There is also a beach called Poblacion, which is long and wide, and it is located just before the entrance to the centre of Santa Fe. You can also go there there to see kites.

, Trip to the Philippines 2018, Compass Travel Guide

Another great beach during my travels. This time it is the Bantayan island.

Because I had a moped, I organized several trips outside of Santa Fe. On the way to Paradise beach I stayed in the Ogtong cave. It is a water cave, located in the area of a hotel. Fortunately, people who don’t live there can buy a ticket for 100 pesos. I sat in a cave for about an hour, swimming from one shore to the other and watching rock formations on the ceiling.

I also went to Bantayan town, which is the administrative center of the island, and which lies about 10 km from Santa Fe. I will always remember this small town as a big square with many shops and a nice church. I also advise you to see the promenade by the sea, from where the ferries sail to the Negros island.

Another place worth paying attention to is Mangrove Garden & Eco Park, a forest covered with mangrove trees. I entered the wooden bridge and then continued onto a bamboo tower. Mangrove forest is an extremely unique marine ecosystem close to the mainland, which I previously saw in Thailand, Malaysia and Brunei. That park was an exceptionally beautiful place, because I was walking on a bamboo footbridge, over blue water, and I enjoyed mangrove trees protecting me from the sun. On a clean white sand on the shore local Filipinos sell grilled meat and coconuts under palm trees. It was one of those places that I didn’t want to leave.

I also took a trip to the northernmost city of Bantayan – Madridejos. As I could have expected, it was very nice. Luckily, I witnesses a small carnival. Young people were dressed in funny uniforms, they sang and danced. First I walked on the pier over the blue sea, and then I spent time with people, having fun. I noticed that Bantayan island is very popular among white people, who run away from the high prices and political shit of Europe and America, and chose a peaceful life on a tropical island.

, Trip to the Philippines 2018, Compass Travel Guide

The beauty of Bantayan.

Trips to the paradise islands near Bantayan

When I spent enough time on Bantayan, I decided to visit two surrounding islands. Each of them is different, also because of different prices.

Virgin island is a private island with a white strip of sand, turquoise water and palm trees, that invite tourists to a small paradise on earth. Throughout the day I swam from one raft to another, I walked on the rocks and admired the sea views. I paid 500 pesos for entry, and 600 pesos for the boat. Unfortunately, it was not cheap, that’s why I advise to sail in the morning. I didn’t find out how much it costs to spend the night on the island, but I didn’t expect special discounts. It was a beautiful day.

Hilantagaan island is fortunately cheap, because it is not private and it is a home to a small fishing village. It is still beautiful, there are of course nice beaches and fishing boats, but Hilantagaan is a place for those tourists who want to see the authentic life on the Philippine island, without tourist amenities. I got to the island by a water taxi for 25 pesos one way. Nature was attractive, but not as enchanting as on the other islands.

Transport from Bantayan to Malapascua

After a week’s vacation on Bantayan, I decided it was time to leave this sweet piece of paradise and unfortunately go to my last place. I went to the Malapscua island, and chose the transport through the island of Cebu, because it was much cheaper. From the Santa Fe area on Bantayan I sailed to the port in Hagnaya, and then I got on the bus for 10 pesos and went to Don Pedro. There, I changed to a jeepney for 40 pesos and went to the port in Maya. In the Maya port I paid 20 pesos for a small boat, which I sailed to a large boat. Then for 100 pesos, and after a very pleasant half an hour cruise I got to the Malapscua island. As before, I had to pay 20 pesos again for a small boat coming to shore, because the big boat was always at sea.

Malapascua Island – my beautiful 3 days

The Malapscua island lies in the Sea of Visaya, north of Cebu and west of Leyte. Malapascua is a small island because it covers an area of only 2.5km by 1km. This island however is a very popular piece of paradise, known not only in the Philippines, but also in the world. Of course, there is a landscape taken from a perfect postcard, with white sand, turquoise sea and coconut palm trees, that give shade in a hot climate. However, Malapscua has something else, and it is a diving.

In the waters around Malapscua you can see small colourful fish, big rays and sea turtles, but the main point of the program are tresher sharks. Tresher shark are massive fish of about 6m in length, with a very long, and very characteristic tail that waves in the water behind its head. I dived twice and saw this shark in the natural environment, which of course was an experience. I will also add that although tresher sharks are predator,they are not dangerous to humans.

Similarly to Oslob, where the whole area lives on shark tourism, based on the observation of whale sharks, Malapsuca is probably also the center of attention because of sharks. Sharks therefore save Filipino economy. When in Malapsuca I bought a t-shirt and magnets with a tresher shark, although there are also many other souvenirs associated with that unique animal.

, Trip to the Philippines 2018, Compass Travel Guide

Beach in Malapscua island.

Apart from diving I spent nice time walking on the beach, and I had good meals among nice views. I also had clean room for 400 pesos. I really didn’t want to leave that beautiful Filipino island, especially that I realized that I would soon have to return to the expensive, problematic and depressive England.

My last day in Manila

Then I flew to Manila, where I spent 2 nights and 1 day. I stayed in Makati, because it was the most convenient. Makati is known as a business district, but in my opinion it is rather a district of whores and transvestites, and sellers of viagra. Walking down the main street, a white man is always whistled at and encouraged to have sex, even if he only wants to go for a dinner in peace.

When I was standing on the street, I had an interesting meeting. Well, the girls circled me to provoke some action. However, it got much more interesting when I was approached by an Arab, who lived permanently in the Netherlands, and who of course was with a Filipino prostitute. He asked me if I was going to bang something tonight, to which I replied that I would rather not. Then I asked him how long he had been in the Philippines. I asked if he saw whale sharks, waterfalls and beautiful beaches, but he quickly interrupted me and said that he didn’t car about any of that. He only came for whores for two months, and set a plan for two women a day, what means that within two months he wanted to have 60 women. At the end he smiled and said that Holland paid him benefits purely for that purpose.

The best thing however is, that the Dutch, German and Swedish women, who I met during my travels were fierce feminists who were open to the exotic immigration, but at the same time they approached the Pole with great reluctance, while showing their hearts to Muslims. In my opinion, white women are useful idiots that destroy white Christian civilization through their harmful leftist ideologies. If Muslims were the only problem in Europe, then in my opinion this would be half of the problem.

Apart from that, the traffic is very tiring. When in Manila, on my last day I went to the Rizal Park, where I had some rest. It was already December, that’s why I saw a big Christmas tree in this Catholic country.

, Trip to the Philippines 2018, Compass Travel Guide

This journey has come to an end, but it is not the last one.

I soon drove to the airport and left the Philippines, dreaming of return.

Summary of the trip around Philippines

In 2018 I travelled for 4 months and saw the wonderful peculiarities of nature, beautiful landscapes and interesting cultures. I appreciate every moment of the fact, that I can travel and discover the world through its realism, not through the screen of the Polish language media. I wholeheartedly recommend a trip to the Philippines and the island of Borneo. It is a beautiful part of Asia.

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