An adventure in Southeast Asia: the Philippines, 7000 islands full of surprises
Do you love a white beach that borders a turquoise sea populated by the most exotic underwater inhabitants? But if your intention is not to spend all your days in a lazy seat in the sun, then this mysterious country with its more than 7000 islands is definitely worth a visit.
Table of contents
A brief history lesson
This pristine Pacific territory was first entered in 1521 by Portuguese Fernão de Magalhães, who claimed it for his client, King Phillip II of Spain. This immediately sparked a mass conversion of the local population. Catholicism is still the main religion in the Philippines today.
Spanish rule lasted until 1898 when the two-year revolt against Spanish occupation ended. Spain sold the Philippines to the United States, which would not give the country its independence until 1946. The Spanish and American stamp can still be found everywhere in the Filipino lifestyle.
It is also an archipelago located on so-called ‘The Ring of Fire’, earthquakes and volcanic activity are no exception. In addition, tropical storms often create a trail of destruction.
The capital Manila
Even though the Philippines is on the list of poorest countries in the world, its capital is one of the most modern cities in the whole of Asia. Game designers of live online casino games, such as those of Casino 777, have their recording studios here. You will find indoor shopping malls like you will find nowhere else in Asia. You can buy all the well-known brands here too, alongside homegrown Filipino products and the obligatory array of fast-food chains from around the world.
In the Makati district, you imagine yourself in another country. Beautiful avenues, parks and exquisite restaurants. This is the centre of Philippine banking and business. If you leave the ‘western’ districts of Makati and Taguig, however, you get a culture shock. Indeed, this is where real Filipino life begins: with small crammed wooden houses, colourful shops, fragrant markets and a hustle and bustle. There really is a lot of places to visit in Manila.
Away from the city bustle
A city visit to Manila is fun, but there is actually a lot more to experience in ‘the province’ as Filipinos call it themselves. LIke the crucifixion ceremony in the Philippines. The islands of Borocay and Palawan are the tourist attractions par excellence. Palawan, meanwhile, was voted the most beautiful island in the world several years in a row. El Nido in particular is a wonder of nature there.
All the way in the south you will find the second largest island of the Philippines, Mindanao. Western countries sometimes dare to issue a negative travel advice for this island. However, this is exaggerated. Except for certain regions in the extreme south of the island, there is no feeling of insecurity at all. On the contrary, residents are extremely friendly and hospitable.
In the far north of Mindanao, you can be ferried to the tiny island of Siargao. This beautiful island is a world-famous place for divers and surfers.
Above all, remember this in your Filipino adventure:
People are convinced that tourists have a well-stocked purse, whether you’re in Sabang beach or elsewhere. It’s true that the Philippines is one of the cheapest countries in the world to visit. They will therefore assist you with everything, but expect something in return. But if you enjoy the other wonders in the Philippines, you won’t mind at all.
Remember, never travel without travel insurance! And never overpay for travel insurance!
I use HeyMondo. You get INSTANT quotes. Super cheap, they actually pay out, AND they cover almost everywhere, where most insurance companies don't (even places like Central African Republic etc!). You can sign-up here. PS You even get 5% off if you use MY LINK! You can even sign up if you're already overseas and traveling, pretty cool.
Also, if you want to start a blog...I CAN HELP YOU!
Also, if you want to start a blog, and start to change your life, I'd love to help you! Email me on johnny@onestep4ward.com. In the meantime, check out my super easy blog post on how to start a travel blog in under 30 minutes, here! And if you just want to get cracking, use BlueHost at a discount, through me.
Also, (if you're like me, and awful with tech-stuff) email me and my team can get a blog up and running for you, designed and everything, for $699 - email johnny@onestep4ward.com to get started.
Do you work remotely? Are you a digital nomad/blogger etc? You need to be insured too.
I use SafetyWing for my digital nomad insurance. It covers me while I live overseas. It's just $10 a week, and it's amazing! No upfront fees, you just pay week by week, and you can sign up just for a week if you want, then switch it off and on whenever. You can read my review here, and you can sign-up here!