spicynoodles

Cebu, Philippines

by Cebu City

 I spent five weeks in the Philippines Islands in the fall of 2024. It reminded me of the importance of slow travel as I was able to immerse myself in The Philippines culture with a home base the entire time. 

I rented an Airbnb studio condo for the full five weeks in Cebu City:

It reminded me of the awesome feeling of learning a new city and not having to rush.

I was able to live like a local and able to take advantage of the inexpensive lifestyle.

I was bringing American dollars, and everything was in Philippine pesos making everything super inexpensive. I had a local barber that I used every Monday for a $5 hot shave, drop-off laundry service was $4 a week, and a fast-food meal was a few dollars a week to give you an idea.  

Everything you would do was so much cheaper too! I would get a chair massage almost daily $5 including a great tip.  Going out to eat was amazing too as Cebu is a call center hub.  Since they worked the overnight shift to support the Americas, everything was always open to keep the city moving.  

I would see people going to work at 8 PM with McDonalds breakfast and coffee for example.

I could get my favorite Korean BBQ or noodle fix 24/7/365 at a fraction of the cost of back home. The next time you check your credit card bill or warranty and get The Philippines, just know they are eating well, LOL.

hammock5

Bohol, Philippines – A beauty and talented kids!!

by Bohol

This was my first ferry road trip after spending my first week in Cebu. I had been on several boats in the past traversing the Island in Thailand, so I was prepared plus almost everyone speaks English.  I woke up one morning at 3 AM as adjusting to the 13-hour time difference was horrible.  I packed a knapsack took a shower and I was off to the local bus station.  I took a 3:30 bus, arrived at the terminal at 4:30, and bought a ticket for the 5:10 AM to Tagbilaran which was the first stop.  

They transferred us all to a bus for the remaining trip.

Once I got off the bus after the ferry ride, I needed to take a 20-minute tuk tuk ride.  I had been on many tuk tuks in the past in Thailand, but this was my first in The Philippines to get to Alona beach. 

I was a little on edge with little sleep as might be able to tell in the video but normally feel safe.  

Once I got settled in my $ 15-a-night Airbnb, it was time to check out the beach area which brings me to a long-winded hockey story.  

* If you are already ready for the Edmonton Oiler blog, you might want to skip it.  

** A lot of my stories are long-winded often running out of brain processor speed and switching between seven tabs in my brain telling three other stories. As the kids say IYKYK.

*** Since all of these beaches are beautiful, I often get confused as I took four different ferry trips.

Several years ago, I made a random video in Rocky Point Mexico, and it turned into our friend chat goal song during a couple of Edmonton Oiler playoff runs.  Well, they created a monster as I have been trying to find the next goal song using the same guy a couple of years later.

The first video is the one that caught on during the exciting goals along with Oiler good luck charm Kait! 

I even made two more renditions with the same Mexican guy for good luck, nope!  They won’t even play the original as they are probably tired of me trying.

Most people would give up but, I am just annoying that way so keep trying!  Here are some really talented kids from Bohol, Philippines that I recruited.  Just like a new post with zero likes, nope, nope and IPA drunk nope. 

Like Mi Amigo, the kids thought I was as crazy too but loved the great TIPs! 

Siquijor and Dumaguete Islands

by Siquijor/Dumaguete islands

This road trip was my favorite of the five weeks I spent in the Philippines. It was a four-hour ferry ride with one stop to drop off and pick up passengers.  If you read my post of an amazing ferry ride meeting Ben, this was the same trip. 

Each picture tells an amazing story in my mind!

Benny picked me up in his tuk-tuk at the port to take me to my A-frame Airbnb which was spectacular.  We stopped for a roadside beer and hung out with a local family on the way. I was within walking distance from the $3 crepe breakfast picture and the amazing beach where the coconut picture was taken.  

Siquijor Island and Cambuguhay Falls where the rope swing picture was taken and some of the nicest Islands I have ever visited, I will go back.  It had a lot of EXPATs from all over the world and locals who made me feel right at home.  

I ended the night watching Aussiethe the Rules Football Championship.

Facebook made up this mashup, so it is a bit out of order and includes Dumaguete Island which is another amazing island I visited on the island hop.  

Everything was smoking there, LOL!