Travel Blog
A Journey of a Globetrotter
Welcome to my travel blog. Out of all my work, this is probably the most personal page of my portfolio. Here I will share my travel experiences, my globetrotting adventures and tips and advice for those still wanting to make their way to any of these destinations.
A dream of flying
My "travelling career" started when I first moved to Madrid (Spain) for an Erasmus Exchange Program in 2007. Six months of being exposed to the Spanish language, sun and tapas! This sounded too good to be true.
Secretly, I have to admit, at that age, all I wanted to do was travelling. I'd like to believe the program was there merely a means to an end!
Don't get me wrong! It was great fun and at times very intense. In the present-day, I can confidently say, I have become fluent in Spanish, it being my third language. But back then, my head just hurt every day from taking on all this new "linguistic knowledge".
All classes were in Spanish. I lived in a student residence with solely Spanish people. And hardly any international friends, believe it or not.
Though the at the start, I was overwhelmed and a bit insecure, very soon this would grow into one of my biggest passions. My therapeutic escape. My thrill-seeking consolidation. My free pass for disconnection and my get-away-car to ultimate peace of mind.
Philippines:
A Collection of pearls in southeast Asia
The Philippines has been on my bucket list since Covid-19 hit and paralysed the world for the next two years. Believe it or not, I actually had a flight booked for the 23rd of March 2020 to spend three magical weeks out there. But then.....the world stopped. And travelling was not possible for a very long time! But more about that in one of my previous articles on how I explored the UK while waiting for bans to be lifted again. This article is about the time I DID manage to go and make the long-awaited journey! And it sure didn't disappoint!
I stayed there for 2 weeks and my itinerary was as follows:
1) Manila
2) Coron (Palawan)
3) El Nido (Palawan)
4) Puerto Princesa (Palawan)
5) Cebu City
6) Bohol
The most difficult thing about travelling to The Philippines is making the decision as to where to go. Unless you have about 6 months to spare, along with a 6-figure salary, you could maybe see all 7.641 islands. But even that would be unlikely. And who would want to rush through this Asian gem like you gotta catch a train?
I decided to keep it simple, yet see a good amount of landmarks as well as a varied set of islands. And believe me, even though this list looks small, it still felt like a job to get through at times. It was non-stop but in a good way. And I definitely scheduled days that I didn't do anything adventurous or physically active. These days are also "social-media-free" or else relaxing is just not in the cards that way.
manila
The capital city is a bit of an enigma. Before I went, a lot of people warned me "it might not be the nicest place to go to", or "it's dirty and dangerous" and of course "it's just another city". Yes, all of this applies in a way, but I would never not go just because people say so. It's still a capital city and I do always want to have at least seen the capital city of each country I go to, no matter how dilapidated it might be. I scheduled 3 days to explore Manila and I have to say, I did find some lovely spots that made it worth the trip.
My hotel was in Makati - one of the more hip, modern and slightly bohemian-styled neighbourhoods. It would still take me 30 minutes by taxi to get to the city centre, but I had no problem with that. The city centre around Intramuros is buzzing, but that wasn't what I necessarily wanted to come back to at the end of each day - let alone sleep in. I am a fussy sleeper; I don't mind spending all day out and about but when I'm in my hotel, it needs to be quiet, cosy and peaceful.
First day, I obviously made my way to Intramuros (meaning "inside the walls" or "within the walls" in Spanish). This is a walled area that dates back to the Spanish colonial times when this district was in fact the capital. Everything outside of it was called extramuros and wasn't officially part of the capital city anymore. This all changed during the 20th Century, making this the unofficial "walled city within the city". Nowadays, you can find cute coffeeshops and restaurants along with an impressive cathedral and houses and buildings still preserved from back then with original architecture.
The way to go around in the city centre is definitely either the tricyle, which is a coloured tuk-tuk that literally goes all over the city centre (at least up to the confines) for only 100 pesos. Or the jeepney, a "kitschy" decorated and colonial-American taxi that fits up to 8 people (though Filipinos are known to stack more, lol). This was only 25 pesos per ride and also limited to the city centre only.
"Intramuros". Photo credit and copyright: Rebecca Hanser
One of those "hard-to-get" districts was Bonifacio Global City which is an estate in the heart of Taguig City in the south of Manila. It is known for its upscale residential areas, modern skyscrapers, high-profiled commercial centres and flamboyant lifestyle and party scene.
It was like walking into a whole other world, coming down from the city centre. I had to take a taxi because the jeepney didn't go there.
As I got out, my neck hurt from having to look all the way up at the high mirror-reflecting skyscrapers, streets cleaner and brighter than my future, and the aroma from each well-maintained store, selling only upper class brands. What an immense contrast compared to the "Manila" I was in an hour ago.
And unfortunately you always see this in the prices of food and drinks - it started to remind me of London! I left with a colourful bubble tea, a bowl of noodles and some awesome pictures.
Bonifacio Global City. Photo credit and copyright: Rebecca Hanser
Manila is known to have one of the oldest China towns in the world! It's more than 400 years old and is located in the heart of the Binondo area, which is adjacent to Intramuros. At the entrances on all sides you will find the typical Torii gates along with pillars in the same fashion. There is big Chinese-styled arch at the southern entrance with one hell of a view on the Jones Bridge. Aside from your standard pawnshops, DIY stores and Chinese massage salons, there are lots of cute market fairs and obviously a ton of restaurants to feed every part of your soul.
Unfortunately, Manila won't win the beauty contest for cleanest city in the world. There is street waste in most of parts of the city centre and cockroaches and rats are a normal sight to see. Not to mention, the amount of air pollution caused by traffic, in combination with the extreme heat was at times a bit unpleasant. In that case, I would just jump into the nearest cafe for a massive glass of ice-cold fruit juice or an afternoon at a spa for a well-deserved full-body massage and that would get me through the day.
Chinatown. Photo credit and copyright: Rebecca Hanser
Nightlife in Manila is a little spread out over the city. You have your main vibrant party hubs like Makati, Pasay and the Manila Baywalk. Most of the nightclubs, karaoke and classy rooftop bars are located in these areas.
Some of the best clubs include Revel at The Palace, Black Market and Royal Nightclub. I spent my last night at Antidote, a rooftop bar inside the I'M Hotel which was right around the corner from my hotel.
The party scene in Manila is literally 24/7. Don't worry about arriving on a Monday and missing out on the weekend buzz; there is plenty going on every night of the week. And for solo travellers, no need to fear a lonely night. Lots of people are out and about, so it is always fun and always safe. You walk into a club alone and come out with 20 new friends. The party vibe is incredible!
With a drink on a hot summer night against the backdrop of an entirely lit-up Manila, I celebrated my last night in the capital. On to the next!
Antidote rooftop bar, photo 1+2. Photo credit and copyright: Rebecca Hanser
Coron
Next stop: Coron! Entering the realm of Palawan. I have heard and read so much about this island and was absolutely psyched to finally make my way there. From Manila I flew to Francisco B. Reyes, the local airport of Coron. Flight only took an hour and from the airport it was like a 45-minute drive from the city centre of Coron. There are NO taxis on the island. Only organised, allocated pick-up vans from the airport to each hotel in town. They would know the schedule of arrival flights to make sure they'll get as many people in the vans and get them to their hotels as soon as possible. Once, inside the city centre the tuk-tuk taxis are the sole transportation for locals.
The drive took me through mountainous and tropical woods. Cattle and waterfowl running around wild and free. Food stalls, shops and homes made of cardboard and scrap material. Unpaved and dilapidated roads with holes caused a bumpy -not so tranquil- ride. But all had its charm. It was obvious there was a massive contrast to the urban infrastructure of Manila. I felt far away from metropolitan modernity and it was a pleasant distraction.
After having settled into my hotel and having had a lovely brunch, I took my camera and drone for a walk in Lualhati Park. Close to the water, you come across houses on stilts where people live, mainly working from fishery and livestock. It was so old-fashioned and picturesque. Hard to walk on though, as the boards were loosely tied together. It seems only the locals were able to manoeuvre their way around.
At the time of my stay, Philippines was dealing with a heatwave. Every day it was around 36 degrees or more and even in the evening the temperature ensured a warm, tropical night.
Coron town is a pure and authentic little village with an insanely beautiful sunset. I was recommended to hike up Mount Tapyas Coron where you have the best views of that magical sunset. I didn't have any other plans for that day, as the following days would be filled with tours, so I figured this would be a nice chill walk. Boy was I wrong! Though in a straight line and easy to find, the pathway up to the mountain was steep and very hard to hike up to. Not to mention, the high temperatures made it difficult to breathe properly. I arrived at the top out of breath, sweating as if I got paid for it, but content, because the view was exactly how they described it.
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Houses on stilts. Coron, The Philippines. Photo credit: Rebecca Hanser
Drone video of Coron, Philippines. Video credit and copryright Rebecca Hanser & Visualise Productions © 2024
Mount Tapyas is one of two touristic highlights of the town. The other one is Maquinit Hot Springs. Obviously most tourists come here for adventurous island hopping activities which I will discuss later on. The entrance for Mount Tapyas is free. But watching that piercing sunset doesn't come easy. It takes a sweeping 721 steps to make your way to the top of this summit. It is well worth the hike but you can also choose to take a tuk-tuk taxi to take you there if walking is not an option. At the top you find a massive name sign of "CORON" in pure Hollywood style. You will be able to see this sign from miles away. Furthermore, at the summit there is a giant cross which was a symbol of hope after fires hit the town. The cross became a much-worshipped symbol during important religious festivities. The main religion in The Philippines is Catholicism.
Hollywood sign of CORON on Mount Tapyas, Coron, The Philippines. Photo credit: Rebecca Hanser
Island Hopping tour Coron
Obviously you come to Palawan for the turquoise blue waters, white sandy beaches and tropical temperatures. And all those heavenly islands! It made sense I was going to throw in some fun tours, especially when it's my birthday (!). Most of my tours were either locally organised or I find them on Get Your Guide. My first tour included the Barracuda Lake, Skeleton Wreck and the Twin Lagoon.
Skeleton Wreck
One of Palawan's most famous ship wrecks to dive to was the Skeleton Shipwreck. This used to be a Japanese supply ship that was hit by an air strike from the US Air Force during WW II. Its shallowest part lies at 5 meters deep, whereas the deepest part lays dormant at 22 meters. This is a perfect spot for free-diving, scuba diving or snorkelling.
Though often a bit crowded, it was a fun activity. And to be this close to a WW II artefact, was pretty cool. Professional scuba divers were able to completely submerge and flow in and out of the skeleton's wreck bones, while other tourists floated safely at the water surface to watch the others go down the coral-encrusted shipwreck.
Twin Lagoon
Another stop on this boat tour was the Twin Lagoons - two bodies of water that embrace one another through an underwater passageway. The reason for its name is because they are similar in size and adjacent to one another, however differ in water temperature: one is cool and the other is warm. The lagoons are embedded in the heart of Coron where the warm water from the open sea meets the pure water from the subterranean river. The perfect combination of lush greenery, pristine waters and dramatic limestone formations.
This is one of the main highlights on most boat tours from Coron and a wonderful location for snorkelling or scuba diving, though I grabbed a kayak to explore the lagoons. They go up to 7 ft deep so it is advised to wear a life jacket at all times, in case you get tired.
Barracuda Lake. Photo credit: Rebecca Hanser
Barracuda Lake
This beautiful lake is hidden away behind staggering, jagged cliffs with a secret entrance. Only a small pathway that crosses through a maze of rocks and cliffs leads to this legendary lake where no boats are allowed. It got its name from a massive barracuda skeleton found on the bottom, making people believe that this size of fish used to live here and that this lake was possibly connected to the open sea at some point in time. Some say there is still one big barracuda living in these waters but tends to hide from people in between the coral rocks. Others say there are no more living barracudas here so it is safe to swim around. I wanted to believe the latter (lol).
We were allowed to swim here and the underwater limestone rock formations are insanely beautiful. Totally out of this world! And this lake is very deep: 40 meters to be exact! The water is known as thermocline which means different layers of fresh salt water and fluctuating temperatures that can go up to 38 degrees.
For more info, check out the entire tour here Coron: Barracuda Lake, Skeleton Wreck, Twin Lagoon Boat Tour.
Underwater Gopro video of Barracuda Lake. Video credit: Rebecca Hanser
Town Center Coron
Despite all the travelers coming to Coron daily, it is actually a very simple, quaint and small town that mainly comes alive at night. Don't get me wrong, Coron is nothing near Miami standards when it comes to the party and clubbing scene. There are some cocktail bars and one local night club called PALM, which is where I spent a couple of hours dancing with friends I met on a tour group on my last night, which was great fun. Everything is within walking distance inside the town center.
During the day, it was too hot to undertake any active action, unless you find yourself cruising on a boat from one of the many tours while exploring the islands. One of those "quiet" days I would pamper myself at a spa with a massage and got a haircut. In the main high street you will find a lot of cute shops and stalls selling predominantly merchandise that is dive/sea-related. Perfect for when you are in need of new flippers, snorkeling gear or a bathing suit. And of course you have your healthy dose of souvenir shops, selling hand-made craft or herbs and typical Filipino dried snacks.
Maquinit Hot Spring
One of the two main tourist attractions and the perfect escape for relaxation and rejuvenation is Maquinit, one of the few saltwater hot springs in the world! Located in the southern part of the Busuanga coast and connected to the sea, which explains the natural phenomenon. You can either get there with a tricycle which will cost you 400 PHP to go and come back. Entrance fee is 200 PHP. It's a bumpy 30-minute drive from the town proper of Coron. Opening times are from 8 am - 8 pm with last entry at 7pm.
You can also join a tour, like I did which will cover the town centre, Mount Tapyas and end with the hot springs as the final highlight. Though I did the first two already, I chose to do the tour cause I was too lazy to take a trickle (lol) and I got to meet some fun people on the way.
The saline water of Maquinit apparently comes from a volcano and makes its way down through the lush greenery of Coron to spring into the two big round pools that make up the park. Going into the water was quite the experience! Mind you that the temperatures can reach up to 38 - 40 degrees celsius! It starts out with a scalding feeling of almost burning your skin. It is definitely not a good idea to just dive in and submerge in one go. You really need to let your body adjust to it. The tour guides warned to not stay in longer than 10 minutes. Make sure to take breaks and drink water.
It is said that mineral-rich water has healing benefits. It helps destress and relax your muscle. While enveloping your body, it soothes the skin and even helps with certain skin issues. I had a massive wound from the tour The bottom and sides are covered in cobbled stones which initially feels a bit uncomfortable. But once your feet are used to it - they feel like massages to the soles.