I had the pleasure of spending three months in the Philippines back in 2003. During that time I drank tons of absinthe and San Miguel , scuba dived, almost got married to a girl I’d known for only a few hours (hello effects of absinthe) , attempted to mold her poor family into a mead and honey making empire, realized it was the absinthe, and then ran away, got a new girlfriend, and continued to scuba dive, drink San Miguels to excess. I taught a family on Bohol how to make pizza and then helped them open what may have been the first pizza parlor on Bohol. But actually, all of that is kind of fuzzy because back then, I wasn’t writing things down the way I do now and the absinthe…. though you can read about it all in the forthcoming Smooth Living which will be published in Spring of 2013.
In the meantime, I’d love to share some articles and websites about and from the Philippines that demonstrate just what kind of awesome the place still is. Because, from what I’ve read and heard – it just keeps getting better. Yes, it really is 7000 islands of awesome. A good starting point is our Philippines Destination Guide, but there is so much to cover in this amazing country that for this Vagabond Travel Museum, I’ve reached out to travel bloggers all over the world. Here is what came from that:
From Erin Bender of Travel with Bender
A Month in Manila ins an index page and includes Manila with a Toddler, Corrigidor, Boracay, and the Redeeming Qualities of Manila.
From Alexandra Kovakova of Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
Is Boracay Really a Party Place?
Things to do in Puerto Princesa
11 Things to do in Bohol…in 2 Days
From Alexandra Pucherelli of Fluent in Frolicking
Alexandra has an index page of tons of things to do in the Philippines but this is her favorite Fear Factor: Swimming With Whale Sharks in Oslob, Philippines
Wandering Educators made an ebook of tips
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100 Travel Tips for the Philippines by Rissa Gatdula-Lumontad and Dr. Jesse Voights and – you can read the interview about the book and find links to it at the link above.
Graysa Bangoy has a huge amount of information
Graysa is from the Philippines and has a great Philippines blog filled with videos, photos, trip stories, and offbeat things to do that you would probably never think of – unless you’re a local or happen to be friends with one.
Aleah Phils at Solitary Wanderer also has a nice selection of articles
Solitary Wanderer is one of those blogs that you find and remember forever. Aleah’s Philippines Category is filled with gems like rappelling in Batan and getting a massage in Quezon City…My favorite? The live crucifixon in San Fernando Pampanga.
From Matt Gibson of … Matt Gibson
I know, like me, you’re thinking of Mel Gibson after that crucifixion story (see above) but this is Matt Gibson and he has some great Philippine gems of his own. His favorite?
A photo essay on the Banaue Rice Terraces – I can see why, but I think you should check out his article on midget boxing.
From Jodi Ettenberg of Legal Nomads
Pretty much everything Jodi writes is worth reading but these are her two favorites about the Philippines and so you should definitely read them.
From Jen Pollack Bianco at My Life’s a Trip
Jen demonstrates her knife skills and why Filipino food is one of the top up and coming cuisines in her piece of a PHilippine cooking course and her walk with Carlo is just fun. As a matter of fact, so is her blog. I recommend it as a great read.
Walk this way Manilia Tours with Carlos Celdran
Kyle McCarthy at Family Travel Forum offered up this gem
I love the tagline of Kyle’s site “Have kids, still travel” – in this article he offers up some great family resorts in the PI.
Melo Villareal of Out of Town Blog
Melo Villareal is my favorite Filipino Travel Blogger. If you haven’t checked out his site Out of Town, you haven’t found the best resource for the Philippines. I think Melo has actually been to all 7000 of his country’s islands. Great tips, photography, and plenty of food – check out this one on Jeepneys…
And here are a few more great Philippine stories and tips:
The Visayas Welcome to Boracay
Emerald waters. Long stretches of white-powdery sand beaches backed by palm trees. Warm shallows extending 20 meters or so out to the sea. There are virtually no rocks underwater. Just fine white sand.
From Touristtips.info
10 Things to Do in Manila”
From Chilling out to hiking through World War II battlefields…there’s a lot to do in the Philippines capital city.
Top 10 Hotels in Manila”
Colonial Era glamour to modern era glitz – you will find it in Manila. All of it.
Exploring Ilocos del Norte
Northern Luzon has much to offer as there are plenty of beaches down south amidst its scattered islands. Up north is a festival of sights, both natural and man-made, those that are made by nature like beaches and landscapes, and those made by man during the Spanish colonial era and before.
Bicol: Whale Shark Encounter in Sorsogon
Of all the tourist attractions in Bicol, nothing can be more thrilling and unique than a close encounter with the sharks in Donsol town, province of Sorsogon. Locally called as butanding, whale sharks are gigantic fish that can reach 18 meters in length and weigh up to 15 tons.
Top 5 Adventure Spots in the Philippines
The Philippines are filled with great adventures. Here are five that you’ll never forget!
Top 5 Dive Spots in the Philippines
Months from November to May are the best months to spend in the Philippines because this is the time for diving. Below are mentioned five amazing dive spots in the Philippines.
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About Vago Damitio
Vago Damitio (@vagodamitio) is the Editor-in-Chief for Vagobond. He jumped ship from a sinking dotcom in 2000 and decided to reclaim his most valuable commodity, time. He bought a VW bus for $100, moved into it and set out on a journey to show the world that it was possible to live life on your own terms. That journey took him from waking up under icy blankets in the Pacific Northwest to waking up under palm tress in Southeast Asia. Three years later, his first book, Rough Living: Tips and Tales of a Vagabond was published. After diving into the Anthropology of Tourism and Electronic Anthropology at the University of Hawaii (with undeclared minors in film and surf) he hit the road again in 2008. Since that time,he's lived primarily in Morocco and Turkey, married a Moroccan girl he couchsurfed with, and become a proud father. He's been to more than 40 countries, founded a successful online travel magazine (this one!), and still doesn't have a boss. Life is good. You can also find him on Google+ and at Facebook