Chad Is Everywhere

In December 2023 I had the opportunity to add to my exploration of the Philippines. A week away tacked onto a work trip. Within this week I planned out a one side destination trip. Just one island, one day trip. So that I wasn't overwhelmed. And well acknowledging there may be other opportunities for more trips later. Yes the prior trip had physically broken me. I'm no longer 25.  I chose Coron Island over El Nido. Not because I knew it'd be better. I had seen enough videos comparing the 2 destinations to figure out you'd be okay whichever you choose. Both are a part of the Palawan region. I chose Coron Island because I could fly out of there easier on the time frames I had. A week away meant I needed to be more direct, in, out, no dilly-dally. There was no time for rain delays, nor contingencies if I had to ferry elsewhere. Accommodation I had read up about had indicated that you need to be in the Town Centre if you want to walk about. And it often was overpriced and u...

Manila is a big city. And well a big city with developing country reputational issues. It's reputation is that of bad traffic, pollution, and petty crime. So my plans included only 2 nights of Manila. 2 nights too many for many who have been there before. Unfortunately reputations like cliches exist for a reason. And in the case of Manila although they formed a backdrop to my level of awareness I didn't let them totally overshadow the visit. The traffic just spoke to me of the opportunity there is for improvement through a metro and bus system. Improvement that would lift the quality of life. It's a young country with aspirations. They'll get there. In Manila my focus was to merely to make sure I was in Manila in time for my departure home. I purposefully made sure I was not connecting flights into Manila the same day to then fly out that night. I then also wanted to show the city some respect. Heck it's the capital for a reason. So 2 nights was like a compromise. I...

Bohol was the winner of the competition between the islands of the Philippines on which island was to get my tourist dollar's attention on a first trip to the Philippines. It had been a close battle in the planning stages between the excitement of Palawan versus the traditional highlight reel, Boracay. But from the YouTube videos came a dark horse, or should I say a tiny monkey. And all of a sudden the eyes had it. And my what big eyes they were. This island had come from nowhere to snatch the victory. Bohol, for the win! Here I could still get the reefs and beaches as the other destinations promoted. But more importantly I could also get the nature in the form of animals and inland rivers. This was just another dimension the others couldn't match.  My transit to Bohol was just a two hour ferry from Cebu City to Tagbilaran and then 20 minute taxi from the terminal to the main tourist accommodation area of Alona Beach on Panglao Island. This was a small island off the bigger i...

I am sure most have been in the situation I found myself, staring up at a ceiling, unable to move a limb, wondering how the light will turn off, writing out lines in my head like Bart Simpson in the credits of a Simpsons episode.   I am not 25 anymore. I am not 25 anymore. I am not 25 anymore. I am not 25 anymore.   Not sure I'll learn from this experience. However I survived!   Where did my planning process go wrong. I do remember looking at the day tour before departing Australia. Oh look, snorkeling, zipline, and canyoning in the one day. Sounds fun. Sign me up. What could go wrong. In my defense when I was in the planning stages of my trip to Philippines Moalboal had come up as a must see. Initially I watched the YouTube videos, and started to investigate my options around the concept of staying in Moalboal for a few days, completing the snorkeling one day, and the canyoning the next. Then reality of distances and organising trips from afar started to muddy the waters...

In terms of a traveling reference when you say the word Cebu for to a trip in the Philippines you need to be careful. Island or City? What's your prospective? Cebu City is the second city of the Philippines. However when you say Cebu most think you mean the whole region. There is so much to Cebu. A lot to take in from the city, to the north, to the south, and there were even destinations on the Matcan Island to the east I missed all because of time. Hence you can understand why it makes for such a good launchpad for seeing the Philippines. For me there were stays in the city making it a central anchor to my tour. I had arrived by plane, but then nearly immediately departed by bus for Bantayan in the north. Then I returned by bus only the then go on a day tour south to Moalboal. And then after my stay I left by ferry onto Bohol. It's large, it's developed. The city is no iconic must see for nature the city itself but it is an important jump point from which everything is fou...

   Okay. I’m back. Back on blogging. This is the first trip since Covid. Why Philippines you may ask? Well it’s significant country of my employer thanks to a restructure that occurred during Covid. Globalisation caught up on me. So opportunity came about to have me visit. To say hi in person to those who are now work colleagues. Yes the change was significant during these past few years. I’m through the tunnel and glad to be traveling again. Documenting my travel for my own poor memory and those who like to follow.  Over the next week I’m based in Subic Bay. Few may be aware this was once site to a major U.S. naval base post World War 2. Eventually the USA left and then the area has since been redeveloped as a special economic zone. I’ve just arrived and well I have one full day before work to explore the coastal town that is considered a weekend away destination from Manila.    For the rest of the time I’ll be after hours hiker and restaurant reviewer. Wh...

I just had to share this funny yet useful impromptu moment as provided by our wonderful tour guide from Chengdu. We were walking around Leshan Buddha site at the time. In a moment of rest she started to go through some Tai Chi. At which point someone mentioned they'd like learn how it went. And this was the funny basic series she provided to us. I'm sure its legit as a training method when introducing the artistic form to kids. I don't mind, I'm a big kid, and it brought on a smile. And as my former chiropractor always used to say. Why do we stop skipping? It's good for us, and it brings a smile. Forevermore I will always remember Tai Chi as slicing the watermelon in half and offering half to each side. Thank you Alina for this wonderful moment of levity on the trip. 

I took the opportunity to visit Layess, my former Brisbane flatmate, as a part of my Panda trip. The idea was that I could make a side trip to her home city of Chongqing from Chengdu. It was about 2 hours by train. This was easy enough to complete in theory. I just had to figure out myself how to get there.  Which meant navigating the long distance trains myself after managing to buy a ticket. Easier said than done. The first step was easy. I just had to retrace our trip from the Chengdu Train station we had arrived into. Then I just had to board the right train at the station. It was fairly easy on the way to Chengdu. But then we had guided instruction on what to do from the tour. Although we didn't actually have the guide with us every time we were inside the station we were seemingly under the safety blanket beingtold what to expect. This trip has no such support. I was alone and had my memory to rely on.   I had no ability to book my train tickets onlin...

  Chengdu as a destination wasn't just about Pandas. I mean sure if I left Chengdu and all I could say I saw was the Panda Base I'd still feel a sense of achievement. However There was much more to the 3 nights on the tour in Chengdu, and then the extra nights I stayed there after making a side trip to Chongqing. Immediately after the tour of the Panda base we went for a lunch at perhaps the most basic of the restaurants we visited whilst on the tour. Unfortunately for our guide this restaurant was awkward. There was no menu in English, and she hadn't really explained to us it was cheap. We were seemingly locked into a group lunch experience unknown relying on the guide to order. The main table which was mainly non vegetarians was fine. A mix of hot and not so hot dishes came out. Although we were still tentative about what to expect. However the vegetarians at a second table (due to the group size) were left to the whim of the hosts too. So they got the same long bean ...