Chad Is Everywhere

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...

 The final day of the Intrepid Tour of the Southwest Western Australia saw an early start with a group improved breakfast. I was keen to do a little bit more than cereal for the first morning of 2021. After all it was the new year and I was on holidays. We had prepared ahead the day before picking up some Hash Browns, Eggs, and Bacon to go with the planned pancakes. It made for a worthy new year morning feast for new years day. From there the day started with a tour of the local caves. A good experience run by a local indigenous community. I've not seen too many cave experiences during my travels in Australia. The guide knew exactly how to get the best sound out from a didgeridoo in the amphitheater sized cave.  After the caves it time to really head for home. With a drive onto Busselton and its famous long jetty. Happy to say I walked it's length. It was a fair walk considering it was the peak of summer. And well considering the crowds I was lucky to still be able to get a s...

 The 2nd day of the Intrepid tour of the South West of Western Australia saw us driving to our most easterly point of the tour. The Cape Le Grand National Park. There are reasons why this place is considered one of the top 10 beaches of the world. I rate this as the most beautiful I have seen. The only thing I didn't get from this experience was a photo of the kangaroos actually on the beach. 

So 2020 was a bad year for most. And well travel was made near impossible thanks to the Coronavirus pandemic. All of my international plans for the year were left in ruins. Fortunately Australia had been somewhat protected from the virus spread. We gradually came out from our lock down slumber to allow domestic tourism. So with international travel helplessly just a dream I returned to domestic tourism beyond that of weekends away and city stays for AFL football viewing. Western Australia was the destination of choice. It made sense for a trip in the peak of summer to the southern parts of Australia. Big distances made a tour company even more attractive. So I called upon a trusted brand Intrepid Tours to provide my tour solution of a short 5 night tour of the South West of WA and added on a few nights in Perth after. As per normal I've packaged up my travel stories into short videos. Daily summaries for all to enjoy.

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 ...

Name one person who wouldn't want to visit to the Panda Research Base . This was in the morning of our first full day in Chengdu for The Dragon Trip tour. We spent about 3 hours in the centre all up. Click the video to see the baby pandas, not so baby pandas, and the red pandas. Below is just a handful of photos from the day. Baby pandas, baby pandas. Everyone stop life now, and check out the baby panda photos. 

I had visited Hong Kong before on a stopover from Europe on the way home. That time was a quick stay in part to see friends, and to then also get a taste of the city without committing to a long stop. This trip with the goal of getting up into China it made sense to revisit Hong Kong, and then also get a chance to see friends I had short changed last time. I enjoyed Hong Kong the first time as it's a great mix of East meets West culture and food. Unfortunately for me it wasn't all fine blue sky. This was hot and humid end of typhoon season Hong Kong. Not that I minded to much. It had been so long since I had seen rain in Brisbane. And my lagging winter cough needed the humidity to help it disappear. So my time here in Hong Kong was partly exploring the tourist zones I had missed, and then exploring the taste buds. I managed to fit in some Michelin rated noodles restaurant, and visit some great Dim Sum catching up with friends during the stay. Initial plans to go into th...