My wife Linda and I do a lot of home exchanges, where people from overseas stay in your home and you stay in theirs. We’ve found it to be a fun, inexpensive travel option. But when the offer of a house swap landed in our inbox from Manila in the Philippines, we were sceptical. We didn’t know much about the country and it seemed very far away… But after a bit of research and discussion we thought, why not? Let’s try something different!
Much of the Philippines is what Bali and Thailand were like 20 or 30 years ago – a largely unspoilt place that is only now being discovered by tourists.
Our home exchange was in the capital Manila – remember the Thrilla? – so that would obviously be our first stop. From Manila, we wanted to explore some islands but boy, how to choose? There are more than 7 000 islands in the greater Philippine archipelago, and they range widely in terms of development, facilities and attractions. You could say that beaches – and scuba-diving and snorkelling – define the Philippine island experience. Beaches surround almost every island and many are small, isolated and untouched.
In the end, we decided to go to Palawan – a long, thin island south-west of Manila. We’d explore Bacuit Bay on the northern end of Palawan, then spend a few days at an eco-lodge on a tiny island called Small Bamboo in SouthEast Culion Bay.
Capital chaos
We landed in Manila and made our way to the upmarket mini-city of Makati, where our house exchange was located. If you ever visit Manila, I’d suggest you also stay in Makati since the rest of the capital is rough. The traffic is bad and it’s dusty, chaotic and hot – 31° C in mid-winter.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der May 2020-Ausgabe von go! - South Africa.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der May 2020-Ausgabe von go! - South Africa.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
The wilder shore
The final leg of a 30-day trek across East Africa sees lan Tyrer and the Africa - Wild & Untamed crew explore both shores of Lake Malawi. Get ready for an overloaded ferry, a croc attack and being surrounded by elephants...
A river runs through it
Sabie is onthe Drakensberg escaromentialongMpumalanga’s famous Panorama Route. Want a weekend away surrounded by forests and waterfalls? Here's wnat you need to know.
TAKE A HIKE
Harkerville's mini Otter
Sweet & juicy!
This issue's recipes all include lush seasonal fruit like nectarines, plums and apricots. Enjoy!
Big mountain magic
On a clear day, as you approach the Cathedral Peak Hotel, it happens involuntarily: You start to grin. You'll be standing up there soon, gazing over this valley, and the scuttling of ground-level life will seem irrelevant. Join us on a five-day adventure into the heart of the high Drakensberg
Your next weekend away
A self-catering house in the Tankwa, a campsite next to the Orange River, a guest farm near the Drakensberg... Toast Coetzer travelled a lot last year: Here are six of his favourite places to stay if you're planning a road trip or weekend escape.
A life through binoculars
If the name Hugh Chittenden sounds familiar, it's probably because you see it every time you use your Roberts Bird Guide he's one of the co-authors. He lives in Mtunzini on the KZN coast and birding is as much part of his day as a cup of coffee.
Wanderlust in the park
All great cities have great parks, writes Dara Kell: spaces where you can exhale and slough off the stress and grime of urban life.
The Kalahari remembers
The Kalahari is a place of magic and heartache, where drought is an ever-present threat. Drive a loop from Upington to the Kuruman River and discover soulful landscapes, brilliant skies and resilient people who never give up.
Take a Hike
Hug a baobab in the Bushveld