Travel - Philippines

The Philippines is an archipelago consisting of around 7,600 small islands. While the total land area of the islands is quite small and the population quite large, it makes for a very densely populated country. In fact, it is the 12th most populated country in the world at 103 million people. The country is hit by on average 20 typhoons and storms per year, making it one of the most disaster prone countries in the world. If travelling to the Philippines, it is best not to visit during the rainy season which is between June and October.

The first time we went to the Philippines was in January 2014. It was our first international trip together. From visa requirement for transiting to budgeting and overall planning, we weren’t very good, but that didn’t stop us. We just learn as we go. It’s very hot and humid here pretty much all the time, so if you plan on traveling here be prepared for that no matter what time of the year you go. In fact, people here who have never left the country have never seen snow. If you find yourself trying to escape the heat, the malls always have A/C. It’s a beautiful country filled with friendly people and danger around every corner but as they say “It’s more fun in the Philippines!” We stayed most of the time with Jireh’s family in Laguna and went on day trips around and to Manila, Batangas and Cavite. One of the highlights to this trip was a hidden gem Pagsanjan Falls. Here two men take you up a river through a beautiful valley with a series of waterfalls. Beware you go underneath the last waterfall, so be ready to get wet. Also we would recommend visiting Villa Escudero where we did some bamboo rafting and they also have a restaurant situated in a slow flowing river. Another place we visited was the Taal Volcano, which is recognized as the smallest active volcano in the world. It has an island within a lake that is on an island within a lake on an island. Take a moment to wrap your head around that.

We came back in December 2015. This time we were more prepared. On this trip, we celebrated Christmas and New Year and also our wedding with Jireh's family. We also pre-booked a 5 day trip to Palawan. Here we were able to experience the Underground River in Puerto Princesa. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and definitely an experience you don't want to miss. It was also designated as one of the 7 Wonders of Nature in 2012. It was the world's longest underground river until 2017, it also includes one of the largest cave rooms in the world filled with giant stalactites and stalagmites and is home to a huge array of species including thousands of bats. Palawan has more than 1,700 islands, so if island hopping is your thing, Palawan is where you want to be.

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