FILIPINOS - friendly, fun & unforgettable

So good to be back in the cool of the Cordillera Mountains in northern Philippines, six or more hours north of Manila. The average temp is about 8 degrees lower than the rest of the Philippines. It's merciful relief from the relentless heat & smog of the lowlands around the capital city. The air is fresher & clearer here, I can breathe again now after days of heavy sinus problems due to the ponderous pollution hanging over the densely populated Manila.

I never usually spend much time in Manila, sometimes l just hit the tarmac & then head straight for the hills. Manila is not one of my favourite cities & their public transport system is limited. Jeepneys are a cheap way to get around & a fun experience for the frst few times. But it's difficult to travel very far without really knowing your way around. So without local help it's easy to get lost, frustrated and give up by just getting a taxi.

The Philippines doesn't really cater for backpackers & there are very few hostels. And the few that do exsist are generally below par compared to other Asian countries. And also cost a little more. So it was with great delight that l found 'Where2Next', an awesome backpackers hostel in Malate, in central Manila. It was cool, clean & comfy and I liked it as soon as l walked in. The staff were welcoming & hospitable.  A happy haven from the chaos & squalor of the streets of Manila. It is now my preferred place to stay and thoroughly recommend it.

I had arrived too late to head straight for Baguio so was forced to find accommodation in the big city, Manila has a population of over 12 million. Most Filipinos speak excellent English.
 The staff at 'Where2Next' were helpful with their local knowledge  and if they weren't exactly sure, they  didn't hesitate to google it and provide accurate & valuable information.  There is a female dorm as well as mixed dorm and private rooms. A welcome find, close to the bay, major malls, cheap food vendors & a few tourist sites. I ended up staying longer than planned and met some truly great travel mates & shared a few Red Horses, a local beer with a 9% kick.
 l hope to cross paths with them  again somewhere in the world. That is why I love technology now, though l fought off the need to be online & on facebook for so long. Now l love it! Now l can keep up with everyone's whereabouts, exchange travel tips & info as well as making arrangements to guarantee path crossing.

The people of the Philippines are very hospitable & very big hearted. They are the reason why I keep returning here. They are exceptionlly polite & good manners are expected. Filipinos are quick to laugh also and they are all blessed with the talent to sing. Karaoke is a national pastime & plays on a much higher level than most. Extremely entertaining & a great fun with a few Red Horses. Unforgettable!
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Cuisine in the Philippines is hit & miss, and more miss than hit. After wondering why l had never seen a Filipino restaurant anywhere abroad, l realized the answer after my first buffet experience here. Lonely Planet says Filipino food is not as bad as foreigners say & not as good as Filipinos say. But this country has purple sweet potato ice-cream with a stripe of cheese through it. Need l say more?


I had forgotten how good the buses were in this part of the Philippines, surprisingly. The bus to Baguio was clean, air conditioned, stopped every couple of hours for breaks, was showing American movies along the way and also had reasonable wifi! The 7 hrs were easily filled in with my current book, my journal, sudoko and a snooze. But by the last hour, it always becomes uncomfortable, no matter where you are.
Baguio was named the Philippines summer capital, by the American occupation. It's a stepping stone onto the higher & more remote mountain towns of Sagada, Bontoc & beautiful Banaue.

 Life can be very difficult for many Filipinos.  A tuk tuk driver was once surprised to know that l had never experienced a day of hunger, a day without food. I don't even like to skip breakfast!
 It made me rethink a few things.

And with so much corruption & greed amongst their own people, they individually just seem to get on, focusing on feeding their families. And even though most Filipinos have very little, they are happy to share. They are hard working & passionate people. It is always a pleasure to return here, I am welcomed back like family. Their smiles are wide & generous. They are the reason I always come back here.