The Philippines

Have you been to The Philippines yet? If you have already visited one of the world’s friendliest countries, maybe (like me) you are counting the days until you can go back? Either way I have some news for you if travelling on The Philippines’ own signature transport system is high on your wishlist; the colourful […]

I wonder what prompted you to read a post about finding perfect places for winter sun? Maybe it’s the start of January and you’re looking for hot holiday ideas to get you through the month? Perhaps you’ve stumbled on this post in mid-March having suffered an entire English Winter? Or are you actually in Australia […]

The classic summer holiday is that cliche of sun, sand and sea – and that’s when most people tend to do most of their swimming. But as well as lazing on a sun lounger on our precious days off, many of us enjoy exploration and adventure while overseas, and to immerse ourselves in something new. […]

Welcome to the best thing I discovered during my time in The Philippines –  doing it ‘dampa style’. Do it once and you’ll just want to do it all over again the next night. And the next. Be warned the pictures are just blurry iphone images because when you’re doing it dampa style you don’t […]

This week a brand new tax year started, and those in traditional jobs have been running year-end assessments and shuffling spreadsheets left, right and centre. So I thought I’d do some rather taxing assessments of my own and calculate the 10 best things I’ve done this financial year, and their real value – monetarily and of course in […]

If you have only a short time in which to experience Manila you might think that a visit to a cemetery shouldn’t be at the top of your must-do list? But a trip to the sobering and thought-provoking American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila will pull The Philippines’ part in world history sharply into focus and underline how privileged we are to be […]

The Filipino Island of Bohol is best known for two things: tarsiers and what I came to think of as an exaggerated teletubby land known as The Chocolate Hills, a strange landscape of 1,268 eerie and bizarre conical mounds dotted a round the centre of the island…

The Philippines’ sprawling capital may not be the first place that springs to mind for a gastronomic city break – understandably most tourists who fly to The Philippines are headed for one or more of the 7107 islands and islets to kick back on an idyllic white sand beach. But it’s a big mistake to overlook […]

Think Asian street food and you’ll probably think of stalls selling delicious and mysterious local delicacies cooked up by a smiling old lady on a dirty street corner. Street food can make us feel excited about the thrill to our taste buds and apprehensive about the danger to our tummies in equal measure, but they’ve […]

If you’re looking for the perfect luxury beach resort on Cebu’s Mactan Island, it has to be The Crimson Resort Cebu. With stunning Asian-inspired decor and manicured grounds it makes a great retreat after exploring The Philippines’ bustling second city.

I’m just going to come right out and say it, Manila’s Fairmont Makati is my new favourite hotel in the world. In fact it isn’t really a hotel, it feels like a destination in and of itself. Manila may not be the first place that springs to mind for a relaxing break, but after a stay […]