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.
Denne historien er fra May 2020-utgaven av go! - South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra May 2020-utgaven av go! - South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Rolling out the big guns
If you're still scanning the horizon for a Chinese automotive invasion you're looking the wrong way. It's already happening, and the new GWM Tank is the off-road spearhead into the highly lucrative and hotly contested lifestyle market.
TAKE A HIKE
The beautiful agony of Tienuurkop
Time out in Dullies
A long weekend in Dullstroom is just long enough to make you realise you need to spend several more weekends here! There's food, drink, art and action in abundance. Here's your guide.
Gallivanting in the Galápagos!
The Galápagos Islands are on many a traveller's wish list. They were on Hanlie and Vivian Gericke's too, even though the price of visiting made their eyes water. Was it worth it? Read on...
BURCHELL AND THE COUNTRY OF THE BUSHMEN
How many times have you driven through a landscape and wished you could have seen it centuries ago? In 1811, the English artist and explorer, William John Burchell, travelled through South Africa. Join us as we follow in his footsteps.
Long live the Hibiscus Coast
The KZN South Coast is a national treasure. It's still the place to go if you want a classic seaside holiday complete with warm waves, cold beer, soft serve and good vibes. Here's your guide.
The island at the end of the earth
Imagine adlace-with the cleanest air arid:the clearest seawater, where_no human.oranimabwants to:harm you: A placewhere the climates balmy. year-round:-with a sekrhistory ahd wwild scenery. A place like this:exist8” and it’s called St Helena.
A day on the road
You never know what the road will bring. Toast Coetzer heads south on the N1 and discovers South Africa.
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.
