Dumaguete
I’ll save you some time and let you know it’s DOOM-A-GET-EHY. What a cool city. Buzzing with people, bars, restaurants, shops and markets. If only I’d had more time here to explore the city and surrounds such as the turtle sanctuary on Apo Island or a short hop to Oslob for the whale sharks. Sadly this stop in Dumaguete was an overnight stay in transit back to Manila.
If you’ve yet to read about my previous travels in the Philippines, you can catch-up with part one and part two. I’ve been travelling the Philippines from Manila in the North, through the Thousand Islands of Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor. Off next, in the Central Visayas, to Negros and Dumaguete.
Just days before the big elections which saw Duterte rise to inglorious power, seeing this friendly face running for senator made me smile.
Across Dumaguete we’re introduced to city life in the Philippines, away from the hell of Manila. We take a stroll around town, trying not to get lost, wandering along the waterfront and through market stalls.
An evening of average food, terrible drinks (I’ve come to the conclusion that Filipino food and service is the worst in Asia) and “doof-doof” at the local night club before returning to bed for another early start and flights back to Manila, an overnight delay and a few goodbyes to people and then back to the airport to Borocay for some more beach and no ferries.
Borocay
I kept hearing mixed thoughts around Borocay,on the one hand people saying it’s too touristy and on the other saying it’s still one of the most beautiful beaches in the Philippines. The general consensus was still to go. Alex and I arrived from our flight a few hours bus ride away, followed by a ferry crossing, another bus, then a walk down some back alleys (feeling lost, tired, and out of place) to our hostel.
Our time on the island, three days, was spent eating, drinking, and enjoying the beaches without the need for planes, buses or boats.
We finally found some good eats aswell at the beach-front hotels, like this delicious milk-fish, rice and eggs for breakfast at Nigi Nigi Nu Noos.
And then catching the sunset on the beach with happy-hour cocktails.
Day-to-day beach hopping, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, scuba diving, and afternoon massages (not the dirty kinda, just the cheap relaxing ones). It was quite funny, one guy was on his phone playing Angry Birds the whole time - how ironically calming.
When you’re not moving, the Philippines is beautiful
Concluding the Philippines
The Philippines has a lot to offer, but food is not one of them. After three days of deep-fried pig, overcooked fish and tummy troubles you’d forgive anyone for wishing for something 'simple’. The Thousand Islands make it a must to either stay put in one place or have a lot of time factored into your trip for delays - and delays there will be. Avoid Manila like your life depends on it, get in and get out. Borocay is fun, expensive, beautiful, and touristy - not much to do but dive, drink and sit on the beach. Siquijor is beautiful, I could spend a month of Sunday’s there. Cebu City has a lot of history, I hear the rest of the island is beautiful.
Would I go back, sure, am I in a hurry to, probably not.
You can see the whole of my trip through photographs on Flickr.