Back in March this year I was working away photographing in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia for a few weeks. While over at that end of the world I thought it is a great idea to take some time out, explore some new places and catch up with my best mate, who was on the way back to the UK after a year in Australia.

Thus my amazing 3/4 weeks in the Philippines happened. With a minor pit stop in Changi Airport in Singapore for 6 hours between KL and Manila, my trip had started. Now I know what you must all be thinking, 6 hours in an airport, why did I stay inside and I must have been bored. Well tbh, it was great, Changi has so many outdoor spaces to chill in (Lilies from the lily pad garden at the start of the gallery), a pool, it literally has everything in there. So after a few non-stop hectic weeks in Malaysia, I just took a few hours to chill.

Far forward to landing in Manila, hopped in my Grab (Uber type taxi company) to get to my first hostel in Philippines, Z Hostel. I would highly recommend this hostel for your stay in Manila, rooftop bar and talkative staff. So its 6 pm, Mark and I thought we best go check out what manila has to offer for food and bars. We tried the Pilipino dish of Adobo for the first time and went to a club called Royals after recommendations, which ended with us going on a pub-crawl, waking up hangover to find out in our drunk state we booked flights to Porto Princesa to get to El Nido.

From Puerto Princesa, we got a transfer van to El Nido. Mark and I thinking that’s fine it’s what everyone does. Not realising it’s 6 hours, not the best trip for a hangover. Winding roads and put holes galore, It made me think I never want to moan about a pothole in the UK again. So Mark and I have done a good amount of travelling between us, thinking about hostels we usually book on the day for a good hostel and it’s all been fine. Were we right ... nope. Turns out if you want a good hostel in the Philippines you have to book in advance. So finding out that the hostel we looked at was basically booked all week we went to a one in town. Imagine 3 double beds in a small room, no floor space and a tiny toilet no lock, and a bucket to shower when the water shuts off. Lovely. So in the morning we went to the hostel we wanted and heard about (Outpost Beach Hostel) speaking with reception, having a joke with the staff we managed to get a cancellation in a dorm, and then booked into a building behind the hostel. Nicknamed the sexy house. I mean me and mark had to share a small double, but we had a whole house when the other room wasn’t booked up. The best part about this hostel was sunset, you’re on the beach and you’re guaranteed a killer sunset. This was the place I found my love for red horse beer, it’s a local beer check it out.

Sitting in the bar the next morning Mark and I decided to walk along the coast with a new friend we literally just met. Which then led to us finding the zip line. The worst part was the walk up, finding out I’m really not that fit anymore. Have a look at the video clip of mark and myself on the zip line, pay a little extra and you can zip line back over the water again which saves you walking and it’s fun. Word of advice, lean back when you come in otherwise you will head-butt the zip line break, thank god for helmets.

The next few days we booked ourselves onto the typical tourist tours, Tour A and Tour C. Honestly you see some amazing island, the only downside being that there are another 20 boats of 20 odd people each there with you. Non-the less it was an amazing experience. Kayaking the big lagoon was probably my favourite part. Check out my photos below and my Philippines Travel Video Part 1.