It has been more than two months travelling with my mates Dolf and Chris from Belgium and time has been flying by. What started with a brief small talk in a remote fishermen’s village in Laos, marked the start of an incredible adventure and finally turned into true friendship. Although we have split already a couple of weeks ago, I still want to appreciate our shared trip with a separate post.
I like travelling alone but at the time I met the guys in Laos, I was a little fed up with it and more than happy to meet like minded people. I mean you meet a lot of people while travelling, especially when backpacking. But to be honest, especially on the classic South East Asia Loop I found a lot of these people pretty annoying and just not on the same wavelength. All the more I instantly enjoyed the company of Dolf and Chris. We shared the same thoughts, the same interests and the same style of travelling. It was great I am sure traveling the route we have by myself would have been a completely different experience.
Banka Ride to Biri Island.
Exhausted after climbing the volcano Mt. Bulusan.
View from the top of Batad Rice Terraces.
Thanks for an awesome ride guys! We have done it all:
– Fishing in the Mekong and Nam Ou River
– Sleeping for 5000 Kip in a remote Laotian village
– Doing the famous Thakhek Loop by motorbike
– Exploring a dozen and more waterfalls
– Hiking the incredible rice terraces of Banaue and Batad
– Wakeboarding at the CWC in Naga
– Camping in hammocks on the beach (and getting rained out)
– Assaulting the summit of Mt. Bulusan Volcano
– Island hopping all over the Philippines
– Checking out malls in every bigger city of the Philippines
– Eating Balut and getting wasted on MP Light, San Miguel and Red Horse
– Surviving day long transportation days and boring ferry rides
– Making new friends
– Searching for witches on Siquijor Island
– Discovering remote and desert beaches
– Going underground in Palawan
– Living the Buhay Baboy all the way
– .. and so much more
I enjoyed every bit of our trip. Thanks for the company and most importantly for being patient and putting up with those occasional mood swings of mine. I know it can be difficult at times and I honestly appreciate it. I had the greatest time and I can say that I would always travel with you guys again – any time and any place. It was my pleasure and I hope that we can meet up again soon – either in Belgium, Germany or some other place on this planet. Keep it up and never lose the spirit. Buhay Baboy for Life!
Good Times together with the guys. Take care boys!
Reblogged this on Maniniyot.
I love traveling alone too but it is still more fun when you find a travel buddy that as you say of the same wavelength. It was fun following you three through your blog ad you travel my country. Keep them coming 🙂
Hey Mikaela, thanks for your feedback. Both, traveling alone and traveling with mates has its pro and cons. There is a time for each mode of traveling I think. My next stations will be approached alone again and I am actually looking forward too it. Will keep them updates coming. Take care, Philipp
great tribute Philipp , hope you guys get back to the p i one day .
regards peter
ps say hello to glenda
Hey Peter, thanks for your feedback. We will sure be back sooner or later. The PI was by far the best country we have traveled. Hey Peter, what was the name again of the island with the good surf breaks. The one where Badger used to surf and his father used to have the surf camp. You told us about that island …. Thanks again!
Calicoan island?
I haven’t been there yet. Is it good?
What great memories and incredible amount of sights and activities you packed into your two months together.
Yeah, looking back at it and going through all of the pics before writing the article really brought back those memories. We had a lot of good experiences and a great time together. Now it is time to move on and I hope it is just gonna be as good. Thanks for your feedback and kind regards, Philipp
Reblogged this on Philippine Photogram.
Thanks for the reblog
A friend shared the link of the article you wrote about your travel to the Philippines and I found myself reading almost all your articles! So amazed by all your adventures but the “Buhay Baboy” made me comment! Hahaha 🙂
Yes..I like the Buhay Baboy …. it’s a way of life hehe.
Buhay baboy? Winner!!!!
Haha, the Buhay Baboy is the best!
I totally love this post. If ever you come back here in the Phil, you should visit us here in BOHOL. We are known for the Chocolate Hills, our beautiful white sand beaches and for our very friendly people. We also have Extreme Adventure Parks here which offers highly adventurous activities for adrenaline seekers and we have the best snorkeling and diving spots in the country if you love the exploring the water. I have a highly adventurous set set of friends and you can tag along in our dumb adventures. Pay us a visit here! 🙂
Hi PipoY! Thanks for visiting Philippines! I am glad that you appreciated the beauty and it’s entirety. I can say that Germany is also beautiful I am not living so far from you..I am living now in Belgium and I live not far in Gubat in bicol where you feel at home at. Hope to travel with you someday in the Philippines. Good luck to your next adventure in life..
Hi Angelo, thanks for stopping by man. What u doing in Belgium then? Yeah, I am about to leave GErmany again and I am not too sad about it to be honest with you. Where exactly in Bicol did you live? I might have passed by your place as I have spent a long time in that area…. Very nice there, I enjoyed it lots ….. Thanks for your wishes Angelo, same to you …. All the best