Greetings from Cebu City in the Philippines! We have now started our big Philippine adventure and have spent a few days in Cebu City, where the flight landed. Here it has become preparations for the upcoming boat trip.
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Greetings from Cebu City
Cebu City located on the eastern coast of the island of Cebu, is a bustling city with around one million inhabitants. The city is in turn part of the even larger metropolitan area of Metro Cebu, where around three million people live.
We are here with our friends Micke and Julia and have, during these first days, focused on shopping and running errands for upcoming adventures on the Philippine islands. We have travelled around a lot on foot, but perhaps most of all with the help of the taxi app Grab, when we needed to travel a little longer distances.
Focus on preparation
So, what are we preparing for? We hardly know ourselves. We know that we are heading to the island of Malapascua, where Micke and Julia know a family that owns a boat. The plan is to go island hopping on this boat. The details of the island hopping are still a bit unclear, but we will soon discuss everything in detail with the family.
What we fat right now is that we need to prepare as best we can to have access to electricity and internet, even when we are on board the boat and hitchhiking around smaller islands. Because you want us to be able to update here at FREEDOMtravel, right?
We also know that the range of shops and electronics shrinks drastically when we leave the big city... So we've been shopping for things like SIM cards, surfing, solar panels and batteries.
There are plenty of shops in Cebu City, ranging from small holes in the wall to huge shopping centres. We visited Robinsons Galeria, which is far from being the biggest mall, but where you can find the Bureau of Immigration, among other things.
Since we are planning to stay in the Philippines for three months, and since you can only get a visa for two months in Sweden, we had to extend our stay by one month. It went smoothly, we must say, even if we had to queue for a little while.
As well as technical stuff, we've been looking for things like flip-flops, sun hats, thin towels and fishing gear. Because yes, the guys want to fish from the boat! In the small but well-stocked Cebu Tackle Shop, we got great help from a whole bunch of enthusiastic and knowledgeable guys. In addition, it was a nice moment with a lot of talk and laughter!
Hang out in Cebu City
Of course, we also just hung out with our friends in the heat and drank Red Horse beer, which is common here. There has also been a lot of grilled chicken, and grilled pork, along with rice at the countless simple places you find along the streets. Affordable and delicious!
Best this week
The best part of this week for us? That we are in the Philippines of course! And being able to hang out with our friends Micke and Julia! Our adventure here has only just begun, and we are more excited than ever.
What does it look like for you? What can you highlight as positive from your week, big or small?
The week ahead
In the coming week, we will still be in the Philippines, and we will be travelling to the island of Malapascua. Here at FREEDOMtravel we continue to tell you about our adventures, mixed with some other reports. We haven't had time to tell you everything from the last Austria trip, so hopefully we'll get that out too!
Did you miss the last Happy Friday? Read the Home between Austria and the Philippines
Annar Aas says:
You are wonderful to let us join you on your journey. You are skilled at giving us an insight into the environment and life in the Philippines.
03 February 2023 - 9:28
Evy Knoph says:
Looks lovely, fun to follow :-).
The best of the week was to hang out with the grandchildren (3 and 5.5) on handball play :-).
And that my June trip is starting to take shape, booked ferry and train to the first stop in Budapest :-).
03 February 2023 - 13:07
Helena says:
Evy, handball play with the grandchildren sounds wonderful! 🙂 And wonderful with travel plans!
04 February 2023 - 15:02
Helena says:
Annar, so glad it is appreciated!!! Wishing a continued nice weekend!!!
04 February 2023 - 15:01
Lena - good for the soul says:
How marvellous! You really feel the pulse and hear the sounds in the pictures! Of course I would like to join the journey!
Best of the week? If the week counts from last Friday, I have to say our little Helsinki cruise last weekend. Such a cosy little detour from everyday life.
Hug Lena
03 February 2023 - 10:20
Helena says:
Lena, what a nice comment! Lovely with a cruise! Completely agree, small detours from everyday life are worth gold!
04 February 2023 - 15:03
BP says:
Then you've been busy - great fun! Then it sounds a bit adventurous to go to someone you know who is someone who knows like... you - that's what's charming. At least when you (read: me) are in your 20s and 30s.
The food looked extremely good - YUMS!
Do Micke and Julia live in the Philippines or are they also on a long visit?
03 February 2023 - 19:42
Helena says:
Yes, both full and adventurous it is! 😉 Micke and Julia do not live in the Philippines, but they lived here for several months during the pandemic (when they were stuck here) and then they got to know a family, so they have good contacts and friends here.
04 February 2023 - 15:04