Our final week in the Philippines was spent in island bliss. We kicked things off in Malapascua, which now rivals Koh Rong, Cambodia, Perhentian Kecil, Malaysia, and Ton Sai, Thailand for Best Beaches title in my book. I truly never wanted to leave, but we decided to take a peek at Bohol before flying back to Manila.
What we didn’t factor in was Holy Week. Wow — crowds, sold out transport, booked up hotels, and all businesses closed. We were totally unprepared, but managed to have a blast exploring Bohol’s interior by motorbike — peeking at tiny Tarsiers, ziplining over the Loboc river, and visiting the famed Chocolate Hills.
It was a great trip — but I’m leaving the Philippines feeling broke and exhausted. After a 24 hour bonus layover in Singapore, I’m very excited to unpack my bags and stay still on Gili Trawangan for the month! Divemaster course, here I come…
Photo A
Undeniably charming Malapascua
Photo B
A floating bar on Malapascua
Photo C
It was so hard to narrow down photos of these bright pink anemones — my new favorite underwater creatures
Photo D
White tip shark circling outside a cave
Photo E
Christianity is an overwhelming part of the Filipino experience
Photo F
Exploring Bohol
Photo G
Tarsier time! The world’s cutest — and smallest — primate
Which photo is your favorite?
photos D and G are amazing! I want your life š
Thanks Emma! I can’t complain, life is pretty good š
Photo G is my favourite, but every photo is amazing!
Thanks Stef! Hard to compete with the tiny Tarsiers š
Excellent photos! The Tarsier is awesome, look at those fingers & toes!
Good luck on your Divemaster’s course!
Thanks Shaun! Looking for a school in the next few days… eeek!
Beautiful set of photos, Alex! My favorite is the Shark outside a cave.
Enjoy Gili Islands!
Thank you! Sitting in a cave while a shark circled outside and not feeling afraid was a big moment in my dive career š
These are the best photos I’ve seen here, and that’s high praise indeed! Almost impossible to choose,…the shark is amazing, the floating bar enticing, but the # 1 photos are just unbeatable!!!
Wow, thanks Chris! That is indeed a great compliment! Thank you so much š
Wow, I just got back yesterday from Gilli Trawengen – you are going to love it! A small island but very interesting on so many different levels. Im excited to see your posts about the island. Love your blog, a very frequent reader and have to say I just love your honesty about everything you see and do.
Ciara! So close yet so far… I arrive there in two days š Thank you for the sweet compliment! And let me know if you have any recommendation for me.
Yet again some absolutely amazing photos Alex, I love your work.
Aw, thank you so much! I really appreciate it!
WoW!!! Of course they’re all amazing but I have to go with Photo G..
You would. Tarsiers for the win! So cute, about the size of my fist!
My favorite photo is Picture D! It looks like you had some great diving experiences in the Philippines! š
xx
Melanie
These are just the tip of the iceberg! I did 7 dives in my three weeks there… wish I could have done 3x that many!
GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
I love you.
Oh Alex, your photos are works of art! LOVE B!!!!!!
Thanks Andi! You’re too sweet.
G. High key is my new favourite thing. Despite the rat in it, it’s good.
It took me several reads to decipher this comment — but I think I’ve got it. Oh, and Neil said to tell you we saw seven manta rays today, and nah nah nah poo poo.
C and D are absolutely superb photos! Sure hope to see more of your diving photos during your class.
I hope so too! I’m a bit nervous because I’m not sure how often I’ll get out with my camera vs. having to assist on a course. To be honest diving without my camera drives me nuts!
High key is the sort of stylishly over-exposed look. I love it, but I’ll be damned if I can do it effectively. You do it a lot, and it’s cool as hell.
Just stirring about the rat. It is a cool creature, I grant you.
Neil knows very well what my retort is, and it is not family friendly so I keep it off your blog, but it rhymes with low truck poor health. :b
I love them all, but HAVE to go with G this week. Too cute!
G is definitely the reader favorite this week… can’t say I would have guessed otherwise š
Thanks for introducing us new creatures underwater that is in C….You have really got an eye of artist as said by Andy and this is Shown perfectly amazingly in your photo D and G…..You Rock Girl! Peek a Boo…..
Definitely photo B! I love how gorgeous the ocean is. And the boy staring out to sea. I wondering what he’s thinking about
I bet he’s thinking, “I can’t wait till I’m old enough to go to the floating bar too!” š
Omg! GGGGGGG!!! Bring that little guy to be right now! I want him!
Pretty sure they are illegal to remove from their little trees… let alone the country š
Photo G–the tarsier is just too cute and you captured such a great close up. Hope the dive course goes great!
Thanks! Starting in the next day or two… here goes nothing!
Aww, the Tarsier is soo cute! The Phillipines look like a great place. Can’t wait to read your posts.
Definitely Photo G the little Tarsier!!! I mean how can anything compete with that =) (except maybe the shark)
Good luck on the DM course! Looking forward to read your stories on it!
Thanks Katherine! I wish I had found more info online about what its really like to do the DM course, so you know I’ll be blabbing about it non stop š
You make it so hard to choose, each & every time! I’ll go with B and D! The floating bar seems fun, and I’m just speechless on the shark pic!! wow.