The morning after I attended the Tiny House Jamboree I flew to the Philippines for the second half of my vacation. During this part of the vacation I planned to NOT plan like I normally would. This provided me great flexibility to do whatever I wanted on vacation. The Philippines is a great place to explore and loosen up an itinerary so you’re not forced to check in/out of a hotel by a x-time, or leave a cool area, or allow you to divert to an awesome area. I landed in Manila late in the evening and explored the city for one day before booking a flight to Tagbilaran in Bohol. At each destination, I literally asked the locals where I should go to see the REAL Manilla, Bohol, Negros, Leyte, etc. and I never felt I was decieved. I rented a small motorcycle in Tagbilaran (Bohol) and Dumaguete (Negros) so I could explore the country faster yet by my own tempo. In Bohol, I saw the blindingly white beaches of Panglao and Anda, took two zipline adventure rides, rode to and through the Chocolate Hills and the Man-made Forest, saw the its-bitsy Tarsiers (Google them!), enjoyed a river cruise and went snorkelling everyday I was there. I took the JetFerry to Dumaguete where I stayed two days to do more snorkelling and motorcycle touring. I also had the exciting opportunity to meet American expatriot Reekay Velez (LifeBeyondTheSea) and his girlfriend. I could have stayed in Negros a week in Dumaguete alone. With the assistance of the resort manager where I stayed in Dumaguete, I booked a flight and overnighted in Cebu City (Cebu). Unfortunately, I didn’t even stay a full day in Cebu, only seeing the tourist sights / attractions located near the JetFerry terminal before catching a ferry to Ormoc (Philippines). In Ormoc, I hired a driver to take me to Padre Burgos where I would stay nearly a week with family. There, I did about every tourist-thing one can do (snorkelling, hiking, karaoke… even saw cock fight!), to include visiting family I hadn’t seen in 25 year, many of whom I was meeting for the first time. I hired a driver to take me to Tacloban (you might recall the name from Typhon Yolanda that leveled Tacloban in 2013) where we did a some family sightseeing before parting ways. I did a little exploring in Tacloban, but not nearly as much as I should have. It felt so nice to not hear the neighborhood roosters’ cock-a-doodle’n, allowing me to sleep in until 10am. Back in Manila, I enjoyed another micro-family reunion and enjoyed a day of sightseeing and shopping. After a very lengthy flight back to the US, all that was left to do was unpack one 35L backpack and try to rest from a lengthy holiday.
I travelled as lightly as I thought I could… I was wrong! Below is a list of everything I brought with me. I’ve highlighted those items that I should have left behind and were most useful.
The Packing List —
Credentials::
US Passport
US Drivers ID
US Military ID
3x Credit Cards
1x SF Coin
Things::
Osprey Atmos 35 pack
Osprey Raptor 10 pack
Osprey WaterBladder
3x Reuse-able Grocery Bags
Dive Mask & Snorkel
Frisbee
SleepingBag Liner
Hammock w/ Straps & Carabiners
Wallet
Runners Wallet
Beach Wallet
Wristwatch
Rubber Bracelet w/ Handcuff Key
Universal Wall Outlet Adapter
2-outlet 5v USB Wall Charger
iPhone 6
iPad Mini
12v Charging Cable
Charger Cables (6″, 36″, 120″)
Mophie Battery Back-up
Earbuds
64gb ThumbDrive
Petzl Headlamp
Suunto Compass/Thermometer
Mosquito Headnet
Sunglasses w/ HardCase
Ink Pen
Sharpie Marker
Nalgene Bottle
Toiletry Kit:
1x Shaving Razor Handle
3x Shaving Razor Blades
1x Toothbrush
1x Toothpaste
1x Nail Clippers
1x Deodorant
1x Tweezers
Footwear::
1x FlipFlops
1x Running Shoes
Clothing::
3x ExOfficio L/S Shirts — White, Blue, Plaid
2x UA T-Shirts — Grey, Green
1x Polo Shirt — Black
1x UA Hooded L/S CoolShirt
1x Leather Belt
1x Kuhl Convertible Pants
1x Athletic Shorts
1x Board Shorts
1x UA Cargo Shorts
2x ExOfficio Briefs
3x SmartWool Socks
What about you… what are some of the travel “essentials” that you wish you never brought with you on vacation? Additionally, which items do you find truly “essential” for your travels?
Cool read Mike. That’s neat you got to go back and see your family and enjoy the simple life. I’ve been following your picture story on Facebook the whole time. Looked wonderful. You may be on to something with your travels and documentation. May be time to retire and get a job with national geographic! Well hope you had a great time and maybe we will be one of your stops on your next adventure. Cheers!
I’d definitely like (love) to do something allow those lines. As long as I have either beaches or mountains and motorcycle in the scene I’ll be happy!
Best regards,
Michael
I’m a scuba diver and I’ve gone to all those visayan spots and a lot of other places. Ya, i fall into the trap of over planning and over packing. But it is a good idea to bring mosquito repellent and calamine lotion. Always wear jeans when using a scooter and bring fingerless bike gloves to protect from road rash if you take a spill. Learn some cebuano phrases. Become a morning person and get things done outside between 6am and 9am to avoid the extreme heat. Markets are open early. A watch is ornamental in the Philippines ;-).
Thank you for sharing your travels in the Philippines! Also the packing list is helpful as I prepare for a trip to the PI in October this year. Bohol and Tacloban are two places I would like to visit. Maybe renting the motor scooter is a good option for transportation. Did you travel with a suitcase or backpack or both?
Mark,
I only brought a 30L backpack and a 10L daypack. The bigger bag was filled most of the way, but I could always cram in a bottle of water or snacks. I thoroughly enjoyed traveling light. I would only travel light-er next time!
You can check out some of the pics from my trip on my Instagram @thatchillaxdude there, I have my backpacks and all of my travel items.
Best regards,
Michael
Thank you for the response. I am considering a backpack this time vs small suitcase. I am also considering a more flexible approach, as you said, planning not to plan. I am considering some Air B & B options for lodging. Mark
Thanks for sharing Mike, glad you’re able to see your family. If you live in one of this countries, right now, you might have the opportunity to enjoy more of those things you want within couple of years or so by retiring early like within two to five years . Places I’m talking about is USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Australia, Japan, Hongkong, Philippines, and Thailand ) soon TBA .
I am usually to blogging and i sincerely thank you for content regularly.
This content has truly grabbed my interest. I will bookmark your web site and also keep on checking
for more details.
Have you ever considered about adding a little bit more than just
your posts? I mean, what you say is fundamental and everything.
Nevertheless think about if you included some great pictures or video clips to give your posts more, “pop”!
Your content is superb but with images and clips, this site could certainly be among the most beneficial in its field.
Wonderful blog!
I’m impressed, I must say. Seldom do I come across a blog that’s both equally educative and amusing, and without a doubt, you have hit the nail on the head. The issue is something not enough people are speaking intelligently about. Now i’m very happy that I came across this during my hunt for something regarding this.|