Philippines

Swimming with Whale Sharks

The first time the boatman urged me to go below the surface, I resolutely plunged downwards and went as deep as I could go. Unfortunately — apparently — this was as deep as I could go:

♥ ♥ I’ve never seen snow. My city has no trains. It’s always summer where I live. Except on rainy days. And so trains fascinate me; autumn, winter, spring. Cobblestone, padded coats, foggy mountains, glens. I try when I travel to live a different life. But …

The Sumilon Island Bucket List

SGMT | Sumilon Island — Sumilon Island is one of my favorite places in my home province of Cebu. It’s nearly 4 hours away by bus — plus a short boat ride courtesy of the resort that operates the island — but the experience has …

Mount Hamiguitan: The Philippines’ Newest UNESCO World Heritage Site

SGMT | Mount Hamiguitan — It’s Monday and you probably have a million things on your to-do list, but here’s one thing you absolutely must make time for: exclusive photos of Mount Hamiguitan, the Philippines’ newest UNESCO World Heritage Site, by Jacob Maentz. Exclusive because …

How Much to Budget for El Nido (6 days, 5 nights)

How Much to Budget for El Nido (6D/5N)) | SGMT — An El Nido vacation can cost as little as ₱5,000 to as much as…I don’t know…₱5,000,000 or more. This budget, which we used for our Palawan trip last June, is somewhere in between. It’s …

List of Philippine Holidays 2017

List of Philippine Holidays 2017 | SGMT — Time to start planning your travels next year! Here’s the list of regular holidays and special non-working days for 2017, as decreed in Proclamation No. 50, signed by President Rodrigo Duterte last August 16 and released by Malacañang …