Asia is unequal... When a person goes to Thailand for the seventh time, he already knows all its secrets and surprises. Even at the night market, just like 7 years ago, there is the same stand with the same fakes. It's similar in nightclubs: the same outfits, rules and probably only the age of the girls is getting lower. Therefore, in order to experience something new, I decided to go to another Asian country - the Philippines.
Philippines consist of over 7 thousand islands, of which only about a thousand are populated, so everyone will find their own corner here. Someone who has visited Thailand, Laos, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Vietnam and goes to the Philippines thinking that everything is the same everywhere will be very surprised. The Philippines is the only Christian country in Asia and – another surprise – the third largest English-speaking country in the world! There is no problem with communication there, even in places far from the capital, which cannot be said about other Asian countries. All the countries mentioned above have one thing in common: I am among the tallest people everywhere :)
Manila
I started my journey around the Philippines from the capital - Manila. A flight from Poland to Manila with Emirates with a stopover in Dubai takes about 18 hours, and ticket prices start from about PLN 3. PLN in economy class. The first encounter with Manila can be overwhelming. This is influenced by the number of people, colors, sounds, total chaos, dirt, slums, stench, shopping malls next to each other, business Makati, poor and dangerous Quiapo. You immediately start to wonder if this is really Manila, long called the Pearl of Asia. However, this is what happens with the Philippines nothing is as it seems at first glance.
During World War II, the capital of the Philippines, like Warsaw, was almost razed to the ground, and many monuments were irreversibly destroyed. Today, Manila is home to the remains of defensive walls, churches, gardens and modern business districts. Getting around the capital is very troublesome due to the traffic intensity and huge traffic jams. The tour should therefore be divided into parts, because getting from one place to another takes a lot of time.
Manila has some of the largest slums in the world, so I went on a trip there. My guide was a resident of the district, thanks to which the trip turned out to be not only extremely interesting, but also safe. I watched dirty children running around unattended on an equally dirty, narrow street. I also saw garbage everywhere, dogs and cats, rats and clothes hanging in dusty windows. In addition, there are small stalls where you can mainly buy candies, lollipops and chips. To my surprise, I quickly found out that even in such a place people can be happy.
Night life
Nightlife is a must in my travels. To my surprise I discovered that in Manila, the most beautiful girls in clubs and night bars are... male. Clubs, discos, pubs, restaurants – everyone will find something for themselves. Filipinos, regardless of the contents of their wallet, are smiling and full of joy. No wonder their national sport is karaoke. Literally every place has a karaoke machine and everyone is singing. They are very talented, so listening to them is a pleasure. During the night trip, I learned that in the Philippines, a real delicacy and an aphrodisiac is soup no. 5 cooked from bull testicles. As you can see, traveling educates.
Bohol Island
For a person who comes to the Philippines for the first time, the next point of the tour program is the island of Bohol. It is said that Bohol is the Philippines in a nutshell. You can find a little bit of everything here: culture, history, beautiful beaches, an extraordinary underwater world, tiny islands, wild animals, small rice terraces, dance, hospitality and typical Filipino dishes. The showcase of the island is the Chocolate Hills. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, they undoubtedly belong to the most characteristic and unique landscapes on our planet, we won't see anything like it anywhere else. There are many fascinating legends and inspiring stories associated with their creation. Over 1700 regular, perfectly shaped mounds are covered only with grass - it is because of its color in the dry season that they get their name.
In Bohol, on the Loboc River, there are also famous floating restaurants. There are boats on the river that look beyond imagination. The barracks, converted into restaurants and decorated in Filipino style, are full of romantic tables and local music. It flows in an extraordinary cruise deep into the jungle, where women with tiny guitars and dynamic bamboo dance shows await. All in the scenery where the famous one was filmed Apocalypse time.
Cebu Island
After a 2-hour ferry ride from Bohol, we are on the island of Cebu, with the oldest Philippine city of the same name. I wasn't impressed with the island and I'm surprised that Emirates has just created a new, direct connection to it. Cebu is a paradise for divers and is famous for its factory of a famous brand of guitars. All the biggest music celebrities have handmade instruments from this place. The best hotel on the island is Shangri La Mactan Resort & Spa. It has a small beach and is not particularly interesting. There is a lack of luxury hotels in Cebu.
Boracay Island
Unlike Cebu, Boracay is the hall of luxury. It's not much an island with beautiful beaches that top all rankings. It is only 7 km long and 1 km wide, but has excellent tourist infrastructure and fantastic conditions for sunbathing, swimming, diving, snorkeling, windsurfing and many other water sports.
The best hotel in Boracay is Shangri-La's Boracay Resort & Spa. Situated on a huge area, with beautiful gardens, a white private sandy beach, it has many types of accommodation, from standard rooms to private hilltop villas with stunning sea views. Shangri-La's Hotel is probably the only place where you can relax on a private beach and have fun in the evenings. The island of Boracay is full of tourists all year round, which makes it teeming with life.
Palawan Island
If you dream of an exceptional tropical paradise, Palawan in the Philippines should be high on your list. This picturesque island, part of the El Nido province, impresses with landscapes so beautiful that it is often called paradise on earth. Spectacular limestone cliffs covered with dense greenery, azure waters and charming beaches and islets create the perfect conditions for relaxation.
Island hopping in El Nido
The most popular way to spend time in El Nido is sunbathing and doing water sports. You can diversify this entertainment by going on island hopping, or boat trips around the small islands nearby. Such a trip takes up most of the day, and the boat stops along the way at several particularly attractive places, beaches, lagoons and bays. There are several routes, dozens of islands, you can explore them by sea kayak for many days.
On the way to paradise – discover luxury holidays in the Philippines for the 2025/2026 summer holidays
Each of us imagines paradise differently. For me it was staying at the center Amanpulo belonging to one of the most luxurious AMAN hotel chains. It is located on a private island, located in the northern part of the Palawan province, with the interesting name Pamalican. From Manila, you fly in a private plane belonging to the hotel, and the flight takes about an hour. Guests have at their disposal over 40 villas, which contain from one to even four bedrooms. It is an exclusive and one-of-a-kind place is intended for people who value privacy and luxury relaxation when planning their 2025/2026 vacation. It was on this island that celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Mariah Carey, Bill Gates, Tom Cruise, Beyonce and Robert De Niro stayed.
Amanpulo is a private enclave with the highest level of service. Each guest has a personal butler, and all meals, including breakfast, are à la carte. You can add variety to your stay by doing non-motorized water sports and taking advantage of the various attractions on the island itself. I especially recommend walking alone – I walked around Pamalican in just over an hour, and on my way I encountered only crabs running around in the flour-like sand. Amanpulo Resort was the icing on the cake of my trip to this distant and extremely interesting country. The people of the Philippines charmed me with their hospitality and spontaneity, now I can only hope that I will visit them again someday. However, if I am not able to do so, I will try to at least convey the beauty of this tropical paradise to people traveling from CARTER®
Author: Andrzej Tkachow
