Philippines
articles on culture, tourism, people and climate in the Philippines
10 things to keep in mind when planning your 2020 Vacation?
With a world that is on lockdown, there are people that need a ray of hope, and they create that ray by looking at vacation spots to visit for the next summer vacation or autumn break. Nothing wrong with that.…
Is it safe to have surgery done in the Philippines?
During my stay in the Philippines, I had a few encounters with hospitals and I have seen rural clinics as well as University hospitals from the inside. I even had some experience on the operating table myself. Nothing serious but…
A consular Interview, what does that mean?
Depending on the country you want to visit you need a visa, and depending on the Embassy you apply for your visa the application might involve a consular interview. When your visa application is received by the consulate, they will…
What is the best month to travel to the Philippines
Most people think living in the Philippines is an endless summer. But the Philippines being a huge archipelago gets its fair share of typhoons and rain. So no endless summer for these islands. It is not even always hot. Some…
Is the Philippines the right country for you to live?
I have lived 3 years and 3 months in the archipelago of 7107 islands. I have seen a lot, visited many places and learned a lot. I lived among Filipinos and I think it is fair to say I can…
Samar and Leyte, my best travel pictures
Doing a motorcycle road trip through Samar and Leyte is amazing. Nature there is stunning. We took a lot of roads away from the highway, for the Pan-Philippine Highway is very very busy, since it connects the Manila area with…
The Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines is stepping up
It is my belief that the Philippines is one of the visa friendly countries in the world. It is so easy to get a visa and a visa extension in the Philippines. With a list of 157 countries to get…
Where to buy Fireworks in Dumaguete city
There is a lot of confusion on whether or not President Duterte put a ban on private fireworks. There are many Filipinos that believe fireworks are not allowed anymore unless it is set off by an official company and special…
Having a surgical procedure done in the Philippines
I’m kind of shocked when I hear the surgeon answer his phone. Here I am under an operating cloth with a huge wound on my head he was stitching and I can feel the anesthesia wearing off. The soft throbbing…
Having your eyes checked in the Philippines
There is a sale at the most eyewear stores in the Philippines in December, so a good time to buy new glasses. But how does it work and how expensive is it to buy new glasses in a third world…
A visit to the Dentist in the Philippines
With a numb upper lip, I type this blog. Last week I chipped my front tooth and I needed a visit to the dentist. I hate the dentist. In my experience in the Netherlands, dentists are patronizing, know all best and…
How to transfer money to Europe from the Philippines
Remember this blog post on how to send money out of the Philippines? We finally found a good solution to transfer our money out of the country and for little costs. Now when I posted that post on FB…
How to get money out of the Philippines?
My son and I transferred a lot of Euros to our Peso account (big mistake because of the weakening peso!!). The initial idea was to invest in a business in the Philippines. But we changed our minds and now we…
Devil’s Mountain, Mindoro Occidental
The pointed peaks of Devil’s mountain rise up in the scenery before us as we descend to the green rice-fields. We are staying in San José, but we would not miss a ride to this phenomenon for the world. Getting…
