Applying for a visa at the Philippine Embassy in the Netherlands
I knew upfront that I was going to stay in the Philippines longer than the free tourist visa on arrival would allow. When entering the Philippines as a holder of a Dutch passport, you are granted a 30 days visa upon…
Can I travel to the Philippines in 2021?
On January 4, 2021, the Bureau of Immigration released a press announcement about the latest travel restrictions for foreigners that planned on visiting the Philippines during the ongoing COVID pandemic. Here are the latest requirements. It is nearly impossible for…
How to get from Cebu City To Butuan City
All ferry schedules I know for the Philippines can be found here. Many I have used myself, others I have found on the internet. And some are handed to me by visitors. This post is about the schedule between Cebu…
Altimonan ZigZag Route Philippines
Riding the Altimonan road, or the old Bicol ZigZag route. Was amazing, I did not know what was coming, I just wanted to get off the highway with the huge trucks passing by non-stop. And the road rage of the…
Are you going back home due to Corona Virus?
While Mexico is working hard to prevent the pandemic from hitting the country, I struggle in my own little world with isolation, disappointing business results for weeks and questions from readers. And two questions keep reappearing. Wouldn’t you be rather…
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…
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…
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…
Exit Clearance Philippines explained
Do you need an exit clearance when leaving the Philippines and where to get one? It is explained in the podcast I uploaded on August 21, 2018. After three years of traveling through the Philippines, it is time for a…
Motorcycle Registration in the Philippines
When you by a new motorcycle in the Philippines usually the dealer has an offer to pay the first year of registration and insurance. When you buy a bigger motorbike the registration, depending on the weight of the bike values…
Cost of living in the Philippines, July 2018
The months of July was a weird month since I moved to another house, that means I lost the deposit from the house before. My landlord, there was pretty clear about that. Lots of people asked me why I moved…
