Night in IT Park

The skyline of the BPO offices in IT Park Cebu City

Christian Philippines

Santo Niño

Music Store

Mural on a Music store in Cebu City

Ukay-Ukay

I went to a ukay-ukay pop up second hand market here in Cebu city. Apart from second hand clothes the sold a lot of hand made jewelry, food and other small knick-knacks. Since my bags are full and I try to travel as light as possible I bought stickers for my laptop.

Resting in Cebu City

I decided to extend my stay here in Cebu City as I feel the exhausting effects of long term travel. Catching my breath before diving back in.

A small sugbo/nightmarket near IT Park in Cebu City

Cebu City Cat

Hidden beneath some flowerpots.

On the Bus back to Cebu City

I took a non-aircon bus from Daanbantayan back to Cebu City. The weather was nice an only around 30 degrees with a cool breeze from the open window.

Bus back to Cebu City

The only problem was that the seats were definitely not built for westerners. I had to sit over two seats and after 4 hours I was happy to arrive in Cebu City South Bus Terminal.

Short stop in Bogo City

Bakhawan

I’m staying in Bakhawan, a tiny village in Daanbantayan in the far north of Cebu Island.

A hand drawn map on the wall of the hostel

The village consists of 3 streets and probably a couple of unoffical paths into the backcountry that you will never see on any maps. Right on the beachfront is a church, a community center and a roofed basketball court. The Philippines is undeniably of spanish influence especially compared to Malaysia or Vietnam.

The local church

A reading center

A 10 minute tricycle ride brings you to the Poblacion(the town of Daanbantayan) where the bus terminal and a small roofed wet market is. And a Jollibee.

Wet market in Poblacion Daanbantayan

Rain In the Philippine Province

I was unsure where to go next, but I heard that it’s summer in the Philippines. So I jumped on a plane to Cebu City. After a way too long overlay in Manila and one gruesome(so loud) night in Lapu-Lapu I hopped on a bus to the north of Cebu island. I will stay for a couple of nights in a Nipa Hut inspired house.

Contrary to the expected warm weather it’s raining cats and dogs here. The locals are happy because it’s a much-needed cooldown after days of 35+ degrees but for me the rain and coldness (only 25!) it’s a little underwhelming. As a lady I met in New Zealand earlier this year put it: “The summer has been a bit shit.”

Nipa Hut in Daanbantayan and rain

Intermediate rainfall doesn’t deter me to enjoy the province life here as much as possible. Since I have been here in the Philippines already before it feels a bit like coming home. The people are the sweetest and the nature so nice. I love going to the small Sari-Sari stores and taking a tricycle to the next town.

Probably won’t swim here today because of the rain