nomad4ever

Getting from Negros to Panay Island had us first use the RoRo service which connects the major islands here in the Philippines.

It’s actually an easy and straight-forward process. You arrive at the RoRo terminal, buy a ticket for your vehicle, pay departure or port tax and off you go.

Drive your car, bike, tricycle or whatever vehicle you paid for onto a RoRo ship and you are set to make it to the next big island. From Bacolod on Negros there are several routes, but the most popular one is to get to the neighboring island Panay:

written by Chris

Just a daytrip from provincial capital Bacolod on Northern Negros in the middle of the Philippines is an idyllic resort in the mountains.

It’s called Mambukal and offers 7 (!) cascading waterfalls, a nice climb through jungle forest along the waters, treetop climbing in the canopy, a sulfur spring basin to rest your aching bones and much more.

Besides those water and jungle activities, you can also have massage (and manicure/pedicure) here, watch gigantic fruit bats flying around in the area and hanging in the trees.

written by Chris

If you chose a base in a host country you basically explore the surrounding area only in a certain radius. That means, even if you have a rented motorcycle, you always have to return to your point of origin.

Of course you can do a daytrip or even multiple daytrips, but still you are limited to an area of close proximity for exploration.

written by Chris

I first heard of Siquijor island back in 2002 from a Dive Buddy when visiting Alona Beach on Bohol. Sitting in the ‘Safety Stop Bar’ on Panglao, drinking a few San Miguel, he told me especially about the exciting Coral Gardens and abundant Marine Life – truly a paradise for divers!

The beaches were said to be of the purest and whitest sands, yet still undeveloped – surely the next Boracay in the making. At that time I was hesitating to visit, as Siquijor was something like a 2-day trip from Bohol away and I was just getting acquainted with Bohol.

written by Chris

Negros is one of the larger islands in the Philippines. It features 4 volcanoes and is divided by a high mountain range, thus almost completely separating the western part – Negros Occidental – from the eastern part – Negros Oriental.

Dumaguete is the largest city almost at the south-eastern tip of Negros. You can drive around the island via a main road, which closely follows the coastal line. There are a few roads going right through the island also.

Driving around with a rental bike over the last 3 days – here is what we figured out so far:

written by Chris

Is there anything that isn’t said already about Manila? The Capital of the Philippines, once dubbed the “Pearl of the Orient” or “City of our Affections” (I prefer the latter, hehe!), has all the right and wrong ingredients to star in its very own city-flick thriller.

Asked anyone who’ve been there about this city and its either a hate or love affair.

It is after all just another big city bustling with activities, filled with millions of people, cars, bikes, fumes, colors, smells – almost like any other metropolis in Asia. Or isn’t it?

written by Chris

It’s been a while since I wrote about Medical Tourism. Meanwhile I had a bit more experience with medical services in India and I’m impressed with what is available.

If you are an Expat, living in Asia without health insurance or a holiday maker from Europe, Australia or the US – it could be interesting for you to check out the medical system offered in India.

You can find solutions of world-class healthcare with very affordable price tags.

Let me give you 5 reasons, why you should especially think of Goa, when considering your next surgery or health procedure:

written by Chris

Only a few more days and this year is history again. Gosh – time was really flying the last 12 months!

I certainly lost a bit of track of what had happened over this period. In January we were still enjoying the easy-going life in Bali, then spending a few weeks in October in Singapore, before moving to Goa in India thereafter.

So continuing with the short tradition of a yearly wrap-up, 1st-time done here for 2007, here is the list for last year. These are the posts which attracted the most readers and sparked plenty of comments from you guys:

written by Chris