Since I arrived at the Philippines I asked myself: “Why didn’t I come earlier?”

If I could create my dream travelling country it would be pretty much like the Philippines: beautiful beautiful beaches, every kind of watersports, loads of fruits and veggies, cheap prices, mountains and volcanoes, rice fields, architecture from the former colonial times, and so on…Not to forget the amazingly friendly Filipinos. During my scooter trip I hardly can focus on driving as I am waving back to all the little smiling kids.

In the Philippines the majority of the people are Christians, the second official language is English and over 100 years after the Spanish colonial era there are still “Carlos Mendoza” and “Juan Gonzales” striving for votes from the numerous election posters. Quite a culture mix here.

After having had a very touristy start at Boracay – which actually appears like Tenerife in peak season – I now arrived at small, quiet Siargao Island where you mainly can find European long-term travellers spending their times with surfing and chilling. In the evening I am intensively listening to travel stories from Taiwan and Indonesia.

As Siargao is known as THE surfer paradise of Asia I am also taking some attempts at the shaky board to surf the famous Cloud 9. Thanks to my surf coach Doy Doy I was able to stand up a few times – just for a few moments it actually looked like real surfing J I am soooo proud of myself.

By the way – the constant paddling, standing up, and rowing back against the waves is suuuuper exhausting – no wonder that all the surfer guys have such well trained bodies.

I will continue practicing until Monday. Then I make my way to El Nido (Palawan) for a five days boat expedition to wreck divers paradise Coron.