Xmas in Philippines

The decision to visit Philippines was quite sudden. I had a flight booked to Singapore and after that no plans for the first one week. Next booked plans were for new year. A quick look to the map and yeah, why not, it's quite near to Borneo where I am heading next. I booked a flight to Clark for about 8 hours after I was supposed to land in Singapore. So it was a long journey to get here. Basically no sleep for 2 nights.

My original plan was to try to get to Banaue to visit the famous rice terraces but then I re-thought things and decided to take it easy with traveling as I don't really want to sit in a night bus directly after all the flights. A good choice. I contacted in advance a local dude via couchsurfers and got some good tips and he also offered me his guestroom to stay in at Paranaque city, Metro Manila. I still hadn't completely given up on Banaue, but due to xmas all busses were full, over-booked or not existent. So why make life hard... After all, I am on holiday (though I do have to work a bit while I'm here. Thank you internet!).

My room! Own entrance, own bathroom, better than hotel.

The first 2 days I really took it easy, just some beers and hanging out with my host and his friends. And coz I'm in Philippines, I for sure have to go diving. My host JJ (thanx again for everything!) had a friend who's got an own diving business in Anilao, on the coast a few hours south of Manila.

Taal volcano.

A day before xmas we drove there with a short sight seeing stop at Taal Volcano. JJ had to bring the car back to Manila so I had the place all to myself for a few days! For some that might sound horrible but for a solitude loving finn that's heaven on earth! 

And this is what I call a holiday! An amazing house directly at the coast, no tourists, no hassle, just waves, cool breeze from the sea, palm trees and me! And a local family who takes care of the house and cooks me some fantastic meals.

A moment before the sea snake...

On xmas day I went diving, just 2 ppl, the dive master and I. No traffic jams under surface :) Anilao may not be the most famous dive destination in Philippines, but nevertheless for my standards as a beginner it was quite fantastic. On the first dive at Two Rocks we found a huge cloud of jack fish surrounding us and a baby turtle which made this turtle lover to smile so wide that I almost lost the mouth piece. The second dive at Guala wasn't that spectacular, great corals but I'm still more interested in finding funny looking fish. And turtles of course. 

I went diving a few more times the next day, fed fish in 18 meters and had a bit too much rum in the evening.

So this was my xmas :) One of the best ones I've had so far. I think this should be my new crimbo tradition.

Ppl going night diving.