We arrived at Mystery Island in the early morning, whilst we were still sleeping, and the cruise ship anchored offshore, as this location doesn’t have a deep-water pier available. Whilst having breakfast at the top level of the ship, we were greeted by the sparkling turquoise waters, the beautiful beach and the lush greenery of Mystery Island.

After breakfast, we gathered our swimmers, sunscreen and snorkelling equipment and made our way to the tender boats—which we initially thought would take ages as there are so many passengers onboard, however they were well-organised, and the crew ensured everyone got onboard safely and efficiently. The ride across the crystal-clear waters offered beautiful views of the island, with pristine beaches coming into focus as we approached.

As soon as we stepped off the boat and onto the island, we were greeted by friendly locals who were performing  some traditional songs for us all (and hoping for extra donations of course). The island is uninhabited and is only really open for visitors from cruise ships, with the locals from the nearby Aneityum island coming across everyday with everything that they need to sell to the visitors and at the end of the day, they all leave as it’s believed that the island is haunted and that ghosts inhabit the island at night.

Well, the sun was well and truly shining during our visit so no ghosts for us. We walked through the main part of the island, through the local markets where we picked up a few small souvenirs, as we made our way towards the beach on the other side of the island. Once we managed to find a shady spot to sit down in, we left our towels etc and headed into the turquoise clear water. Whilst in the water, we swam and did some snorkelling, however the sand went out quite far so there wasn’t a lot to see at that particular spot. So we just enjoyed the water and relaxed on the beach whilst listening to the soothing sounds of the waves and having a few of the local beers. 

For lunch, we could either buy something simple on the island, however as the tenders were fast and easy we went back to the ship and enjoyed a lunch before we headed back to the island. Once back, I wandered off towards the southern tip of the island. Due to the compact size of the island, it’s very easy to explore on foot. 

Once I found a spot along the rocks, I was all by myself and made my way into the water for some more snokelling along the coral reefs which was filled with plenty of colourful fish that were swimming through the coral gardens.

After I finished snorkelling, I wandered around the island, swimming and snorkelling some more, I returned to the others and after some more beach and water time, we made our way back to the ship, happy with the day and looking forward to the next day where we had another day planned on the beach. However as we got back onboard, we heard that there had been a medical emergency on the ship and we would not be returning to the island as we needed to return to Noumea to drop off a passenger. 

Based on this, Eloise and I decided to return to the island that afternoon once again, as she wanted a photo taken with the local lizards on the island. We managed to get back on one of the last tenders returning to the island and were on it by ourselves. Once on the island, we got the photo we needed and then enjoyed some coconuts as well before we returned to the ship for the last time that day, offering one last look at the island!

Mystery Island was a great stop which we all enjoyed, the island is small but offered everything you could want in a tropical island. It was a shame that we weren’t able to return the following day, but these things can’t be helped!

Our first stop on our Royal Caribbean cruise was a stop at New Caledonia’s capital, Nouméa, which offers a mix of French flair, great beaches, and laid-back island vibes. 

As the ship docked at Nouméa’s port, we disembarked the ship and made our way onto land were we got onto a complimentary bus that took us to the Cruise Terminal where we were able to get our Hop on Hop off tickets ($15 AUD per person) and we set off to explore the city.

Our first destination was one of the most famous beaches in Nouméa, Plage de l’Anse Vata, where we sat down by the beach, enjoying some quiet time away from the crowds of the ship. We wandered along the promenade for a while, watching the locals having a morning dip and setting up their windsurfing gear for the day.

After our stroll on the beach, we sat down and enjoyed a local coffee and some ice cream before we caught a bus to a nearby shopping centre, the Casino Port Plaisance. Here we explored along the high-end boutiques before entering a local supermarket, a favourite thing of ours to do when we travel. We explored the aisles, seeing local items and also a lot of French items. On top of it all, we spotted some Tim Tam’s being sold at a cheaper price here than back home, go figure. 

We next got back onto a bus that took us to another famous beach area, the Plage de la Baie des Citrons, which felt more lively and had more people in the water. There were also quite a few more cafés, restaurants and bars along the promenade, making it a perfect spot to soak up the island’s charm.

We made it to a popular brewery and restaurant along the promenade, Les 3 Brasseurs, where we grabbed an outside table which offered great views over the beach and ordered in some light snacks and drinks. There were a good selection of local beers and I grabbed myself a paddle which included a wheat, a crisp lager, a pale ale and an amber beer. After our refreshment stop, we once again got back on the bus and headed back into the city centre.

After leaving Les 3 Brasseurs, we made our way to the city centre where we took a stroll through the streets, walking past its Chinatown and looking for a certain bakery that we had heard about, however were unsuccessful and instead walked into another local supermarket (enjoying the A/C and just looking around).

We eventually returned to the Cruise Terminal where we enjoyed a final cold beer, had a final look through the different souvenir shops and where Eloise found a spot for some lollies (where she certainly stocked up), before heading back on the bus that once again took us back to our ship.

Once back on the ship we stood watching as the ship left the port and another day came to an end. It was a great day all in all, we were happy to get off the ship and wander the town, happy to have visited the city!

We have not done a cruise before and to be totally honest, we have been a bit against it, however based upon the many positive reviews we kept hearing about it from a number of friends we decided to try at least one. After some research between the different companies and boats, we decided to go on a 8 Night South Pacific Cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas which would include stops at Nouméa, Mystery Island and Port Vila.

In the months leading up to the cruise we initially didn’t think we would be travelling to Nouméa based upon the riots and violence that had flared up in the capital. However, things got back to normal by the time we were getting to travel, and then a 7.3 magnitude earthquake hit Port Vila, causing damage to buildings and it was decided that it wouldn’t be right to visit during the circumstances (I know about being around natural disaster areas). So the itinerary was changed and instead we were given more time in Nouméa and an extra day on Mystery Island.

Our day arrived and after spending a night with family in Sydney we were initially going to catch the train to Circular Quay, however due to train strikes we were lucky to be able to get a ride into town. Once there, we handed in our luggage and then went through immigration and we were finally on the ship. We had chosen an early board time, that way we were able to take advantage of what the ship offered without all the people onboard. 

We started by having lunch at the Windjammer which offered a buffet filled where we could all choose between a range of different meals and finish with some nice desserts. After that we took the opportunity to get a free ride on the North Star, a glass observation capsule, that lifted us high above the ship and offered amazing 360-degree views of the harbour and ocean.

Not long after we were able to check into our room, a balcony room that gave us amazing views over the Sydney Opera house and Circular Quay and would be great during the cruise. When the time came to sail out of the harbour, we made sure to be on the top deck, where we had great views of Sydney Harbour, with some dark clouds gathering around the city. That night we had an amazing light show as we went through a storm with lighting across the sky.

That first night, and for a few of the other nights, we dined at the main Dining Room which provided a great 3-course menu every night. After our first night we were also upgraded to a table next to the windows and the service was great, with waitstaff remembering our preferences as we returned for our dinners.

On our first sea day, it was raining all day however there was plenty of activities to keep us all entertained, including origami sessions, numerous trivia games and a range of different pools and spas making the days go by quickly. We ended most nights by attending the shows on offer which were everything from stand up comedy to magic shows to theatre shows. We also participated in a silent disco which was great fun!

We also managed to try out a free session of the iFly skydiving experience (Xander and Eloise also had an extra one that was part of their Christmas presents), climbed the Rock climbing walls where Eloise conquered every single one of them. Xander and Eloise also lined up for a long time to try the bumper cars where they had great fun colliding which each other.  

We eventually made it to Nouméa where we had a good day followed by another great day on Mystery Island. On the way back to Sydney, we now had three sea days instead of two as our second day at Mystery Island was cancelled due to a medical emergency and we had to return to Nouméa to drop off a passenger. 

Still, we made the best of our sea days, one of our favourite things was the progressive trivia, where our score was brought forward along the five different days the trivia was held. In the end, we finished in 7th place which we thought was very respectful considering that most other teams were 5-6 members (and most of them adults). 

On one of our final nights, we also tried the Bionic Bar, where you place your order on a tablet and robotic bartenders mix and shake the cocktails which was lots of fun to see.

On our last night, we had planned to get up early to watch as we sailed back into the Sydney harbour, and we had been told that we would be arriving at 6.00am, however we woke up at 04.00am and there was still nothing to see, next when we woke at 06.00 we were already in the harbour, oh well, I guess that since we had the extra day at sea, we were a bit early. 

Anyway, we had a last buffet breakfast before we grabbed our luggage and made our way back onto land, finishing our cruise. 

So, what did we think of the cruise, considering that we had been sort of against them to start with? Well, we had lots of fun, the ship really did offer us a lot, there was great food (and lots of it), there were fun activities and shows and it was a great time to just kick back and relax. However, the best part of the cruise was still the times when we got to get off the ship. I guess that we are more about the destination than the journey itself. Would we do this again, well not this cruise but happy to try one in Europe or the Caribbean where there are more port calls.

After a very short flight from El Nido, we touched down at the Francisco B. Reyes Airport on Busuanga Island. During this trip to the Philippines, We only travelled with carry-on-bags, however at El Nido, as the plane was very small, we were asked to check in anything larger than a small backpack, for no extra fee, which we agreed on. After collecting our bags and paying the “tourist tax” (250 pesos per person, cash only) we walked outside in order to hail a taxi, however were told: “No taxis, what’s your hotel?”.

Not having booked airport transfers with our hotel we didn’t think that they would be there, but they sure were. Apparently, this is how it works in Coron Town, there are small shuttle vans that run to and from the airport and specific times that you just jump on. Well, at least I didn’t have to explain where the hotel was and not long after, we arrived at out hotel, the Coron Town Traveller’s Inn.

We had booked one night in Coron Town before heading out to the island of Coron the following morning and whilst we booked a basic hotel where we were supposed to share two large beds between the four of us, we scored a free upgrade with interconnecting rooms. The following morning we were collected from the hotel and driven to the pier where we jumped into our private transfer to Coron Island and our accommodation for the following night, the Paolyn Houseboats.

These are, as the name suggests, floating houseboats nestled amidst the lagoons of Coron Island, offering a serene and unique experience in the middle of the pristine waters on the area. Upon arrival, we were immediately captivated by the beautiful colours of the water and its tranquil ambience. As it was too early to check in, we ensured that we made full use of what was available to us. Whilst Suz and Eloise had a swim in the beautiful and tranquil waters around the reception/restaurant houseboat, Xander and I grabbed a kayak and explored the area for a while. 

Not long after we were allowed to check into our accommodation and were taken there by one of their small boats (everything is obviously done with boats, from the transfer to and from the restaurant to room service which was done via Whats app from your room). Upon arrival we observed that each floating houseboat appeared to have been constructed from a combination of bamboo and wood and that we had our own deck, dining area and a cosy interior. 

We were all soon in the waters around our houseboat where we enjoyed some snorkelling and some more kayaking. And here is where our last shot from our video camera happened. I was out snorkelling and enjoying the area, shooting video at different location when I all of a sudden noticed that the screen wouldn’t turn on, I looked to the side of the camera and noticed that the USB charging port somehow had opened and realised that the camera was now filled with salt water. I knew that this was it for the camera, however I rushed back and rinsed the camera and SD card in freshwater, enabling me to at least save the footage already filmed, the camera however was done for and our video from Coron as such will be missing amazing footage from the following two days, but what can you do. 

That night, after returning from a great dinner at the restaurant, where we were treated to a beautiful sunset, we sat at our houseboat and enjoyed the peace and tranquillity on offer, with only the sounds of gecko’s interrupting the silence. 

The only drawback with these houseboats was the fact that we opted not to include A/C (as it would have cost us about $100 per night) and only relied on the fans that were provided. The night was hot, humid and there was no wind which made it difficult to fall asleep, however we eventually all fell asleep and after an early wake up call, enjoyed our pre-ordered breakfast on our own dining area.  

That morning after breakfast, we got onto our own private tour which first took us to Kayangan Lake. After climbing to the top, where we were treated to some panoramic views, we descended to the lake where we all took a refreshing dip in the freshwater lake, enjoying the peace and quiet that this tour offered us as it arrived at the location before any of the tours from the mainland. 

Our tour continued with stops at Barracuda Lake and a nearby beach that we again, almost had to ourselves, before returning to our houseboats where it was time to pack, check-out and enjoy some lunch. However, we left our luggage and all of us except Suz, went on the afternoon part of our private tour where we again were treated to more beautiful beaches and amazing snorkelling along the Siete Pecados Marine Park.

After returning later that same afternoon, we were taken to the mainland for our final accomodation, the Coron Bancuang Mansion. We were greeted by the friendly staff and showed to our rooms at the penthouse (we almost felt like royalty). These rooms offered plenty of space (and cool A/C) and offered great views from the balcony. 

The following day Xander and I took part in the hike up to Mount Tapyas, climbing over 700 steps, to be presented with great panoramic views over the town, Coron Bay and the surrounding islands. A very hot and humid experience, but worth it and a  fitting finale to our unforgettable journey.

The following morning we made our way to the airport where we flew back to Manila, had a last day and night at our hotel where we made sure to enjoy the pool with a few last Happy Hour drinks, before flying back home to Australia the following morning. 

Coron was a great little stop along our trip to the Philippines and we had an amazing time at the houseboats where we were able to escape the hustle and bustle of the busy streets and everyday life and the ocean surrounding the island of Coron offered some of the best snorkelling that I’ve been part of. Would I return? Absolutely, there is still more to be explored and I didn’t even get a chance to fully explore the wrecks that the area have to offer for scuba divers!

So far on our trip in the Philippines we’ve experienced some great adventures in Bohol and beautiful beaches and sunsets in Boracay, however we were now getting to the best the country has to offer, the Palawan Islands, located in the western part of the Philippines and known for the crystal-clear waters, white sand beaches and large limestone cliffs that rise from the sea.

We caught a small propeller flight that took us non stop from Boracay to El Nido airport where after a short tricycle ride (a motorcycle attached to a sidecar which was able to take two of us at one time) we arrived at our accomodation in the town of El Nido, the Bunakidz Lodge which we had booked through AirBnb. Our accomodation was basic but it offered a bunk bed for the kids and a queen bed for us, was near the centre of things and had friendly staff.

After check-in, we wandered down to the ocean and the harbour where we were met by a range of colourful boats against an amazing backdrop of towering limestone cliffs. We walked along the waterfront streets which is filled with shops, restaurants, cafes and bars where we located a place where we could sit down to have a cold drink and dinner whilst enjoying the views over the harbour during sunset.

After our meal, we walked past the main office of Kraken el Nido, a tour group that arranges tours throughout the islands in the archipelago around El Nido. Now there are many many different tour guides that offer tours, however I had done some research on these guys and it seems that they offered a slightly different experience as not only were their boat larger, they also left later in the day and arrived later (after sunset), meaning that you could avoid the large crowds everywhere you go. 

I had initially planned on booking their K1 trip, which is supposedly a combination of tours A and B (there are basically four types of tours along these islands which all other boats offer and which are called A, B, C and D). However, the only tour going out the next day was their K2 (C and D combined). We were also told that on Sunday nil tours were going out, so instead of risking us missing out, we booked four tickets for the following day.

Our tour began the following morning by us all getting fitted into our water shoes, masks and snorkels that we were to use during our tour and we were then guided onto the boat, which had ample seating along the sides of the boat and a large lie down bed in the centre offering plenty of room for us four. In total there were 18 persons on this trip and Xander and Eloise were by fan the youngest, however we were not the oldest either which I had almost expected but I guess that when you pay more for a trip, you don’t get the backpackers who generally book the cheapest option.

We took off from the harbour with the sea breeze flowing around us and soon ventured into the heart of the Palawan Islands, each destination providing us with awe inspiring sights of these limestone cliffs rising out of the ocean and amazingly turquoise waters, each scene as pretty as a postcard!

Our first stop was at the Pasandigan Cove where our guide had us jump into the waters and swim towards a small cave where we had to squeeze through a narrow passage to enter a hidden chamber where we observed stalactites and stalagmites whilst being inside the small pool of water, quite an sight! 

We continued with our second stop being Helicopter Beach located along Helicopter Island, named as it resembles a helicopter when viewed from far away. Here we were able to swim to the beautiful beach lined with palm trees or just snorkel along the crystal-clear waters which offered some great initial views of the marine life. After having done a dive among pretty poor visibility in Boracay, these waters were just amazing, the visibility was great and I could see close to 100 metres underwater. 

After this, our next stop was the Small Lagoon where we would be staying for a while whilst we were given the option to kayak into the lagoon before lunch was served. Eloise and I jumped on the first Kayak that was available and soon enough we were navigating through a narrow passageway flanked by limestone cliffs, and entered a beautiful lagoon, all by ourselves as there was no one else inside, just Eloise and I. We kayaked our way through, surrounded by water so clear that we could see everything around us. It was amazing to glide through the calm waters, discovering secluded alcoves. On our way back, we went past Suz and Xander who had only just started making their way into the lagoon. 

Once we were all back on the boat, we were offered an amazing lunch with a range of different food options. We were also explained that whilst they were able to offer lunch directly on the boat, most other tours took their food onto the islands where they offered it as they weren’t able to fit it on their smaller boats, another great reason for using these guys!

After lunch, I went for another snorkel swim which eventually led me to the small beach in the area, where I again was all by myself and almost felt like I was on the set of ‘Cast Away’. After a well deserved rest, swim and snorkel, we were again soon on our way again to our next stop, Cagbantang Beach on Matinloc Island, another amazingly beautiful secluded beach, were we once again were almost all by ourselves. Suz and the kids made their way onto the beach however I choose to stay in the waters surrounding the beach and exploring the coral reef on offer which again was stunning.

Our last stop for the day was Balinawood Beach, a beautifiul beach that stretched forever and offered plenty of time for just swimming and playing in the sand which we did plenty of (well at least Suz, Eloise and I, Xander at this stage had enough of beaches and was on his phone with his headphones playing games). 

On our way back to the mainland, I took the opportunity to sit near the water, beer in hand and just tried to soak it all in. Our boat did a quick stop before returning, just hovering in the ocean whilst we observed the sun set behind Helicopter Island before we headed back to the mainland. We all enjoyed our day so much that we immediately went back into the officers of Kraken El Nido and booked their K1 trip for Monday.

The following day we had a sleep-in and relaxed in town, exploring the charming streets to see what else was on offer and where I of course located a small craft brewery (who would have thought), Boodmo Brewery where I of course had to get a small sample of their beers which were quite tasty. Later that afternoon, Eloise and I took undertook the El Nido Canopy Walk which took us on an elevated walkway to the top of the mountain, offering great panoramic views over El Nido.

The following morning, for various reasons, I was the only one that undertook the K1 tour whilst the rest had another day of rest in town. I soon joined on the boat and realised that it was only 10 guests on board, and that I was the only one not from Spain.

This tour was very similar to the previous, the only difference was the destinations. On this tour we were treated to locations such as the Cathedral Cave on Cathedral Island, Cudugnon Beach and Cave, the amazing Snake Island and the Big Lagoon where we again were given the option to Kayak. I had another amazing day exploring all these destinations and the snorkelling appeared to be better and better at each place we stopped, not only that, but on the final spot, I finally managed to spot a turtle in the ocean which was one of the highlights.

Arriving back into land I soon joined up with Suz and the kids again, content after another amazing day at sea. The following morning however it was time to leave and after another short tricycle ride we were back at the airport where we caught a 45min flight that took us to the island of Busuanga Island and Coron Town, the gateway to Coron Island. 

We had an absolutely amazing time in El Nido and I could have stayed here so much longer as I would have been content to keep doing tours along these amazingly beautiful islands. I would recommend anyone and everyone to visit and I feel that I would be very happy to return here in the future!

We left Bohol and Alona Beach, looking forward to the next part of our journey with the island of Boracay next on the itinerary. To get here, we first caught a flight from Panglao island to Manila where we only had a short turnaround before we were on our next flight to Caticlan.

Here we still need to take a ferry across to the island of Boracay, however to save us the hassle (and because we can afford to treat ourselves) we booked a private transfer through the resort we’re staying at, The Paradise Garden Resort Hotel. And it sure was a treat to exit the airport and seeing their sign, jumping into a private van to the pier where our private boat awaited us and finally onto another private van which took us all the way to the reception of our hotel, and at no point did we have to carry our own luggage, we could get used to this.

After checking in, we made our way to the beach with its powdery white sand and crystal-clear waters. After a late lunch we all had a well deserved swim in the ocean before we walked back to the resort where Xander and Eloise discovered the large slide into the pool which they made well use of (and even made both of us take part in it as well).

The next morning, I left Suz and the kids behind and together with Wicked Squid Divers, left to see what Boracay had to offer in terms of diving. As I hadn’t dived in over a year, I decided to just do a normal dive with no more that 18 metres depth, and was taken to a dive site named “Fridays Rock”. All was going well however as I jumped into the water, I had a bit of buoyancy issue as I couldn’t sink. A few more weights strapped to my equipment and I was soon well underwater. I love the feeling of being underwater and this was no different. I didn’t see any large fish or turtles on this occasion, plus the visibility was pretty poor, however I still enjoyed the dive and it was a good way to get back into it again. I’m next hoping for some diving in the Palawans but we’ll see what happens. 

During our stay on the island, we made sure that we made our way to the beach every afternoon to take in those amazing sunsets right off the beach, watching as the sun dipped below the horizon and leaving behind amazing colours in the sky. It was always a beautiful sight and swimming and being in the ocean watching it, made it even better. 

On our last afternoon we took part in a sunset sail cruise where we had a beautiful calm trip, sailing south along the island before turning back and watching the sunset just as we were making our way back into land, a truly magnificent experience that we all enjoyed.

Boracay was absolutely beautiful with its powdery white sandy beaches, although a very busy island where every two seconds someone came up to you asking if you wanted a massage, braids, tuktuk or happy hour, we still really enjoyed our time here!

Next, onto the Palawan Islands and El Nido! 

Immigration was quick, we got jumped up the line as we travelled with kids (they do come in handy when you fly) and after getting some cash our from a local ATM, using a Wise card for the first time, we passed through the next security check onto the Domestic Terminal where we waited for our second flight of the day, this time just a short hop over to the Island of Panglao and Bohol. After securing a taxi, we arrived at our accomodation, the ‘Panglao Regents Park Resort’, located near Alona Beach. 

However, upon arrival, it was a tad too early to check into so, what to do for about two hours? Well, we did what any hungry traveler would do, head straight to Jollibee to try some Filipino fast food. After placing our orders we took our seats and waited for the buzzer to ring, which it didn’t do. After enquiring what the problem was we were told that they had run our of chicken (figures). Anyway, after a wait that felt like an eternity (okay, maybe just 50 minutes), we finally got our hands on some fried chicken, fries, rice and Jolly Spaghetti (it’s pasta with their signature sweet-style sauce and meats, not bad but nothing I need to try again).

After this we were able to check-in to our accomodation and after a change of clothes to something lighter and better suited to the hot and humid weather, we went for a walk to explore the area. First impression of Alona beach is that it’s like stepping into a postcard with its pristine powdery white sand beaches and crystal-clear azure waters. And yes, whilst there was plenty of green algae, this didn’t stop us getting into the water for a refreshing and well deserved first swim in the Philippines. 

After a swim, we continued strolling along the shore, taking part in the vibrant atmosphere which includes beach front cafes, bars, dive centres and of course, all the persons that are looking at selling you a tour or different types of trinkets and jewellery. One of these persons that approached us offered us a good deal on a private car for a tour of the island which we agreed upon and booked for the following day.

The rest of the afternoon was spent at the hotel near the pool where we took full advantage of their 2-for-1 cocktail options and later made our way out to try and locate some local cousine. We found a restaurant where the kids had the traditional chicken and rice (not very adventurous these ones quite yet, but we’ll get there). Suz and I tried the legendary lechón – a succulent roasted pig that’s was amazing and we all enjoyed some fresh fruit shakes.

That night we all fell asleep early as we had been on the go for a long time and the next morning, our driver Francis, arrived to collect us for our tour. Having a private driver meant that we could decide what we wanted and didn’t want to see which was great. Francis took us past the Bilar Man-Made Forest, a mahogany forest stretching for 2km where everyone steps out for a mandatory photo (which our driver had us do as well).

We then reached the Chocolate Hills Adventure Park, a little gem nestled amidst the iconic Chocolate Hills of Bohol that contain a range of different adventures for children and adults alike and that we initially found out through the travel show ‘Travel Guides‘. Both Xander and Eloise started by doing the Tarzan Park where they both climb and walked along ropes, nets, and obstacles, before being asked to unleash their inner Tarzan or Jane by swinging off a rope, which was great to see.

After that was completed, Suz, Xander and Eloise all opted to take part in the Bike Zip (I had to stay behind as I didn’t quite pass the weight restriction, ah well at least I could enjoy seeing them take part).  There was a lot of stairs to reach the starting point and at the top we were able to see the beautiful landscape with row upon row of cone-shaped hills, resembling mounds of chocolate. 

The three of them climbed the tower and after being hooked in, they all pedaled their way over the lush landscape, whilst suspended high in the ground, soaring through the sky. After they reached the other end, the bike was changed over and back again they came, this time a bit faster as they had a slight decline coming back. 

The adventure park was great and I believe that this will be a memory that Xander and Eloise will cherish. If you’re ever in the area, don’t hesitate and take part of this great little park amongst the chocolate hills. 

After this we reached the top viewing point of the Chocolate Hills which was great to see but after the Adventure Park, we felt that we had already explored and experienced it better. On our way back we first stopped at the Tarsier Conservation Centre, a haven for the elusive and small primates. We were able to walk around and observe these tiny creatures in their natural habitat, although as they are nocturnal creatures, all the ones we saw were sleeping and we all walked around in silence. 

After we got back in the car, the initial plan was to stop and take part of the Loboc River Cruise, which is a cruise that offers food and entertainment along the river and is said to be a highlight. However, there were hundreds of people waiting and we realised that there would be at least three hours before we got on the boat so we skipped the cruise and went somewhere else for lunch. 

Lastly on our trip, we made a quick stop at the Blood Compact Shrine, a historical site that shows the peace and friendship ceremony between the Spanish and the locals on Bohol in 1565. Once back at our accomodation we relaxed in the pool and after a long but exciting day exploring the island of Bohol. 

The following day we were up for an adventure, and what an adventure it was, I was finally going to tick one of my bucket list items off, swimming with Whale Sharks, the largest fish in the ocean! I have long tried to swim with these magnificent creatures but have yet to come across them so to say that I was a bit excited is an understatement. We arrived at the VicTour’s Recreational Hub near Santa Fe Beach where we were given a quick briefing, setup with life jackets and snorkelling gear and then taken on a small boat onto the ocean. 

Whilst waiting to get off the boat, we saw our first Whale Shark as it gracefully glided under the surface, right under our boat with their distinctive spotted patterns almost shining in the sunlight. We quickly jumped into the water with nil sightings initially, however we soon heard the shouts “Whale Sharks” and then they were there, these magnificent creatures gliding effortlessly through the water. We initially saw one or two that we thought were really big, however, not long after a fully adult one came along and made these initial ones seem small in comparison. It was a humbling experience to swim near these creatures and something that I’ve wanted to do for some time.  

Once we finished our swim, we headed back in and made for the Napaling Reef. This time Suz and the kids decided to stay on dry land whilst I went snorkelling along the sardine run. The initial swim showed me the normal tropical underworld that I’ve come to expect, with a range of different fished in different colours (and yes, I did find Nemo again). However, I eventually encountered the million of sardines that cling together and swim, as one. It’s like a curtain of shimmering silver in front of you, and as you swim through it, it opens up and closes around you, completely surrounding you on all sides. 

On our final day, we rested and spent most of our time alongside the pool, just enjoying a day of peace and quiet. 

A quick note on Filipino cuisine, throughout these days, we were trying to find some local Filipino food and whilst we managed to find plenty of Lechon, roasted pig and tastes great, we have been unsuccessful in tracking down a classical brekkie dish like tasilog or sasilog. I did however try a Sisig one night, basically a dish made from left overs of pork belly, ears, jowls etc and seasoned. And whilst it was ok, it was not something I would try again. So we have some food to track down still during our holidays here. 

And now, onwards to Boracay!

Having celebrated Christmas at home we decided that it could be fun to spend a few days of the kids summer holidays visiting friends and family in and around Sydney. Being near New Years Eve, we always knew that it was going to be busy, however that hasn’t stopped us travelling in the past. 

Arriving in Sydney we arranged to meet up with a few friends in Alexandria where we visited The Beer Bar where there they have about 42 different independent  beers on tap, it was too hard to select just one so I created my own tasting paddle which worked great, allowing me to try beers from a few local breweries that I hadn’t heard of before.  We later wandered over to Bracket Brewing, now this brewery I know and really like so I knew that I was in for a treat and had some great beers whilst catching up with friends.  

The following day we decided to do a day trip to the Blue Mountains as the kids hadn’t been there before. The trip from where we were staying was around 80-90 minutes and we arrived and managed to find a decent parking near Echo Point in Katoomba, the location of the famous Three Sisters rock formation, one of the region’s most iconic landmarks. We walked up to the edge, taking in the panoramic views of the Jamison Valley and the Three Sisters where we obviously snapped the mandatory photos, including ‘selfies’ before we embarked on the Three Sisters walk, a well-marked track that winds its way along the cliffs and enabled us to get a closer view of the sisters.

Once we finished here, the plan was to attend ‘Scenic World’ where we hoped to experience the Scenic Railway, the steepest passenger railway in the world, the Scenic Cableway and the Scenic Skyway, which allows you to travel across the ravine in a glass-floored cable car. Last time we were here (which yes, was a very long time ago) you arrived and purchased single tickets to each ride. Now however, it’s all part of a combined ticket and you have to reserve a time ahead of time. Well guess what, we hadn’t booked and the next available time was not until 5.30pm that afternoon so that wasn’t happening. 

Ah well, not much we can do so we jumped back into our car and drove to the city centre of Katoomba where we stopped at the Mountain Culture Brewery where I created a tasting paddle of some of their craft beers, with Suz having one of her favourite beers, whilst we enjoyed a great lunch.

Our last stop in the mountains was at the charming village of Leura, where we had promised Xander and Eloise that they could visit the local Leura Candy Shop. It’s a very small and quaint shop, but filled by rows upon rows of colourful lollies, chocolates, fudges and more. The kids were in paradise and found it very hard to settle on just a few items to enjoy during the rest of the day and later. We wandered along the streets of Leura for a while after this, trying to find a local café that would serve coffee (which after 3.00pm is a hard call in Australia) but managed to find one that was just closing, with the coffee in hand, we started our trip back to Sydney after a fun day out exploring the Blue Mountains. 

However, our day wasn’t finished as we would be attending a local T20 Big Bash League game between rivals Sydney Thunder vs Sydney Sixers. We made our way to the Sydney Showgrounds and arrived with time to spare before the start of the match. Whilst waiting, we got both of them a cap supporting the teams, opposite teams of course as Eloise favours the Sixers whilst Xander likes Thunder. After some playtime in the the local playground, the gates opened and we made our way to our seats, found some food and sat down to enjoy the match. 

Being rivals, the atmosphere in the stadium was electric with fans from both teams dressed in their team colours. The coin was tossed and Thunder was to start batting and we saw plenty of boundaries with wickers falling and momentum shifting back and forth along each over. We had great fun seeing both Xander and Eloise enjoying the spectacle of it all, taking part in the ‘Mexican’ wave and dancing to the songs, trying to make the main screen. 

Up to this stage of the day, we enjoyed clear blue skies however we could tell that the sky overhead had began to darken, with ominous clouds looming on the horizon. We finished watching the first innings with Thunder batting, however not long after Sixers started their innings, the weather took a turn for the worse and rain started to fall, interrupting play and forcing the players off the field. Despite us hoping for the rain to clear, the weather apps showed that there was quite a bit of rain on the way, at which stage we decided to leave early to beat the crowds. Upon arriving home we checked the score and nope, the play didn’t resume and the game ended in a tie. Despite the rain, we really enjoyed ourselves and had a memorable afternoon at the cricket. 

The following day, as it was New Years Day, we decided against driving into the city and simply caught the train. We had promised the kids that we would take them to the Lego Store, apparently one of the largest Lego stores in the world. Whilst there, we saw custom built large format brick features such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge and also the Minifigure Factory where both Xander and Eloise got to create and customise their own LEGO Minifigures and watch as they were being printed in the store.

After that we joined up with Suz’s dad Eric and together we all went to see see “Wicked the Musical” at The Star, where we were transported to the magical land of Oz and experienced the story of Elphaba and Glinda. Luckily we had prepared and together watched the movie  ‘The Wizard of Oz’ from 1939 so the story was fresh in our minds. The musical was great and kept us captivated from start to finish.

Later that evening, back in our accommodation, we finished our day (year) by watching the Sydney New Years Eve fireworks celebration on the TV (we weren’t going to sit and hold a spot along the harbour for 18 hours just to watch it live). As we weren’t too far from the city however, we managed to catch glimpses of distant fireworks through the windows, adding an extra layer of fun by having it both on the TV and out the window. 

Our last bit of adventure came two days later when we decided to do a day trip to the beaches in Jervis Bay. We started by travelling south along the coast to Currarong, a scenic drive offering some great coastal views with a quick stop at Kiama before arriving at our destination and catching up with family. 

Not long after, we travelled onwards to Huskisson where we stopped for lunch before we set off for Greenfield Beach, for a dip in the ocean. Eloise was straight into it, Xander wasn’t quite as keen however once we reached the white sands and clear waters, they were both in the water among the waves and it was hard to get them to leave.

As the sun began to set, we bid farewell to the beach and made north again where we stopped in Wollongong to catch up with grandparents for dinner and later also friends who we hadn’t seen for a while, all in all a great day was had. 

We had a great little holiday in and around Sydney, catching up with family and friends and left to travel back home feeling that we had a great little summer break.

After two lengthy flights, starting with Melbourne to Singapore where we had 5 hours to wander around the airport and where both Xander and Eloise were falling asleep, and where we then were delayed on the second airplane as we had to wait for Police to remove a drunken German that refused to cooperate, we finally touched down in Berlin.

As we only had that day before our next flight to Sweden the following day, we had booked a hotel room at the Moxy Berlin Airport, about 5 minutes from the airport. As we arrived to the hotel early, we enquired for the possibility to have an early check-in which were allowed to do for a small fee of €25.

Despite our fatigue after being awake for over 30 hours (besides Xander and Eloise, neither Suz or I got much sleep on the airplane) we made the decision to stay up to shake off the jet lag and make the most of our day in Berlin. As the weather in Berlin that day was going to reach 31C we changed from our cold weather gear to summer gear and caught a local bus outside the hotel where the bus driver was very helpful and assisted us in getting our 24h tickets that are valid on all buses, trains, trams and metros. 

We caught the Airport Express (FEX) train to Alexanderplatz where we enjoyed our first German meal, consisting of schnitzel and pork knuckle which we enjoyed with some local beers. 

After lunch we visited the Berliner Fernsehturm, the 368 metres tall tower that dominates Berlin’s skyline and offers panoramic views of the city from its observation deck. We walked around the observation deck, reading up on the city’s history and in true German style, got a beer from the bar to enjoy as we did so. 

After descending from the tower we continued strolling through Alexanderplatz, where we came across the Weltzeituhr, the World Clock which displays the time in some of the major cities around the world. We caught a metro from Alexanderplatz to the iconic Brandenburger Tor, perhaps the most known monument in Berlin. We walked through the gates and crossed the street onto Tiergarten, a large park in the centre of the city which provided shade and a respite from the busy city streets. 

Our last stop for the day was at the “Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe”, a somber place with rows of concrete slabs, which symbolise the magnitude and the horrors of the Holocaust. 

We returned to our hotel that afternoon and were all in bed by 7pm, exhausted, but happy that we managed to get out and see some of the sights that Berlin has to offer and looked forward to more adventures at the end of our holiday. The following morning we caught a flight to Sweden and Uppsala where our Europe trip really commenced.

Towards the end of our trip, after we had visited and explored Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Gibraltar and Morocco we returned to Berlin for our last two days before it was time to start our travels home. 

Upon arrival, Xander still wasn’t feeling great from his stomach bug, so after we checked into our accomodation at the B&B Hotel Berlin-Alexanderplatz, we didn’t venture far that afternoon and only made it to Alexanderplatz where we enjoyed some food and where I managed to try the Berlin speciality of Currywurst with a beer (and Xander managed to eat a simple bread roll).

The following morning was our last day in Berlin and we woke to grey skies and light rain. On the plus side, Xander was feeling hungry again so it appeared that his bug was coming to an end. 

As we left the hotel the rain had stopped however the skies were still grey and it was a cool morning. We embarked on our tour of the city and caught public transport to Checkpoint Charlie, a border crossing between East and West Berlin during the Cold War. We moved on and walked past Führerbunker, or the location where it used to be as it’s only a parking spot with a plaque telling the history where Adolf Hitler spent his final days. 

We continued on and walked past the “Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe”, Brandenburg Tor and the Reichstag Building before we caught another metro to the Berlin Wall Memorial where a stretch of the wall has been preserved and you learn stories about people that lived through those times.

We managed to find a beer garden that was open where we were able to enjoy some local beers and sausages before we continued on towards the The Oberbaum Bridge and East Side Gallery where we strolled this open-air gallery, viewing the different artworks along the wall. 

Towards the afternoon we visited Bebelplatz, a somber memorial to the Nazi book burning in 1933, before we crossed the Schlossbrücke onto Museum Island, walking past the impressive Berlin Cathedral before we ended up at the DDR Museum. This museum provided a fascinating look into what life in East Germany was like and had interactive displays that allowed Xander and Eloise to participate in.

We finished our last night in Berlin by having dinner at the Hofbräu Wirtshaus Berlin, a Bavarian Beer Hall filled with a traditional music, delicious German food and great (and large 1L beers) where we all toasted our great journey to not only Berlin but also to Europe. After dinner we returned to Brandenburg Tor for the ‘Festival of Light’, where we got to see the monument being illuminated with a range of colourful lights and designs.

Although we didn’t have a lot of time to explore everything that Berlin has to offer, we managed to experience a lot of historical sights and enjoy the food and beers that it has to offer and can’t wait to return to not only Berlin but also to the many other cities and towns in Germany.

Tangier, Morocco and Northern Africa is only a short trip away from Southern Spain and as we had a number of days available to us we decided that the time to explore not only our first African nation but also our first Arab nation. 

In planning this trip, we had initially planned to travel to the town of Tarifa in Southern Spain, which is the where the ferry to Tangier departs from. This would have involved a drive to Tarifa (just under 2 hours), a parking location and possibly an overnight in Tarifa depending on the time of the ferry which would take 30-40 to arrive in Tangier. However, we soon found out that there is a Ryanair flight that leaves Malaga and only takes about 30 minutes to arrive, and as the flight was cheaper than the ferry along (not to mention petrol and parking fees) we decided to take the flight to Tangier. 

After a very short flight, where it felt that we had just reached cruising altitude before we commenced our descent, we landed at at the Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport. After passing immigration (where I got asked a lot of questions about what I do for work etc) we walked to the exit where we were met by our taxi driver, Abdul. Prior to our trip, I was provided with a WhatsApp number to a local taxi driver and a few text messages back and forth (in Spanish) later we had arranged for him to meet us at the airport, transport us to our accomodation  and drive us the following day to explore Tangier and surroundings. All this was covered by a reasonable price of €120 and it proved to be very convenient to have your own taxi driver at hand at all times.

We were soon dropped off in the Medina, just outside the Palais Zahia, a beautiful Moroccan hotel where after arrival we were provided a warm welcome with a tea ceremony. 

Our first stop after leaving the hotel was to explore the Tangier Medina (a term used to describe the historical or old town of a city) which is a maze of narrow streets filled with markets and historical sights. As we were walking along the Medina, we did get slightly lost (which was expected but I did have Google Maps and knew the general direction that we had to walk towards) at which point a local young male approached us, told us that he was studying English and started to guide us through the area, showing us some of the sights. Both Suz and I looked at each other whilst we were walking along and we knew that he would be expecting a fee for this. And yes, even though we tried walking away from him he still stayed with us and when we returned to the hotel we was asking for 400 Dirham which I told him was too much and ended up giving him 100 Dirham for the trouble (about €10).

Anyway, after saying goodbye to our “guide” we sat down at the Gran Café Central, had a coffee and snack and later continued by ourselves and walked to the Bab Al Bahr, a historical gate that provided great views over the marina and the ocean.

That evening, we enjoyed a dinner which featured local dishes of both both Lamb and Chicken Tagine. After our dinner we returned to our hotel where I enjoyed a hammam experience at the hotel’s bathhouse. The hammam was filled with hot steam, and I underwent a thorough cleansing, scrubbing, and exfoliation process that left me feeling clean, relaxed and ended up being a great way to finish the day.

The next morning we had a late start, had our breakfast and went for another walk around the Medina before it was time to continue our adventure with Abdul who came to collect us at the hotel. He drove us around a few viewpoints around Tangier and through the city centre before we left the city and headed towards the coast where we  visited Cap Spartel with its iconic lighthouse. The area also offers beautiful views of the meeting point of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

Our trip continued south along the coast, past Achakkar Beach where both Xander and Eloise got to ride on camels, before we continued to the Hercules Caves (which besides from the cave entrance that faces the sea, felt mostly man made and not really a must see).

Our journey continued south the charming sea town of Asilah where after sitting down and enjoying a cold drink (found my first beer in Morocco here) we explored the town’s Medina with its white washed walls and colourful murals. Here Suz managed to find a hammam for women (they are always segregated) and whilst she took part of the experience, Xander, Eloise and I wandered and continued to explore the Medina. 

We finished our day at Asilah with an early dinner (with a fish tagine this time) before we started the drive back to the airport where we waited to board our flight back to Spain. 

It was a short trip but we managed to fill both days with some great experiences with the local food, the hammams, the bustling Tangier Medina, the beauty of the ocean and the calm Medina of Asilah. We enjoyed our initial experience of North Africa and would love to come back to explore it further.