A guide to Moalboal

One of the things on my ‘bucket list’ of the Philippines was Kawasan Falls and thus I decided that my first stop would be the island of Cebu. Initially I planned to stay in Cebu city and simply get a bus to the waterfalls one day, but after doing some research I realised that there was little to nothing to do in Cebu and that Moalboal would be a better place to stay, particularly due to the fact that it was a 30 minute drive from Kawasan falls. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there and would recommend it to anyone.

Where to stay:

We stayed in Moalboal backpackers lodge where a bed in a dorm was 400 pesos a night, it was basic but sufficient and was in a good location close to many restaurants and bars.

Chief Mau

I looked at this place when booking my accommodation and it has good reviews so would also recommend it. I ate there for dinner and breakfast and both meals were delicious plus very good value.

Moho

This was where I was initially planning on staying but after reading many reviews about bed bugs I changed my mind. It is a bit further from the first two hostels mentioned and the bar is quite loud at night which would make sleeping hard. However it is very social and there is an open bar where all drinks are free between 8 and 8:30 (regardless of if you are staying there) and quite cheap outside of this offer. We went one night for the open bar so you could do that if you didn’t want to stay there.

Where to eat:

Café Cebuano

Very close to backpacker lodge and very good meals. I went with a group of 10 and there were no complaints about any meals plus I shared a ‘mango float’ which is a typical Filipino dish and was very delicious.

Veranda kitchen & bar

Where I ate on my first night, it overlooks the water and the food was delicious.

Shaka

A good breakfast option. I went here twice for smoothie bowls because I loved them so much. They were 250 pesos but a very good size plus had a range of smoothies and fresh juices.

Chilli bar

I ate and drank there and it was amazing, at night it turns into a bar with great music, loads of dancing and an incredible atmosphere.

Things to do:

Canyoneering at Kawasan falls

The main reason why we came to Moalboal and an amazing day out. It involves hiking to the top of the waterfalls then jumping into the water from a variety of heights (up to 15 metres) and was lots of fun.
For 1300 pesos we got transport, equipment, guides and a great meal at the end. It took 4 hours and was a highlight of my trip.

Lumbog beach

A relatively unknown beach a 40 minute tricycle ride away from Moalboal. I found this out from a blog article and it was amazing; Crystal clear water, palm trees and white sand. There were barely any tourists which made it amazing, it is one of my favourite beaches from the Philippines.
From our hostel it cost 1000 pesos for 4 people for a round trip.

White beach

The closest beach to Moalboal and the one google always recommends. It was nice and only 20 minutes away but I would recommend going a bit further and visiting Lumbog beach as it is way nicer.
From our hostel it cost 300 pesos return.

It is a diving haven, like Malapascua however there are many things to besides diving here. We stayed here 4 nights which was plenty of time, particularly as many of the friends we met were leaving the same day as us (so if you are not diving I would recommend only 3 days here).

How to get to Moalboal:

We took a bus from Cebu South bus station to Moalboal for 152 pesos for an air conditioned bus (it is around 20 pesos cheaper for a non-air conditioned bus but it was way worth it to pay extra) and it was comfortable plus had a few screens playing films. It took 3/4 hours so is a trek but is worth it!

If you have an more questions send them on Instagram or take a look at my Instagram to see what I got up to in Moalboal and the rest of the Philippines!


- Jess xx

Best Instagram spots in Paris

Last week I visited my old housemate in Paris (as she was offered an amazing internship at a translation company) and had a fantastic time exploring the city, eating some incredible food and catching up on the last few months. 

I posted a (fair) amount on my Instagram and found some good places to get some fantastic shots of the city. So therefore, I thought I would share these places in case you are going to Paris and want to find the best places to show off its beauty.

Montmartre

A beautiful area on the outskirts of Paris full of lovely restaurants on every corner, apartments with balconies filled with flowers and winding alleys. It is what I picture when I think of Paris and there are SO many photo opportunities, with every street providing a perfect backdrop for a photo. I just wanted to take a photo of every street.

Rue Cremieux

This was a hidden gem, a row of beautifully painted houses nestled between industrial looking streets and plain concrete buildings. It is an Instagrammer’s dream and being situated right by Gare de Lyon it is easily accessible.

The Louvre

If you are going for the array of artwork, you will be treated by also the amazing photo opportunities. I was not aware of how amazing it was inside as the glass roof provides excellent lighting, helping you get better photos. I was not aware but it was free entry for European citizens under 26 so the absence of an entry fee makes it well worth going to.

The arc de triomphe

Like the Louvre, the arc de triomphe provides free entry to EU citizens under 26 so is worth visiting for a view of the city. Most people simply take photos outside of it (which I am sure you have seen many of) but what isn’t as well advertised is the fact that you can actually go up it. Whilst it not be as high as the Eiffel tower, it is a good way to get a view of the city and what I preferred was the fact that you can actually see the Eiffel tower from it. Unfortunately, when I went it was not the best weather so these pictures do not show it in the best light but I’ve heard that it is very nice in the summer or at sunset.

Hope this post has given you some inspiration for your next trip to Paris, make sure to check out my Instagram to see some more shots from my trip!

Jess xx

A day at the Blue Lagoon, Comino

One of the main reasons why I wanted to go to Malta was to visit the Blue Lagoon due to the stunning coves and incredibly clear waters. I did a lot of research into the different tours and thus thought I would compile this post for anyone looking to go also.

A lot of companies offer tours to the Blue lagoon, however the company that stood out to me was Hornblower cruises. It is a family run tour with exceptionally good reviews and despite not being the cheapest tour, it certainly was worth it. You may seem drawn to Captain Morgan cruises for their low prices and open bar/buffet, but you get what you pay for and from what I have heard it is incredibly crowded with long queues and poor quality food. Whilst Hornblower cruises may not offer an open bar, the tour guides were lovely (and gave a detailed history of landmarks we were passing on both journeys), the boat docked at the best spot on the island for snorkelling and they offer the opportunity to see both the Blue Lagoon and Gozo (if you wish) for only 5 euros extra.

We bought our tickets from a vendor in Buggiba, however you can also buy them online here (I get no commision from promoting them but thoroughly enjoyed my trip with them so would like to recommend them!). For 20 euros we got transport to and from the Blue lagoon plus 4 and a half hours on the island. As aforementioned you can pay an extra 5 euros and have 1h30 on the island then 3 hours at Gozo, which many people on our boat did take advantage of. There is also the option of a speedboat tour of the caves for an extra 10 euros (which I heard good things about) so you have the option to spend as much or as little as you want with them.

We left Buggiba on the boat at 10:30 and arrived on the island of Comino for around 11:30 allowing us over 4 hours to swim, sunbathe and enjoy the views. We then left the island at 4pm and arrived back to Malta at around 5.

The spot where the boat docked (if you look closely you
can see the water slide coming off the side of the boat)

One thing I will add is be careful when swimming, we swam in the rock pools but the tide was very strong and it was very difficult to get out. We kept getting bashed against the rocks whilst trying to get out of the water and resulted in our legs being completely scratched by the rocks and covered in blood. We ended up having to get cleaned up by the ambulance services. There have been reports of many deaths in the water due to the strong currents and dangerous rocks (which are not well covered by the media due to the Maltese government not wanting to put off tourists). Therefore the paramedics recommended to only swim in the lifeguard patrolled areas, which have step ladders and are constantly monitored. I later swam in this area and I enjoyed it much more (despite being busier) as the water was calmer and I felt much safer.

There are many food and drinks vendors on the island but they are very expensive, our boat did offer cheaper alternatives but I would recommend to bring your own food/drinks if you are planning on staying there the whole day. We did buy some pineapple for 3 euros (which I didn't think was extortianate) and was very refreshing.

Despite it being much busier I would recommend
swimming here for peace of mind

I would definitely recommend a trip to the Blue Lagoon if you go to Malta, it was even more incredible in real life but I hope the photos do it justice!

- Jess

Top tips for travelling to Malta

I have just got back from a 4 night break to Malta and I cannot recommend the place enough. It was beautiful, very cheap and the people were so friendly. Up until recently, I had never even thought of going to Malta but I found cheap flights (£75 return from Bournemouth including luggage) and had been constantly inundated with photos from friends who had gone to Malta this Summer. Therefore I decided that it would be the first destination for my 'gap year'.

I thought I would compile a list of tips/places to go rather than an itinerary or guide as everyone has different priorities plus it is unlikely that everyone would be staying in the same location that I did. I hope this post is (sort of) helpful/interesting and if you have any questions you can comment or send them to me on Instagram here.

Visit Café del mar!!

If you follow my Instagram you will probably be sick of photos of this place but it was absolutely incredible and I could not help but include it. They have an infinity pool that overlooks the water and provides stunning views of the Mediterranean sea and St. Paul's island.  I spent the day swimming and sipping cocktails in the sun and honestly I could have stayed there all holiday.

They don't charge entry and instead you have to pay for a sunbed, which starts at €15 for a basic sunbed, with the prices increasing depending on whether you want a cushioned sunbed, a VIP bed or a gazebo.

It then turns into a nightclub some nights of the week where they host sunset parties plus a range of events.

Obviously had to get some cocktails
to drink by the pool.

Allow plenty of time for public transport!!

This is probably well known but the public transport in Malta is slow and sometimes unreliable. Short distances by car can take double (and sometimes triple) the time on public transport. For example from Marsaxlokk to Buggiba it is 40 minutes by car but 1h40 or 1h50 by bus! Make sure to leave plenty of time for any trip (we were certainly caught out by this!).

Visit St. Julian's and Balutta bay

Whilst we did not stay in this area, I can imagine it would be a beautiful place to stay. There is a wealth of restaurants with terraces and balconies where you can sit, drink and stare out onto the water. The pictures speak for themselves so I am not going to sit here and try and convince you to go.

We went to two buoys for a drink then La Crema Siciliana for lunch. Drinking ice-cold drinks whilst staring at the water was a very enjoyable way to spend my afternoon.

The terrace at Two Buoys

Eat as much Italian food as you possibly can!

Being so close to Sicily, a lot of restaurants serve Italian food, and it is good. We ate pizza and pasta pretty much every night and the prices were very reasonable. Make sure to take advantage of this!

All of this came to 14 euros

I hope you enjoyed this post and these pictures, we also visited the Blue lagoon (an unmissable trip on a visit to Malta) which you can read about here.

- Jess

Introduction post

I thought for my first post I would just do an introduction to me, my travels and what I am going to be writing on here. I read blogs from time to time so am not sure how many readers/clicks I am actually going to receive, however I wanted to make this blog as a sort of ‘diary’ for me to look back on and if other people enjoy it then that is an added bonus! 

So therefore, in November, I am beginning my travels in the Philippines for a month of island hopping, sun and (most likely) a lot of sunburn. I will then be flying to Australia where I am planning on spending the majority of my time abroad. Whilst this is extremely nerve wracking and risky, I would be lying if I said that I was not incredibly excited and yearning for the upcoming adventure. The reasons why I am going are endless; following three hard years at university, a break up making me desire a new adventure (and environment) plus the mindset that this is a ‘now or never’ opportunity, are just some of the motivators for this (crazy) decision.  With no job, relationship or immediate family tying me down to the UK (my parents live in the UAE, as did I for 8 years) I thought that there was no reason to stop me from going. I love meeting new people and experiencing new things. Whilst the crowded hostels and lack of a warm shower do make me feel slightly uncomfortable, the thoughts of the new memories that I will be making immediately make me feel better again. Therefore, so far there are no regrets for the plans that I have made.

I will be starting my trip with a one-week tour with ‘Welcome to travel’ in Melbourne which is a tour aimed (mainly) for solo travellers giving everyone an in-depth tour of Melbourne, the opportunity to meet new friends plus advice regarding getting a job, help opening a bank account and sorting you out a tax-number (for those, like me, who want to work in Australia). From then I am hoping to spend about a month travelling (hopefully with the people I meet on the tour) before settling down (sort-of) somewhere and finding a job (as I will be going on a working-holiday visa). After that I will have 11 months left in Australia and with no set return date can just decide when I feel ready to leave.

I will therefore be using this blog to document places I have been, memories I have made and give a bit of advice for any of you that are looking to go travelling. I will also be uploading (countless) stories and posts on my Instagram (here and here) where you can see real time updates of my travels. Whilst I have not been to the Philippines, I have visited Australia. My family and I travelled to Melbourne and Sydney for 10 days in December 2018 and I instantly fell in love with the country and their beaches. I will end this post with some of my favourite photos from Sydney in order to demonstrate why I have decided to return.

Thank you for reading!

Jess 

The Icebergs at Bondi

Manly Beach

Bondi to Bronte coastal walk

Palm Beach

Palm Beach