Cebu City

Our last night in Singapore was short - the alarm clock rang at 02:45, and the plane to the Philippines took off at 6:20. Even the airport during departure was exciting. The check-in is usually fully automated, with the staff only assisting with the operation. In addition, there is a swimming pool in the transit area next to the hotels - unfortunately, the swimwear had already been checked in 😜.

During the approach to Cebu, we could already see many large and small islands surrounded by turquoise water. This sight was already very promising. Unfortunately, the ride to the hotel did not confirm this impression. The city is very gloomy, dirty, and full of potholes. Moreover, there was a lot of traffic. Fortunately, the driver knew all the shortcuts, so the ride only took an hour. Upon arrival, we unfortunately also discovered that the bed sheets and towels were dirty. We expect better from a 3-star hotel. After complaining about both, we had to admit that the constant changing of accommodations and the associated packing is currently affecting our mood and draining our energy. The downsides of backpacker life. This makes us even more excited about our new accommodation, which we have booked for 10 days with the option to extend. We long to stay in one place for longer, to cook for ourselves, and to give our everyday life some structure again. We also look forward to simply being able to open the refrigerator when we're hungry, instead of having to search for a place to eat. We didn't expect to miss such small things. Back to Cebu City...

The hotel is within walking distance of the city's largest mall, which we consider a highlight of the city. Otherwise, there are only a handful of sights, none of which impressed us. Overall, we found the city to be noisy and dirty. It also often smells very strong. This also overshadowed our visit to the city's largest market. On top of that, we had bad luck with the weather - short rain showers added to the 33 degrees, making it very humid.

Our personal highlight is the ride on the local buses, which are often brightly painted and have their bus numbers handwritten. Added to this is the encounter with the people. You sit tightly together and everyone helps. Since the bus driver collects the fare during the ride, but the passengers sit on the 'cargo area', the money and the stops where people get off have to be passed through the bus. It was nice to experience that this togetherness is completely normal here and that you are rewarded with a heartfelt smile at the end. In addition, people are very helpful towards us, even if there is sometimes a language barrier. It is always a wonderful feeling to be accepted so warmly and to receive so much support as strangers in the city.