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A Strong Islander Abroad Part 4: Philippines

A Strong Islander Abroad, Philippines

A Strong Islander Abroad Part 4: Philippines

STRONG ISLAND CONTRIBUTOR CHANTELLE ON HER TRAVELS

See Chantelle’s other stops in Asia in all of the Strong Islander Abroad articles including Thailand, Nepal & India.

Dumagete in the south to catch up with old friends living and working in the area provided some fantastic muck diving opportunities in what is arguably one of the best muck spots in the Phillipines. Dauin was all about looking for micro marine friends and getting my macro mind on under water with a little help from my awesome, Romanian Instructor friend, Dragos, featured here with his signature orange scuba mini van.

arguably one of the best muck spots in the Philippines

A Strong Islander Abroad, Philippines
A Strong Islander Abroad, Philippines

Meet Helen Armstrong, lunging before her dive. New Zealand Helen is a friend from my Indonesia work days and we met up here for a spot of marine fun before we head to work in the Wakatobi, Indonesia. 

Travelling would not be the same without the interesting food & passing stuff that has funny names, and the Philippines is not short of these treats…

A Strong Islander Abroad, Philippines
A Strong Islander Abroad, Philippines

On a boat on my way back from Apo island with friends after a days diving I bump into these two. Chatting about our travels in the sunny spot on the boat to warm up I quickly found out that these guys had graduated from Portsmouth Uni and had set off around the globe not long after. Chatting about nights out in the Wedgewood Rooms and bbq’s on the common or at the bandstand was cool. It was nice to hear tales of the familiar. Thanks Liam and Charlotte.

these guys had graduated from Portsmouth Uni and had set off around the globe not long after…

A Strong Islander Abroad, Philippines

Helen Armstrong

A Strong Islander Abroad, Philippines

Charlotte

A Strong Islander Abroad, Philippines

Liam

Yup it was back to the diving, only this time with Coral Cay Conservation I some marine science training in the beautiful area of Southern Leyte. Meet Nick (header photo up top), university student from the UK and Maryann, Marine Biologist from Canada.

One thing that was very cool here was/is the work done with local communities to teach about saving the ocean. I thought back to our local marine conservation society beach cleans run down at Eastney beach and felt inspired to get some of the local kids involved who couldn’t have been more happy to comb the bay in Napantao for stray plastic. Sometimes you can be a million miles away with total strangers but realise that many of us share the same goals. Good work little ones! I’ll have the youth of Southsea on the same case when I get home!

A Strong Islander Abroad, Philippines
A Strong Islander Abroad, Philippines

Bohol, the island of the chocolate hills and the Tazier provided a relaxing non dive spot and some awesome adventure opportunities. Motorbike hire and a recommend home stay allowed for a relaxed situation to explore in and these cute little guys, too cute!

This county is gorgeous and it’s a place that has been hit repeatedly by disaster. Religion and hope drive people here and so I leave you with some Filipino wisdom and a common outlook on life here. ‘What will be, will be and we will get through whatever is next or we won’t but we are not afraid and we love our country so will try to get through problems that come to us.‘ Jay Jay, 14 years old from Tacloban City.

A Strong Islander Abroad, Philippines

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