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Sohoton Caves and Natural Bridge National Park

A few hours up river from the small town of Basey, on Samar, are the Sohoton Caves and Natural Bridge Natural Park. I recently took a trip there with some friends. It’s a lovely day trip and a great way to see something of the rural Philippines and get a glimpse of what the forests that once covered much of the country would once had looked like.

Where does all the sh*t go?

The next time you’re relaxing in a posh hotel or an ‘eco-resort’, the question you need to ask yourself is “where does all the shit go?”. This is inevitably the hurdle where all but the truly cleanest and greenest fall.

I don’t just mean what you flush down the toilet, but all the waste from the kitchen, the leftover packaging, the little bottles of half-used shampoo and soap wrappers, the cigarette ends and chewing gum and bottle caps. Where does it all go?

Ode to a pedicab

To the tune of “Smelly Cat” (with apologies to Phoebe Buffet).

Pedicab, pedicab,

I really hate using you

Pedicab, pedicab,

It’s not your fault.

Escaping to Orpheus

Between Christmas and New Year I was lucky enough to get down to Orpheus Island, in the Palm Island group, to visit a friend who works at the JCU Research Station there. I’d planned to go down the year before but the roads were flooded after a cyclone on Christmas morning 2010 so I wasn’t able to get down.

Orpheus Island is a beautiful place. As well as the research station, there is a resort and public jetty, and it’s also possible to get a permit to camp in the national park.