TWO COUNTRIES, COUNTLESS ADVENTURES, AND ONE UNFORGETTABLE JOURNEY
INTRODUCTION - TWO WEEKS, TWO COUNTRIES, SO MANY MEMORIES
Some journeys begin the moment you arrive at your destination. Mine began somewhere in between two flights, with a 15-hour layover in Beijing and the feeling that I had somehow managed to turn a simple connection into the beginning of an adventure.
My first few hours in China were already enough to make me realise that this was not going to be an ordinary trip. After arriving in Beijing, I had only one day, or, more accurately, one very long layover, to see as much as I could. And somehow, that was enough to take me to the Summer Palace and the Great Wall of China, standing in front of one of the most iconic landmarks in the world before continuing my journey towards the Philippines.
And then came the Philippines.
What followed was everything I had hoped for from a tropical adventure, and so much more. Islands that looked almost unreal, warm turquoise waters, hidden beaches, underwater adventures, unforgettable encounters with animals, long journeys, boat rides, unexpected challenges and those little moments when you simply stop and think, How is this actually my life right now?
There were days filled with excitement and days when exhaustion completely took over. There were moments when I felt incredibly brave and others when I wondered what exactly I had gotten myself into. But that is the beauty of travelling, the best memories are not always created when everything goes according to plan. Sometimes they happen somewhere between a missed connection, a cold swim, a long bus ride, a tiny boat and a completely unexpected encounter with something you never thought you would see.
After everything I experienced in the Philippines, I thought the journey was finally coming to an end. But instead of simply flying home, I found myself back in Beijing for another 15-hour layover, and this time, I decided to use every minute of it differently.
I had already seen the Great Wall and the Summer Palace on my way to the Philippines. Now I wanted to see Beijing itself. I left the airport once again and spent those precious hours walking through the city, visiting ancient temples, enormous squares, colourful streets and places that gave me a completely different impression of China than my first stop had. It felt almost symbolic, I had started this journey in Beijing by looking beyond the city, and I was ending it by finally stepping into the heart of it.
And then, just like that, it was time to leave.
Home → Budapest → Beijing → The Philippines → Beijing → Budapest → Home.
Two countries, two very different sides of China, countless kilometres, flights, boats, buses and adventures, and more memories than I could ever fit into a suitcase.
Looking back, what stays with me isn't simply a list of places I visited. It's the feeling of standing somewhere completely new and thinking, I can't believe I'm actually here. It's the cold water, the tropical heat, the animals, the ancient temples, the long journeys, the unexpected challenges, the laughter, the exhaustion and all those tiny moments that could never have been planned in an itinerary.
When I booked this trip, I thought I was simply planning a holiday. I had no idea I was about to create some of the memories I would carry with me for years.
IN THIS POST
QUICK INFORMATION
- Countries: Philippines & China
- Travel dates: May 2025
- Total trip: Around two weeks
- Main destinations: Beijing, Cebu, Bohol, Puerto Princesa, El Nido & Manila
- Main purpose: Adventure, nature, culture & exploring
- Travel style: Solo travel
- Flights: Multiple flights + long layovers
- Languages: Filipino, English & Mandarin Chinese
- Currency: Philippine Peso & Chinese Yuan
THE BIGGEST ADVENTURES OF THE TRIP
Some experiences become unforgettable because of where they take you, others because of what you see, and some simply because of the feeling they leave behind. Looking back at this journey, three adventures stand out above all the others, three completely different experiences that, in their own way, captured everything I loved about this trip: history, wildlife and the extraordinary beauty of nature.
WALKING ON THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA
My first big adventure began before I had even reached the Philippines. During my first 15-hour layover in Beijing, instead of staying at the airport and waiting for my next flight, I decided to use those precious hours to see something I had dreamed of seeing for years, the Great Wall of China.
After such a long journey, standing there in front of the wall felt almost surreal. What had always existed somewhere in my imagination was suddenly right in front of me: the enormous stone wall stretching across the mountains, disappearing into the distance as if it had no end. For a few moments, it was easy to forget that I was only passing through Beijing and had a flight waiting for me later that day.
There was something incredibly special about knowing that this was only the beginning of my journey. I had arrived in China for just a few hours, but instead of simply passing through an airport, I had already stood on one of the world's most iconic landmarks. And I had no idea how many more adventures were still waiting for me.
SWIMMING WITH WHALE SHARKS
Then came the Philippines, and with it one of the most extraordinary experiences of the entire trip, swimming with whale sharks.
There is something completely different about seeing a wild animal from a distance and finding yourself in the water beside it. The first moment I saw a whale shark moving through the water, I could hardly believe how enormous and peaceful it was. Being so close to such a massive creature was both thrilling and humbling, and for those moments everything else seemed to disappear.
The ocean suddenly felt much bigger than it had a few minutes earlier, and I felt very small in it. Yet at the same time, I felt incredibly lucky to be there, surrounded by nothing but blue water and one of the most fascinating creatures I had ever seen.
It was one of those experiences that photographs can never fully capture. You can take a hundred pictures, but none of them can recreate the feeling of actually being there, in the water, watching a whale shark glide past you.
ENTERING THE UNDERGROUND RIVER CAVE
And then there was Palawan, where the adventure took me in a completely different direction, beneath the surface of the earth and into the Underground River.
Entering the cave felt like crossing into another world. Outside, Palawan was all tropical landscapes, sunlight, turquoise water and lush green surroundings. Inside, everything changed. The light became softer, the atmosphere quieter and the enormous rock formations created a landscape that felt almost otherworldly.
As the boat moved deeper into the cave, every turn revealed something different in the darkness. The scale of the place made the experience feel almost unreal, as if I had stepped into a natural cathedral created entirely by time and water.
After everything I had already experienced in the Philippines, this was another reminder of just how incredibly diverse the journey had been. I had gone from standing on the Great Wall of China, to swimming beside whale sharks, to travelling deep into a cave beneath the tropical landscape of Palawan.
Three adventures. Three completely different worlds. And somehow, all of them became part of the same journey.
THE THREE MOMENTS THAT MADE THIS TRIP SPECIAL
Some moments become special because of the place where they happen, while others stay with us because of something much more personal, a fear we finally face, a feeling we never expected, or a person who somehow crosses our path at exactly the right moment. Looking back at this journey, three moments stand out to me for completely different reasons. They were not necessarily the biggest adventures, but they were the moments that made this trip feel truly mine.
MEETING THE TINIEST CREATURES - THE TARSIERS
One of the moments I will remember most from the Philippines was meeting the tarsiers in Bohol. I had been looking forward to seeing them, but there was one thing that made me genuinely worried, the rain. I was afraid that because of the weather, we might not see them at all. After coming all that way and knowing how rare and special the experience was, the thought of leaving without seeing them was heartbreaking.
And then, somehow, we found them.
The moment I saw the first tarsier, I could feel tears coming to my eyes. Not because I was sad, but because I was overwhelmed with happiness and excitement. There it was, this incredibly tiny creature sitting quietly in its natural environment, so delicate, so fragile and so unbelievably beautiful that I honestly struggled to find the right words to describe what I was feeling.
I had seen photographs of tarsiers before, but seeing one with my own eyes was something completely different. I was standing there looking at a real animal, in its own environment, and knowing that I had the opportunity to experience that moment in person felt almost unreal.
It was such a small creature, yet the experience felt enormous.
Even now, when I think back to that moment, I get goosebumps. I remember the excitement, the happiness and that almost childlike feeling of I can't believe I'm actually seeing this. Out of everything I saw and experienced in the Philippines, meeting the tarsiers became one of those memories that I know I will carry with me for a very long time.
FACING MY FEAR - MY FIRST ZIP LINE
Another moment that became incredibly meaningful to me was the day I tried a zip line for the first time.
For me, this wasn't simply about trying a new activity. It felt like a fight between two completely different forces inside me. One side wanted to try something new, experience something I had never experienced before and prove to myself that I could do it. The other side was the fear, the very real fear of heights that can sometimes feel almost paralysing.
I could feel that fear physically as I climbed those stairs. My legs were shaking, and every step closer to the platform made the reality of what I was about to do feel even more intense. There was a part of me that wanted to stop, turn around and say, Nope, this is enough.
But I didn't.
I took that step.
And when I finally went, the fear slowly gave way to excitement. I was flying through the air, doing something I had never dared to do before, and somewhere between the fear and the adrenaline, I realised that I had actually won a small battle with myself.
I know that this is not a fear that will simply disappear overnight. You cannot just snap your fingers and suddenly stop being afraid of heights. It is something I am still working on, and probably always will be. But every time I take one of these small steps towards something that genuinely scares me, and I manage to overcome it, I consider that a huge personal victory.
That is why this moment became so important to me.
I don't celebrate these victories because they look impressive to someone else. I celebrate them quietly, with myself, because I know exactly how difficult that step was for me. And this zip line became one of those moments on this journey that reminded me that sometimes courage isn't about not being afraid, it's about being afraid and doing it anyway.
THE PEOPLE I MET ALONG THE WAY
And then there were the people.
One of the most beautiful surprises of travelling alone was discovering that a journey can bring completely unexpected people into your life. Along the way, I met people I had never known before, spent time with them, shared experiences, explored places together, laughed, talked and created memories that became part of my own story.
There was the lovely couple from San Marino, with whom I spent some really beautiful moments during the trip. Then there was a solo traveller from the United States, originally from the Philippines, whose connection to the country made our conversations even more interesting. And there was also the solo traveller from Germany, with whom I spent several days and shared a part of the journey.
We don't necessarily communicate every day now, and our lives have naturally continued in different directions. But I don't think that makes those connections any less meaningful.
Sometimes a person doesn't have to stay in your everyday life to have an important place in your memories.
These people became part of my journey for a short period of time, but they left a mark on it. I will remember the conversations, the laughter, the places we visited together and simply the feeling of having someone to share those moments with.
That, to me, is one of the beautiful things about travelling solo. You leave home on your own, but along the way you can find yourself sharing pieces of your journey with people from completely different countries and backgrounds.
And even when everyone eventually goes their own way, those encounters remain part of the story.
They may have been only a few days, a few conversations or a handful of shared experiences, but they were positive moments that helped shape the journey and made it feel even more special.
THE PEOPLE & LITTLE MOMENTS I WILL REMEMBER
Some of the memories that stay with us the longest are not always the biggest adventures or the most famous places we visited. Sometimes, they are much quieter, a person we meet for only a few hours, a small act of kindness, or a completely ordinary moment that somehow feels extraordinary because of where we are and how it makes us feel. Looking back at this journey, there are three such moments that immediately come to mind. They are small pieces of the trip, but in many ways, they are the moments that gave it a heart.
THE WOMAN IN THE RED HAT - A SONG ON THE MANGROVE RIVER
Whenever I close my eyes and think about the Philippines, one of the first people I see is her, our beautiful elderly guide on the Mangrove River Tour, wearing her little red hat and singing to us as our boat slowly moved along the river.
There was something almost magical about that moment. We were surrounded by the quiet beauty of the mangroves, travelling through an ecosystem that is so important to the environment and to the local community, and there she was, sitting with us and singing as though this was the most natural thing in the world.
I don't even remember every word of the song anymore. What I remember is her voice, her smile, her red hat and the feeling of sitting on that boat while the river slowly carried us through the mangroves.
Sometimes a person doesn't need to say anything extraordinary to become part of your story. Sometimes their presence, their warmth and the simple joy they share with you are enough.
That beautiful woman became, for me, one of the faces of the Philippines.
When I think about the people I met on this journey, I think of her. And when I think of her, I immediately see that river again, the boat, the mangroves, the gentle movement of the water and her singing in the background.
It is such a simple memory, yet somehow it became one of the most precious ones I brought home.
THE LITTLE CAT IN THE HEAT OF MANILA
Another memory that has stayed with me came from Manila, and at first glance, it was nothing extraordinary.
It was incredibly hot that day, the kind of heat where stepping outside feels almost unbearable, with temperatures above 40°C and the city feeling like it was wrapped in a blanket of heat. And yet, in the middle of all that intensity, I noticed something that immediately caught my attention: a little cat being cared for and fed by local people.
There was something deeply touching about seeing that small act of kindness in such a difficult environment. People were going about their day in the middle of a huge, busy city, dealing with the same unbearable heat as everyone else, and still taking the time to look after this little animal.
It wasn't a tourist attraction. There was no spectacular view, no famous landmark and no reason why I should have remembered it.
But I did.
Maybe because travelling often makes you notice things you might otherwise walk straight past. When you are somewhere completely new, you become more aware of the little details, a gesture, a smile, an animal, a moment of kindness between strangers.
That little cat, surrounded by people who cared enough to feed it, became one of those quiet memories from Manila that I know I will remember for a long time.
DANCING IN THE PARK - A DIFFERENT SIDE OF BEIJING
And then there was Beijing.
During my second layover, while exploring the city, I found myself in a park surrounded by something I hadn't expected to see. Local people were gathered together, singing, dancing and simply enjoying themselves.
What struck me most were the people taking part. Many of them were older, people in their sixties, seventies and perhaps even older, yet there was nothing about the scene that felt quiet or restrained. They were laughing, dancing, singing and enjoying the moment with a kind of carefree energy that was impossible not to notice.
They weren't there for tourists. They weren't performing for anyone. They had simply come out to spend time together, to move, to sing, to socialise and to enjoy their day.
I found that incredibly beautiful.
It made me think about how differently people spend their time and how important community and simple social moments can be at every stage of life. In many parts of Europe, it is not something we see as often, groups of older people spontaneously gathering in a public park simply because they want to dance, sing and have fun together.
Watching them, I couldn't help but smile.
It was such a small moment during a very short layover, but it showed me a completely different side of Beijing, not the Great Wall, not the enormous squares or ancient temples, but the everyday life of the people who actually live there.
And perhaps that is exactly why I remember it.
Because sometimes, when we travel, the most beautiful memories are not the places we planned to see. They are the moments we stumble upon when we are simply walking through a city with nowhere particular to be.
Three people and three completely different moments, a woman singing on a river, locals caring for a little cat in the heat of Manila, and older people dancing together in a Beijing park.
None of them were written in my itinerary.
But somehow, they became part of the story I brought home.
PHILIPPINES VS. CHINA - TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WORLDS
One of the things that made this journey so interesting was that I didn't simply travel from one country to another, I felt as though I had stepped between two completely different worlds.
The Philippines and China could hardly have felt more different, and experiencing both of them during the same journey made that contrast even more obvious.
THE PHILIPPINES - ISLAND LIFE, SLOWER AND MORE SPONTANEOUS
The Philippines has a rhythm of its own. Everything feels slower, more relaxed and somehow less complicated. There is that unmistakable island life feeling, people don't seem to be constantly racing against the clock, and there is much more of a “It will happen, don't worry” attitude.
Plans can change. Things might take longer than expected. Someone might tell you something will happen today, and it might happen today... or tomorrow. And somehow, people just go with it.
At first, coming from a place where we are used to schedules, deadlines and knowing exactly when something is supposed to happen, that way of life can feel strange. But after a while, you start to understand it.
There is something incredibly refreshing about not constantly feeling like you are in a hurry.
The Philippines taught me a little bit about slowing down, accepting that not everything has to happen exactly when you planned it, and simply enjoying where you are. Life there felt more spontaneous, more relaxed and, in many ways, more connected to the people and surroundings.
It is not a perfect system, and there were definitely moments when the lack of organisation tested my patience. But that is also part of what makes the island life what it is.
BEIJING - FAST, ORGANISED AND ALWAYS MOVING
Then I arrived in Beijing.
The contrast was almost shocking.
Beijing is enormous, modern and highly organised. Everything felt faster. The city seemed to operate with a completely different rhythm, public transport, roads, infrastructure, huge buildings, enormous public spaces and thousands of people moving through the city with a clear sense of direction.
After the slower pace of the Philippines, Beijing felt like someone had suddenly pressed the fast-forward button.
There was a visible difference in infrastructure and urban development. Beijing has invested heavily in modern transport, public spaces and city infrastructure, and the scale of it all was something I immediately noticed.
Even the way people moved through the city felt different. There was less of that relaxed “we'll get there eventually” feeling and much more of a sense that things had a place, a time and a system.
And perhaps that was what fascinated me most, not that one way of life was better than the other, but that both could exist within the same journey and feel so completely different.
TWO COUNTRIES, TWO RHYTHMS OF LIFE
The Philippines taught me to slow down.
China reminded me how much can happen when everything moves fast and efficiently.
One gave me turquoise water, island life, spontaneous plans and the freedom to simply go with the flow. The other gave me enormous cities, ancient history alongside modern infrastructure, organised public spaces and a completely different rhythm of everyday life.
And somewhere between the two, I realised that I actually loved experiencing both.
The Philippines reminded me that not everything needs to be rushed.
Beijing reminded me that organisation and progress can completely transform the way a city functions.
They were two completely different worlds, but that contrast is exactly what made having both of them in the same journey so interesting.
WHAT SURPRISED ME THE MOST
I knew before this journey that the Philippines would be beautiful and that Beijing would be completely different from anything I was used to. But some things are impossible to understand until you experience them yourself. Looking back, these are the things that surprised me the most, some of them I expected to a certain degree, but none of them quite prepared me for the reality.
THE PHILIPPINES FELT LIKE A DIFFERENT WORLD ON EVERY ISLAND
One of the things that surprised me most was how incredibly different the Philippine islands could be from one another, even when they seemed so close on the map.
I expected beautiful beaches and turquoise water, but I didn't expect such a variety of landscapes, ecosystems and wildlife within relatively short distances. Every island seemed to have its own personality. The scenery changed, the nature changed, the animals changed and even the overall feeling of each place was different.
It made me realise just how incredibly diverse the Philippines really is. You can travel from one island to another and suddenly feel as though you have entered a completely different environment.
WILDLIFE IS SO CLOSE - SOMETIMES RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU
Another thing that genuinely surprised me was how accessible wildlife can be in the Philippines.
I knew I would see animals, but I didn't expect nature to feel so close to everyday life. Wildlife wasn't always something you had to search for or travel hours to find. Sometimes it was simply there, around you, and all you needed to do was notice it.
The possibility of seeing incredible animals in their natural surroundings, sometimes almost right next to you, made the whole experience feel much more authentic. It reminded me that in some places, nature isn't separated from daily life, you are simply living alongside it.
THE PHILIPPINES WAS EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN I EXPECTED
I knew the Philippines was beautiful before I went.
Everyone has seen the photographs, white sand, turquoise water, dramatic limestone cliffs, tropical forests and islands that look almost too perfect to be real.
But photographs still didn't prepare me for what it actually felt like to be there.
There seemed to be something beautiful around almost every corner. One moment you were on a boat surrounded by turquoise water, the next you were looking at enormous limestone formations, walking through lush vegetation or discovering another beach that looked completely unreal.
I expected beauty.
I didn't expect so much of it, so consistently.
BEIJING WAS MUCH CLEANER THAN I EXPECTED
One of my biggest positive surprises in Beijing was how clean the city actually was.
For some reason, before visiting, I had imagined that a city of that enormous size, with so many people and so much traffic, might feel much messier or more chaotic. Instead, I found many areas to be surprisingly clean and well maintained.
That immediately changed my first impression of the city.
HOW ORGANISED EVERYTHING FELT
Another thing that surprised me in Beijing was how easy it was to navigate the city once I understood how things worked.
Despite its enormous size, the city felt structured and organised. Public spaces, transportation and the general flow of the city made it possible to get around without feeling completely overwhelmed.
For a city this huge, I expected it to feel much more chaotic.
Instead, there was a sense of order underneath all that movement.
HOW LITTLE ENGLISH I HEARD IN BEIJING
I knew before travelling to China that English would not be widely spoken.
But I don't think I fully understood just how little English I would encounter, especially considering the size and modernity of Beijing.
What surprised me most was that even many younger people didn't necessarily speak English, something I had expected to be more common in such a huge international city.
It wasn't necessarily a problem, it simply made me realise how different the everyday communication experience could be from what I was used to in Europe.
Sometimes a translation app, a gesture and a smile were enough.
HOW MUCH CAN FIT INTO TWO WEEKS
And perhaps the biggest surprise of all was simply how much life can fit into two weeks.
When I started this journey, two weeks sounded like a relatively short amount of time. But with two 15-hour layovers in Beijing and the time I spent travelling through the Philippines, those days somehow became packed with experiences.
I visited ancient landmarks, walked on the Great Wall, explored Beijing, travelled between Philippine islands, encountered wildlife, swam with incredible marine animals, explored caves, discovered beaches and met people from different parts of the world.
There were days when it felt as though I had lived an entire week in 24 hours.
And that is probably what surprised me most when I finally came home: you don't necessarily need months to create memories that can stay with you for years. Sometimes, you simply need to make the most of the time you have.
THE HARD PARTS OF THE JOURNEY
Every journey has its difficult moments. Some trips have more than others, but when you are travelling across continents, connecting multiple flights, moving between islands and trying to fit as much as possible into a limited amount of time, a few things are almost guaranteed not to go exactly according to plan.
For me, the hardest part of this journey was not one single event. It was everything that came with trying to make such a complicated trip run smoothly, knowing that there were so many things outside my control and that even the best planning could not protect me from every possible problem.
WHEN ONE DELAY CHANGED THE PLAN
One of the biggest lessons came when one of my flights was delayed and I ended up missing my connecting flight.
Suddenly, the carefully planned itinerary no longer mattered. I had to start looking for another flight, figure out how to get where I needed to go and, most importantly, find a way to solve the problem quickly.
The new flight meant an unexpected expense of around €200, money I had never planned to spend.
It was frustrating, especially because it wasn't something I could have easily prevented. But this is exactly why I believe that when travelling, especially on a complicated international itinerary, you should always have an emergency budget.
You hope you will never need it.
But when something goes wrong, you are incredibly grateful that it is there.
ALMOST 48 HOURS JUST TO GET THERE
Another difficult part was simply the amount of travelling involved.
From the moment I left Zagreb until I finally reached the starting point of my actual Philippines adventure, almost 48 hours had passed. That meant sleeping wherever I could, on airport benches, on planes, on buses and in between connections.
It sounds adventurous when you write it down afterwards, but living through it is something completely different.
There were moments when I was exhausted, barely knew what time or day it was anymore and just wanted to arrive, take a shower and sleep in a real bed.
Long-distance travel is often romanticised, but the reality can be physically demanding. Sometimes the adventure begins long before you reach the destination.
THE HEAT THAT CHANGED MY PLANS
Manila brought another kind of challenge: the extreme heat.
I had hoped to explore more of the city, but temperatures above 40°C made that much harder than I had imagined. Walking around for long periods in that kind of heat was simply exhausting, and eventually I had to shorten my plans.
There wasn't much I could do about it.
Weather is one of those things that no itinerary can control. You can plan every hour of your day, but you cannot plan the temperature waiting outside your hotel.
So I had to accept that I wasn't going to see everything I wanted to see in Manila, and that's okay.
THE TAXI EXPERIENCE IN MANILA
Then there was the taxi situation in Manila, when someone tried to take advantage of me because I was a foreign tourist.
Those are never pleasant experiences, especially when you are alone in a country where you are still learning how things work.
But unfortunately, this is also part of travelling.
You have to accept that not every person you meet will have good intentions, and sometimes being a tourist makes you an easy target. The important thing is to stay alert, trust your instincts and learn from the experience rather than allowing one bad encounter to define the entire destination.
WHEN LANGUAGE BECOMES A BARRIER
Another challenge was communication.
In the Philippines, English made things relatively easy most of the time. Beijing was a completely different experience. I knew that English wasn't widely spoken, but I was still surprised by how often I encountered situations where communication simply wasn't possible in English.
Sometimes you have to rely on a translation app. Sometimes on gestures. Sometimes on pointing at a location on your phone and hoping the other person understands what you mean.
And sometimes, you simply have to explain things with your hands and feet until somehow, eventually, both sides understand.
It can be frustrating, but it is also part of the experience of travelling somewhere culturally and linguistically different from home. You learn to become more resourceful, more patient and less dependent on everything working exactly as you are used to.
LEARNING TO EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
Looking back, I think that was the biggest lesson of all.
No journey will ever be perfect.
There are simply too many variables involved, flights, connections, boats, buses, weather, traffic, other people, language barriers, unexpected costs and countless little things that can change the course of a day.
You can plan everything down to the smallest detail, but there will always be something that doesn't go according to plan.
And maybe the goal isn't to eliminate those problems completely.
Maybe the goal is to learn how to deal with them without allowing them to ruin the journey.
The delayed flight cost me €200. The long journey exhausted me. The Manila heat changed my plans. The taxi experience reminded me to be more careful. The language barrier forced me to become more resourceful.
None of those things were part of the holiday I had imagined.
But they became part of the journey I actually experienced.
And I think that's an important part of travelling: you don't need everything to go perfectly for a trip to be unforgettable. You just need to keep going when it doesn't.
HOW MUCH DID THE WHOLE TRIP COST?
| Category | What to include | Amount (€) |
|---|---|---|
| ✈️ Flights | Budapest → Beijing → Philippines → Beijing → Budapest — return ticket | 500 |
| Manila → Cebu | 33 | |
| Cebu → Puerto Princesa | 32 | |
| Puerto Princesa → Manila | 32 | |
| Flights subtotal | 597 € | |
| 🚌 Buses & Ground Transportation | Zagreb ↔ Budapest | 40 |
| Airport transfers | cca 50 | |
| Vans / buses in the Philippines | 20 | |
| Local transportation in Beijing | 10 | |
| Taxis / Grab | \ | |
| Transport subtotal | 120 € | |
| 🏨 Accommodation | Cebu | 80 |
| Puerto Princesa | 45 | |
| El Nido | 115 | |
| Manila | 88 | |
| Accommodation subtotal | 328 € | |
| 🚤 Tours & Excursions | Cebu tours | 109 |
| Bohol tours / activities | 128 | |
| Puerto Princesa tours | 100 | |
| El Nido tours | 20+25 | |
| Other organised activities | 120 | |
| Tours subtotal | 502 € | |
| 🎟️ Entrance Fees & Tickets | Attractions | 10 |
| Museums / temples / historical sites | 5 | |
| Parks / environmental fees | 8.50 | |
| Other entrance tickets | / | |
| Tickets subtotal | 23.50 € | |
| 🍜 Food & Drinks | Restaurants | |
| Street food / snacks | ||
| Coffee & drinks | ||
| Meals included in tours | ||
| Food & drinks subtotal | cca 300 € | |
| 🛍️ Shopping & Souvenirs | Souvenirs | |
| Gifts | ||
| Other shopping | ||
| Shopping subtotal | cca 100 € | |
| 📱 Travel Essentials | SIM / eSIM / internet | 22 |
| Travel insurance | 35 | |
| Other travel essentials | ||
| Essentials subtotal | 57 € | |
| ⚠️ Unexpected Expenses | Missed connection / new flight | €200 |
| Other unexpected costs | ||
| Unexpected expenses subtotal | 200 € | |
| TOTAL TRIP COST | 2227.50 € |
WAS IT WORTH THE MONEY?
Absolutely.
Every euro I spent on this journey feels worth it when I think about everything I experienced along the way. The flights, the long connections, the accommodation, the tours, the unexpected expenses and even the moments when things didn't go according to plan, none of them feel important when I compare them to the memories I came home with.
I walked on the Great Wall of China during a 15-hour layover. I travelled across the Philippines, discovered islands that looked almost unreal, swam with whale sharks, met tiny tarsiers, explored underground rivers and caves, spent days surrounded by some of the most incredible landscapes I had ever seen, and met people who became a small but meaningful part of my journey.
There were difficult moments, exhausting journeys and unexpected costs, but they are all part of the story now. And if someone asked me whether I would spend the same money again for the same experience, my answer would be immediate.
Yes. Without hesitation.
Because at the end of the day, I didn't spend that money simply on flights, hotels, tours or transportation. I spent it on experiences, on stepping outside my comfort zone, on discovering places I had dreamed about, on meeting people from different parts of the world and on creating memories that I know will stay with me for years.
And if I had the opportunity to do this entire journey again, knowing everything I know now, the long flights, the missed connection, the exhaustion, the heat, the language barriers and all the unexpected moments, I would still say yes and book the ticket.
Some trips cost money.
Some trips give you memories that are worth far more than the money you spent.
This was definitely one of them.
WHAT I WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY
Honestly, almost nothing.
If I look back at this journey, I don't think there is a major decision I would change. Considering the time I had, the budget I was working with and everything I wanted to experience, I think I planned this trip as well as I possibly could and made the absolute most of every day.
The one thing I would change, if I had the opportunity, would simply be to stay longer in the Philippines.
I would have loved to have had at least another ten days there, enough time to explore a few more islands, slow down a little and experience more of the country without constantly thinking about the next flight, boat or connection. The Philippines is simply too big and too diverse to experience properly in such a short amount of time, and after everything I saw, I know there is still so much more I would love to discover.
But realistically, I was limited by two things: my annual leave and my budget. I couldn't simply extend the trip indefinitely, even if I wanted to.
As for everything else, I wouldn't change it.
The delayed flight wasn't something I could have planned for. Neither was the weather. The extreme heat in Manila wasn't something I could control, and neither were the unexpected situations that came with travelling between different countries and islands.
These are the things you learn to accept when you travel.
There are simply too many variables — flights can be delayed, weather can change, connections can be missed and plans can suddenly have to be rearranged. No amount of planning can completely eliminate those possibilities.
And despite all of that, I honestly believe I used the time I had to the absolute maximum.
Every day had a purpose. Every destination was carefully chosen. I managed to experience far more than I ever expected to fit into such a short journey, and even the moments that didn't go according to plan became part of the adventure.
So if you ask me what I would do differently?
I would simply stay longer.
Everything else, I would do again exactly the same way.
MY BIGGEST TRAVEL LESSONS FROM THIS TRIP
Every journey teaches you something, but sometimes you don't realise what you have learned until you are back home, looking at the whole experience from a distance. This trip taught me a few lessons that I know I will carry with me into every journey that comes next.
NOT EVERYTHING WILL GO ACCORDING TO PLAN - AND THAT'S OKAY
No matter how carefully you plan a trip, something will eventually go wrong.
A flight will be delayed. The weather will change. A connection might not work out. Something might take longer than expected. And when that happens, there is usually no point in getting angry about something you cannot control.
The only thing you can control is how you react.
Instead of asking “Why is this happening to me?”, sometimes you simply have to ask, “Okay, this is what is happening. What can I do now?”
Learning to adapt instead of fighting against the situation makes travelling so much easier.
ALWAYS TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS
One of the clearest examples of this was the taxi situation in Manila.
Something didn't feel right, and thankfully, I listened to that feeling and reacted quickly. Looking back, I probably shouldn't have gotten into that situation in the first place, but the important thing is that I recognised that something wasn't right and didn't ignore my instincts.
Travel teaches you to pay attention to things that you can't always explain logically.
Sometimes your gut notices something before your brain has had time to process it.
So if something feels wrong, don't ignore it just because you don't have a perfect explanation. Trust yourself.
SLOW DOWN AND ACTUALLY ENJOY THE JOURNEY
This is probably one of the most important lessons I took home with me.
When you travel, it is very easy to fall into the trap of constantly moving.
Next destination. Next bus. Next boat. Next attraction. Next photo. Next thing on the itinerary.
But sometimes you need to stop.
Sit down in a bar. Order three beers. Start talking to someone you have never met. Laugh. Stay a little longer than you planned. Let the evening unfold without knowing exactly where it is going.
Those moments are part of travelling too.
You don't have to spend every minute discovering something new. Sometimes doing absolutely nothing for a while is exactly what you need.
THE BEST MOMENTS ARE OFTEN THE ONES YOU CAN'T PLAN
Some of my favourite memories from this journey were never on my itinerary.
The people I met. The woman singing on the Mangrove River. The little cat in Manila. The people dancing in the park in Beijing. The conversations that happened simply because I happened to be in the right place at the right time.
You can plan destinations.
You can book flights.
You can organise tours.
But you cannot schedule a magical moment.
Sometimes you simply have to leave a little space for life to surprise you.
DON'T JUST VISIT PLACES - EXPERIENCE THEM
And perhaps the biggest lesson of all: don't experience the world only through a camera.
Of course I love taking photographs. I want to remember the places I visit and bring pieces of them home with me. But there are moments when you simply have to put the camera down and look around.
Really look.
Sometimes the most beautiful place is the one where you completely forget to take a picture.
And strangely enough, those are often the moments for which you have no photographs at all.
You don't have a picture because you were too busy experiencing it.
You were too busy looking at the view, listening to the sounds around you, feeling the wind, watching the people, or simply standing there thinking, I can't believe I'm actually here.
And maybe that is the best souvenir a journey can give you, a memory that exists entirely in your head, without needing a photograph to prove that it happened.
FINAL THOUGHTS - THIS TRIP GAVE ME MORE THAN I EXPECTED
When I look back at this journey now, I realise that I came home with much more than I had planned to bring back.
I left Zagreb with an itinerary, a suitcase and a long list of places I wanted to see. I had flights booked, connections organised, hotels reserved and plans for almost every day. I knew where I was going, what I wanted to visit and how much time I had.
What I didn't have was any idea of how deeply some of those moments would affect me.
The journey started with a 15-hour layover in Beijing. Instead of simply waiting for my next flight, I found myself standing on the Great Wall of China and walking through the Summer Palace, trying to take in the fact that I had just travelled across the world and was actually there. At the time, I thought that was already going to be one of the biggest moments of the entire trip.
And then the Philippines happened.
The Philippines gave me moments that are difficult to put into words. There were days when I genuinely felt like the luckiest person in the world simply because I had the opportunity to be there. I remember looking around at the turquoise water, the islands, the animals and the landscapes and thinking about how incredibly fortunate I was to experience all of this with my own eyes.
There were moments when I cried from happiness.
Seeing the tarsiers for the first time, after being afraid that the rain might prevent us from seeing them, brought tears to my eyes. Swimming with whale sharks made me feel incredibly small and incredibly lucky at the same time. Standing in places I had previously only seen in photographs made me realise just how powerful it is to finally experience something you once only dreamed about.
And then there were the moments that had nothing to do with famous places.
A beautiful elderly woman in a red hat singing to us as we travelled through the mangroves. A little cat being fed by locals in the unbearable Manila heat. People dancing and singing together in a Beijing park. The people I met along the way, with whom I shared only a few days or a few moments, but who became part of my story anyway.
Those are the things I didn't plan for.
And perhaps those are the things I will remember the longest.
This journey also reminded me that travelling isn't always beautiful. There were delays, missed connections, unexpected expenses, exhausting days, extreme heat, communication problems and moments when I had to stop and figure things out on my own.
But even those difficult moments became part of the experience.
They taught me to adapt, to trust my instincts, to be patient and to keep moving forward when something didn't go according to plan. They reminded me that I don't have to control everything for a journey to be successful.
And somewhere along the way, I realised something else.
I don't want to travel simply to collect countries.
I want to experience them.
I want to sit in a bar and talk to someone I've never met. I want to watch people dance in a park. I want to hear a stranger sing on a boat. I want to put my camera down sometimes and simply look around. I want to be surprised. I want to get lost a little. I want to feel something.
Because when I think about this journey now, I don't remember it as a list of destinations.
I remember feelings.
I remember excitement. Fear. Exhaustion. Happiness. Wonder. Curiosity. Gratitude.
I remember the feeling of standing on the Great Wall.
The feeling of seeing a tarsier for the first time.
The feeling of being in the water beside a whale shark.
The feeling of stepping onto that zip line while my legs were shaking and realising that I was stronger than my fear.
The feeling of sitting on a boat while an elderly woman in a red hat sang to us.
The feeling of meeting people who started as strangers and became friends.
And perhaps most importantly, I remember the feeling of being deeply grateful.
Grateful that I had the health, opportunity, courage and circumstances that allowed me to take this journey. Grateful that I could wake up in a completely different part of the world and spend the day discovering something I had never seen before.
I know how privileged I am to be able to travel like this, and I don't want to ever take that for granted.
The journey eventually brought me back to Beijing for one final 15-hour layover. I walked through the city, watched people going about their everyday lives, and slowly realised that this incredible adventure was coming to an end.
From Beijing, I flew to Budapest and then took the bus back to Zagreb.
And just like that, I was home.
But I didn't come back as the same person who had left.
Maybe I came back a little braver. A little more patient. A little more willing to accept that not everything has to go according to plan. And definitely more convinced that the world is far too big and beautiful to stop exploring.
When I booked this trip, I thought I was simply planning a holiday.
I didn't know I was planning two weeks that would make me cry from happiness, challenge my fears, introduce me to people I would remember long after we went our separate ways, and give me memories that photographs could never fully capture.
This trip gave me more than I expected.
And if there is one thing I know for certain, it is that this will not be the last time I choose to leave home and see what is waiting on the other side of the world.
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