​In an earlier blog, I “geeked out” on the Philippines by sharing ten facts I've learned about this amazing country. Always discovering new things as I live here, let's geek out again with ten more facts:
 
1. We all know that Filipinos are crazy about basketball, but did you know that the country’s professional league, The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), is the second oldest hoops organization in the world, behind only the NBA?
 
2. With a dazzling array of flora and fauna, the Philippines is one of the top ten most biologically megadiverse countries in the world. In fact, more than 170 species of birds and 100 species of mammals habitat these 7,500 islands but nowhere else in the world! Just in the last decade, sixteen new mammals have been discovered in the Philippines. Amazing!  
 
3. When a baby girl was born sometime in 2014, the Philippines population officially crossed the 100 million threshold. With a current estimated population of 106 million and change, it now ranks as the 12th most populous nation in the world. It’s also one of the fastest growing countries in the world with an annual growth rate of about two percent.
 
4. You may think I’m hitting on every stereotype about Filipinos when I mention their love of karaoke, but I didn’t know that a Filipino named Roberto del Rosario was the first one to patent the “Sing Along System” in 1975. It was actually invented by a Japanese man four years earlier ("karaoke" means "Singing without accompaniment" in Japanese), but this intrepid Filipino was the first to register its patent.
 
5. The country suffered one of the largest volcanic eruptions in history on June 15 1991, when Mt. Pinatubo erupted. The blast was so powerful that it shot 10 billion metric tons of magma and 20 million tons of toxic sulfur dioxide 25 miles high into the stratosphere. Mt. Pinatubo’s sent such a big mushroom cloud of ash into the atmosphere that it created a haze of sulfuric acid all around the world for two years, causing global temperatures to drop by one degree Fahrenheit!
 
6. We see them every day here in the Philippines, but jeepneys are a remarkable form of transportation that exist nowhere else in the world. Converted from the mass surplus of army jeeps that the U.S. military left after World War II, there are still 50,000 smoke-billowing jeepneys operating just on the streets of Manila.
 
7. Filipinos love hanging out at their local shopping mall. (I get it – they're clean, safe, and the AC is kicking.) But I never knew that the Philippines is home to three of the ten largest shopping malls in the world: the Mega Fashion Hall of SM Megamall (third-largest in the world, encompassing 5,451,220 sq. ft.), SM City North EDSA (fourth largest) and SM Mall of Asia (tenth largest).
 
8. The island of Camiguin stands out even among the many natural wonders of the Philippines, as it’s home to the most volcanoes per square mile of any island on earth. Only about 14 miles long and 8.5 miles wide, Camiguin also holds the distinction as the only island on the planet with more volcanoes (7) than towns (5). But don't worry – they've been dormant since the 1950s. 
 
9. Typhoons wreak havoc in the Philippines all too often, but in 2013, it was Super Typhoon Haiyan (called Yolanda locally) that ripped through the archipelago. Yolanda brought the strongest winds ever recorded at landfall as well as the strongest one-minute sustained wind speed of 195 mph. Sadly, it was also the deadliest typhoon in Philippines history, killing at least 6,100 people and displacing millions according to government reports (although locals estimate the death toll to be closer to 15,000, and a thousand people are still missing). 
 
10. Since all Filipinas are beautiful, inside and out (I’m trying to earn major points for that one), beauty pageants are a big deal here. But our contestants have also shined on the world stage, as a Filipina won Miss Universe three times (as recently as 2015), Miss World in 2013, Miss International six times, and Miss Earth four times.

Maganda! (That means 'beautiful' in the Filipino language.)

-Norm  :-) 

​Dumaguete is growing up right before our eyes, blossoming into one of the most recognizable tourist destinations in the Philippines. But if Dumagueteños really do want to promote tourism in the city (and reap the financial benefits), there is still work to be done.

I've lived and traveled all around the world, and I've seen these work incredibly well to enrich communities from Nicaragua to Costa Rica, Vietnam to Thailand, and many others. When making this list, I was cognizant of not just binging in armies of tourists, but these three things:

-Making sure these ideas generated income for locals and revenue for Dumaguete
-Benefiting the daily lives of locals, too
-Attracting the right kind of tourists (not young cheap partyers or sexpats)
 
Here are my 5 things we can do to turn Dumaguete into a world-class tourist destination:
​

​1.         A tourism information booth
I’ve only lived in Dumaguete for eight months, so I’m still learning about the incredible things to do and see here. But imagine how lost you would feel if you were first stepping off of the plane/bus/ferry into our fair city. Too many visitors flounder around and waste time trying to piece together information from various Facebook pages, old TripAdvisor reports, or just rumors. 
 
Now imagine if a bright, shiny, new tourist info booth was here to guide them. Tourists could get valuable (and correct!) information, as well as help with booking hotels, excursions, or even fairs, festivals, cultural events, nightlife, and restaurants.
 
Even locals and expats could check in at this tourist info booth (there would be an online version – sort of like Craigslist.org) and find out what’s going on. 

​2.         Fun and fantastic photo ops around town
Tourists HEART taking photos! Filipinos and foreigners alike often seek out places just for the photo op. In fact, there are 95 million photos shared on Instagram every single day (about 87% of which are girls taking selfies on the beach.) So why don’t we make Dumaguete even more photogenic for travelers?
 
We can encourage home and business owners to paint with bright colors, promote a flower-planting campaign so our city becomes known as the Philippines’s floral city, or add a few colorful “Welcome to Dumaguete” signs or other props for photo takers.
 
We can let our imaginations run wild, but the simple fact is that more fun photo ops = more tourism.

​3.         Tourist police with teeth
No offense to the tourist police we have, but rules, ordinances, and laws need to be enforced. When someone drinks in public (or kicks a dog) along the Boulevard, give them a ticket (or haul them to jail). When they litter, smoke, or become a public nuisance, give them a ticket. Hold foreigners and locals to the same standard, as we shouldn't let a few people make others feel uncomfortable or unsafe, spoiling the perception of Dumaguete as a city of and for gentle people.

​4.         A shuttle bus for tourists
From the Manjuyod Sandbar to Apo Island, Siquijor to the Twin Lakes, Casaroro Falls and Tierra Alta, we have an abundance of local treasures in and around Duma. But these points of interest can be downright difficult to get to, especially for tourists.
 
A tourist shuttle would solve that problem. A single jeepney dedicated to driving to and from these destinations every day on a set schedule (it can even leave from the tourist booth we’re setting up) would be an amazing resource for tourists and locals, alike. I know I’d use it! 

​5.         Close down the Boulevard to traffic
This is our opus. Not only would it turn Dumaguete into one of the top destinations in Asia, but it would be imminently more enjoyable for everyone who lives here. There's no reason why big trucks and buses should be ripping down the otherwise placid Boulevard, spewing smoke, causing an ear-shattering racket, and ready to flatten any pedestrian that's unfortunate enough to be in the way. Instead, all buses and trucks will need to take the national road except for set delivery hours.
 
Even better, on nights and weekends, we’re going to ban all traffic from the Boulevard and open it up for vendors to set up tents, booths, and kiosks. Restaurants can come down and offer their food, artists and craftsman can display their work, musicians can play, and the whole area will turn into a festival-like atmosphere.
 
Having a vibrant, fun, and family-oriented night market along the Boulevard will attract droves of tourists to Dumaguete, generating revenue to pay for everything on this list - and then some!

-Norm  :-)

The Philippines
Although the Philippines is a country in Southeast Asia, its residents are about 90% Christian and 80% Roman Catholic due to Spanish colonization, so Christmas is a BIG deal. In fact, they celebrate the longest Christmas holiday in the world, spanning from September until well after New Years. 

Aside from ubiquitous light shows, malls filled to the brim, and decorated trees, there are many great Christmas traditions in the Philippines.

Many Filipinos practice the tradition of Simbang Gabi, where they attend church service at 4 am for the nine days leading up to Christmas Eve.

On Noche Buena - Christmas Eve - the whole extended family gets together for a feast of lechon, or a roasted pig.
 
Singing is always popular in the Philippines, but even more so around Christmas, when children go door to door singing carols.

There’s even a Giant Lantern Festival  (Ligligan Parul Sampernandu) in the country, held the Saturday before Christmas in the city of San Fernando – the “Christmas Capital of the Philippines.” Local residents, visiting Filipinos, and even foreign travelers gather to witness hundreds of paper lanterns lit and send aloft by candles, or even electric-colored bulbs these days.

But I have my own new Christmas tradition in the Philippines, as I dress up like Santa Claus and visit sick kids with cancer as well as give out food to street kids. It’s damn hot in that suit! ​

Venezuela
The South American country of Venezuela may be in a state of emergency right now, but they still have some serious fun for Christmas. In fact, residents of Caracas, the capital, lace up their roller blades and skate to church for Christmas Eve mass. No one really knows how this started or why, but the rollerblading Christmas celebrators have become so popular that roads are even shut down so they can skate to church safely.

​Iceland
For 13 nights leading up to Christmas, the children of Iceland leave their best shoes by the window, hoping that the Yule Lads visit them while they’re sleeping. The boys and girls that have been good receive gifts in their shoes, while the bad ones get rotting potatoes.

South Africa
Since it's sits far in the southern hemisphere, Christmas comes in the middle of their summer, so people enjoy the outdoors with camping, swimming, gathering in parks and for festivals, and other outdoor activities. But they also have many remnants of UK Christmas traditions, like dressing trees, singing carols, and gift giving, called fir. Boxing Day - the day after Christmas - is just as big!

***


Have a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or just a great holiday! I'll see you in the New Year!

-Norm :-) 

I want to introduce you to someone I think you’ll really like. I have high hopes that you two will hit it off, and maybe even form a loving, long-term relationship.
 
No, this isn’t like the time you tried to set your Ate up on a date with Boboy from the barangay basketball team. Today, I want to introduce my Filipino traveler friends to the wonderful country of Cambodia.
 
Easily accessible from Manila, inexpensive, safe, and FUN, you'll find the Kingdom of Cambodia to be like your 7,500-island nation in some ways but so different in most. ("Same, same, but different," as they say.) In fact, if you added up landmass of the Visayas and Luzon, it would be about as big as Cambodia. However, there are only 15+ million people in the whole country of Cambodia, while Manila alone has more residents than that! Whoa! You'll also learn that the people and culture are called Khmer, not “Cambodian,” and the country has the longest standing leader in all of Asia, Prime Minister Hun Sen.

​It also has a unique history, from one of the most impressive ancient civilizations in the world to French colonialism and then the tragic, dark period of the Khmer Rouge. But today, Cambodia is awake, alive, and full of amazing things to do and see – and waiting for you! 
 
I’ll give you 10 reasons why Filipinos will love to visit Cambodia here, but I also encourage you to email me with any questions.

Getting there and around is easy
Filipinos will find that it’s easy to get to Cambodia. In fact, CebuPacific offers nonstop flights leaving Manila and touching down in Siem Reap, Cambodia that only take 2 hours and 55 minutes, saving you a whole lot of time and aggravation by avoiding connecting flights and layovers. The best part is that it costs less than 5,000 Pesos each way! That's about the same as Manila to Dumaguete, Coron, or Caticlan - not bad for an international direct flight, Coron, or Caticlan.!
 
Once you're in Siem Reap, getting around is effortless with charming tuk-tuks you can ride around for 100 Pesos or so, or you can rent a motorbike or bicycle to tour around.
 
If you have more than a few days, you can easily take the bus or van (5-6 hours/250 Pesos – 500 Pesos) to the dynamic and charming capital city, Phnom Penh. (Yes, they have night buses so you can wake up in your destination and save the cost of a hotel room for one night!)
 
Since Cambodia is wedged between its Southeast Asian neighbors, you can also take a bus or van to Thailand or Vietnam for intrepid travelers.

​Angkor Wat in Siem Reap
The highlight of any trip to Cambodia, Angkor Wat is the largest religious site on earth and a UNESCO World Heritage Site (although not a Wonder of the World – yet!). Construction started on this massive temple complex in the 12th century as a Hindu religious monument, although it later transitioned to Buddhist use. Today, you can witness the sheer magnitude and magnificent splendor of Angkor Wat and nearby temples, including Ta Prohm temple that you might remember from the movie Lara Croft, Tomb Raider with Angelina Jolie. You can purchase a one-day pass, three-day pass or week-long pass to enter the temple grounds and cruise around as much as you like, so bring comfortable walking shoes, your sunblock, and your selfie stick because you’re in for a crazy adventure! 

​Cambodia is inexpensive!
Filipinos will be delighted to find that Cambodia is still very affordable (it’s probably cheaper than traveling around the Philippines!). You can still get a great 4-star hotel with a pool and breakfast for around 1,300-1,500 Pesos a night, and there is an abundance of clean and safe hostels, guesthouses, and accommodations for as low as 150 Pesos per night! You can also find delicious food that’s inexpensive everywhere in Cambodia.
 
The Angkor Wat temple complex – the main attraction in Siem Reap – does cost 1,850 Pesos for a day pass, but you can use that to explore multiple temples in the same area. From dawn until sundown, you'll see some of the most amazingly beautiful temples in the world, taking enough selfies, groupies, and jump shots to last a lifetime!

​Yummm...the food!
I know that you love to eat! But since mealtime (otherwise known as "all the time") is about trying new, exciting dishes and making memories with friends and family, you'll love the food in Cambodia. In fact, you'll find the best of Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, French, European, Western, Indian, and, of course, Khmer food. You'll also be blown away by how many funky, creative, and fun cafes, restaurants, bars, and street food choices there are. By the way, you can try spider, snake, or even insects in Cambodia! Who's brave enough to take a bite?

Incredible natural beauty
The Kingdom of Cambodia may be right next door to the Philippines, but it looks so different that it might as well be another planet. Mostly landlocked (except for coastal areas in the south), life in Cambodia is centered around the colossal Lake Tonle Sap and the rivers that feed it, like the mighty Mekong.
 
However, some things will look familiar – regal palm trees, sprawling rice fields, and the endless sun-kissed beauty of “the province.” But you’ll also find floating villages of boat people, tropical jungle, rivers to play in, butterfly farms, pepper plantations, dusty villages with friendly locals, and breathtaking Bokor Mountain and National Park.
 
If you make it south to Phnom Penh, consider another 3-4 hour bus/van ride (that’s nothing for eager Filipino travelers!) to the charmingly surreal river town of Kampot or the super-chill coastal enclave of Kep, where you can lay in a hammock and eat fresh seafood to your heart's content. I really think you’ll love those places.
 
One thing I haven't mentioned much is Sihanoukville (the name of their former King) in the south of the country. While it's a hot spot for backpackers and travelers, I don't suggest it for Filipinos. It takes about 6 hours to get there from Phnom Penh (and takes you even further away from your flight out of Siem Reap), and it's attracted a sleazy, unsafe element. While nearby Koh Rong Island is beautiful, you have far more (and better) islands back home. So my recommendation is to come to Cambodia for the culture, temples, and exploring the main city, but skip Sihanoukville.)

A dark and storied history
Wow, where do I even begin? I can write ten blogs on the history of Cambodia, but suffice to say this – the modern developing nation you see today has one of the richest, most ancient, and interesting histories of any country in Asia. However, Cambodia was also home to one of the worst genocides in human history, with the Khmer Rouge killing almost a quarter of the total population of their own country in the months between 1975 and 1978.
 
History buffs will experience all of that – pride in their ancient civilization, the surprisingly-European influence in art, architecture, food and culture from French colonialism, scars from the Khmer Rouge’s atrocities, and today’s hopes to heal and build a modern society. 

Filipino tourists don’t even need a visa to visit Cambodia!
I know the process of applying for a visa can be long, expensive, and frustrating for Filipinos. But here's some amazing news, straight from the TourismCambodia.com website:

Visa Exemption
The nationals of the Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Myanmar do not need a tourist visa and may stay in Cambodia for 21 and 30 days respectively.

Experience Buddhism
While the majority of people in the Philippines are Roman Catholic and Christian, Cambodia is predominantly Buddhist. Filipinos will be delighted to experience such a cultural, historical, and yes, religious contrast. You'll find that Buddhism, its temples (Wats), and its people, very welcoming. From Angkor Wat to the temples and pagodas around the picturesque royal palace in Phnom Penh to gonzo celebrations like the water festivities for Khmer New Year, Filipinos will love being immersed in a Buddhist society. 

Plenty of pasalubong to take home
Everywhere you go in Siem Reap or Phnom Penh, you’ll find stalls, stores, and night markets selling t-shirts, wood carvings, handmade jewelry, local art and crafts, designer brand (knock-off) clothes and purses, hats, refrigerator magnets, postcards, silks and other exotic fabrics, spices, and just about every other gift you can imagine. For 1,000 Pesos and some smooth-tongued haggling, you'll return home with a backpack full of pasalubong that will even make your sometimes-complaining  (and still single) Ate happy! ​

Connect with great people
My Pinoy friends will have one frustration in Cambodia, as people come up to them on the street and start speaking Khmer all the time, thinking they are from Cambodia. But the good news is that people are generally friendly, happy, and open to foreigners in Cambodia. Of course, English isn't their native tongue, but anyone that works in tourism will speak enough English to get by and interact, and you'd be surprised how fast the younger generation (like kids on the street) are learning it.
 
Likewise, you'll meet some AMAZING fellow travelers from all over the world while you're in Cambodia, making new friends for life who might even invite you to their home countries.
 
I’ve found that in some places (like Thailand, etc.) the country is beautiful but I leave feeling like I’ve lacked a meaningful connection to the country and its people. But in Cambodia, there are endless opportunities for an authentic human bond and even friendships, enriching both of your lives.

My favorite thing to do when I visit Cambodia is get involved with local charities. I have a few that I REALLY trust, believe in, and have been helping for years, like the Children’s Improvement Organization orphanage in Siem Reap and the Connecting Hands Training Café in Phnom Penh. But be careful – you’ll fall in love with the kids and these people and not want to leave!

​***
 
For these 10 reasons, I promise you that Cambodia will remain in your heart long after the stamp in your passport fades!
​
 
-Norm  :-)
 
Disclaimer: I am not Filipino, but please don’t hold that against me – nobody’s perfect! 

​An easy ride to school every morning for our kids is something that we often take for granted, but many children in poor nations around the world don't have the same luxury. In fact, there are about 60 million kids around the globe that don't get to attend school at all every year, and many more drop out after only a few years.

The challenges are often economic, as families need their children working to feed everyone or can't afford books, tuition, and school clothes, etc., but sometimes, geography gets in the way, too. According to UNESCO, children living in a rural environment are twice as likely to be out of school than urban children, and when you add in jagged mountains, isolated valleys, raging rivers, and flooding in the monsoon season, it can be almost impossible for some kids to get to school.

ALMOST impossible. As they 25 examples in photos will demonstrate, some kids will do just about anything to get to school, risking their very lives just to get an education because they know it's their only chance at a better life.

We can all draw inspiration from their sacrifice and dedication, and the next time your kids complain about getting on the school bus, just show them this blog!

With love,
Norm  :-)

PS Contact me if you're interested in helping kids like these and others around the world get an education. 

​These kids have a perilous journey to the remote school in the world in Gulu, China, following a 1-foot wide path for five hours through the mountains just for the opportunity to learn.

​When the Ulnas River in Western India floods every monsoon season, some school kids need to walk a tightrope to get to the other bank of the river and on  to school while other ingenious scholars get creative with their transportation!

​There are no school buses in this rural province in Myanmar, so this resourceful girl hitches a ride on a bull to get to her classroom every morning!

​In Nepal, the mountainous landscape makes travel difficult, or sometimes impossible. But undeterred, these school kids ride a sitting zip line over a river to school every day.

This Palestinian girl lives in a refugee camp in Shuafat, near Jerusalem, and when Israeli forces clash with Palestinians in the streets, she has to walk right through them to get to school.

In Lebak, Indonesia, school children can either walk four hours out of their way or take their chances crossing the river on an old suspension bridge that’s literally falling apart.

A chance to go to school is worth a wild ride outside Bogota, Columbia, as these youngsters have to cross the raging Rio Negro River on a half-mile steel cable high above the waters. Attached by a pulley, she travels at up to 50 mph for a minute and can only slow down using this tree branch as a brake! Even crazier, she’s actually carrying her younger brother in the sack!

In the rainy season in Rizal Province, Philippines, youngsters in search of knowledge take a ride across the river on inflated inner tubes every day. 

These kids have to traverse these treacherous mountains for 125 miles to get to their boarding school Pili, China every term. With the help of the headmaster, the journey takes two days and includes wading through four freezing rivers, crossing a 650 ft chain bridge and four single-plank bridges. 

It takes a lot of focus to keep their bicycle from falling off this foot-wide plank bridge in Java, Indonesia, but it’s a shortcut that saves at least 4 miles on the way to school every day.

With the help of their teacher, these schoolgirls get across the wall of the 16th century Galle Fort in Sri Lanka on a flimsy wooden plank.

To get from their remote island to the nearest school on the mainland in Pangururan, Indonesia, these children pile onto the roof of this boat every morning and afternoon.

Likewise, these kids in beautiful and lush Kerala, India ride to school in a wooden boat every day.

When the bridge over the Ciherang River in Indonesia went out during flooding a few years ago, the village children had no way to get across and attend school…until they started floating to the other shore daily on makeshift bamboo rafts. 

But these elementary school students in Vietnam don’t even have a raft to cross the river to their schoolroom, so twice a day they take off their school clothes, putting them in a bag to try and keep them dry, and swim across the deep rapids.

The region around the village of Mawsynram in India is one of the wettest places on earth, with an average of 467 inches of rain each year. Due to the high precipitation and humidity, wood bridges will rot quickly, but the locals have trained the roots of these rubber trees to join and grow over the river, forming a natural and safe living bridge for the kids to cross to school every day. 

These pupils have a beautiful but difficult canoe ride every morning through the mangrove swamps o to their school in Riau, Indonesia. 

It takes the 20 intrepid pupils of Batu Busuk Village in Sumatra, Indonesia hours hours to walk the seven mile route to school, culminating with a dodgy tightrope traverse 30 feet over the river.

These kids from Zhang Jiawan Village in Southern China have to climb hundreds of feet up a sheer cliff on these dangerous unsecured ladders to get to their classroom.

Crossing this dilapidated and icy bridge in Dujiangyan, Sichuan Province, China, this mother and daughter risk their lives for her education.

A ride to school is a precious thing since it helps avoid a long, hot walk, so these well-dressed scholars pack onto a horse cart in Delhi, India. 

During the monsoon season in many Southeast Asian countries like Cambodia, the rains flood the countryside and city alike, often cancelling classes if kids can’t find a way to wade, swim, float, or boat to their school.

Floods won’t even stop the children from bicycling to school, though it’s dangerous because they have no idea where the road is beneath the waters.

At that point, getting the young ones safely to school could be a whole family affair. They'll do anything to give their children a better life!

​His legacy is still gold-plated in the Kingdom of Siam, where condoms are still sometimes referred to as “mechais,” a tribute to the first name of “Mr. Condom.” More importantly, even as HIV and AIDs spread rampantly in many developing countries around the world in the 1980s and 90s, reaching epidemic proportions in many African and other Southeast Asian countries, Thailand reacted quickly thanks to the tireless work and social progress Viravaidya. Not only were HIV and AIDS levels normalized, but the average number of children in Thai families decreased from 3.7 to 1.5 during his tenure – a testament to education, family planning, and the societal acceptance of condoms.
 
In 2007, Mechai Viravaidya was honored with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's Gates Award – including a $1,000,000 check - in recognition of his life’s work of family planning, HIV and AIDS awareness, women’s health, and advocacy for the poor.
 
That explained why there were photos of Viravaidya posing alongside Bill Gates, Bill Clinton, Warren Buffet, and other philanthropists, celebrities, and heads of states adorning the restaurant walls; not at all what you’d expect from a restaurant with the slogan, “Our food is guaranteed not to cause pregnancy.”