Philippines Travel Cost Breakdown: Our Exact Spending for 2 Amazing Months in Paradise

Philippines Travel Cost Breakdown: Our Exact Spending for 2 Amazing Months in Paradise

After five years of full-time travel, people always ask how I afford it. Some think I’m rich, others assume sugar daddy (I wish), but really, it’s just budgeting, priorities, and a lot of uncomfortable moments. Oliver and I aren’t backpacking on $10 a day, but we’re not splurging either. It’s more like cozy homestays, street…

Kinabatangan River Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know + My Amazing Experience in 2026

Kinabatangan River Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know + My Amazing Experience in 2026

The Kinabatangan River is part of the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary in Malaysian Borneo and honestly, it’s one of the last truly wild places left in the world. This stretch of rainforest is one of only two places in the world (the other being Sumatra) where you can still find wild orangutans, which is what puts…

How to Do a Kinabatangan River Cruise: The Best Way To Get There & How I Did It in 2026

How to Do a Kinabatangan River Cruise: The Best Way To Get There & How I Did It in 2026

The Kinabatangan River Cruise was easily the highlight of my time in Borneo. We were out on the river, surrounded by rainforest, and watched completely wild orangutans swinging through the trees, it honestly felt unreal. Probably one of the best wildlife experiences I’ve had on my travels so far. However, when I was planning my…

How to Get to Kinabatangan River Sabah: Best Travel Tips & My Experience in 2026

How to Get to Kinabatangan River Sabah: Best Travel Tips & My Experience in 2026

Kinabatangan River, located deep in the rainforests of Sabah (that’s Malaysian Borneo, in East Asia if you’re still figuring out the geography), was definitely one of the best places I’ve ever visited for seeing wildlife. Orangutans swinging through the trees, proboscis monkeys doing their weird little nose thing, hornbills flying overhead, and if you’re lucky,…

Where to Stay Kinabatangan River Borneo: My Top Areas and Lodges in 2026

Where to Stay Kinabatangan River Borneo: My Top Areas and Lodges in 2026

The Kinabatangan River was for sure the highlight of my time traveling through Borneo. It’s this stretch of mostly untouched rainforest, full of incredible wildlife, and I had the best time staying along the river and heading out on multiple cruises to spot orangutans and (hopefully) elephants. When I was planning my own trip, I…

How to Get to El Nido Philippines: My Experience & The Easiest Way to Get There 2026

How to Get to El Nido Philippines: My Experience & The Easiest Way to Get There 2026

El Nido is one of the big highlights here that almost every traveler in the Philippines ends up going to, and after finally making it there myself, I get why. Between the island hopping, the landscapes, and the general vibe around here, it’s definitely one of coolest and most iconic spots I’ve been to. When…

Malapascua Philippines Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know For Visiting Malapascua Island in 2026

Malapascua Philippines Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know For Visiting Malapascua Island in 2026

Malapascua isn’t exactly on every backpacker’s radar. It’s not as hyped as Siargao or Palawan, but if you’re into scuba diving, chances are you’ve already heard of it.  That’s how I found out about it too. I was backpacking around the Philippines when another traveler mentioned this tiny island where you can dive with thresher…

Sailing the Whitsundays: Everything You Need to Know & My Amazing Experience 2026

Sailing the Whitsundays: Everything You Need to Know & My Amazing Experience 2026

Planning an East Coast trip in Australia can be chaotic. There’s just so much to see and do, and this country is massive. But if there’s one experience that deserves a non-negotiable spot on your itinerary, it’s sailing the Whitsundays. Last year, my whole family came to visit Oliver and me in Australia for two…

Where to Stay in Malapascua Island Philippines: My Top Areas & Best Hotels in 2026

Where to Stay in Malapascua Island Philippines: My Top Areas & Best Hotels in 2026

Diving with sharks in Malapascua Island, Philippines, definitely wasn’t on my bingo card for this year but it still happened. I hadn’t even heard of Malapascua when I first planned my Philippines trip, but you know how it goes, plans change, new places come up, and diving with thresher sharks quickly made its way onto…

Best Time to Visit Whitsundays Islands: A Month-by-Month Breakdown 2026

Best Time to Visit Whitsundays Islands: A Month-by-Month Breakdown 2026

Last year, Oliver and I were planning our East Coast road trip to celebrate my 30th birthday. Since my birthday is in August, I was a little worried it might end up being a cold, rainy trip, especially coming from winter in Perth, where the weather isn’t exactly in a party mood that time of…