Photo by Ali Kazal on Unsplash

A spooky and dangerous adventure — My first week experience in the Philippines

Gil Van Dyke
3 min readOct 21, 2024

My first week in the Philippines was an exciting whirlwind of new experiences. As Halloween approached, the only thing that I wanted to do is celebrating it during nightlife in Manila. The atmosphere was contagious, and I quickly found myself befriending a wonderful group of locals who welcomed me with open arms. One of the ladies from the group invited me on a road trip to Tagaytay and Taal Lake to watch the sunset with her and her colleagues. Eager for adventure, I gladly accepted.

The road trip was a blast. We enjoyed the stunning views as the sun dripped below the horizon, castling a warm glow over the lake. Afterwards, we decided to head to a nearby village for a drink. The settling was idyllic, with plenty of tables and chairs under the open sky, and the local population gathered around us, creating a lively yet relaxed atmosphere.

As the night progressed and the drinks flowed, I eventually needed to visit the toilet. I quickly realized I stood out as the only foreigner. Returning from the restroom, I noticed a friendly local woman smiling at me. I found myself sitting across from her, with two Filipino guys seated at the end of the table. The atmosphere was still friendly, and soon, the lady from the road trip and her colleagues joined us.

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Gil Van Dyke
Gil Van Dyke

Written by Gil Van Dyke

As a Dutch solo traveler, I share cultural, demographic, political, and historical insights via engaging blogs. Support me at buymeacoffee.com/gilvandyke

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